MARTINSBURG – Anna Howard, President of Berkeley Arts Council, expressed excitement toward an upcoming open art exhibit focused on Berkeley County as a part of the Berkeley 250th Celebration. The call for artists is extended, and Howard encourages any and all artists ages 18 and older to submit a piece.
May 15 of this year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of Berkeley County. Among the celebratory activities, this art exhibit will showcase all mediums of artwork that follow the theme of the exhibit, titled “Berkeley County, WV: Future, Present, Past.”
This exhibit is one of the official events selected and supported by the Berkeley County Council and will consist of a visual art exhibit plus literary-, performance- and music-based arts presentations from May 18-June 25 at the Berkeley Art Works, at 116 N. Queen St., in Martinsburg.
“The Berkeley Arts Council invites you to celebrate and honor this unique area with your art,” the official press release said. “We are asking you to use Berkeley County, WV – its vistas, history, cultures and communities – as inspiration for your work. We hope to build a rich perspective of Berkeley County through interpretations in all arts by artists from all cultures, identities and ages.”
According to Howard, the Berkeley Arts Council got involved with the 250th from the very beginning when local representatives began to talk about the celebration.
“We wanted to make sure that art was a part of the whole celebration because art is a part of the community,” Howard said. “This was really important to me, personally, as a newcomer to the community. I wanted to know about the community I now live in and am a part of. I felt it’s important that artists be represented at all celebrations.”
Howard explained that the hope of the exhibit, in her opinion, would be more than just photos of what used to be. She said the hope is to have a unique compilation of representations of what Berkeley County means to the artists.
“We wanted to include all things,” Howard said. “We want to have people thinking about the past. A lot of people who have just arrived don’t know about the past, but they are part of the present, and they are also going to be a part of the future. We want everybody who enjoys art and who produces art to submit.”
The event is open to all artists throughout the United States, over the age of 18, working in any arts medium, including visual, literary, music and performing arts.
“Artists do not have to be current residents of Berkeley County; however, entries must reflect the artist’s interpretation of a future vision, present or past adventure, event, memory, experience, etc., in Berkeley County,” the release said.
For more information, visit the Berkeley Arts Council website at www.berkeleyartswv.org. Questions can be directed to bacexhibits@gmail.com.
“This is a celebration of artists and art in Berkeley County,” Howard said.
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