CATA’S ANNUAL ART SHOW CELEBRATES INCLUSION

29 May CATA’S ANNUAL ART SHOW CELEBRATES INCLUSION

CATA’S ANNUAL ART SHOW CELEBRATES INCLUSION AT THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE AND THE LICHTENSTEIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS—Featuring Work by More than 125 Artists with Disabilities

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA—Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents its annual art show, I Am a Part of Art, featuring a powerful collection of work by 125 artists with disabilities. The exhibit, part of CATA’s 25th Anniversary year, takes place in partnership with the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA and the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield, MA.

The first exhibit runs from July 1-August 19 at the Clark Art Institute’s Lunder Center at Stone Hill at 227 South Street, Williamstown, MA, with a free “Meet the Artists” event on August 2 from 1-2pm. The Clark Art Institute is open daily from 10-5pm during the course of the exhibit.

The second exhibit hangs at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renne Avenue in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District from July 6-July 28, with a Public Reception on July 12 from 5-7pm. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 11-4pm.

“I Am a Part of Art offers a window into the vibrant imagination of our artists with disabilities,” says Margaret Keller, CATA’s Executive Director. “Through their artwork, CATA artists reveal their spirit and draw us into their worlds. The creativity and expressive detail in every piece is breathtaking, and speaks to the power of art to transcend our differences. We’re thrilled to partner with the Clark Art Institute and with the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts to share this revelatory work with our community.”

I Am A Part of Art showcases more than 200 original works of art, representing more than 125 artists with disabilities. Works are professionally matted and framed, and all pieces are available for sale, with proceeds providing commissions for individual artists. The curated exhibits feature a wide range of styles, including abstract and representational paintings and drawings, as well as work in printmaking, sculpture and collage, in a variety of media including acrylic, tempera, watercolor, oil and chalk pastel, charcoal, clay and mixed media.

This annual exhibit is the culmination of hundreds of visual arts workshops that CATA holds throughout the year across Berkshire County, Massachusetts and Columbia County, New York in day programs, residences, schools, elder care settings, and in the CATA Studio. Through these year-round workshops, CATA artists people with disabilities grow creatively, learn new techniques, and find community working side by side with others.

I Am a Part of Art is sponsored in part by Greylock Federal Credit Union; Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation; Joan & Jim Hunter; Pittsfield Cultural Council; the Fund for Williamstown, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Berkshire Magazine; Frames on Wheels; the Massachusetts Cultural Council; the Clark Art Institute; Lichtenstein Center for the Arts; and other generous supporters.

About Community Access to the Arts: Now in its 25th year, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities through shared experiences in the visual and performing arts. Our programs take place in partnership with 49 residences, day programs, schools, and community settings, serving 700 people with disabilities throughout Berkshire and Columbia counties. To learn more about CATA programs and events, visit CATAarts.org.​

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