New Artists and New Energy Emerge at Housatonic Galleries and Artists Art Walk and Group Show, August 20-21, 2011

August 15, 2011: For immediate release

For more information, contact: David R. Guenette, aHa! Art Walk Organizer, P. O. Box 676, Housatonic, MA 01236, 413-854-1118, info@housatonicartists.org/, http://housatonicartists.org/

What:   aHa! Art Walk

Where:  Village of Housatonic, Great Barrington, MA

When: Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

The village of Housatonic, the mill-strewn part of Great Barrington has long been the home and work place of a wide range of artists. The aHa! (Association of Housatonic Artists) Art Walk this year tells the tale: artists remain an important part of the life and economy of Housatonic.

Seven galleries, a number of open studios, and Berkshire Pulse are inviting all to drop on by Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, from 11:00-6:00. This year’s aHa! Art Walk also includes a group show of a dozen local artists, presented at Berkshire Pulse, at 410 Park Street. Many of the participating artists are showing in Housatonic for the first time, having come to the village relatively recently. Other artists showing in the Group Show are long-time resident artists now showing again, as aHa! kicks up its game, showing that the art scene in Housatonic is not only still around, but more active then ever.

“Housatonic has had the reputation as an arts-centered place for a long time,” says David R. Guenette, this year’s aHa! Art Walk organizer, and a first-time Group Show participant.  “The level of energy in Housatonic is exploding, with a lot of talk of art-oriented development, the new Economic Development Area designation and expedited permitting process, and potential for re-establishing passenger rail service. With all the under-used mill structures, former elementary school, and some available commercial buildings, there’s plenty of space ready to be put back to work. Art is a main driver of business development in the Berkshires, and Housatonic is well-positioned—both geographically and creatively—to grow more business.”

Housatonic, nestled within Route 7 (Stockbridge Road), Route 183 (Front and Park Streets), and Route 41 (North Plain Street), has been too often passed by in the last few years, as tourists travel between the restaurants and cultural activities found in great abundance in Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and Lenox, even while Housatonic has long been the home of galleries and artists’ studios. “The aHa! Art Walk has been produced for dozens of years to celebrate the galleries and artists of Housatonic,” says Guenette, “and this year’s Art Walk is just the start of a multi-year effort we’re making to make sure that everyone knows about us.”

New with this year’s aHa! Art Walk is a group show highlighting Housatonic artists whose studios are too far flung to be part of a convenient open studios route, and these and other artists will exhibit at Berkshire Pulse during the Art Walk.

Other shows are being presented at the Housatonic galleries, including an ad hoc gallery space at the corner of Main Street and Front Street, include watercolors of the Berkshires, by Bob Taylor; sculpture, by Peter Barrett; and furniture, by Chris Hogan. Also being shown in this space is work by Dan Mead and Sally Eagle, widely published travel and nature photographers, whose stunning work has gained wide recognition, including, most recently, as a finalist in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010 category, from the Natural History Museum, London, England. Local artists featured in the aHa! Group Show at Berkshire Pulse include Sandra Muss, Sherry Steiner, Dan Karp, Gabrielle Senza, Jeff Kramer, David R. Guenette, and others.

Special and ongoing shows from Housatonic galleries and studios, including Lauren Clark Fine Arts; Deb Koffman Artspace; Kate Knapp’s Front St Gallery and Studio; Lorimer Burns Ceramics/ Borealis Studio; and Mimi Hassett’s Porch 204, are also featured destinations.

Additional announcements for opening receptions, talks, Art Walk Map, artist information, and show updates can be found at http://housatonicartists.org/.