March 26, 2026
CLARK ART INSTITUTE, LIVING THE CHANGE BERKSHIRES, AND COOLER COMMUNITIES ORGANIZE JURIED STUDENT ART SHOW AND RECEPTION
Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute, Living the Change Berkshires, and Cooler Communities present the student art show, How Shall We Live: Berkshire Youth Artists Explore Their Relationship with the Earth in the Time of Climate Change, on view at the Clark from April 18–26. Following the closure of the show at the Clark, it will be on view at Pittsfield’s City Hall from May 1 (aligning with the May First Fridays Artswalk) through June 8 and Sheffield’s Dewey Hall from June 12–21. A free, public reception celebrating the opening of the show and the work of participating artists takes place on April 18 from 2:30–5 pm in the Hunter Studio at the Clark’s Lunder Center.
For the fourth year, Berkshire County high school students were invited to participate in a juried installation of student art about climate change. Submissions could be individual or collaborative and 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional. Students were asked to respond to one or more elements in the following prompt:
In the age of climate change,
·What does nature provide?
·What are the earth’s needs?
·What matters most?
·What is resilience?
·Where do you find guidance and inspiration?
In a time of climate uncertainty, this installation spotlights how high school students from across the county experience climate change and demonstrate resilience as they work together to protect the environment.
Four local artists/art educators were selected to serve on the jury for the show: Anne Legêne, Enaya A. Ogletree, Michelle Raszl, and Stephanie Trotto. Anne Legêne is a professional musician, educator, and art lover. Legêne is the founding member of Living the Change Berkshires and the originator of How Shall We Live. Enaya A. Ogletree is an arts education coordinator and visual studio artist. Michelle Raszl is an artist and teacher whose work is inspired by her curiosity and experience of the natural world. She uses found and natural materials to create sculptural works, paintings, and fiber art. Stephanie Trotto is an arts management and art double major at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), graduating this spring. She has served as the Rodgers’ intern in the Clark’s division of learning and engagement since June 2025 and has a passion for community engagement and arts education in museums.
Advance registration for the April 18 public opening reception is encouraged. For accessibility questions, call 413 458 0570. For more information and to register, visit events.clarkart.edu.
This student art show is co-organized by the Clark, Living the Change Berkshires, and Cooler Communities, with financial support from the Feigenbaum Foundation, Lee Bank, and Greylock Federal Credit Union.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March. From April through December, admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+), $10 for young adults (18–25) and college students, and free for all visitors under 18. Admission is free year-round for Clark members. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
ABOUT LIVING THE CHANGE BERKSHIRES
Living the Change Berkshires creates community events that address climate change and climate justice with urgency, creativity, hope, and optimism—primarily on a local level. The organization supports a variety of local projects to promote climate change education, such as expos and fairs, community council meetings, and youth art shows.
ABOUT COOLER COMMUNITIES
Cooler Communities works toward a world in which all young people are informed and engaged in climate change issues and solutions, and are empowered to become change makers in their families and communities. Cooler Communities supports climate education through school grants, professional development, in-classroom support, and free K-5 books. The organization’s staff brings together expertise in education, climate science, and community engagement. They work alongside schools and partners to turn climate learning into meaningful, local action. All of Cooler Communities’ programs meet the recommendations for age-appropriate climate education: they are place-based, solution-centered, and teach students how they can help.
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