The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield begins its 5-month season (May through September) on Friday, May 1 from 5 to 8 pm as part of the City of Pittsfield’s First Fridays at Five.
Participating venues on Friday, May 1 include Clock Tower Artists, Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Indie Readery and Records, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield’s City Hall, Sanctum Gallery, and the Soda Chef.
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.
Pittsfield’s City Hall, 70 Allen Street, will feature “How Shall We Live? – Berkshire Youth Artists Explore Their Relationship with the Earth in the Time of Climate Change,” May 1 through June 5, 2026.
Organized by Living the Change Berkshires, The Clark Art Institute, and Cooler Communities, this traveling show spotlights how local students experience climate change and share their resilience and love for the earth. 60+ Berkshire County High School Artists will be featured in the exhibit. There will be a reception on Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm, and Friday, June 5, 5 to 8 pm, with opportunities for the public to learn about and take climate action.
Berkshire Art Center (BAC) will host their summer Faculty Artist Show at Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. located at 437 North Street. This exhibition showcases the work of talented visual artists who also lead BAC classes and workshops, so you can be inspired and learn directly from the experts behind the art.
Explore a vibrant range of mediums, including collage, printmaking, watercolor, photography, pastel, and more. Featuring faculty artists Thad Kubis, Jody King Camarra, Thomas Libetti, Kim Waterman, Jill McLean, and Laura Thompson, this show is a celebration of the breadth of art! Come experience Berkshire Art Center’s talented Faculty Artists’ work and be inspired to take the next step in your own creative journey, wherever you might be starting.
There will be an opening reception with the artists during the May 1 First Fridays Artswalk from 5 to 8 pm, and there will be an opportunity to sign up for a class taught by one of BAC’s Faculty Artists.
The exhibition will be on view Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm, April 27 through May 28, by visiting the Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. offices at 431 North Street, or by appointment.
Indie Readery and Records, 314 North Street, will feature “Reduction Prints and Felted Landscapes” by Joan Rooks through May 2, 2026. Stop by during the May 1 First Fridays Artswalk from 5 to 8 pm to take a look!
The reduction woodblock printing that Joan uses involves carving away sections of a single block to produce multi-color images. At the end of a series the block is completely carved away. The dry felting process involves layering various colors of wool using specialized barbed needles to combine loose wool fibers.
Sanctum Gallery, 148 North Street, will present the art of award-winning Navajo painter Walter Dan during the First Fridays Artswalk on Friday, May 1 from 5 to 8 pm.
Monica White will be showcasing the celebrated work of her father, Walter Dan, a renowned Navajo artist. The exhibition offers visitors a rare chance to experience the depth, tradition, and storytelling of Navajo painting through Walter Dan’s powerful artwork. Monica will share the powerful stories of her father’s art with us.
“Sharing my father’s work is a way to honor our family and culture,” said White. “Each piece carries the history, spirit, and creativity of our heritage.”
Walter’s paintings consist of serene southwestern life with landscapes, animals, and portraits most influenced by his Diné and cowboy culture. Walter focuses on using acrylic, oil, pencil, and ink. He was an art student at the Institute of American Indian Arts-IAIA in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1970’s. Walter’s most prominent influence and mentor is Allen Houser, a highly regarded Native American artist, and his IAIA instructor.
Pittsfield High School will present its Senior Show and AP Placement Portfolios for the month of May at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue. These dedicated students have spent years developing their artistic voices, often taking multiple art classes throughout their high school journey. As a culminating experience, they have thoughtfully planned and curated a collection that represents their growth and creativity.
The exhibition features a diverse range of work in a salon-style display, including pieces from Drawing & Painting, Ceramics, and Photography. Adding to the energy of the show, posters from the Pittsfield City Jazz competition will also be on view, creating a vibrant and dynamic celebration of student art.
There will be an opening reception on Friday, May 1 from 5 to 7 pm. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to experience the innovative work of our young artists!
New for 2026, the Clock Tower Artists at 75 South Church Street are excited to introduce rotating 2 to 3-person pop-up exhibits in their West Studios Lobby — alongside their regularly scheduled open studios — bringing even more variety and creative energy to every visit!
