The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield returns on Friday, July 7 from 5 to 8 pm. Thanks to grant support from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the Mass Cultural Council, and The Feigenbaum Foundation, First Fridays Artswalk has expanded in 2023 with new programming including an Art Market on Dunham Mall, live music in Persip Park, and live art demonstrations. On July 7, the popular Free Kids’ Paint & Sip will return to the outdoor seating area in front of Hot Harry’s and the Marketplace Café (53 North Street). Other participating venues include the Beacon Cinema, Berkshire Art Center, Clock Tower Artists, Hot Plate Brewing Co., Hotel on North, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Marchetti Headquarters, Methuselah Bar and Lounge, NUarts gallery + studios, ReDefine Community Center, Soda Chef, Soma’s Aromas, and the Unitarian Universalist Church.

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. Link to the digital tour for July: https://pocketsights.com/tours/tour/Pittsfield-July-7-First-Fridays-Artswalk-in-Pittsfield-MA-8493

 

Event Highlights (South to North):

 

Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield

175 Wendell Avenue

Photographs of Berkshire County

Rick Popham

Opening Reception: Friday, July 7, 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, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

Soma’s Aromas

81 East Street

Author Tondalea Brady

“Max and Gus Send Mom to Time-out”

Reception and Book Signing: Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

Free Drop-in Kids’ Paint & Sip

Outdoor seating area in front of Hot Harry’s and the Marketplace Cafe (53 North Street)

Friday, July 7, 5 to 7 pm

 

Beacon Cinema Lobby

57 North Street

Strike a Memory: Imagery & Illustration in Berkshire Matchbooks, an art exhibit of vintage Berkshire matchbooks dating from the 1950s-1980s

Sara Paul of Shire Prints

Meet the artist on Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

Hot Plate Brewing Co.

1 School Street

The Guild of Berkshire Artists presents paintings by Emily Bunnell

Opening Reception: Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

Live Music with Dave Brown: Friday, July 7, 7 to 10 pm

 

Art Market on Dunham Mall

Artists, Artisans, Local-makers, and Food Vendors

Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

NEW Wheat Paste Mural, 26 Dunham Mall

Teens from Boys & Girls Club and Huck Elling

 

NEW Brick Quilt Mural on Renne Avenue

Back of 122 North Street

Huck Elling

 

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts

28 Renne Avenue

CATA’s Annual Art Show I Am a Part of Art

On View: Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

Wandering Dance Society at Palace Park, 122 North Street

Presented by the Mill Town Foundation

Friday, July 7

5:00-5:30 pm Opening Jazz Set by the Don Mikkelsen Quartet

5:30-6:30 pm Swing Dance Lesson (no band)

5:30-6:00 pm Beginner Swing Lesson

6:00-6:30 pm Intermediate Swing Lesson (beginners welcome to stay)

6:30-7:30 pm Open Dance with the Don Mikkelsen Quartet

 

Berkshire Art Center/Brothership Building

141 North Street

“Inside And Out” by Diane Firtell

Window Display (Small Window)

“Hot of the Mess” by Deborah Carter

Window Display (Large Window)

Reception with Deborah Carter: Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

Free Family Art Making Drop-In: Friday, July 7, 5:30 to 7:30 pm

 

Soda Chef

161 North Street

Nicole March Art

Window Display

 

Persip Park

175 North Street

Live music on Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

5-6 pm: R.O.P.E and Choices Mentoring Initiative

6-8 pm: Star nii – Afrobeats

 

Sotille Park

200 North Street

Free, live and interactive Pottery Demonstration with Jim Horsford

Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

ReDefine Community Center

5 Melville Street

Matt Brinton, Nicole Fecteau, Cody Mitchell, and Hannah Mitchell

On view one night only!

Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm: View art and chat with the artists about their artistic process

Switchback will be performing!

 

Hotel on North

297 North Street

SILVER LIGHT: Contemporary Paintings by Joanie Ciolfi

Reception: Friday, July 7, 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

On View: Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm

 

Marchetti Headquarters

314 North Street

EYE CANDY

Jesse Tobin McCauley

Opening Reception: Friday, July 7, 5 to 7 pm

 

Methuselah Bar and Lounge

391 North Street

Boss Themes/ Alien Communication

Edward Pelkey

On View: Friday, July 7, 5 to 8 pm