Art shows and exhibits open in the First Fridays Artswalk, with openings around town, live music on North Street and an art market on Dunham Mall with DJ Champ.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., in partnership with CozQuest Creative, will be curating an Art Market on Dunham Mall (100 North Street), and the market will gather local artists, artisans, makers, and food vendors — including Bob Bertolino Art, Unabinner Lee Wendling, Fandom Forge, Pippa Lea By The Sea, Always Love, The Blog Bus, Sunfleur, Crystal Nest, La Chalupa Y La Enchilada. (Vendors may be subject to change.) DJ Champ will be playing Top 40 Hits, Hip Hop, and Funk on the steps of City Hall
At Persip Park, live music fills downtown from solo musician Niki Kaos and duo Bree Nicola and Crys Moore, free at 175 North St. Bree Nicola and Crys Moore will kick-off the evening, and Kaos will follow from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with original songs.
Bree Nicola is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Pittsfield. She just graduated with a BFA from Rider University as a Musical Theatre major and is currently working on her first EP. Crys Moore is a 20-year-old indie/RNB artist from Pittsfield. Crys attended The College of Saint Rose briefly, majoring in music industry. They will be continuing their studies in music production at BCC in the spring of 2024. The duo are excited, they say, to get to perform on the streets they both grew up in and can’t wait to have a blast with the community.
Niki Kaos is an indie-alt-rock-Americana influenced songwriter who has been creating music for over 30 years. Born and raised in Troy, NY – she lived in San Francisco and New York City in her 20’s, then returned to The Capital Region to be closer to family. She currently works for www.radioradiox.com as a DJ and music journalist, in addition to running her arts and entertainment business, Kaos Industries.
She is well known for her support of the Capital Region music scene, she says, and her 518 Homegrown original music open mic at 344 2nd St. in Troy, N.Y. draws songwriters on the first Sundays of each month. She is excited to see collective efforts sparking a revival across the local music scene.
Art openings and activities this month include:
Aerofauna Studio presents The P.E.B.E. Project with the artistic stylings of Natalie Zoe White at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue.
Artists at the Clock Tower hold an Open Studios at 75 South Church St.
Visit the Clock Tower for an immersive two-day opening, Friday and Saturday. The Clock Tower Artists include Deborah H Carter, Joan Palano Ciolfi, Marion Grant, Stacey Healey, Caroline Kelley, Bruce Laird, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Shany Porras, Sally Tiska Rice, Audrey Shachnow, and Stefanie Weber.
Soma’s Aromas holds a Reception with in-house artist Nicole March at 81 East St.
Nicole is an emerging artist born and raised in the Berkshires. Intrinsically inspired by Mother Nature’s glory and equally as moved by the magic of capturing moments photographically, it was only in a matter of time that her creative, unrefined edge would merge with alluring images.
“My work is a blend of conventional and new-age imagery. Creation begins with shooting pictures, often nature-related on a macro level, emphasizing fine details easily overlooked. I then digitally adjust components of the image including hues and layers to ‘doll them up’. I often pair the unconventional result with an equally unique medium, metallic printing. This printing method involves infusing dye to aluminum producing a vibrant, aesthetically pleasing, ready to display picturization. If only briefly, my greatest goal is to seize and excite your mind.”
Soma also consigns with more than 50 local makers and artists.
A Free Drop-in Kids’ Paint & Sip and a free kids’ Scavenger Hunt in the outdoor seating area at Hot Harry’s and in front of Marketplace Cafe (37 & 53 North St.)
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will host a Free Kids’ Paint & Sip and Scavenger Hunt, an animal-themed Paint & Sip for ages 5 to 12, although younger and older children are welcome. All materials, instruction, snacks, and juice will be provided. Children are welcome to drop in anytime over the course of the event, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Children who complete the hunt for art will receive a coupon for a free ice cream. A copy of the hunt can be picked up at the Kids’ Paint & Sip beginning at 5 p.m., and kids scan return to the site of the Kids’ Paint & Sip by 8 with a completed Scavenger Hunt to claim their prize
BAC will offer a Free Family Drop-In on the First Friday (5:30 to 7:30 pm) of every month. Each month, they will offer a creative artmaking project for families and people of all ages to participate in at their own pace, with the guidance and support of a faculty artist. Free Family Drop-Ins are open to the public and all children must be accompanied by an adult, and no registration is required.
Marketplace Cafe holds an opening for Mary Davidson at 53 North St.
Witch Slapped welcomes fhe Fantastical Artwork of Kit Curry at 78 North St.
Karen Chase and Paul Graubard bring paintings to the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave.
Sally Tiska Rice‘s Autumn Reverie comes to Krol Headquarters at 139 North St.
2023 Berkshire Artist Residency artists Noah Beauregard and Kelly Potter create a window display with “Ping. Pong.” by Deborah Carter and free Family Art Making Drop-In at the Berkshire Art Center/Brothership Building, 141 North St.
Nicole March’s art fills the windows at the Soda Chef, 161 North St.
Mollie Kellogg gives a Live Painting Demonstration free at Sotille Park, 200 North St. Creative Sorceress Mollie Kellogg will demonstrate her messy and glitter/star-embedded mixed media underpainting pouring process in a free live painting demonstration, rain or shine. Kellogg’s Incognito Witch Project celebrates hidden magick and encompasses fine art, film, music and dance, she says.
ReDefine Community Center, 5 Melville St., welcomes Matt Brinton and Nicole Fecteau to show their work, on view one night only.
When Soft Particles Soften: Abstract work by Justin Carafotes & Ryan Garvey, comes to Hotel on North, 297 North St.
Tour NUarts’ Hall Gallery with the works of resident artists, 311 North St.
Marchetti Headquarters welcomes Strike a Memory: Imagery & Illustration in Berkshire Matchbooks, an art exhibit of vintage Berkshire matchbooks dating from the 1950s-1980s, and also Sara Paul of Shire Prints, at 314 North St.
Boss Themes/ Alien Communication by Edward Pelkey comes to Methuselah Bar and Lounge, 391 North St.