The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield returns on Friday, June 2 from 5 to 8 pm to celebrate Pride. Thanks to grant support from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the Mass Cultural Council, and The Feigenbaum Foundation, First Fridays Artswalk will expand in 2023 with new programming including an Art Market on Dunham Mall, live music in Persip Park, and live art demonstrations. The popular Free Kids’ Paint & Sip will return to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in June and will move outdoors later in the season. Click here to view our digital guided tour of all events!
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk and CozQuest Creative, will be curating an Art Market on Dunham Mall (100 North Street) on the first Friday from 5 to 8 pm through October 2023. The June 2 Art Market will feature the following artists and artisans, plus D’S Island Food Truck, serving authentic Caribbean flavors:
Berkshire Candle: Candles crafted with care and poured in small batches in the heart of the Berkshires
Berkshire Pride: Fundraising branded merch and informational materials
Crystal Nest: Handmade jewelry
Crystal Toro: Artworks in watercolor, graphite, and ink
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.: Fundraising branded merch featuring the Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Heart of the Berkshires, or First Fridays Artswalk logos, or a custom design for First Fridays Artswalk created by The Blog Bus. Choose from t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, bags, and even aprons!
Elano Dallmeyer/First Frame Photography
Lee Wendling: Dot art, mandalas on canvas, earrings
Pippa Lea by the Sea: Handmade bucket and sun hats and handmade jewelry
Terrapin Naturals Apothecary: Handcrafted, all-natural bath and body products and herbal supplements
The Unabinner: Nostalgic finds by Jake Seeley
Vendors are subject to change.
Tricia from Make Me Happy Radio will be at Dunham Mall from 5 to 8 pm for a joyful live DJ mix of good vibe music celebrating PRIDE in the Berkshires and beyond.
Clockwise top left to bottom left: Pippa Lea by the Sea, Lee Wendling, Berkshire Candle, The Unabinner
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk and Christine Bilé, will also be curating musical performers for Persip Park during the First Fridays Artswalk through October 2023. Soulful rock band, Sample the Cat, will perform June 2, 5 to 8 pm, at the park located at 175 North Street.
Sample the Cat is a rising soulful rock band from Berkshire County, MA. Their original music captures audiences with a fusion of familiar sounds from blues, funk, and soul while producing a fresh rock vibe that grooves. If you were to “put the cat in the box,” their sound could be described as if Alicia Keys sang for Foo Fighters.
Sample the Cat
Opal Raven Cirque will perform on Friday, June 2 at Sotille Park, 200 North Street, as part of First Fridays Artswalk. Showtimes: 5:40, 6:40, and 7:40 pm. Opal is an award-winning performer with over a decade of experience based out of Western Massachusetts. She’s known across New England and the Tri-State area for her “Danger Dame of the Flame” variety show. Also known as the Sword Queen of Gypsy Layne, Opal showcases masterful sword spinning, daring prop tricks, and some say she can even speak to snakes. Opal Raven’s one-woman circus is a unique performance that is sure to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Opal Raven
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will host a Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Friday, June 2, 5 to 7 pm, in the auditorium at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East Street.
This free Spring and Rainbow-themed Paint & Sip is best suited 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. The auditorium is on the second floor of the parish house, and the entrance is on Allen Street.
Hotel on North, 297 North Street, will feature an opening reception with the artist for SILVER LIGHT: Contemporary Paintings by Joanie Ciolfi, on Friday, June 2 from 5 to 8 pm. This collection of work showcases Joanie’s paintings that capture moments of stunning color and light.
On Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm, NUarts gallery + studios, 311 North Street, will open their Hall Gallery featuring the works of resident artists including Richard Britell, Kathy Gideon, Brent Ridge, Joan Rooks, Marney Schorr, and Laura Thompson. Teens and young adults from Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY) will be offering interactive artmaking for Pride month and sharing their Pride art in Studio 13. Activities may include painting, collage, and clay.
On Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm, Soma’s Aromas, 81 East Street, will host a reception with in-house maker, Caitlyn Tucker. Caitlyn is an artist, Reiki master healer and teacher, and owner of Queen Flower Therapy. Caitlyn makes Reiki-infused organic beeswax candles and hair accessories, as well as pressed flower and butterfly framed art.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue, will present photography by Autumn Phoenix, June 2 through June 25, in a show entitled The Berkshire Sessions. There will be a reception with the artist on Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm, as part of First Fridays Artswalk.
Autumn Phoenix Photography
The Clock Tower Artists at 75 South Church Street will host an open studios event in their beautiful and ever-expanding space on Friday, June 2, and every First Friday of the month through December, from 5 to 8 pm, and the Berkshire Art Center (BAC), 141 North Street, will continue to offer Free Family Drop-Ins on the First Friday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, year-round. For the month of June, The Berkshire Art Center will also feature a window display, All Fired Up, which features ceramic works created by Julie Buyon, Anne Ferril, and Donna Bernstein, members of the Berkshire Potters Collective.
Download the Downtown Pittsfield app in the App Store or on Google Play to follow a virtual walking tour of art on your cell phone.
First Fridays Artswalk is supported in part by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, and a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
This program is also supported in part by The Feigenbaum Foundation as well as a grant awarded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation.
For more information on First Fridays Artswalk, visit downtownpittsfield.com or call Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. at 413-443-6501. Download the Downtown Pittsfield app in the App Store or on Google Play to follow a virtual walking tour of art on your cell phone.
Event Highlights (South to North):
Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield
175 Wendell Avenue
The Berkshire Sessions
Autumn Phoenix Photography
Reception: June 2, 5 to 8 pm
Artists at the Clock Tower
75 South Church Street, Third Floor
Deborah H. Carter, Joanie Colfi, Marion H. Grant, Stacey Healy, Caroline Kelley, Bruce Laird, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Shany Porras, Sally Tiska Rice, Ilene Richard, Audrey Shachnow, and Stefanie Weber
Open Studios: Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm, and Saturday, June 3, 11 am to 4 pm
Soma’s Aromas
81 East Street
Caitlyn Tucker/Queen Flower Therapy
Reception: June 2, 5 to 8 pm
Free Drop-in Kids’ Paint & Sip
Auditorium at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
67 East Street, enter on Allen Street
Friday, June 2, 5 to 7 pm
Art Market on Dunham Mall
Artists, Artisans, Local-makers, and Food Vendors
Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Avenue
Pittsfield High School Senior AP Art & Design students
present their senior portfolio sustained investigations
On View: June 2, 5 to 8 pm
Berkshire Art Center/Brothership Building
141 North Street
3rd Annual Collage Marathon Exhibition Opening: Friday, June 2, 5 to 7 pm
All Fired Up
Ceramic works created by Julie Buyon, Anne Ferril, and Donna Bernstein, members of the Berkshire Potters Collective
Window Display
Free Family Art Making Drop-In: Friday, June 2, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Soda Chef
161 North Street
Nicole March Art
Window Display
Persip Park
175 North Street
Live music from Sample the Cat
Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm
Sotille Park
200 North Street
Live performances by Opal Raven
Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 pm
Hotel on North
297 North Street
SILVER LIGHT: Contemporary Paintings by Joanie Ciolfi
Reception: June 2, 5 to 8 pm
NUarts gallery + studios
311 North Street
Tour NUarts’ Hall Gallery featuring the works of resident artists: Richard Britell, Kathy Gideon, Brent Ridge, Joan Rooks, Marney Schorr, and Laura Thompson
Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY) will offer interactive artmaking for Pride month and will share their Pride art in Studio 13
Reception: June 2, 5 to 8 pm