This, that, and the other things
75 YEARS OF SUPPORTING EMERGING ARTISTS
Shout
This, that, and the other things
Out
B y A n a s t a s i a S t a n m e y e r
The language of touch by Annie Scott
75 YEARS OF SUPPORTING EMERGING ARTISTS
Berkshire Art Association( BAA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a party on Friday, May 23, 5 – 7 p. m., at Hotel on North in Pittsfield. BAA has been instrumental in supporting young and emerging artists and students in the Berkshires. Some of the inspiring work BAA has been doing includes supporting the college BAA Fellowships and the annual Fellowship Show at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts; awarding small grants to Berkshire County high school art classes for art field trips and projects; and raising money through special projects like the 10X10 Art Show Benefit at Clock Tower Artists Studios and other shows at the Lichtenstein Center, including BAA biennial juried shows. Forty artworks, created by 16 college art students enrolled at Berkshire County colleges or are Berkshire County residents, were juried into the 2025 Fellowship Show. Each student was awarded fellowship money, with a special Norman and Rose Avnet Berkshire Resident award going to MassArt student Edward Curley of Pittsfield. A new award to honor longtime BAA leader Mary Rentz, will go to Max Sweeney, an MCLA student from Longmeadow. berkshireartassociation. org
FOR THE A OF PEACE AND GALAS
Congregation Ahavath Sholom, which translates to“ Love of Peace,” is the oldest continuously used synagogue building in Berkshire County. Established in the 1920s, the historic structure at 15 North St. in Great Barrington was acquired by a group of local Jewish families to create a space for worship and community. The community is working to preserve and restore the building. On Monday, May 12, at 4 p. m., it is holding a gala evening titled“ The Catskills Come to The Berkshires,” featuring a screening of the documentary The Catskills by Lex Gillespie at The Triplex. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to ahavathsholom. com. The fundraiser is on the early end of gala season in the Berkshires. Here are others that we know so far: CATA Gala & Annual Performance, May 10 – 11; I Spy! A Party at the Norman Rockwell Museum, June 7; Summer Gala at The Mount, June 12; Great Barrington Public Theater Annual Benefit, June 14; Jacob’ s Pillow Season Opening Gala, June 21; Kids 4 Harmony Summer Gala Concert, June 24; Shakespeare & Company Annual Gala, June 28; Barrington Stage Company Gala, July 21; and Greenagers Summer Gala, Friday, August 15. Check their websites and npcberkshires. org for details and updates.
6 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE May / June 2025