The Second Annual Berkshire Salon

Exhibition Opens at Eclipse Mill Gallery on May 22

By: Charles Giuliano - Mar 28, 2009

Inbstallation views of the 2008 Berkshire Salon.

The works are clustered on the walls Salon style.

A selection of abstract works.

An arrangement of representational works.

Another grouping.

A cage containing a video by Marianne Petit.

Reflections Ravenna by Astrid Hiemer.

Digital images by Robert Henriquez.

An Op Art piece by Richard Harrington.

A view of the Paris Metro by Thor Wickstrom.

 

The Second Annual Berkshire Salon
May 22 through June 21

Opening Reception: Friday, May 22, 6 to 8 PM
Delivery of work: 12 noon to 5 pm on Sunday, May 17, and Monday, May 18,
The Eclipse Mill Gallery
243 Union Street
North Adams, MA
http://www.eclipsemill.com


The Eclipse Mill Gallery, at 243 Union Street, in North Adams, Ma. launches a season of exhibitions opening on Friday, March 22, with a public reception from 6 to 8 PM, for the "Second Annual Berkshire Salon." This special exhibition, open to all artists in the Berkshire community, will run through June 21. After opening with the "Berkshire
Salon", the Eclipse Mill Gallery season will extend through the Winter Holidays, ending with a show of affordable "Small Works."

The "Berkshire Salon" was initiated last year with great success as a means of reaching out to and including the entire Berkshire community. The Eclipse Mill Gallery is owned and maintained by residents of the Eclipse Mill artists lofts building. Much of the focus of the exhibition program is based on works created by Eclipse artists and their invited
colleagues. The notion of the "Salon" has been to cast the widest possible net with a non juried exhibition.

The notion of a "Salon," based on those in 19th Century France, is to provide a dense and diverse display of work clustered onto the walls of the gallery. Following the tradition of the famous "Salon des Refuses" this non-juried exhibition allows for visitors to draw their own conclusions about the work. Despite this selection process, open to anyone who opted to submit their work, in 2008 the quality of the work on view and its critical reception was truly remarkable. A number of those participating were showing their work for the first time. They came to the Salon with their families, friends and neighbors. Eclipse residents and many established artists enjoyed joining in on the spirit and enthusiasm of the occasion.

Last year's "Berkshire Salon" also introduced individual artists who went on to be included in later Eclipse Mill Gallery Exhibitions as well as North Adams Open Studios and other exhibitions. One example of this was Andrew Klass, a student at Mass College of Liberal Arts, who went on from initial exposure to participate in Open Studios and a one man show at Cup and Saucer in North Adams. He was also later shown in the "Small Works Show" at the Eclipse and even made sales. We were pleased to play a role in launching his career as well as discovering many interesting Berkshire artists.

This annual non-juried exhibition is open to all Berkshire-based artists 21 and over. Those under 21 may exhibit with the consent of the curator. The work will be hung in traditional "salon" style.

Due to space limitations, artists interested in participating in the Salon are asked to complete an application available online at the Eclipse Mill website. The completed application may be mailed, along with an entry donation of $15 per applicant, to Berkshire Salon, c/o River Hill Pottery, 243 Union Street, #104, North Adams, MA 01247. Inclusion in the exhibition will be based on the order in which completed applications are received. One works per artist, of suitable size and content, will be exhibited as space permits. Sculptures and objects are also accepted but must be submitted with an appropriate stand or support. Artists may drop off their work, ready to be installed (for example framed with a wire) from 12 noon to 5 pm on Sunday, May 17,  and Monday, May 18, 2009. Hanging will begin as soon as works are delivered. Walk-ins will be accepted but priority will be given to artists who pre-register. Because the gallery does not have space to store works artists are asked to remove all packing material after
delivery and to pick up their work promptly.

To Apply: http://eclipsemill.com/
download Berkshire Salon 2009 Prospectus and Application .pdf

The Eclipse Mill Gallery season will extend from Memorial Day through the holidays and includes the following shows: "Berkshire Salon", "Two Actors, Ten Painters", "Illuminati: Working with Light", "Imaged Words", "Eclipse Annual" and "Small Works."