AIRY SPRING SCHEDULE (Season 18 – from Feb to June, 2023)
YA Skills Group on Mondays from 4-6 pm starting Feb 13th
Teen Skills Group on Thursdays from 4-6 pm starting Feb 16th
Art & Nature Therapy Group (Teens & YA) on Sundays from 12-2 pm starting Feb 19th
Descriptions of our groups are as follows:
Mondays 4-6 pm / Young Adult Skills Group:
This group focuses on young adult related issues such as planning future goals, managing a job and high school and college related stressors, and emerging adulthood. Participants learn coping skills adopted from art therapy and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) as well as best practices in suicide prevention and alternatives to self harm. Skills include safety, mindfulness, emotion regulation, finding a middle path for balancing logic and emotions, distress tolerance and self soothing, peer support and building healthy relationships. Modalities include drawing and painting, music, poetry, fiber arts, digital art and more. This group is run by Program Manager, Jack Kelly and Skills Counselor & Digital Art Instructor, Rachael Bentz.
Thursdays 4-6 pm / Teen Skills Group:
This group teaches teens coping skills adopted from art therapy and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) as well as best practices in suicide prevention and alternatives to self harm. Skills include safety, mindfulness, emotion regulation, finding a middle path for balancing logic and emotions, distress tolerance and self soothing, peer support and building healthy relationships. Skills are also taught in body image, sleep and nutrition and problem solving family conflict. Modalities include drawing and painting, collage, music, poetry, fiber arts, digital art and more. This group focuses on stabilization, and includes new and mid level returning members. This group is run by Program Manager, Jack Kelly and Skills Counselor & Digital Art Instructor, Rachael Bentz.
Sundays 12-2 pm / Art & Nature Therapy Group open to youth ages 13 to 24:
This group will incorporate strategies of eco-art therapy such as foraging in nature and plant immersion. The group will use found objects, pressed flowers and botanicals in art making, as well as connecting to nature as a means of self soothing and mindfulness. Three of the sixteen sessions will be held outdoors in mid April, mid May and the first week of June. Participants will also learn coping skills in DBT including safety planning, mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and relationship skills. Additional modalities for this group include printmaking, herbology, nature based sculptures, mandalas, photo collage and building a terrarium. The group is run by Skills Counselor Rachael Bentz and Art Therapist, Isley Gagnon, with guest artist Misa Chappell.
EVENTS
Events 2023
THE TOGETHERNESS PROJECT ART SHOW
The Togetherness Project
Art Exhibit and Reception
The Colonial Theatre
111 South St, downtown Pittsfield
On view March 10th – April 6th, 2023
Reception: Tuesday, March 14th from 4 to 6 pm
The Togetherness Project was created with the aim of building bridges through the power of art between teens and young adults in the Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY) Program and local residents in need of support. The Project involved AIRY members visiting and making art in Pittsfield with Women Veterans at Soldier On, Women and Children Survivors of domestic abuse at Elizabeth Freeman Center, and Adolescents of Color in the R.O.P.E. program (Rites of Passage and Empowerment).
The project helped to reduce the traumatic isolation of Covid-19 by creating a sense of community connection in a positive, creative and uplifting way. The project also provided a unique kind of mentorship experience as community members learned about both the struggles and the strengths of each other. Through art-making they built a much needed sense of togetherness.
Art projects included Drip Pour paintings with acrylic paints and dish soap on 4 x 4 and 8 x 10 canvas, Satori circles on paper, Watercolor triptychs and Symbolic Self Portrait paintings.
These artworks by residents and AIRY members will be on view from March 10th through April 6th at the Colonial Theatre, who have graciously offered their gallery space for the community to join us in this important show.
An opening reception will be held on Tuesday March 14 from 4 to 6 pm in the lobby (The Garage) of the Colonial Theatre.
For more information please visit Berkshire Theatre Group at https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/
For more information about AIRY please visit www.airyedu.com.
ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: EXHIBIT, OPENING & ARTISTS TALK
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 4th from 1-3 pm
Artists Talk: Sunday, February 12th from 12-1 pm
The Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave Pittsfield
Art for Social Change is a community art exhibit about body autonomy and the need for social change. The exhibit is a culmination of a community project with the Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY) arts-based youth suicide prevention program, in collaboration with twenty participating members of the community, and guest artists, Maleek Adams Powell, Raymond Brown, Misa Chappell, Katy Holt and Marney Schorr. The focus of this project is on using the arts to shift cultural perceptions and promote social change about body autonomy and choice. Featured works of art highlight topics such as the right to a safe and legal abortion, reproductive health care rights for all genders, gender identity and expression, race, social class, consent, empowerment and body image.
On view in the gallery from February 4 – March 3, 2023, will be Adams Maleek Powell’s graffiti art with a focus on human rights and Raymond Brown’s series of political charcoal drawings mounted on canvas depicting personal and social injustices from an anarcho-communist perspective. Misa Chappell will display a series of body empowerment altars – small devotional assemblages featuring embellished goddesses and madonnas alongside miniatures. Marney Schorr will showcase works from her new body autonomy series – large scale paintings and assemblages featuring ready mades to help depict the emotional experience of being overpowered due to gender. In her work, Schorr addresses topics such as sexual assault, the history of womens rights, marginalized communities, and state and federal laws about gender and abortion rights.
