Press Release, October 14, 2022

General Contact: Guild of Berkshire Artists – David Honneus, info@berkshireartists.org, 617-868-7082

 

The Guild of Berkshire Artists Partners with Berkshire Theatre Group and Colonial Theatre on Art Exhibits

 

Pittsfield, MA – The Guild of Berkshire Artists (GBA) recently agreed to curate art exhibitions for the lobby of Berkshire Theatre Group’s historic Colonial Theatre at 111 South Street in Pittsfield, MA. The GBA, a regional non-profit visual arts organization that supports and promotes its members through education, exhibits, and community events, and contributes to the cultural life of the Berkshires. The first showing of art from the GBA will open October 22 and run through late December. On Saturday October 29 from 8-9pm an opening reception will occur before the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The public is invited to view the art Tuesdays through Sundays 12-5pm when the box office is open. The Guild will provide the art and installation for at least four exhibitions a year.

 

Event:               Colonial Theatre Lobby Art Exhibit by Guild of Berkshire Artists 2022

 

Location:          Colonial Theatre, 111 South St., Pittsfield MA 01201

 

Dates:               Opening Reception Sat.  October 29, 8 to 9 p.m. before the Rocky Horror Picture Show

                        Open Tuesdays through Sundays 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. during box office hours, October 22 through December in the beautiful Colonial Theatre Lobby

 

The Guild of Berkshire Artists chose from over 100 submissions of artwork. Final selections consisted of nineteen works by ten artists. Media include oils, acrylics, watercolors, mixed media, textiles, photography, and paper constructions, and styles range from realistic to the abstract. The lobby exhibit showcases the artistic strength and stylistic diversity of the submissions.

 

A portion of each sale will go to the education efforts of the Berkshire Theatre Group and The Guild of Berkshire Artists, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that educates members and the public about art and contributes to the quality of life in the Berkshires. For more information on the Guild and its programs, go to https://www.berkshireartists.org/  GBA plans to mount its next show in February 2023.

 

Featured work for this includes the playful imagery of artist, Paul Graubard, whose three-foot long painting, At Work, shows colorful stilt walkers, sumo wrestlers, ice fishermen, and ballet dancers to name a few. In stark contrast, Shany Porras’s large-scale, dynamic abstract, Conflict, was inspired by Brahms’ Symphony Number 1, Opus 68. Two images in the exhibit share the same subject: the Taj Mahal. One is a stunning large format photograph by Janet Pumphrey, and the other is an exquisite paper relief of the architectural gem by Preeti Kedia. Textiles are represented by the colorful patterned work of Jeanne Marklin, Crossing to Safety and Circus Time. Representational artist, Marilyn Orner, delights in the colors and composition of flowers and landscapes through her bold brushwork, while Bruce Shickmanter uses a subdued palette and vigorous shapes to create movement in his landscapes. The exhibit is rounded out by four of Nicole Irene’s vivid, mixed media compositions, Caroline Kelley’s Meander and Loop, a serene mediation in blue and green, and Judith Fox’s Nine of Wands that pays homage to the tarot card that represents courage in the face of adversity.

 

The Artists in this show include:

Paul Graubard

Jeanne Marklin

Bruce Shickmanter

Nicole Irene

Marilyn Orner

Judith Fox

Caroline Kelley

Preeti Kedia

Shany Porras

Janet Pumphrey