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Art can save us all – The Lichtenstein
Posted by Kaitlyn in Arts & Culture, Events
So as I’m about to write about an excellent art opening that I attended last night I’m presented with this story from the Boston Globe called “The art of saving a city“. “The Brooklyn of the Berkshires” is what they are calling Pittsfield because of it’s revival through the arts from a dark period after GE poisoned and left the area. I am so proud of the people I see working so hard to bring the positive outlooks and ideas to us like the people at Pittsfield Contemporary and the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield.
Inside the Lichtenstein
On the wall outside of the Lichtenstein
I had heard about the opening reception for the 3rd annual exhibition on facebook through Cultural Pittsfield’s page. It rained almost all day yesterday so I felt like I had spent enough time sitting on the couch in front of my laptop listening to the pitter patter on the leaves outside my window. I put on my favorite red dress and headed to North Street where we parked and headed to the Lichtenstein. We found the gallery on a small side street with a gorgeous mural on one side.
inside the Lichtenstein
Enjoying the opening reception
We arrived a little late so the place was already full of people enjoying the free food and wine generously provided by Mission Bar and Tapas and The Market which are both located on North Street. The gallery was full of art all in different mediums. There were photographs, paintings and woven artistic displays. I personally loved attending this event and seeing the different artists in the area. It’s great to walk into a place and be inspired by something in a way that makes me want to create something new.Now if your not the artistic type but enjoy the arts, I imagine for you it would inspire you to want to see more of what others can create or possibly even to challenge your once sure thoughts that you are incapable.
One of my personal favorites
Free food and wine by The Market and Mission Bar & Tapas
One of my personal favorite photographs was a photograph in black and white of a beautiful girl putting on her makeup. I have really only one word to describe it, timeless. We stayed and enjoyed the scene for a little while. We ran into some friends and enjoyed some wine with delicious leeks, zuchinni, and a mix of other veggies bathed in a light dressing followed by some fresh bread.
This event was tied in with a new gallery that has opened at 305 North Street in Pittsfield MA which is where we headed after we left the Lichtenstein. I had visited this gallery briefly during North Streets last 3rd Thursday but there was more art to see this time around. One of my favorite recently discovered artists is a talented man named Douglass Turth.
Works by Douglass Truth
305 North Street - After the Lichtenstein
His use of colors and distorted perspective can leave you staring at a painting for a good 10-20 minutes before snapping suddenly back to reality. The gallery started to fill as more people headed over from the Lichtenstein. We ran into another friend of ours while there, a very talented lady named Autumn Doyle, a local artist who has also been featured throughout the county.
Canvases By Douglass Truth
After a short conversation with Douglass Truth we decided to take a stroll down North Street where we ended our night with a delicious meal from The Press Box!
Info on tons of up coming events on a table at the Lichtenstein.
Pittsfield Contemporary 2010: New Work from Pittsfield Artists will continue to show from July 23rd – August 28th at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts which is located at 28 Renne Ave Pittsfield, MA. It is a small side street off of Fenn Street with a beautiful mural on the wall!
I also put together a page called Facebook Fan pages of the Berkshires to follow that will keep you informed about the Berkshires. I will hopefully be making a few lists of places and possibly even add some reviews. We will see how many of you actually enjoy reading about my mini adventures and the type of feedback I get. 
I also want to thank those of you who have given me feedback on my first blog! I do this as a motivation to get out and visit all of the places around me and to hopefully inspire someone else to do the same! As always feel free to leave comments and suggestions!
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn, photographer, born in Pittsfield, entrepreneur, empathetic, born on the cusp (February 18), Mild addiction to Facebook and my iPhone, chocoholic, <3's the ocean and tropical islands, engaged to the love of my life on a tropical island, love my 14 year old kitty like my child, favorite season is Autumn. 
Sounds like a great evening and I wish I could have made it out with you. As I was picking up my cat I drove by and saw where the place was. I like learning of new places and hopefully one night Swift and I can get a sitter and have a great date at one of the locations you write about =)