Annual Berkshire Pottery Tour

07:38AM / Friday, September 18, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — This year’s Berkshire Pottery Tour, in its 13th year, will showcase the diverse craftsmanship of 15 potters.

The annual Tour will be Sept. 26 and 27, from 10 am to 5 pm both days.

The tour provides guests with the opportunity to explore working Ceramic Studios, meet artists, and gain insight into the creative process behind handcrafted functional ceramics and sculpture.

Founded in 2013 by a group of professional potters on faculty at the Berkshire Art Center, the Berkshire Pottery Tour has evolved into a tradition. Visitors this year are invited to experience eight diverse Studios, each highlighting a range of techniques, unique styles, and ceramic art.

Potter Harry Levenstein will welcome tour attendees to his new home studio for the first time. Levenstein will be hosting guest potter Hunter Cady this year.

Other new artists for 2026 include: Marley Reed, a former apprentice, will show at Dan Bellow's studio. Sculptor Lauren Skelly Bailey and renowned studio artist Sharon Pollack will be guests at Lorimer Burns’ Studio. Ellen Grenadier will host a new guest, Nina Ryan, who will show her large-scale woodfired pots at Grenadier’s Monterey Studio. Also new to the tour is Lyndee Deal, who, together with Doug Pelzman, will be guests at Ben Evans' Richmond Studio.

Founding member Paula Shalan will host Alison Palmer. The Berkshire Art Center will be open to view their spacious community studio with a newly rebuilt soda kiln.

Michael Marcus will be exhibiting his innovative multi-chambered Noborigama wood kiln at Joyous Spring Pottery and gallery. Michael, the well-known chef-owner of Bizen Japanese restaurant and sushi bar, brings a deep passion for Japanese pottery, which he studied extensively in Japan.

The self-guided driving tour follows a scenic circuit through Richmond, West Stockbridge, Stockbridge, Housatonic, Great Barrington and Monterey. Participants may start at any studio. Detailed maps and video previews are available on the tour's website. Paper maps will be provided at each studio. Distinctive orange and white Berkshire pottery tour road signs will guide visitors along the route during the weekend.

To see the full list of potters and a short video featuring several participating potters, visit the Berkshire Pottery Tour website: www.berkshirepotterytour.com. The tour is free, and no reservations are required. A variety of ceramic wares will be available for sale.

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Pittsfield Wants People to Know Where Free Public Wifi Is

By Brittany PolitoiBerkhshires Staff
04:46AM / Friday, September 18, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city wants it to be clear where people can connect to free public wifi— which expands beyond downtown.

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission approved "Free Wifi" signage at The Common, Riverway Park, and Durant Park. Community members can access the internet without charge in these locations, as well as in downtown areas.

Two years ago, Pittsfield received a $99,972 Digital Equity Implementation Grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. This allowed the city to take a comprehensive look at digital equity and determine where to focus attention.

"That was a lengthy process that we worked on, and there was a lot of public input. We did some surveying. We met with a lot of focus groups; [Berkshire Regional Planning Commission] was the group that spearheaded that for us, and one of the things that came up was the lack of accessible wifi," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reported. "Particularly in the westside."

Throughout this process, residents also wanted to see connectivity at the nearby Westside Riverway Park.

In 2023, Pittsfield was selected to participate in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program launched by the state and MBI, focused on ensuring residents can use the internet to conduct day-to-day activities. A digital equity plan also qualifies Pittsfield for additional grant funding.

Around 16,000 city households qualified for the Federal Communications Commission's affordable internet program that ended in 2024.

Dodds said adding Wi-FI and signage to Durant and Riverway Parks is a small piece of the larger digital equity project. Signage is already downtown, and the city plans to hire the same designer for the expanded wayfinding so it is cohesive.

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