Community Access to the Arts: redefining disability

The Berkshire Museum is hosting Community Access to the Arts’ “I Am a Part of Art” Annual Art Show & Poetry Reading in celebration of CATA’s 20th Anniversary this year!

When: July 25th – August 25 with an opening on Thursday, July 25th from 5:30-7:30
Where: The Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA

NOTE: Admission to the opening reception is FREE, however, standard museum admission is required for the duration of the exhibit.

The exhibit features over 100 works of art created in CATA’s many visual arts workshops throughout the year in settings such as Adult Day Health, Berkshire County ARC, Taconic and Lee High Schools, Blue Q, and in CATA’s own studio in Great Barrington. Also included are paintings from CATA’s A.R.T. (Artistic Realization Technologies) workshops.

The poetry reading features a number of guest readers and poems from CATA’s new poetry anthology, “going for a flower.”

Join CATA in collaboration with Berkshire International Film Festival for a screening of CinemAbility, co-presented with Berkshire Film & Media Commission and Black Ice Entertainment!

When: Friday, May 31 at 11:15am
Where: Triplex Cinema, Great Barrington with a panel discussion immediately following the screening.

For tickets Click Here!!

From the early days of silent films to present day, from Chaplin to X-Men, disability portrayals are ever changing. This dynamic documentary will take a detailed look at the evolution of “disability” in entertainment. Our in-depth investigation will go behind the scenes to interview Filmmakers, Studio Executives, Film Historians, and Celebrities, as well as utilize vivid clips from Hollywood”s most beloved motion pictures, television programs, and commercials to focus attention on the powerful impact that entertainment and the media can have on society. Do disability portrayals in the media impact society or does the media simply re_ect our ever-changing attitudes? In this important documentary we will see if media has had a hand in transforming the societal inclusion of the disabled and determine if an enlightened understanding of disability can have a positive impact on the world

Immediately following the screening will be a panel discussion moderated by John Whalan or Black Ice Entertainment & panelists will include CinemAbility co-writer Samuel Reed, Gold Pictures & Mathayu Warren-Lane, Hollywood Access Services.

Celebrate CATA’s 20th anniversary by joining us in May for our Annual Performance & Gala!

When: Saturday, May 11 at 6:00pm & Sunday, May 12 at 1:00pm
Where: Tina Packer Playhouse, Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, Massachusetts

Saturday’s Gala evening includes cocktails, performance, buffet dinner and dancing. Tickets are $154. Cocktails beginning at 5pm, performance beginning at 6pm.

Sunday’s Matinee is $21 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Performance beginning at 1pm

Where: Lee Public Library, 100 Main Street, Lee, MA

When: January 7-31, 2013. Reception: Tuesday, January 22, 5-7pm

CATA’s Art on Tour makes a stop at the Lee Library! The show will include framed artwork by CATA artists and a variety of canvases completed in CATA’s Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.) program. A reception will be held on Tuesday, January 22 from 5-7pm. The reception is free and open to the public.

This exhibit was made possible by a grant from the Lee Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.