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

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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

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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.

The Berkeley Arts Council announces their Fall schedule of classes, offering learning opportunities in a variety of media, diversity of subject matter and instruction levels for all ages.

Beginning in September, classes include Introduction to Figure Drawing and Printmaking with Gel Plate, both by instructor Leah Bennett, an accomplished artist and instructor specializing in pen and ink, acrylics, mixed media and creative journaling.

Mixed Media Mash-Up for kids 8 years and up will be offered by instructor Jane Ping.  Jane has been teaching children and adults for more than 30 years and holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Judith Becker will be teaching Beginning Watercolor Pencil, Painting All Types of Water Images, and Painting with Pastels.  She specializes in painting with watercolors, colored pencils, pastels and often mixes her media for unusual effects.  She is accomplished in composition, design and color theory.  Judith directs the art education program for the Berkeley Arts Council.

Of special note, Judith will also be leading a Plein Air painting location workshop, September 19 and 20 at Alpine Lake Resort in Terra Alta, WV.  (Register by September 3 for special discounted rate.) Participants will have an opportunity to create four views in the mountains of West Virginia and receive instruction in choosing the best view for the best layout, redesigning the view, capturing the light, painting efficiently, utilizing limited colors, capturing a mood and expressing oneself.

In October, Judith will teach Beginning Colored Pencil, and Beginning Watercolor Painting.  Rip Smith will teach Photographic Composition and Creative Vision, and How to Photograph Your Artwork.  Rip is an award-winning fine art and architectural photographer whose work has been exhibited nationally and regionally.

Rounding out the busy Fall season in November, Judith Becker will offer a Next Level All About Color class, as well as instruction on Using the Color Wheel.

Classes are held at the Berkeley Art Works Gallery, 116 Queen Street, Martinsburg, WV.  Detailed descriptions for all classes and registration information is located on the Berkeley Arts Council Web site at https://berkeleyartswv.org/instruction/. For information email berkeleyartswv@gmail.com or call 304-620-7277.

The Berkeley Art Works, a project of the Berkeley Arts Council, is the realization of the long-held dream of the arts community in Martinsburg and Berkeley County West Virginia to have a community-based arts facility that supports local and regional artists, brings quality arts experiences for the members of the public, and provides a wide range of arts learning experiences for local residents, artists, and artisans.

The Berkeley Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization incorporated in West Virginia working to ensure that Berkeley County has a vibrant, vital arts environment by promoting awareness, understanding and appreciation of the literary, visual and performing arts in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

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