More art on view from participating artists include teens and young adults from the AIRY program: Rachael Bentz, Molly Harrington, Jalencia Melendez, Jaden Ouelette and Keegan Ouelette, as well as community artists Barbara Baker, Alicia Canary, Deak Hotaling, Kaia Jackson, Peggy Morse, Tina Wallin, and other artists to be named.
The exhibit is curated by Misa Chappell. For more information, please contact Misa at xomisa@gmail.com. Gallery hours: Saturdays February 11, 18 and 25, from 12 to 4 pm.
View the event online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/510103743027
2022 Events
July 16, 2022 – 10-12 pm – AIRY Book Release Party for AIRY Members and Parents at NUarts Studios
June 18, 2022 – 10 to 11 am – Meet the Author at The Colonial Theatre, 111 South St in downtown Pittsfield, MA – Marney Schorr will be signing and reading from her book in a small cafe setting open to the public
March 19, 2022 – 2-4 pm – LOVE YOURSELF III – The Colonial Theatre in downtown Pittsfield.
Jan 15, 2022 – 2-3 pm – Youth Talk & Poetry Slam at CRUST Pizza
Jan 5 – Feb 15, 2022 – TOGETHERNESS Art Show at CRUST PIZZA
2021 Events
May 2021 – Art for Social Justice Project Virtual Art Show at MCLA
June-Aug 2021 – Art for Social Justice Project in person show and artists talk at Commonfolk, North Adams
2020 Events
February 2020 – Second Annual ¨Love Yourself¨ at the Colonial Theatre
August 2020 – AIRY Virtual Art Show June-August
June 2020 – AIRY Art in the Park
2019 Events
SUN, APRIL 14, 10 am, AIRY FILM SCREENING at Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield.
APRIL 5, 2019, 5-8 pm
Myth and Nature, solo exhibition of AIRY member, Rachael Bentz at Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield. 5-8 pm during First Fridays Artswalk. To view Rachaelś artwork see our menu page Youth Leadership for Success.
APRIL 5, 2019
Fostering Resilience and Connection. Berkshire County Suicide Prevention Conference, Crowne Plaza, Pittsfield. AIRY presentation co-facilitated by AIRY MCLA Interns Hunter Schrade and Kiara Bresett. For more info, see our For Professionals Page.
FEBRUARY 10, 2019
https://theberkshireedge.com/love-yourself-in-celebration-of-youth-recovery-and-suicide-prevention/
http://www.theonlinebeacon.com/love-art-exhibition-opening-feb-10/
2018 EVENTS
DECEMBER 7, 2018
NUarts Holiday Celebration
AIRY and the community created holiday works of art with fabric weaves and cookie painting. For pics, visit NUarts at https://nuartsgallery.com/2018/12/02/nuarts-holiday-show-sale/.
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
At the Whitney Center for the Arts:
Fri, Oct 5th, “Hope is a Four Letter Word”, 5-8 pm (AIRY countywide art show)
Sat, Oct 6th, Poetry Slam and Open Mic! Hosted by Caz and company, all are welcome.
At Unitarian Universalist Church (Pittsfield):
Fri, Nov 2, “Messages of Hope” opening reception, 5-8 pm (selected works by Marney Schorr and AIRY youth artists).
Sun, Nov 4, Community Artist Talk with Marney Schorr, 10 am during Sunday service (coffee and conversation at 9:30 am). Marney will share stories of hope and healing in the AIRY program and lead a community talk about solving youth suicide through faith and action.
ON VIEW SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
“Hope is a Four Letter Word”
AIRY countywide art show featuring 22 young artists, paintings, masks, sculpture and written word. Works range from $5 to $250 and proceeds go to youth artists.
For viewing hours, contact:
Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield MA
http://www.thewhit.org
(413) 443-0289
SEPTEMBER 2018
MON SEPT 17, 6-8 pm
“Talk Saves Lives” and AIRY Parent Info Session at Bushnell-Sage Library, 48 Main St, Sheffield MA. http://www.bushnellsagelibrary.org
Details: Talk Saves Lives is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. Attendees will learn the risk and warning signs of suicide, and how together, we can help prevent it. Find out more at: https://afsp.org/our-work/education/talk-saves-lives-introduction-suicide-prevention/
SUN SEPT 23, 1-7 pm
“Carpe Diem: Commemorating Life through Art & Music” at Adams Agricultural Fairgrounds, Adams MA.
Come out and enjoy a showcase of art, art-making, musicians and bands to raise money and awareness about suicide prevention. Artmaking: Altered Dollheads with AIRY. Music: Hill Haints, Leap The Dips, Pavlov’s Dogs, Immune Friction, Melissa Brinton Performing Musician & Sam Rosen, Forever Autumn, Grace Ida Marks and more. Artists include Katie Haig, the Funky Phoenix, NUarts Gallery & Studios and many more.
$10 Advanced / $15 at the door
$25 AIRY Supporter,$50 AIRY Angel. Get tickets here: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/15844
SAT SEPT 29, 9 am
“Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention” at Monument Mountain High School, Great Barrington MA
For more info, visit: https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=5611
Arts in Recovery for Youth 