Community Access to the Arts: redefining disability

Many thanks to The Advocate, Berkshires Week, and iberkshires.com for their articles about our I AM A PART OF ART exhibit and poetry reading. We appreciate all those who came out to support CATA’s poets and visual artists – 120 people in all! Guest reader, Donald Platt, was thoroughly engaging and charming and CATA’s poets delighted in hearing their poems read aloud and the wonderful applause following. Michael Platt, Donald’s brother and a participant in CATA’s visual arts workshops, presented Donald with one of his paintings, beautifully framed by Pat Hogan, CATA’s visual arts faculty who doubles as the framer and hanger of the exhibit. Ten paintings were sold, along with over $900 worth of CATAdirect jewelry, notecards and accessories. And everyone enjoyed the refreshments provided by Canyon Ranch, thanks to Linda & Reggie Cooper. Special thanks to the Greenagers for planting the little garden outside of the gallery. We were delighted to be on the air with Dan Schilling of WSBS that morning, and that Dan found time after work to come see the show. If you missed the opening, don’t forget the studio is open Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm, and weekends by appointment.

CATA continues to apply for grants to support a variety of program offerings. We’re very grateful to have received the following recent grant awards: $3,664 from the City of Pittsfield for workshops, $4,000 from Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation for school programs, and $3,500 from George & Carol Minkoff for a 60-second public service announcement film to be shown in local theatres.

This summer, you’ll find CATAdirect products in more retail locations than ever: Red Lion Inn Boutique, You are Here, Worldwide Market Square, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Campo di Fiore, The Bookloft, & Williams & Son County Store. Look for our Sticks & Stones Mirror in the September issue of Berkshire Living Home Design! We’re working on our holiday gift and card collections and hope everyone will choose CATA as the place to purchase printed holiday cards, handmade holiday cards, and 2011 Calendar cards.

Excerpt from an article by Chris Gauthier for The Advocate:

The writer Francine Prose probably was not aware of Community Access to the Arts when she wrote “There are many rooms in the house of art,” but this encouraging statement serves as an apt designation for the 17-year-old arts program based in Great Barrington.

CATA, as the organization is lovingly referred to, is just what the name implies: an organization, a place, a group that makes the creation of art accessible to people who live with disabilities in the community. On any given day throughout the year, CATA’s participants can dive headlong into creating paintings and drawings, writing poetry, dancing, acting or nearly any form of art to their hearts’ content. And while there are some guidelines, the artwork is ultimately up to individual expression.

The 24 faculty artists, the volunteers and the staff members are simply there to teach and guide the process along.

“We teach art to individuals, just as we would to anyone else,” said Pat Hogan, a painter and framer who has worked as an art teacher with CATA for more than 10 years and who is serving as the artistic director for this year’s art show and poetry reading gala. “My job is to help the artists perform at the highest level as they possibly can.” Continue reading…

Excerpt from an article by Laura Corona for Berkshires Week:

“I have a whole collection of poems. They tell my thoughts about what I’m doing – dancing, that I’m happy and well, when I’m happy with myself and everybody else. When I can write it, I can explain things,” Mary Huberman said.

Huberman, of Great Barrington, is one of the poets to have work showcased at the upcoming annual Community Access to the Arts (CATA) “I Am a Part of Art” art show and poetry reading, tonight from 5 to 7.

Tonight, CATA will celebrate visual artists and poets with approximately 80 pieces of artwork and 15 poems based on the theme ‘Sticks and Stones.’ “It’s the culmination of an entire year of art workshops,” said Liana Toscanini, CATA’s development and marketing director. “It gives people a chance to shine in public. It’s part of the mission of CATA to notice people’s talents and abilities as opposed to their disabilities.”

CATA is in its 18th year of using art to integrate people with disabilities into the community. Through more than 1,000 workshops in Berkshire County, CATA serves some 500 people with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities, offering classes in a wide range of visual and performing arts, from painting to juggling to yoga. Continue reading…

Excerpt from an article by Nichole Dupont for iBerkshires:

If you’re looking for a poetic pick-me-up on a rainy day, Donald Platt is not your man.

Yet despite his somber, broken tercets, the two-time winner of the Pushcart Prize and recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts is coming to the Berkshires to celebrate (and yes, maybe to weep). This Thursday, Platt will be the guest reader at the sixth annual Art Show and Poetry Reading hosted by CATA (Community Access to the Arts) at its headquarters on 71 Railroad St. According to CATA Executive Director Sandy Newman, having Platt read is the icing on a very hard-earned cake.

“He’s lovely and charming,” she said. “It’s an honor to have him come and read the participants’ poems and share some of his reflections. Donald will read their poetry. To have him here is sort of a gift.”

Platt will be reading 14 poems by CATA participants, including those of his younger brother (and his muse) who was born with severe Down syndrome. Like Platt’s brother, CATA participants are all adults living with disabilities. Through CATA, participants become enmeshed in visual and performing arts workshops that encourage dialogue, experimentation and, ultimately, artistic expression. According to faculty artist Pat Hogan, the faculty are given a theme every year and a few thoughts addressing that theme. Then it is theirs (and their students’) to do with what they will. This year’s theme: “Sticks and Stones.” Continue reading…

Sonya Mackintosh, founder and designer of smARTWORKS, Inc., believes in giving back to her community. That’s why smARTWORKS contributes to the local economy in ways specifically pertaining to animal rights, cultural organizations and health issues that are close to her.

Each season a scarf and an organization are selected and paired. 15% of the sales of that scarf will be donated to the organization. This season’s selection, Tundra and McKay (available from May – October 2010), will benefit Community Access to the Arts.

Visit smARTWORKS to learn more and make your purchase today!