Writer Bess Hochstein, who's an aficionado of the Berkshires cultural scene, sent us her report on the big opening Saturday night in Pittsfield: Gallerista Leslie Ferrin (left with artist Michael Rousseau) jumped the gun on the month-long Berkshire Festival of Women in the Arts, drawing a large crowd for the opening of her group show, WOMEN: Portrait + Figure on February 28. Among the throngs of artists and art-lovers to brave the chilly February evening was MSNBC phenom Rachel Maddow accompanying her girlfriend, photographer Susan Mikula, who has work in the show. Ferrin has other events planned in conjunction with the festival, hosting Sketch Salon: Deconstructing Gender, an evening of life drawing with models Jessica Hess and Justin Delsignore on March 6, and moderating the Storefront Artists Salon Does Gender Matter?, a discussion of the role of gender in the visual arts, with artists Jane Lund of Smith College and Sandy Winters of the School of Visual Arts, which takes place on March 11.—B.H.
John Wendling with his wife, artist Maggie Mailer, and one of her paintings; singer Carol Stevens (who is Mailer's mother) with artist Ben Tritt.
Alan Bauman and Mary Garnish of Berkshire Living.
Photographer Scott Barrow and his wife, interior designer Karen Beckwith; Mark Tomasi and Colleen Quinn.
Artists Eric Drury and Colleen Surprise Jones; Krysha Andrews and Peter Dudek
Photographer Kevin Sprague with one of his nudes.
Cultural Pittsfield's Megan Whilden and the Berkshire Museum's Maria Mingalone; photographer Stefanie Motta with her work.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