Join the Clock Tower Artists on Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm, to explore fresh artwork, meet the makers, and celebrate the start of an inspiring spring season.
Stroll the historic third floor and connect with over 20 professional artists working across a wide range of mediums. Whether you’re an art lover, collector, or curious newcomer, you’re sure to find something that sparks your imagination. Enjoy original artwork, creative conversations, and a warm, welcoming community of artists in the heart of Pittsfield.
Artists include Charles Baum, Karen Carmean, Deborah H Carter, Lucie Castaldo, Joan Palano Ciolfi, Randy Foulds, Marion Grant, Caroline Kelley, Mollie Kellogg, Eric Korenman, Bruce Laird, Lisa Loustaunau, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Sally Tiska Rice, Ilene Richard, Audrey Shachnow, Stanley Singer, Ariel Smith, Sharon Walthew, Stefanie Weber, and Carmel Wilson.
Hotel on North, 297 North Street, will feature “Tree of Life Series” – acrylic paintings by Mary Davidson, May 1 through June 30, 2026.
There will be an opening reception with the artist on Friday, May 1 from 5 to 8 pm during the First Fridays Artswalk.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and First Fridays Artswalk will feature Peter Vacchina as the May “Art in the Park” artist.
Peter will be popped up in Palace Park (near 122 North Street) from 5 to 8 pm, inviting the community to add pieces to a “made-on-the-spot” mosaic and discussing his process with all who are interested.
Peter is a sculptor working primarily in marble, mosaic, and the occasional ice sculpture. His art reflects his personal life experiences, particularly his time living and traveling abroad. Before becoming a full-time artist in Pittsfield, Peter lived and taught science in Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, England, Italy, and California. “I appreciate the challenge of working in marble and its potential to last for centuries. In my marble sculptures, I seek to invoke memory in the way a scent or sound might, and in doing so inspire heartfelt stories in the viewer.”
In the case of inclement weather, “Art in the Park” with Peter Vacchina will be inside the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renee Avenue.
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. Direct link: https://downtownpittsfield.stqry.app/list/60461
First Fridays Artswalk and “Art in the Park” are 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.
First Fridays Artswalk and “Art in the Park” are also supported in part by The Feigenbaum Foundation.
Check out all of the May 1 First Fridays at Five events at lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays.
Event Highlights (South to North):
Artists at the Clock Tower, 75 South Church Street, Third Floor
Charles Baum, Karen Carmean, Deborah H Carter, Lucie Castaldo, Joan Palano Ciolfi, Randy Foulds, Marion Grant, Caroline Kelley, Mollie Kellogg, Eric Korenman, Bruce Laird, Lisa Loustaunau, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Sally Tiska Rice, Ilene Richard, Audrey Shachnow, Stanley Singer, Ariel Smith, Sharon Walthew, Stefanie Weber, and Carmel Wilson
Open Studios: Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm
Sanctum Gallery, 148 North Street
Monica White presents art of award-winning Navajo painter Walter Dan
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm
Pittsfield’s City Hall, 70 Allen Street
“How Shall We Live? – Berkshire Youth Artists Explore Their Relationship with the Earth in the Time of Climate Change”
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue
Pittsfield High School presents Senior Show and AP Placement Portfolios
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1, 5 to 7 pm
Palace Park, 122 North Street
“Art in the Park” with Peter Vacchina
Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm
Soda Chef, 161 North Street
Nicole March Art
Window Display
Hotel on North, 297 North Street
“Tree of Life Series”
Acrylic paintings by Mary Davidson
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm
Indie Readery and Records, 314 North Street
“Reduction Prints and Felted Landscapes” by Joan Rooks
On View: Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm
Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., 437 North Street
Berkshire Art Center (BAC) Summer Faculty Artist Show
Artists: Thad Kubis, Jody King Camarra, Thomas Libetti, Kim Waterman, Jill McLean, and Laura Thompson
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1, 5 to 8 pm