Berkeley Art Works Opens Two Exhibits

October 2-26, 2014: Eastern West Virginia Juried Exhibit
Reception Saturday, October 11, 5-7pm

The Second Annual Eastern West Virginia Juried Art Exhibit will open on October 2 at the Berkeley Art Works in Martinsburg. A reception for the artists will be Saturday, October 11 from 5-7pm in the gallery at 116 North Queen Street.

Juror Diane Sibbison, selected 33 art works from 25 artists out of more than 100 art works submitted from 38 Eastern West Virginia artists. Ms Sibbison said that she “worked to include as many styles, media and subjects as possible and that the selection was difficult due to the many excellent pieces in every media. The resulting exhibition showcases contemporary art, expressing what is best in the creative urge that draws people from many backgrounds to participate.”

October 2-26, 2014: “Dance Works: The Photographs”
Reception Saturday, October 11, 5-7pm

Opening October 2, The Berkeley Art Works will present a selection of photographs from the March, 2014 Dance Works Festival. The images capture the sense of grace and movement as well as the concentration and determination of the approximately 100 young women and girls as they participated in a number of Master Class workshops in several styles of Dance.

Photographer Rip Smith started out to document the activities for the Council but found that the intensity of the workshops went beyond a simply recreational exercise. Ultimately Smith decided to finish the images in black and white to concentrate the viewer’s attention on the creative work that was being done. Additional images by Mary-Jo Bennett of the closing performance program are displayed in color.

The two day Dance Works festival was sponsored by the Berkeley Art Council in cooperation with several local dance schools and the Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Department. The event was held at Musselman High School.