Stockbridge — “Seeds of Connection,” a nature-inspired exhibit of paintings and drawings by Berkshire County residents with disabilities, will be on display at the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Leonhardt Galleries until Sunday, March 23.
The exhibit includes 40 pieces of art, including paintings, drawings, and collages by CATA participants. Founded in 1993, the nonprofit organization offers workshops in art, performance art including dance and theater, and physical activities including yoga and dancing.
The organization currently serves more than 1,250 Berkshire County and Columbia County, N.Y., residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and autism.
“I think that ‘Seeds of Connection’ as a title for this exhibit really conveys the way that art can bring our community together,” said CATA Executive Director Margaret Keller. “CATA is planting the seeds that grow into these moments of connection, and we really saw that during the opening of the exhibit in late February. The exhibit brought our entire Berkshire County community together with CATA artists with disabilities, sharing their perspectives and ideas through their artwork. Our broader CATA community gathered together with their incredible talents.”
Keller told The Berkshire Edge that CATA uses art as a means for attendees to connect with each artist’s creativity, voice, and perspective. “When we, as community members, attend an exhibit, we are engaging with stunning artwork, but we are also engaging with the essential creativity and humanity of each one of our CATA artists,” Keller said. “This is our fourth year at the Berkshire Botanical Garden for an exhibition, and it’s been a wonderful partnership.”
In preparation for the exhibit, CATA artists took part in workshops at the Botanical Garden in order to create some of the works on display.
“I think we can all benefit from nature, and CATA artists are no exception,” said Program Director Kara Smith. “The Botanical Garden is right in the neighborhood of CATA artists, and it’s a part of their lives. Behind the scenes, we have had CATA artists co-curating this exhibit as part of a new pilot workshop we’re leading called ‘The Making of an Art Show.” It’s part of our strategic plan initiative to create leadership opportunities for people with disabilities in the arts. In the workshop, we had artists play a vital role in selecting the artwork based on a color theme, a variety of sizes of artwork, and media style to really tell the story of seasonal connections.”
For more information about CATA and its programs, visit its website.
