Berkshire Visual and Performing Arts Center (BVPAC)

Creative Development-see below for articles about the creative development being done through SEDF

THE GOOD PURPOSE GALLERY and JOYOUS STUDIOS

CIP Berkshire Center News!

Art classes for Berkshire Center Students are taking place at Joyous Studios (in the former community center at St. George’s Church – now the Spectrum Playhouse) and in the newly opened Good Purpose Art Gallery – both are projects of the Student Educational Development Fund (SEDF).

Students had a great time doing Graffiti Art on wall sized posters at Joyous Studios in June while learning that it is recognized as a legitimate art form and that Graffiti artists have had their work displayed in museums and in serious art shows. They were also impressed to learn that the work of these recognized artists has sold for thousands of dollars.

Here are some photos of the result of our wall-sized project!

 

 

 

 

 

 

In July, the art class took place in the Good Purpose Gallery. Some of the students were inspired by the art in the gallery and some brought in progress projects to work on. We talked about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. That being said, some of the students sketched the work of artist Kayla Corby (our featured July artist) or tried to replicate the stacked block sculpture of Joe Katz and one student even did a drawing of a David Bryce Sculpture. Others were happy to do their “own thing” which is always encouraged and one student stayed until the gallery closed that day.

All Berkshire Campus students are welcome in the gallery at any time and encouraged to volunteer or just come and create artwork! Written by Francine Britton, Good Purpose Gallery Director, and SEDF Coordinator. July 2011

The Student Educational Development Fund (SEDF) announces the First Place Winners of the 2011 Annual SEDF Nationwide Art Contest

By Francine Britton

SEDF is dedicated to development of the visual and performing arts talents of young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and Learning Differences. Our 2011 contest had twenty-seven nationwide entries representing all six College Internship Program Centers across the US. Choosing the winners from this diverse and vastly creative array of work in various media was a most difficult task for our panel of judges!

The foundation is please to honor our two FIRST PLACE WINNERS…

Arturo A. – a student at CIP’s Berkshire Center. Arturo’s photograph of Sandy Beach in Lee, MA was taken on a pre-spring gray winter’s day!

 

 

 

 

Ryan O. – a student from CIP’s Berkshire Center. Ryan’s drawing is a deeply moving and expressive self-portrait.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about SEDF and next year’s contest, please contact: Francine Britton – SEDF Coordinator – fbritton@sedfund.org or 413-394-5045.