WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown Cultural District has announced the opening of a downtown juried exhibit titled "Coming Into The Light."

 

This show, composed of 19 pieces, is on display in storefront windows on Spring and Water Streets in through Labor Day. In order to maximize display hours, limit indoor traffic, and encourage social distancing, all artwork and accompanying labels have been reproduced on decals and placed directly on the window panes.

 

Local artists who either reside in Williamstown or have a studio space in Williamstown were invited to submit artwork for consideration. Eighty-six works were submitted, and an initial round of voting by Williamstown Cultural District executive committee members narrowed the field to 44.

 

Those finalists were reviewed by a jury that included Richard Rand, associate director for collections at the J. Paul Getty Museum; Elizabeth Sandoval, curatorial assistant at Williams College Museum of Art; and Joan Zegras, publisher.

 

Submissions spanned a wide range of media and included many interesting interpretations of the theme. Chamber officials said the incredible community response to this project reflects how much art continued to be produced locally during the pandemic.

 

All jurors considered how well each artwork: connected to the theme; featured compelling content and visual qualities; would translate as a large window decal viewed from the street; and represented the Williamstown Cultural District and its cultural members, artists, and activities.

 

All pieces selected were created in the past year, and in some way relate to the experiences endured during the pandemic, with the arrival of spring and the end of this difficult period for everyone.

 

To facilitate viewing the exhibit, a walking map/guide will be available in the Chamber of Commerce information booth at 100 Spring St. In addition, an informal gathering with the participating artists is planned for Friday, June 18, at 7 p.m.

 

This exhibit is funded in part by a Cultural District grant received from the Mass Cultural Council. In addition to MCC, the Williamstown Cultural District thanks all of the shop owners who have donated their window spaces to make this exhibit possible.

 

Artists selected include: Tracy Baker White, "On the Way Back from Zema's"; Stephanie Boyd, "Mason Farm"; Craig Clemow, "Familiar became Surreal"; Zoe Doucette, "Untitled Floral Two"; Michael Glier, "The Hearts of Cattle"; Julie Henderson, "Lamentation"; Ghetta Hirsch: "Sunset at the Clark";  Jane Hudson, "The Hermit"; Ellen Joffe-Halpern, "Fall on Blair Rd"; Robert Lafond, "Field Farm Snow Path"; Wit McKay, "Stone Hill Lily Pond #13, October Morning"; Anna Moriarty Lev, "Greg Working From Home"; Mary Natalizia, "Heart Within Heart"; Jessica Park, "Untitled Number 4, December 2020"; Sarah Pike, "By the Bridge: Money Brook Trail"; Joan Safford Wright, untitled; Carol Stegeman, "December, Sunrise Over Mt. Greylock"; Grant Sun, "Approaching Shower"; Sally Sussman, "DDN#2, 3-3-21(detail)."