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10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival Celebrates Eighth Anniversary
08:41PM / Monday, February 11, 2019
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For the first time ever, the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival will feature ice sculptures. Artists Peter Vacchina and Robert Markey will create three ice sculptures throughout downtown.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District presents the eighth annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival, featuring an array of music, art, theater, dance, film, play, fireworks and more from Feb. 14-24.

Organized by the City of Pittsfield's Office of Cultural Development and Barrington Stage Company, the festival features 62 events in 14 different venues, highlighting dozens of artists, actors, musicians, playwrights and performers.

The 10X10 festival kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 14 with these events: the opening reception for the 10 Spot Photography exhibit at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, featuring regional photographers; 10x10 Intersection Panels, a collaborative exhibit between the Berkshire Historical Society and the Berkshire Athenaeum; and the first preview night of Barrington Stage's 10X10 New Play Festival.    

"I am so proud to know that the city of Pittsfield is home to the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival," Mayor Linda Tyer said. "Now in its eighth year, the festival's lineup has something for everyone, so be sure to come out and enjoy all that it has to offer. When you;re out, be sure to check out the amazing ice sculptures throughout downtown. I can't think of a better way to enjoy the winter season." 

The 10 Spot Photography Show at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is an invitational show featuring photographers from the Berkshires and beyond. The 2019 10 Spot artists include: Melissa Bissell, Lucie Castaldo, Denise Chandler, Susan Geller, Colleen Quinn, Emma Rothenberg-Ware, Susan Sabino, Carrie Wright and students from Miss Hall’s Photography Class. The exhibit runs through March 1 and will be the First Fridays Artswalk feature for March as well.

For the first time ever, the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival will feature ice sculptures. Artists Peter Vacchina and Robert Markey will create three ice sculptures throughout downtown.  The Berkshire Museum will host a heart sculpture, Palace Park hosts a sculpture featuring the 10x10 logo and the Hotel on North and Dory and Ginger will host a dancer sculpture.  The artists will be creating these works of art on Wednesday, Feb. 13, and Thursday, Feb. 14.

Berkshire United Way's early childhood coalition, Pittsfield Promise is once again partnering with the 10x10 Festival to present 10X The Fun at the Common and the Zion Lutheran Church for two hours leading up to the fireworks. The free, community-wide 10 Minutes of Fireworks, sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union, returns to the Common on First Street on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. (dusk).    

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival joins the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival once again this year with a Pillow Pop-Up featuring the Hartford-based all-styles dance collective 860 MVMNT.  The group brings the raw, intense energy of street dance to the stage on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. This family-friendly, free performance at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires ends with a post-performance open cypher and dance party.

"The 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival is a great example of collaboration between art and cultural organizations from Pittsfield and beyond," stated Jen Glockner, the director of cultural development for the City of Pittsfield.  "Each year continues to bring new and exciting partners, increasing the breadth of the Festival."

The Berkshire Museum will be hopping throughout the 10x10 Festival with daily 10 Days of Play events featuring several community collaborations. The always popular Berkshire Art Association Real Art Party will take place at the Berkshire Museum, as will WordXWord's 10x10 Odd Couples.

Berkshire Theatre Group's Colonial Theatre will host two performances of its BTG PLAYS! 2018-2019 Touring Show Showtime with Shakespeare: A Magic Tree House Adventure. And the Berkshire Athenaeum and the Berkshire Historical Society are joining forces once again for 10x10 Intersection Panels, a photography exhibit exploring Pittsfield’s neighborhoods.    

Other returning highlights of the festival include: Barrington Stage Company's popular 10x10 New Play Festival, featuring 10 new 10-minute plays; Dance Ten, a performance showcase of ten community dance groups and schools from throughout the Berkshires and Berkshire Running Center's 1- to 10-mile group runs.

This year there are a variety of family-friendly free or low-cost daytime activities, perfect for a week when many schools are on vacation. They include daily adventure play at the Berkshire Museum, including a free community night and community collaborations, performances at the Colonial Theatre, a dance workshop and performance with Jacob's Pillow at the Boys and Girls Club, the 10x The Fun family event followed by a winter fireworks extravaganza at the Common and the Dance Ten performance showcase.

For a day-by-day calendar and more information, visit the website.

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