Berkshire Museum's 'Art of the Hills' Will Open On Time, Online

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Berkshire Museum’s featured summer exhibit, "Art of the Hills: Narrative," will open on its previously scheduled date, Saturday, June 6, with one major modification: Instead of hanging on the plaster walls of the community museum’s galleries each selected work will be displayed on the simulated walls of an immersive, high-resolution 3D rendering. 

Visitors to the virtual exhibit will feel as if they are touring the museum’s galleries thanks to a cutting-edge technique that combines a three-dimensional digital model with crisp, colorful images of the artists' work and user-friendly navigation.

The online exhibit will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on June 6 with a virtual tour of the show presented by jurors Amy Myers and Seung Lee followed by a live Q&A. The community is encouraged to register online to reserve their space at the free online event.

After the virtual opening event has concluded, the innovative digital exhibition will be added to the website so that visitors may "walk" or "fly" through the galleries using their web browser or virtual reality headset as they examine each artwork in high definition at their own pace as part of the museum's popular Berkshire Museum@Home online programming. Additional "Art of the Hills: Narrative" events and digital content will be added to the site throughout the run of the virtual show as they are announced.

"We are committed to carrying on our mission, fulfilling our promise to the many talented artists in the show, and above all else: keeping or community and staff safe," said Jeff Rodgers, executive director of the Berkshire Museum. "Bringing this exhibition online does just that. I’m thrilled that we are able to share the work of Berkshire artists with the public now and look forward to opening."

The new exhibit is the second installment of "Art of the Hills," a juried exhibition that celebrates the rich, creative culture of our region by highlighting the works of emerging and established artists that live or work within a 60-mile radius of Berkshire Museum’s location in downtown Pittsfield. The first "Art of the Hills" exhibition debuted at the Berkshire Museum in 2018.

"Art of the Hills: Narrative" features 78 works by 64 artists thoughtfully curated from a collection of more than 530 submitted works. Jurors Seung Lee and Amy Myers embraced the "narrative" theme in similar but unique ways: Lee sought pieces that "tell the viewer a story by using features such as character, scenes, time, technique, and purpose," with an emphasis on skillful interpretation of a perceived concept; while Myers reviewed the works from the standpoint of time and wonder, selecting pieces that left her with "a question or curiosity" rather than a conclusion.

"Art of the Hills: Narrative" is expected to open in Berkshire Museum’s physical galleries with a community celebration on Oct. 10. Guests at the October 10 event will have the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy their work up-close and in-person.

Berkshire Delegation Details Efforts to Help Berkshires

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:20PM / Tuesday, April 07, 2026

BCAC Executive Director Deborah Leonczyk opens the conversation. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Legislators say they are advocating for programs and services that Berkshire County residents need the most, amidst federal funding cuts. 

 

State Sen. Paul Mark said state lawmakers are trying to ensure programs that are important to this region are funded well, have resources, and work in rural communities. 

 

When it comes to policy, he said, they are trying to make decisions that better reflect the things people need to get out of economically challenging times. For example, the Legislature recently provided $35 million for fuel assistance in the current fiscal year.

 

The senator said he understood how some are struggling, recalling how when he was young, his father lost his job and his family "fell on some really hard times that lasted for a really long time."

 

"Whenever I talk about going through those hard times, I always like to point out that most of the time, my father still worked, and it didn't matter. We still needed food stamps. We still lost our house repeatedly. We still had to move around. I went to four different elementary schools because we were challenged through no fault of our own," Mark said. 

 

"And so whenever I have a chance to talk, I tell that story, some version of it, because it's important to also remember there's a stigma, and that stigma doesn't need to be there. It shouldn't be there." 

 

His comments came during Berkshire Community Action Council's March 27 community conversation on poverty featuring professionals in mental health care, housing, food, transportation, child care, financial literacy, and education.