How Shall We Live?

Climate Visions of Berkshire Youth Artists

In 2020 Living the Change Berkshires collaborated with Berkshire Museum and Cooler Communities to organize a juried art show about climate change for Berkshire artists of high school age. Because of the pandemic, the show was hosted on the Berkshire Museum’s website and had over 600 visitors.

In 2023 Living the Change Berkshires collaborated with Berkshire Art Center to present a second exhibition of student art responding to the climate crisis.  “HOW SHALL WE LIVE? Climate Visions of Berkshire Youth Artists II” took place August 4-30 at Berkshire Art Center, 141 North Street, Pittsfield. The opening of the show on Friday August 4 coincided with the First Fridays Art Walk.

For both exhibitions, Berkshire County students of high school age submitted artwork in one of four subject categories: “What is happening? (positive or negative)”, “What is needed?”, “What would be lost?” and “Vision of the future (positive or negative)”

A jury consisting of Phyllis Kornfeld, Jo Valens, Lorimer Burns and Anne Legêne selected works for the show, which was sponsored by Cooler Communities, a school grant program at the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation.