The Berkeley Art Works is helping Main Street Martinsburg support our 2020 high school graduates by displaying the portraits of the graduating class of Faith Christian Academy in our front window.

Congratulations to all: Abigail Adams. Emily Boehler, Madison Crampton, Maria Cuccio, Tyler DeOms, Brett Dunham, Deanna Hercules, Kathlyn Hess, Jadah Hester, Jessica Horn, Colby Kief, Danielle Moran, Elisabeth Rankin, Heather Scribner, Lyndsay Taylor, Shalin Thomas, Alicia Tucker, Eric Woo.

In conjunction with the Art and Earth exhibit, the display window at the front of the Berkeley Art Works Gallery at 116  North Queen Street celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of Earth Day with some notable details provided by Teaching Artist and Arts Council member Gary Bergel.  The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement.  Gaylord Nelson, then-Senator from Wisconsin, proposed a national teach-in to send a message to Washington that the public supported a political agenda to address environmental issues.  Inspired by the activism and energy he saw on college campuses in the 1960s, he recruited students to help him obtain recognition for a national day (nelsonearthday.net).

Nelson intended Earth Day to be a grassroots, local action to bring more attention to the environment.  Individuals and communities were empowered to participate in Earth Day, which drew media attention and ushered in an era of bold environmental legislation.  In 1970, it is said that 20 million Americans – 10% of the U.S. population at the time – participated in the first Earth Day.  Today, Earth Day is a global concern marked by more than a billion people every year to influence changes in human behavior and environmental policy (earthday.org).

The window provides thought-provoking information to promote awareness of environmental issues and the Earth Day idea.  If you happen to be downtown, stop and take a look. You can do so without breaking the “social distancing” rules and we hope you will be inspired in some way to partake in your own Earth Day observance this year (within safe, social guidelines of course).  And if you do, let the Arts Council know about it. You can reach BAC at berkeleyartswv@gmail.com

(The Berkeley Art Works is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 emergency but we want to continue to support our artists in whatever way we can. We invite you to meet David Heatwole and, when the emergency is passed, come by the gallery to view his work.)

(Written by Annette Verna)

“Life is amazing when you start looking at it,” says David Heatwole, one of the Berkeley Arts Council’s Artists at the Works co-op members and our featured artist this month.

David comes from a long line of artists and he always knew he’d follow that path. He is a trained illustrator and commercial artist. His father, John Heatwole, was a wood sculptor whose work in fantasy and science fiction subjects has influenced his work. As a youngster, David would buy books to read because he liked the cover art. He didn’t realize that later, through his father’s gallery connections, he’d get to see the originals and meet the artists in person! In his early career, he produced drawings, worked mostly with dry or “hard” media, and added paint. Today, his primary medium is paint. One day, in a friend’s garage, he started dripping house paint on cardboard. He’s been a painter ever since.

“I’ve always been fascinated by logos, icons and symbols.” He is always thinking about art; processing the imagery he sees daily and thinking about their meanings and metaphors for life and faith. His work deals with energy, synergy, synchronicity and the metaphysical – the connections that we share, but are beyond what can be perceived by the senses, and perhaps can’t be defined. He sees the negative space as well as the positive space (the unseen vs. the object). Forces are always at work, energy is all around and moving; things are always changing. “I try to explain that nothing is permanent.” The paintings on display at the Art Works are all about the metaphysical realm. They are a mix of studies for his 3-D paintings and some finished pieces, all of which he hopes illustrate the sense of connection he wants to communicate.

David participates in the regular Critique Group that meets at the Berkeley Art Works on the third Friday of each month. “The critique meetings are a good place to be with other creatives; the environment is positive and there’s energy and inspiration to be had from the other participants.” He has always been interested in creating art, collecting art, and bringing artists together to work and show. He enjoys being a member of the co-op and the opportunity to have his work seen by a wider audience. Learn more about David and view the archive of his work by visiting www.davidheatwoleart.com.

3rd Friday Open Critique Evening, POSTPONED

Berkeley Art Works, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg.

Dr. Doug Kinnett, BAW noted painter and former coordinator of Shepherd University’s Art Education Program, will introduce this month’s theme: WHEN IS A PAINTING FINISHED? Doug will share insights from celebrated painters such as: Keith Haring, Janet Fish, Mark Rothko, Fernando Botero, Elizabeth Murray and others.

Visual artists and creatives working in any medium are invited to bring and show a work in progress each month to gain critique and positive feedback from a team of BAW and regional exhibiting artists.

Snacks and beverages. Open and free to all.

You, your friends, and your associates are cordially invited.