Annual CATA Art Show Opens July 30

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community Access to the Arts' annual art show "I Am a Part of Art" opens Thursday, July 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts.
 
This is one of the largest annual exhibitions by artists with disabilities in the country. The exhibition will also be hosted by the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, and features nearly 300 paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, illustrations, and animations by 250 artists with disabilities from across Berkshire County and Columbia County in New York State.
 
CATA artists will be on hand at the reception to discuss their collective artwork spanning painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, collage, printmaking, and animation. Artwork is available for purchase, with artists earning a commission on every work sold. The event is free to attend but registration is requested at CATAarts.org.
 
"'I Am a Part of Art' offers a window into the imagination of artists with disabilities — and brings CATA's mission to life," said Executive Director Margaret Keller. "All year, CATA artists build skills and express themselves through weekly arts programs. Now, the community is invited to experience and celebrate their remarkable creativity."
 
The exhibition is the culmination of CATA's year-round visual arts programs for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injuries.
 
"Art describes our life," said artist Kyle Houghtling. "It lets us show where we've been. My art is awesome and adventurous."
 
Visitors can also explore the exhibition through CATA's free digital exhibit guide on Bloomberg Connects app. It features artist interviews, audio tours written and narrated by CATA artists, original music composed by CATA musicians, and behind-the-scenes stories that deepen visitors' experience while expanding accessibility.

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive. 

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour. 

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.  

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children.  The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation.  One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue. 

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out. 

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release. 

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