Since its founding in 2002 by the painter Maggie Mailer, the Storefront Artist Project (SAP) has been a cornerstone of Pittsfield's reincarnation as a creative center, offering residencies and mentoring programs that support a diverse range of artistic endeavors. The annual 12 x 12 auction features 100 twelve-by-twelve inch works—paintings, drawings, photograph, sculpture, collage—by local artists. Guests pay $25 each for a chance to choose the work they want as their number is randomly picked. You don't necessarily get your first or second choice of a piece of art, but nobody goes home empty-handed or unhappy, especially when your prizes are hand-wrapped by good-spirited volunteers like Chris O'Gara and Davinica Nemtzow (above.)
Pittsfield Contemporary's Jay Elling and SAP board member Reba Evenchik; Rebecca Weinman and artist Eric Drury, who is currently an artist in residence at SAP.
Cultural Pittsfield's Megan Whilden and photographer Sue Geller; SAP board vice president Colleen Quinn and SAP director Julia Dixon.
The Berkshire Museum's Maria Mingalone with lawyer and WBCR community radio station president Paul Rapp and Berkshire Living's Mary Garnish
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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
