16 Oct MCLA WINDOW GALLERY FEATURES NORTH COUNTY ARTISTS AND BERKSHIRE COUNTY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 16, 2018
Contact: Chris Watford
(413) 528-5485
Digital images available
CATA ART EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS NORTH COUNTY ARTISTS AND BERKSHIRE COUNTY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT MCLA WINDOW GALLERY AT 49 MAIN
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA—Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents an exhibit of artwork by visual artists with disabilities at the MCLA Window Gallery at 49 Main Street in North Adams. The exhibit runs from November 1 through December 2 and features a series of large-scale paintings created by artists from BFAIR (Berkshire Family and Individual Resources) using the innovative Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.) technique. The paintings will be accompanied by an installation of three-dimensional, hanging “CATApillars,” which were constructed by Berkshire county students with disabilities.
“We’re thrilled to partner with MCLA to present this vibrant exhibit of work by CATA artists with disabilities,” says CATA Executive Director Margaret Keller. “Public exhibits like this allow us to share the deeply expressive and creative work of our CATA artists with the wider community.”
The paintings in this exhibit were created by North County artists with disabilities using Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.). This adaptive technique, developed by artist Tim Lefens, gives full artistic control to people with profound physical disabilities who do not have the dexterity to apply paint brush to canvas. Through this technique, artists use a laser pointer and the aid of a trained “tracker” to create stunning, original works of art.
The colorful “CATApillar” sculptures, which will be suspended throughout the gallery space, were created by students with disabilities at Lee Middle and High School and the Pittsfield High School Transition Program at Boys & Girls Club through CATA’s programs in the schools. CATA provides dynamic and intensive arts workshops to students in special education programs in seven school districts throughout Berkshire County.
All paintings in the exhibit are professionally framed and available for sale, with proceeds supporting commissions for individual artists. This event is part of CATA’s “Art on Tour” program, where original works of art created by CATA artists travel throughout the year to museums, galleries, community centers, and other venues in Berkshire County.
The exhibit is funded by October Mountain Financial Advisors, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other generous supporters.
The window gallery at 49 Main St. promotes the work of regional artists and is a project of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center. More information can be found at mcla.edu/bcrc. For any social media outreach, tag @mclabcrc.
About Community Access to the Arts: Now in its 26th year, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities. Through dynamic arts workshops and public events, CATA artists tap into their potential, explore new talents, and share their unique points of view with the wider community. CATA collaborates with 49 partner organizations to bring visual and performing arts programs to 700 people with disabilities across Berkshire County, Massachusetts and Columbia County, New York. Learn more at CATAarts.org.
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