Founders' Weekend in Lee includes the Taste of Lee of Friday afternoon..

Richmond West Stockbridge
Artists' Guild September show

The Richmond West Stockbridge Artists Guild Inc. is presenting and sponsoring its second annual September fine art exhibit at the Richmond Congregational Church, 1515 State Road/Route 41 in Richmond, with the co-sponsorship of the Richmond Cultural Council. The exhibit includes nearly 40 artists; it opened last weekend and continues this Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The lively and fresh work ranges from realistic to abstract, tiny to floor-to-ceiling and media of crewel paintings and other fiber art, photographs, watercolors, oil and acrylic paintings, encaustics, collages, mixed media, stained glass, ceramics and sculpture. Much of the work is modestly priced.

There is a silent auction of small works to raise money for art supplies for two local public schools.

Artists and supporters formed the guild last year to encourage, support and promote the artwork of residents in the Richmond and West Stockbridge area of the Berkshires and includes many other towns; it even crosses the state and state borders. The guild exhibits and sells local artwork, educates members and the public about art and hopes to contribute to the quality of life in the Berkshires.

Lee Founders Weekend 2015

The Lee Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the town's annual birthday celebration this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18, 19 and 20. Downtown will be awash with family-friendly events, artisans and crafters throughout.

Friday starts with an artists' reception at the Lee Library at 3 p.m. and goes on to feature a Taste of Lee with local street food — Alpamayo Peruvian Restaurant, Baja Charlie's, Chez Nous Bistro, Fiddleheads Grille, Joe's Diner, Naji's Lebanese Food, Pho Sai Gon Vietnamese Restaurant, Salmon Run Fish House, Starving Artists' Crêperie and Café and more — and music — the Housatonic Philharmonic, Moonshine Holler and Robin O'Herin — filling the center of town from 5 to 8 p.m.

Many of the town's restaurants sell easy-to-eat-while-walking food outside their doors. Later, there's a community dance in the park from 7 to 9.

Saturday starts with a road race at 8:15 a.m., followed by the parade at 10. The Festival Latino starts at noon and runs to 8 with dancing and not-to-miss Latino food.

St. Mary's School hosts a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 on Sunday. Then there's a tennis tournament at Greenock Country Club at 10. There's lots more. Find more details here.

Clay sculpture of a head by Judith Koppel in the Berkshire Collection current show at the St. Francis Gallery in South Lee.

St. Francis Gallery

It's always a festive extravaganza of a show at the St. Francis Gallery in the heart of downtown South Lee. Artist and owner Philip Pryma puts together every kind of work from bronze and clay figurative sculpture to 3-dimensional folded paper works, from enormous realistic oils to tiny whimsical paper collages. Drawings, photographs, reproductions — you name it, Phil shows it!

He features many local artists who are very happy to show at his St. Francis Gallery, a deconsecrated church now dedicated to showing art and fostering creativity — here in the Berkshires and in Kenya, East Africa.

The current show, up through Oct. 26, is the Berkshire Collection, many local artists, many media, many styles. This month's featured artists are Peggy Braun. Marge Bride, Linda Cimini-Baker, Abby DuBow, Kim Engle, Michael Fabrizio, Eugene Francoeur, Jean Germain, Meryl Greenfield, Brucie Jacobs, Lorraine Klagsbrun, Judith Koppel, Bruce MacDonald, Dean Nimmer, Bob Plant, Harriet Pollack, Peggy Reeves, Robert Rosegarten, Jim Singelis, H. David Stein, Paula Stern, Scott Taylor — although there are many more than these visible in the gallery. Lots of excitement.

St. Francis Gallery, 1370 Pleasant Street/Route 102, South Lee, is open Friday through Monday, 10 to 5.

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