Tenth Annual Art and Earth Juried Exhibit

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10th Annual Art and Earth Juried Art Exhibit

The Berkeley Arts Council in Martinsburg, West Virginia is pleased to announce the Tenth Annual Art and Earth Juried Art Exhibit. The exhibit has the theme ‘Art and Earth: My Art – My World’. Entries should reflect the artist’s view of nature, the environment, or reflect an Earth Day related theme. Any medium or technique, 2-dimension or 3-dimension, is acceptable.

The exhibit will open April 1, 2020 in the Berkeley Art Works, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg. The exhibit will be on display through May 16, 2020. There will be a reception at the gallery on Sunday, April 5 from 2-4pm.

The exhibition is open to all visual artists throughout the continental United States over the age of 18 in all media. Entries must be original works of art that have been completed within the last three (3) years, and have not been previously exhibited in The Berkeley Art Works.

Juror: The juror for the 2020 exhibit is Janis Goodman, Professor of Fine Art, Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Janis Goodman is a Washington, DC-based artist and one of the founders of the arts group, Workingman Collective. She was awarded a Franz and Virginia Bader Award and DC Commission on the Arts Grant in 2018. She is also the art reviewer for the ‘Around Town’ feature on PBS Channel 26 WETA, Washington, DC.

Ms. Goodman’s drawings and paintings move between the narrative and the deconstructed. Years of hiking national parks and kayaking rivers along the east coast have formed the backdrop for her work. Her paintings are based on intuition and first-hand experience and her fascination with natural phenomena fuels her interest in movement, line, image and color. Ms. Goodman’s work follows the invisible energy paths connecting the dots between the observed, imagined and remembered. Ms. Goodman was an artist-in-residence for 3 years at the Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore Island, ME. Her work there further developed her interest in ecology and the paths of nature.

Entry fee: The entry fee for the exhibit is $35 for the first two works. Artists may submit one or two additional works for $10 each for a maximum of four works.

START YOUR ENTRY HERE

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES:
February 26 (Midnight)

Notification of Accepted Work: The notification announcing the juror’s selections will be sent by email and be posted on our web site (this page) on or about March 9, 2020.

Awards: Best in Show $500 Total prizes $1,000.

Entries: Entries for the Art and Earth exhibit must be submitted as digital images for jurying. You may submit up to four works to be juried for this exhibit. Continue reading →

BAC Update October, 2019

Admin2 Berkeley Arts Council News

October, 2009 saw the fully formed Berkeley Arts Council Board of Directors begin to develop plans. The stated goals of the Berkeley Arts Council are to champion the arts in Berkeley County, to support practicing artists and local art organizations, to encourage economic development through the arts, and to facilitate the growth of our community into a regional arts destination. We invite you to follow along with our progress and explore the blog archives on our website: https://berkeleyartswv.org/2009/10/

… AND THE NEXT 10 YEARS …

About a month ago Malinda gave us a recounting of how the Arts Council started and where we’ve progressed in the past 10 years.  The keyboard has been passed over to me, as the current president, to say a few words about our direction in the next 10 years.

Simply put the main direction is growth.  Growth as artists, growth as an organization, and growth of art in our community.  A quick check on Thesauraus.com gives 44 synonyms for the word “growth”.  What does it mean for the Arts Council?

“Increase.” The first and major direction is membership growth.  2020 will bring a new push to expand our membership numbers.  The Arts Council is reaching out to a wider and broader audience.  One such example is, this coming February we will be hosting an exhibit of tattoo art.  The Council is looking to promote arts of all mediums; visual, performing, decorative, graphic, and written.  We need  and want everyone, especially our current member, to encourage artists and those who support the arts to join our ranks as members.

“Germination.”   An increase of members will increase germination of ideas for new programs and activities.  Along with the ideas will come new hands to  turn the ideas into real events.  Our past 10 years has put us on firm ground for exhibits, but there’s always room for expansion.  We have plenty of room to grow in classes, workshops, and “one-shot events”.  All ideas are welcome.  Please let your thoughts be known.

“Maturation.”   Growing older doesn’t necessarily mean a person or organization is maturing.  As an organization the Council is working to increase its interaction in the “organizational community”.  While not a “lobbying” organization the Council plans to make sure the Arts are recognized as a vital section of a thriving community.   Regarding the individual artist, the council plans on developing “drop-in” sessions for artists to gather and discuss topics of their choosing.  Interacting  together to hone skills or simply build comradery.   FYI, we need a name for these type of “get-togethers”.  Suggestions anyone.

