Tom Patti Commission Unveiled at Berkshire Museum Gala

Bess Hochstein reports from Pittsfield.When Tom Patti was a boy growing up in Pittsfield, he roamed the galleries of Berkshire Museum, gaining inspiration from its exhibitions of art, history, and science that he claims led directly to his development into an internationally acclaimed glass artist. On Friday, June 29, guests at the unveiling of Patti's new installation at Berkshire Museum, his first major public commission in the community he still calls home, similarly roamed throughout the museum in a party that was a bit like a moveable feast. Board chair William Hines Jr., museum director Van Shields, and Patti (above, with Patti's wife Marilyn to his right and Shields' wife Peggy Rivers to his left) made their comments with Patti's work Velocity Echo as a backdrop, both casting light on and reflecting the assembled crowd. Rather than dining in one banquet hall, celebrants meandered through the galleries, discovering various food stations arrayed by Chef Michael Roller. The crowd did eventually gather in the Crane Room for dancing and for a live auction to raise funds for the museum's education programs. Extraordinary lots of Boston/New York sports tickets and hard-to-find wines found eager buyers, but the liveliest bidding erupted at the chance to be a philanthropist and fund children's programming. The auction raised more than $50,000, and the event overall raised more than $120,000, ensuring that other budding Tom Pattis will have the opportunity to be similarly inspired at Berkshire Museum.

General Dynamics engineer Jeffrey Hiltpod and wine consultant Tracy Hiltpod; sisters-in-law Caitlin Nash of Blue Q and education consultant Mary Nash.

The Berkshire Eagle's Ben Garver and Norman Rockwell Museum director Laurie Norton Moffat; actor and pilates instructor Karen Lee with photographer Bill Wright.

Rosita Sarnoff and Beth Sapery; Bobbie Paley and Ingrid MacGillis.

Former Pittsfield mayor and now president of Westfield State College Evan Dobelle with Marilyn Patti; Lauren Pennell and Zogics owner Paul LeBlanc.

Robin McGraw and museum board member Buzz McGraw; gallerist Sienna Patti with Berkshire Museum director of interpretation Maria Mingalone.

Gallerist Leslie Ferrin and The Red Lion Inn hotelier Nancy Fitzpatrick; Blue Q co-founder Mitch Nash and photographer Leo Nash.

Attorney Michael Hinkley, artist Tom Patti, and Gwen Davis.

Heidi Nejaime and Jim Nejaime of SPIRITED (formerly Nejaime's on Pittsfield Road), who donated most of the wines for the evening, both poured and auctioned; Berkshire Creative board chair Cathy Deely with animator Leo Quiles and Mahaiwe general manager Karen Watkins.

Development director at Berkshire Museum Nina Garlington and Jennifer Kerwood; Schantz Galleries' Kim Saul and photographer Lincoln Russell.

Author Carole Hyatt and documentary TV producer Gordon Hyatt; Berkshire Museum's Jennibeth Gomez and Mark Pedrotti, online marketing specialist at Berkshire Bank.