The Berkshire Museum felt like a department store on "Black Friday" as crowds poured into the Crane Room and adjacent galleries to ogle more than 200 one-of-a-kind Christmas trees created by local business, schools and not-for-profit organizations. This year's "Storybook Forest" theme extended beyond just trees. There's an exhibit called Storybook Magic featuring illustrations from children's books, including pictures by Eric Carle and Tasha Tudor (of Wind in the Willows fame.) Also, the museum invited eight artists to let their imaginations run wild to create Contemporary Page Turners with oversized book pages that are displayed on stands throughout the galleries. The Crane Room felt like the lobby of a grand hotel with sofas and chairs (lent by Paul Rich & Sons) flanking the glowing fireplace. Afterwards, many partygoers headed up North Street to the opening of WAM Theatre's production of Sarah Ruhl's The Melancholy Play directed by Kristen van Ginhoven at New Stage Performing Arts Center.
Robin McGraw and Berkshire Living's Mary Garnish; Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto and Berkshire Museum director of interpretation Maria Mingalone.
Julia Erickson and artist Melanie Mowinski in front of one of the fabric panels she made for the exhibit.
Artist Nick Primo and Corry Kanzenberg, curator of the Norman Rockwell Archive; Berkshire Eagle reporter Jenn Smith with artist Eric Drury (click on his name to see a video) whose architectural Christmas tree is the centerpiece of the Crane Room.
Lauren Zivyak and her daughter, Chloe; writer and real estate agent Gladys Montgomery and Megan Whilden, Pittsfield's director of cultural development.
Lisa Bouchard & Ed Hoe of the Kinderhook Group.
Andy Potter and Jeremy Goodwin, the Berkshire Museum's director of communications; Jen Hines of Lance Vermeulen Real Estate and Bill Hines, managing director of Pittsfield-based Interprint.
Amanda Rae Busch of Berkshire Living with her mother, Anita Busch; Diana French in a hat by Carole Clark in the Woodland Style exhibit with yoga instructor Terry Roth Schaff.
Kevin Sprague of Studio Two, the branding and design firm, with Helena Fruscio, director of Berkshire Creative.
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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
