Community Access to the Arts: redefining disability

VITAL SIGNS BYTES

Roger Reed and Michael Wolski joined forces in CATA’s juggling workshop to bring an artistic and humorous spin to the physiological statistics of vital signs and breathing.  

Stefanie Weber quotes Jimmy Slyde, “Keep it alive!” Her new CATA work looks at what people do to get well, be well and be alive, all while Tap dancing!  
 
JoAnne Spies integrates her song, “I am a Person First,” with text from residents of Berkshire Health Systems elder care settings.  
 
Vikki True and guitarist, Sam Rosen have created a score of sounds vital to our existence.  From alarm clocks to a baby’s heartbeat, Vikki will lead the CATA Seranaders through a symphony of live and pre-recorded noises, sounds and reverberations.
 
Dawn Lane and the Moving Company will perform 4 vignettes depicting our least favorite attributes of the four seasons.  With music by Vivaldi, the four short works will be performed unpredictably throughout the show, echoing our recent erratic weather!  
 
Diane Prusha and Barby Cardillo, at the suggestion of CATA participant Eric Schumann, are focusing on Shakespearean sonnets, noting text and moments that exemplify the feelings of being alive.

Other guest performers include the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe, Lorimer Burns, Jane Goodrich and Richard Downs.  

The Marketplace has put together a delicious menu for CATA’s annual performance and gala, on Saturday, May 12th! Be sure to bring your appetite!

• Shrimp & corn fritter with cherry pepper remoulade
• Three cheese quiche tartlet
• Charred beef with saffron tomato jam on crispy melba
• Caesar salad with crunchy croutons, parmesan and lemon anchovy dressing
• Gemelli pasta tossed with artichokes, sweet peas, tiny tomatoes, lemon and thyme olive oil
• Shiitake chicken burger with overnight tomato marmalade and lemon aioli…
• …And more!

We’re pleased to announce that the North Adams Public Library is exhibiting CATA artwork during February and March.  A reception will be held on Thursday, February 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is free to the public.

This exhibit is part of CATA’s “Art on Tour” program, funded in part by Rhee Kasky and Bill Cohn. CATA’s artwork travels to museums, galleries, restaurants, and other public spaces in keeping with the organization’s mission to nurture and celebrate the creativity of people with disabilities through shared experiences in the visual and performing arts.

Selected works include paintings and drawings from many of the visual arts workshops taking place in northern Berkshire County at settings such as BFAIR and Berkshire Service Group.  Also on view – paintings from CATA’s A.R.T. workshops, which feature an innovative painting technique for people with severe physical disabilities.  

Featured image by Katrina Couture.

Dear Friend,

If you love CATA’s work then tell the world! GreatNonprofits — a site like Amazon Book Reviews — is conducting a campaign to identify the top-rated arts nonprofits in the country.

Won’t you help us participate in the campaign by posting a review of your experience with us? Perhaps you’ve seen our annual performance or witnessed a workshop. Maybe you’ve seen a CATA exhibit and purchased a piece of artwork. Or maybe you know someone who participates in our programs. All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes! Go to: www.greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/community-access-to-the-arts-inc

Be sure to choose “Arts 2011” from the drop-down list of campaigns when posting your review.

Thank you for helping CATA gain national attention!

Susie Hardcastle became part of the CATA family in 1996; teaching at many of our settings in Berkshire County including BCARC, Redfield House, AD-LIB, and Riverbrook.  Her ability to impart her artistry while being open to the artistry of people with disabilities always produced something extraordinary!  In 2001, she began overseeing the design and execution of the sets for CATA’s annual performance at Shakespeare & Company.  She had a knack and reverence for coming up with all kinds of materials to produce desired effects.  CATA participants were always excited to encounter her ideas AND in her wonderful Susie way, she was always equally excited by their interpretations and variations.  We look forward to honoring Susie in this year’s show…we will miss her overalls and her fabulous guffaw!  

Please visit our Facebook photo album to view some of Susie’s remarkable contributions to CATA over the years.

In anticipation of our A.R.T exhibit, we want to share with you a video to show you the process behind this truly unique program! Be sure to stop by the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield October 12-15 to see all of the wonderful artwork!

To watch the video, click the link above or go to www.Vimeo.com/21735847!

We’re excited to be in the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Harvest Festival this year on October 1 and 2. Stop by to see our beautiful jewelry, handbags, note cards, and other handcrafted items. Each week, ten participants with disabilities and eight community volunteers meet in CATA’s studio to create unique items, mostly of recycled and donated materials. Current best sellers include our paper mache necklaces made from recycled Berkshire Eagle newspapers (!), and colorful luggage tags featuring CATA artwork and whimsical ribbons sure to be easily spotted in baggage claim.

While our programming takes a brief break in the summer, we’re still plugging away here at the office with the help of a hard working air conditioning system and plenty of ice coffee (and a summer intern – thank you Raphaella!). What for? Our summer Art Show of course! The opening reception is August 7th at the Welles Gallery in Lenox, and our faculty artist Pat Hogan is framing up a storm in anticipation.

We’re very much hoping to see all of our CATA friends at the opening reception, but if you can’t make it to the opening – you can stop by the Welles Library until August 20th to see some of the incredible art work created by our CATA folks this year. We asked our visual arts faculty and participants to “go places”, and go they did! Come and see their impressions of faraway places like Paris and Hawaii, alongside images of our beautiful home in the Berkshires. In some cases, our artists traveled to the depths of the art making process itself and emerged with magnificent, abstract images of dynamic shapes and vibrant colors.

Hope to see you all there! As always, many thanks for supporting CATA.

— Adrienne Brown, Program Coordinator

Many thanks to State Representative Smitty Pignatelli for facilitating CATA’s exhibit at the State House July 11-15.  The exhibit will hang in the beautiful Doric Hall Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm and and features the artwork of 29 CATA participants from 9 different Berkshire County settings.  CATA’s executive director, Sandy Newman, will be on hand on Monday morning to greet visitors along with Pat Hogan, CATA’s curator and visual faculty artist.  The exhibit is FREE to the public.

Marketplace has come up with an exciting menu for our Saturday evening post-performance buffet reception. Check out this mouth-watering spread!

CATA Gala Menu:

• Chickpea and feta fritter with tzatziki
• Tiny Maine crab cake with remoulade
• Charred beef with baby arugula & Stilton on brioche crouton
• Chickpea and feta fritter with tzatziki
• Tiny Maine crab cake with remoulade
• Charred beef with baby arugula & Stilton on brioche crouton
• Shrimp ceviche with tomato, red onion, lime and extra virgin olive oil
• Blue corn tortilla chips
• Mesclun salad with jicama and orange vinaigrette
• Flaked Moroccan salmon with five spice couscous salad (tossed to order)
• Coconut infused jasmine rice with grilled miso chicken breast and Napa cabbage
• Assortment of petit cookies, fresh fruit tartlets and chocolate brownies