No need to worry that I’m going to go through all 44 of the synonyms, but I’ll close with, “Rise.”  This is the all-important point.  An organization doesn’t succeed just because it has a name.  It’s rises because there is an interest from its members to support it functions.  We don’t have the answers for the next 10 years,  but with continued and increased support we will continue to highlight the artistic community of the Eastern Panhandle.

Watch for more specifics.  And please send us  suggestions at  berkeleyartswv@gmail.com.

You can give me a call at home 304-271-8872

Regards,

Anna Howard
President

Berkeley Arts Council

In the Art Works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curator’s Statement

Making objects makes us human.

It’s in our nature to want to make things with our hands. Before the Industrial Revolution, all things were made by hand and those hand-crafted objects connected the events of daily life to basic materials and the elements of nature.

The making of craft connects the past to the present. Objects once made out of necessity have developed today into sophisticated art and design. Fine craft artists keep culture and tradition alive by using the same basic materials and techniques while interpreting modern-day ideas into beautiful works of useful art.

The power of hand-made objects is not just that they are incredibly beautiful, but they connect us to other times, to other places and most importantly, to other people.

An object that is made by another person’s hand deepens our experience with it and the event for which it is used. We make memories by engaging with hand-made objects and we pass those memories and the objects themselves along to future generations.

Craft is tactile and dimensional; it exists in the real world as opposed to the virtual world to which our society has become accustomed.  Hand-crafted objects are the result of physical activity, mastery of medium, focused attention, curiosity, and passion.

I hope you’ll spend time looking deeply at the objects in this exhibit. Consider how they were made, consider what they are made of, consider the traditions they represent, consider the sense of purpose, skill and passion that went into making them. Enjoy their beauty and let them tell their stories.

Annette Verna, October 2019

Explore Creativity With The Artisans at the Berkeley Art Works

Admin2 Artist Opportunities, Artists, Arts Events, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News

A Facilitated Discussion of Creativity
with the Exhibiting Artists

Sunday, October 20 from 2:00 – 4:00pm
Light refreshments will be served.

Berkeley Art Works
116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg

Check us out on Facebook and let us know that you’re coming.

Join us for a facilitated discussion about creativity with artists participating in the Craft in the Eastern Panhandle show.

We’ll be posing questions to these craftspeople in an effort to get at the heart of what it means to make objects.

  • How did they start making craft?
  • What makes them want to create – what’s the “pull”?
  • What draws them to their given medium or method of working?
  • Where does their inspiration come from?
  • Where or how do they continue to seek artistic growth?

Come to participate in the discussion, or just to listen – all are welcome!

 

Craft in the Eastern Panhandle Exhibit at the Berkeley Art Works

Admin2 Berkeley Arts Council News

The Berkeley Arts Council in Martinsburg, West Virginia announces its first “Craft in the Eastern Panhandle” exhibit, October 9 through November 9 at the Berkeley Art Works, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg. A reception for “Craft in the Eastern Panhandle” will be held on Sunday, October 13, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:00pm at the Berkeley Art Works.  On Sunday, October 20 from 2:00 – 4:00pm, participate in a discussion about craft and creativity with artists participating in the show. The exhibit is curated by Annette Verna, a ceramic artist whose work is offered in the Berkeley Art Works co-op gallery.

In conjunction with American Craft Week, which is held each year in early October, this exhibit is a month-long celebration of contemporary fine craft and highlights the work of ten artists living and working in and around the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.  These artists are master craftspeople working in a variety of media including basketry, clay, metal, textiles, and wood.  Their work represents the high quality of craft being created in our region.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, handmade objects were primarily utilitarian and tied us to nature through the use of traditional materials and techniques.  Today, using these same materials and techniques, artists transform ideas into works of useful art.  Craft is tactile and dimensional; it exists in the physical world as opposed to the virtual world to which our society has become accustomed.  Hand-crafted objects are the result of physical activity, mastery of medium, focused attention, curiosity, and passion.  They provide us with deep appreciation and meaningful connections in our daily life.

