Great Barrington — Flying Cloud Institute celebrated art in the downtown area on Tuesday, August 20, with its art crawl event, co-organized with Bernay Fine Art.
According to its website, the institute was founded in New Marlborough in 1984 by Jane and Lawrence Burke and David Schwarz. The organization, which moved its operating offices in 2017 to Great Barrington, operates multiple youth programs in the Berkshire County region relating to dynamic science and art experiences. “This art crawl is part of a series of events for our 40th anniversary,” Flying Cloud Institute Development Manager Amy Traux told The Berkshire Edge. “For 40 years, Flying Cloud has been bringing scientists and artists together to work with the youth in the Berkshire County area. I have heard from some of our former Flying Cloud students, who are now fully grown adults, telling me that these programs were all very important to them in their development as artists. Flying Cloud is very important to all of them.”
As part of the art crawl, the institute hosted a youth art show at At Bernay Fine Art.
“Over the last couple of years, we attended some of their programs and we were just struck with all the chemistry that was around there,” said Bernay Fine Art co-owner Lou Friedman. “This year, when an opportunity came up to help out and put some artwork up in our gallery, we jumped at the chance. I think everybody’s so enthusiastic about Flying Cloud and the work they do.”
At One Mercantile/Sett co-owner Abby Webster, an alum of Flying Cloud’s programs, had artwork on display in the store as part of the art crawl. “I think art is very important that comes into play in everyday life,” Webster said. “Flying Cloud’s programs were important to me in my artistic development because it allowed me to experiment and look at different things when it comes to art.”
Some of the stores in town took part in the art crawl event, including JWS Art Supplies who held an art-supply-testing table, allowing artists to test out some of the store’s art equipment. “We have a lot of people in this area who are into art and science,” said store Manager Emily Cox. “I think an event like this is a great opportunity to engage people who are in the art community.”
“Flying Cloud is important to this community because, since we have really fantastic schools around here, it’s important to offer children to explore art and science programs outside of school classrooms,” said Hart GB owner Jamie Goldenberg.
The store offered printmaking activities as part of the art crawl event. “With their programs, Flying Cloud treats children as people, and that is very special and important,” Goldenberg said. “Flying Cloud is giving children opportunities to try things, which is something that some of their parents may not know how to do by themselves.”
For more information about Flying Cloud Institute and its programs, visit its website.
