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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Art Center (BAC) is gearing up for an engaging summer of creativity and art-making with an exciting lineup of classes, camps, events and exhibitions happening in both Stockbridge and Pittsfield.
Beginning in mid-June, Berkshire Art Center will kick off its Summer Session with a wide range of courses and workshops in ceramics, collage, drawing, fiber art, mixed media, painting, printmaking, and photography for adults. BAC’s adult studio classes are open to students ages 14 years and older.
Each summer, Berkshire Art Center also celebrates its Annual Color Series with special classes inspired by a chosen color. This year’s theme is Celadon, a grayish shade of green and notable, translucent ceramic glaze. Some classes in this series include, “Monochrome Mountains: Celadon Watercolor Landscape” led by BAC faculty artist, Jill Gustavis, on July 11 and “Gas Reduction Glazing and Firing” with BAC Ceramics Studio Technician, Hunter Cady, starting August 13.
Berkshire Art Center enriches its community with off-site classes taking place across the region. Chesterwood, the gilded-age home, studio, and gardens of Daniel Chester French, and one of BAC’s Berkshire Artist Residency sites will be hosting three classes this summer. These classes include Gustavis’ “Paint Outside: Guided Watercolor Plein Air” on June 15, “Human/Nature: Live Figure Drawing” beginning July 9 with sculpture artist, Natalie Tyler, and “Photographic Chesterwood: In the Shadow of Daniel Chester French” with local photographer, Thad Kubis, starting August 6. Kubis will also be leading a series of three Morning Photography Meetups throughout the summer at various sites in Stockbridge, Lenox and Housatonic.
Young artists, ages 4 to 14 years old, can join in on the fun this summer by participating in art camps from June 17 through August 23. Working alongside local artists, children and teens are introduced to a variety of creative themes, art-making materials and special techniques in BAC’s summer camps. Registration is still open on Berkshire Art Center’s website, but space is limited.
At its Pittsfield location in the Brothership Building (141 North Street), Berkshire Art Center is continuing to offer Free Drop-In Art Making on the first Fridays of every month from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and Free Parent & Me Art Meetups on the fourth Saturdays each month from 10am to 12pm. BAC’s Free Drop-Ins offer rotating projects for families and people of all ages to participate in at their own pace while the Parent & Me Art Meetups provide a consistent time to connect with other parents and engage in a creative art activity with your littles.
As part of the City of Pittsfield’s newest event, First Fridays at Five, Berkshire Art Center is hosting monthly exhibitions in two storefront gallery windows at the Brothership Building. This month’s exhibitions include “Scallops and Swirls” by BAC Program Assistant, Abby Klein, on view in the North Gallery Window through June 30 and “Sue Browdy, Pitter: The First 65 Years” on display in the South Gallery Window through the end of August. Coming in July and August, the Berkshire Potters Collective (BPC), a group of potters in Berkshire County, will be bringing two shows to BAC’s North Gallery Window. On view from July 5 to 31 will be “All Fired Up Again 2024: Open Call” featuring ceramic pieces made by any method and on view from August 2 to 31 will be “All Fired Up Again 2024: Atmospheric Firing” featuring smoke, pit, soda, salt and wood fired pieces.
To learn more about or register for Berkshire Art Center’s upcoming classes, camps and events, please visit www.berkshireartcenter.org.
ABOUT BERKSHIRE ART CENTER
Berkshire Art Center (BAC) is the leading provider of high quality, hands-on instruction in the visual arts year-round at sites throughout Berkshire County. Founded in 1991, BAC has evolved to reach over 2,000 students each year through studio-based classes, artistic events, and out-of-school engagement programs for all ages, means, and skill levels. BAC is a nonprofit community art center with the mission to encourage people of all ages, means, and skill levels to enrich their lives through hands-on experience in the visual arts. Berkshire Art Center strives to make art accessible by offering full and partial scholarships, work exchange opportunities, and discounts for EBT Cardholders.
For more information on Berkshire Art Center visit berkshireartcenter.org, call 413-298-5252 x100 or email info@berkshireartcenter.org.
