Living in the quiet town of Becket, MA, Sean McCusker has developed a kinship with the solitude of the hilly landscape around him. Focusing this in his artwork he develops striking surreal landscapes full of color and mystery. The subjects of his paintings, although abstract, are reminiscent of the lone hero from film; confidently standing against the world yet yearning for the security of a home just over the horizon. Sean’s paintings are made up of roughly thirty thin, transparent layers, each one adding complexity. As the layers are carefully worked up the composition's forms and colors become more contrasted, more dramatic. The translucent layers create a glowing composition of dark shadows suspended in light. The landscapes he creates are surreal constructs -- a stage, rather than representations of a specific place. Like the masked actors in a Greek drama, the characters and objects in his work are emotional archetypes. Using intense oil colors in a layered technique suitable for objective realism, he has developed a painting style that attempts to depict emotion as a solid object. Many of Sean’s paintings center around a single figure set against a vast empty space. The light illuminating the darkness is always just out of the figure's reach. Sometimes the light source is the sun or moon, though most of the time it is ambiguous. The meaning of each element depends on the placement and interaction it has with the rest of the landscape. The sun and moon often stand as sentinels against the darkness. The figures sit, silently contemplating their situation. These meanings change from painting to painting. It is left to the viewer, if they choose, to imagine themselves sitting with the figure, determining what situation it finds itself in. Sean’s work can be seen in exhibits throughout Berkshire County. For more information about his work, and upcoming exhibits, visit his website: www.sean-mccusker.com.
Ilene Spiewak Philadelphia born artist Ilene Spiewak (1953 - ) lives in a 240 year old renovated schoolhouse in rural West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. On her lushly wooded property stands a rugged little red studio where she can be found energetically wielding a paint brush almost daily. Ilene has been painting since childhood and would rather be painting than almost anything else. The process of painting remains mysterious and revealing to her. “I want to make paintings that are reflective of my own personally conditioned image of shape, form and color. I am sometimes the subject that becomes the object. I am interested in disrupting space, containing, pushing to the edge- where things touch and don’t touch. Constructing identity both within and outside the context of still-life objects. Looking at. Being looked at. I want to paint only the most important, the most essential elements.” Ilene Spiewak graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a BA in Art Education and Hahnemann University Hospital, MA in Art Therapy. As a continuing education student, she studied at The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA), Moore College of Art, University of the Arts, Fleisher Art Memorial, Provincetown Art Museum, and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. She received her MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in August 2017. She is a Board Member of the Berkshire Art Association. She is a new Docent at the Clark Institute in Williamstown. Throughout her years as an educator and student, Ilene Spiewak has exhibited her paintings in juried shows in regional galleries, as well as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Berkshire Museum. One of her self-portraits is bequeathed to the PAFA Museum. Ilene Spiewak is a selected finalist in the 2022 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, American Portraiture Today, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC. Spiewak’s work is held in private collections throughout the U.S. and Canada
Morris Bennett Born -Everett Mass Graduated Brookline High Bachelor of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati Retired from teaching art at the secondary level of the Pittsfield Public Schools Finished with part time teaching at Canyon Ranch and Kimball Farms in Lenox
Born and raised in the captivating Berkshires, Sally Tiska Rice possesses artistic prowess that breathes life into her canvases. As a versatile multi-media artist, Sally seamlessly employees a tapestry of techniques, working in acrylic, watercolors, oil paints, pastels, collages containing botanicals and mixed media elements. Her creative spirit draws inspiration from the idyllic surroundings of her rural hometown, where she resides with her husband Mark and cherished pets. Sally's artistic process is a dance of spontaneity and intention. With each stroke of her brush, she composes artwork that reflects her unique perspective. Beyond her personal creations, Sally also welcomes commissioned projects, turning heartfelt visions into tangible realities. Whether it's capturing the essence of individuals, beloved pets, cherished homes, or sacred churches, she pours her soul into each personalized masterpiece. Sally's talent has garnered recognition both nationally and internationally. Her career includes a remarkable 25-year tenure at Crane Co., where she lent her hand-painted finesse to crafting exquisite stationery. Sally is a member of the Clock Tower Artists of Pittsfield MA, the Guild of Berkshire Artists, the Berkshire Art Association, and the Becket Arts Center. Follow on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Visit Sally’s website to view her work and sign up the email list to receive updated information on current art adventures. https://sallytiskarice.com. -Sally’s work is on the gallery walls of the Clock Tower, Open Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00pm for self guided tours. Call for a studio appointment 413-446-8469. Clock Tower Business Center, 75 South Church Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsfield, MA