NARH Community Art Program to Unveil New Works
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — New works by local artists will be on display at North Adams Regional Hospital as part of the hospital’s Community Art Program. The public is invited to an artists’ reception on Wednesday, May 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at NARH in the Surgical Services Waiting Area on the first floor, just off the main lobby. Refreshments will be provided.Sharon Carson, North Adams artist and curator for the hospital’s Community Art Program, will lead tours of the exhibit during the opening reception. "This exhibit has an abundance of work by area photographers, as well as oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, drawings, fabric art, and a variety of mixed media works," said Carson. "Every piece displayed is an original work of art by a local artist."
This is the first year the Community Art Program has received funding from sponsors. The Community Art Program gratefully acknowledges support from Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, The Cricket Foundation, and the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Artwork is displayed on four floors of NARH. Display spaces including hallways and waiting rooms, and the reception area of the new Wound Healing Center of the Berkshires. During the eleven-year history of the Community Art Program, local artists have loaned their work for the twice-annual shows. The exhibitions have grown significantly over the years, from early exhibits of 50 works to nearly 250 works of art by 28 artists in the current exhibit.
Artists participating in the Community Art Program include Linda Haas and Henry Klein of Adams; Bill Guild, Dawn Guild, Verne Bosworth, Susan Rose, Terry Taft, Robin Van Bramer, Daniel O’Connor, Gillian Jones, Colleen Williams, Debi Pendell, Greg Scheckler, Rodney Wilkinson, Cheryl Wildermuth, Liz Cunningham, Dot Kirby, and Kelly Lee, all of North Adams. Also, Ernest Brown of Williamstown; Becky Wandrei of Windsor; and Deirdre McKenna, Judith Oleskiewicz, and Ida Patella of Pittsfield. Also, Alice Gage of Otis, Tony Conner and Stuart DuBoff of Bennington, Vt.; Daniel St. John of Peabody, Mass., and Judy Cantwell of Canton, Conn.
All of the artwork displayed in the hospital is for sale and each purchase benefits the Community Art Program. The artists donate 10 percent of the sale price to the art program. Many prices are under $500.
Visitors to the hospital may view the art exhibit at any time. Visitors can pick up a copy of the "Self Guided Tour of the Art Exhibit" at the Information Desk in the main lobby. This exhibit will continue through October 22.
