Annual CATA Art Show Opens July 30

10:19AM / Sunday, July 26, 2026Print Story | Email Story

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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Lanesborough Hopes for Continued Talks on Mall Sale

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:41PM / Wednesday, November 11, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board is optimistic that talks for the Berkshire Mall sale will continue.

Chair Deborah Maynard and Vice Chair Juli Baker were to meet with mall owner JMJ Holdings, the Baker Hill Road District, and proposed buyer Cypress Equities on Tuesday to discuss next steps. As of Wednesday, iBerkshires had received a "we are optimistic" from Maynard on the talks. The Berkshire Eagle reported a response from a Cypress representative saying talks will continue.

Baker had updated the Select Board on Monday about the status of the sale and the efforts being undertaken by the renamed Baker Hill Business District.

Cypress Equities pulled out of a purchase-and sale-agreement with mall owner JMJ last week for the following reasons.

Not enough water service/pressure to the property to support redevelopment without constructing costly water tanks.
The current septic system and former treatment facility is not acceptable for a project of the scale and magnitude proposed.
There is existing asbestos and bad soil from the treatment system that needs to be remediated off site.
And the current structure and tax assessment of the Baker Hill Road District.

Baker has been working with what is now being called the Baker Hill Business District and said she and the district members are happy that Cypress has decided to leave the door open to more discussions and that they have been working hard to try and address the company's needs.

Last month, the town had asked state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to support the state Department of Transportation taking over the Connector Road, funding for a mall connection to Pittsfield's wastewater treatment plant and a connection to the town's water main.

Baker said an amendment has been drafted to cap the district's taxes to not grow more than 2.5 percent a year. She noted that, historically, taxes have not grown by more than one percent per year, so it won't be difficult to meet that cap.

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