Additional craft-related activities going on in the community during October include activities at the Berkeley Pottery and the Martinsburg Library.

[UPDATE: Award Winners]Accepted Works: Eastern WV Juried Exhibit

Admin2 Artist Opportunities, Arts Events, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News

The Berkeley Arts Council in Martinsburg, West Virginia announces the accepted artists for the Seventh Annual Eastern West Virginia Juried Exhibit, to be displayed in the Berkeley Art Works Gallery, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg, WV. The exhibition will be on display September 4 – October 5, 2019.

26 works from 24 regional artists were selected from 58 submitted works by Juror Judith Becker.

Juror’s Statement:

There were many creative and interesting pieces entered into the exhibit. Selecting the best to show the talent and diversity of the wonderful artists of our area of West Virginia was a challenge. Our exhibit space does not allow for every entry to be accepted and shown. Therefore, some pieces could not be accepted and is no reflection on the value of the work(s) you submitted but did not get selected.

I selected pieces which exemplified excellent creativity, elements of good composition and design and technical acumen. This will portray to the visitors to the exhibit the high level of talent each accepted artist has.

Congratulations the artists whose work were accepted to this great annual juried art exhibit.

Judith Becker, BS Design, Cert. of Education and MSE

Continue reading →

Berkeley Arts Council Anniversary Update

Admin2 Artist Opportunities, Artists, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News


Happy Ten Year Anniversary!

We are proud of the continuous programming we’ve created in the ten years since the Council was incorporated on August 14, 2009 and we’re about to launch another year of arts, with an exciting schedule of exhibits, more community activities and our most comprehensive schedule of classes to date!

Ten Years Ago: Malinda Shaver Looks Back

In a conversation with Annette Verna, founding member and past-President Malinda Shaver reflects on the Arts Council’s beginnings ten years ago.

Malinda worked in the Arts in Montgomery County, Maryland, starting in community theater. With her partner and co-founder, Rip Smith, they saw an opportunity to bring the various arts organizations and interests in Berkeley County together to share resources and benefit from a common purpose.

Malinda: “From Rip’s and my earliest association with the arts here, we heard of the wish of local artists to contribute to a desirable and economically healthy but still historic downtown.”

One early inspiration came from Cumberland, MD. In February, 2009, then Executive Director Andy Vick of the Allegany Arts Council made a trip to Martinsburg and spoke to the City Club and other local arts groups about how arts had bolstered the revitalization of that town. That led to the development of the Berkeley Arts Bulletin to promote networking and let the public know what we were trying to do.

They discussed ideas with other organizations, including the Heritage Craft Center and the ArtBerkeley organization as well as numerous individual artists.

From the start, practicing artists were always the primary focus of our efforts and we could see how they could benefit from having an Arts Council. Besides building community, we could provide them exhibition space to show their work, and we also offered Artisan Resource workshops in cooperation with the Tamarack Foundation, to help artists build business and professional skills to strengthen their careers.

Malinda: “Some thought it was not a good time to launch an arts council, since funds were almost non-existent. But sooner or later we felt improvement was coming. Our discussions indicated there was strong support for moving forward, so we jumped in with both feet, incorporating the Berkeley Arts Council in August of 2009: With this foundation we would be ready to take advantage of whatever new opportunities came along.”

We hope to continue to tell the story of the past ten years, reviewing the successes and challenges, as we also plan for the next ten years. In the meantime, you can go back in time and explore our blog archives on our website:

https://berkeleyartswv.org/2009/09/

In the Berkeley Art Works Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming in October:

We are excited to announce our first “Craft in the Eastern Panhandle” exhibit, October 9 through November 9 at the Berkeley Art Works. In conjunction with American Craft Week, which is held each year in early October, this exhibit, curated by Annette Verna, is a month-long celebration of contemporary fine craft and highlights the work of ten artists living and working in and around the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. These artists are master craftspeople working in a variety of media including basketry, clay, metal, textiles, and wood. Their work represents the high quality of craft being created in our region.

Co-op Space Available

We have space for one 2-dimensional artist and one 3-dimensional artist in the Berkeley Art Works co-op group. Details about jurying and membership (including downloadable forms) are on the BAC web site at: https://berkeleyartswv.org/artists-at-the-works/#opencall. If you have any questions, please reply back to this email and we’ll fill you in.