9th Berkshire Pottery Tour Begins Sept. 24

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. —The self-guided 9th Annual Berkshire Pottery Tour will take place the weekend of Sept. 24-25, 2022, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The potters and their locations include Daniel Bellow (Great Barrington), Ben Evans (Richmond), Ellen Grenadier (Monterey), Linda Skipper (New Marlborough), and Paula Shalan (Stockbridge), and The Berkshire Art Center (Stockbridge). 

The tour is designed in a geographic loop and participants can start at any of the 5 studios. Orange and white Berkshire Pottery Tour road signs will be posted at key turns on the weekend of the event. 

At each of the five core studios, the potters will be available to talk about their clay work and/or to demonstrate their techniques. There will also be wares on display for purchase.

Seven guest potters will be present on the tour, offering an even greater array of functional and sculptural ceramics. Their names and host studios include Lois Aronow (Daniel Bellow); Harry Levenstein (Ben Evans); Connie Talbot and Michael McCarthy (Ellen Grenadier); Rie McCarthy (Paula Shalan); and Lorimer Burns and Hunter Cady (Berkshire Art Center).

Nonprofit Center Recognizes Community Leaders and Volunteers

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Wednesday, May 22, 2024

More than 200 people attended the award ceremony at Kripalu. Some 62 nominations were submitted in seven categories. See more photos here.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — More than 200 people gathered at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health on Tuesday morning to recognize individuals who better the community through non-profit organizations.

 

Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires honored seven individuals who have gone above and beyond in their work: Jess Vecchia, Kate Barton, Jude Wesselman, Noelia Salinetti, Brenda Petell, Karen Richards, and Chris Melski. 

 

For the second year in a row, Kids 4 Harmony performed during the the ceremony. The chamber players, who are the most advanced students in the program, performed two pieces of which one was composed by a student. 

 

A panel of 21 judges from schools, businesses, and nonprofits combed through 62 nominations for the annual awards. They were solicited in seven categories: Executive Leadership, Board Leadership, Volunteer, Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership, Rock Star, Unsung Hero, and Lifetime Achievement. 

 

The morning was described as the "Oscars for the Nonprofits." During the ceremony, NPC founder Liana Toscanini and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier helped distribute the awards, House and Senate citations, and front newspaper pages made by NPC partner The Berkshire Eagle.  

 

Also recognized was longtime state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, who is leaving his seat after 11 terms. 

 

Although unable to attend the ceremony, Attorney General Andrea Campbell thanked the award recipients for the work they do in a video clip.