The First Artswalk of 2013 is this Friday!

This Friday, January 4, from 5 pm to 8 pm, Pittsfield's First Fridays Artswalk begins its first full year of art shows, openings and events in downtown Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District. Bundle up and join us! Galleries, shops and restaurants will be open late and free maps and guides will be available throughout downtown as well as online here. 

First Fridays Artswalk | January 4 | 5pm-8pm | FREE

Take a Free Guided Tour of Artswalk!

New to Artswalk or looking for interesting company? Artswalk founder Mary McGinnis will lead a free guided tour of Artswalk locations. Meet her at Gallery 25, located at 25 Union Street just off North Street at 5pm to join in the fun, and enjoy cake and hot chocolate before and after to keep you warm and toasty! Gallery 25 is also hosting the closing reception for Marge Bride's watercolor show of winter scenes.

Gallery 25 | 5pm | 25 Union Street

10% Off the David Wax Museum at the Colonial Theatre!

Make a night of it upstreet and pick up a coupon for 10% off Friday evening's exciting concert at The Colonial Theatre, featuring the up-and-coming David Wax Museum, who play a joyful musical fusion of traditional Mexican folk with American roots and indie rock. They've appeared at the Newport Folk Festival, on NPR, and their latest album, Knock, Knock, Get Up, was named one of the best local albums of the year in Boston!

The Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street | $18/$10 (without coupon)

Click here for some lovely look & listens!

Donna Tukel opening at TREEHOUSE Children's Boutique

TREEHOUSE Children's Boutique hosts an opening reception for the work of Donna Tukel.  Tukel was struck with artistic inspiration after discovering Hebrew calligraphy in its script version. Though not intended to be religious, the wording found in Tukel's paintings are segments from Judaic poems and prayers expressing the universal hope for peace and the search for meaning in life.

TREEHOUSE Children's Boutique | 305 North Street

Paul Hergenrother opening at Marketplace Cafe

Enjoy an opening reception for a show of work by photographer/designer Paul H. Hergenrother. This collection, entitled Historic Doors of the Berkshires, is on display for through the month of January at the Marketplace Café. Hergenrother has been a professional photography since a young age, working with clients such as Mercedes-Benz, DuPont and Bacardi in the New York City area. He has since relocated to the area where his work can be seen throughout Berkshire and Hampshire Counties.

The Marketplace Café | 53 North Street | 5-7pm

Tom Fahey opening at Berkshire Community College Intermodal Gallery

The Berkshire Community College Gallery inside the Intermodal Center is dedicated to showing work by current and former BCC students. Don't miss the opening reception of a new show of works by Tom Fahey.

Berkshire Community College Intermodal Gallery | North Street & Columbus Avenue

Under Construction group show opening reception at NUArts 

The 17 terrific artists upstairs at 311 North Street, formerly known as Art.On.No have renamed themselves! Join us in welcoming NUArts Studios & Gallery to Artswalk! They are hosting an opening reception for Under Construction, a group show of works-in-progress by NUArts artists as well as open studios by many of the artists. Come in and warm up!

NUArts Gallery and Studios | Upstairs at 311 North Street

Berkshire Carousel opening at Berkshire Medical Center

Opening a bit earlier than the other shows, Berkshire Medical Center's lobby will be displaying several of the hand-carved horses from Berkshire Carousel.

Berkshire Medical Center | 725 North Street | 3-5pm

Sam Craig at Unusual Wedding Rings & More

Sam Craig's wood sculptures are on display at Unusual Wedding Rings & More.  Drawn from nature, his sculptures have been described as original and theatrical. Crawford Square, home to Pateez Boutique and more, will also be featuring a variety of artists in its hallway.

Unusual Wedding Rings & More | Crawford Square | 137 North Street

Out of the Studio at the Lichtenstein

Out of the Studio is a group show of works by artists who create in the studios of the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts: Peg Dotchin, Lorraine Abruzzo, Julio Granda, Mario Caluori, Sean McCusker, Marion Grant (art pictured left), Jim Horsford, and Michael Rousseau.

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Avenue 

Ongoing Exhibits Open for Artswalk!

Ongoing shows that will be open Friday night during Artswalk include offbeat iPhone photography by Douglass Truth at The Lantern; small works by Sherry Steiner at Wild Sage; large format photography by David Ricci at Spice Dragon; multimedia works by Karen Carmean, Barbara Deely, Cindy Duryea, John Gampert, Mitch Greenwald and Margaret O'Keefe at Bagels, Too; prints by Marguerite Bride on display at the Crowne Plaza; and a solo show of work by Terry Wise at the offices of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.

Click here for a handy map & guide to all of the above & more at the January 4th First Fridays Artswalk.

Live Music at Mission, the Colonial & More

Make an evening of it with dinner out and live music at The Colonial Theatre with the David Wax Museum, or at Mission Bar + Tapas, where the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors will play from 5:30pm-8pm followed by 8 Foot River from 8:30pm-11pm, with no cover charge.

Mission Bar + Tapas | 438 North Street

Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street

A Big New Year's Thank You!

First Fridays Artswalk is made possible by our lead sponsors: Berkshire Money Management, Gallery 25, the Berkshire Art Association, The Berkshire Eagle and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Other sponsors include Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Medical Center, Downtown Pittsfield Inc., WJ Blueprint, and the City of Pittsfield. For more information about First Fridays Artswalk, including information for artists who would like to participate, visit our website at firstfridaysartswalk.com or call 413-443-5601. And mark your calendar for the second First Fridays Artswalk of 2013, on Friday February 1st. See you upstreet!