Cultural correspondent Bess J.M. Hochstein reports from Pittsfield: Thursday, January 21 was something of a double-header for Jason Houston (near left with gallery owners Donald Clark and Leslie Ferrin.) The evening began with the reception for his solo photography show, Family of Mine, at Ferrin Gallery, and continued at the Alchemy Initiative with The Widow Wears Red Pajamas, Billie Best's moving monologue/memoir about dealing with the death of her husband and her life without him, which was illuminated by photos from the book Dying Beautifully, a collaboration between Houston and Best. Houston is celebrated in this area for his grittily beautiful photographs of farmland and farm hands, his globetrotting documentation of environmentally delicate ecosystems, and his work as photo editor of Orion Magazine. Over the span of five years, Houston turned the lens on his own family during holidays and other gatherings of the clan. The eleven large-scale, color-saturated prints in this new show—the antithesis of family snapshots—served as both focal point and backdrop during the reception to celebrate his work.
Marion Gilliam, founder and publisher of Orion Magazine with Catharine Deely; Petra Krauledat, chair of the Hancock Shaker Village board, with Jonathan Secor, director of MCLA's Gallery 51.
Allison Sinkler and Valley Advocate blogger Sarah Werthan Buttenwieser; Minc House marketing director Carrie Saldo and Suky Werman of Stonover Farm in Lenox.
Gladys Montgomery with Berkshire Living’s Mary Garnish and photographer Sue Geller.
North Adams artists Ven Voisey and Thor Wickstrom; artists Gerit Grimm and Michael Boroniec.
Stuart Chase and Maria Mingalone of the Berkshire Museum; Elba Passerini with artist Paul Graubard in front of one of his works.
Jason & Kim Houston in front of the exhibit Family of Mine.
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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
