Seeds of Connection: An Exhibit by CATA Artists with Disabilities

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) ​and Berkshire Botanical Garden​ ​​present "Seeds of Connection​," an exhibit of nature-inspired paintings and drawings by artists with disabilities. The exhibition will be on display at Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Leonhardt Galleries from Feb. 28 through March 23, 2025. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (admission is free).

A free, opening reception will be held on Friday, Feb. 28, from 3 to 5p.m. Registration is requested at CATAarts.org/BBG2025.

The exhibit features over 40 paintings, drawings, and collages created through Community Access to the Arts’ year-round workshops serving children, teens and adults with disabilities. Some of the works were created on​-​site​ at Berkshire Botanical Garden​ as part of a​n ongoing​ partnership between CATA and BBG, while others were created by CATA artists ​at day programs and residences serving people with disabilities, as well as in CATA’s studios in Great Barrington.

“Seeds of Connection” is sponsored by Acrisure, with additional support from Frames on Wheels, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other generous supporters. The exhibit includes botanical studies, landscapes, collages, and abstract paintings, each ranging widely in stylistic expression and scale of size. Works are professionally matted, framed, and available for sale, with proceeds supporting commissions for the individual artists.

The exhibit is part of CATA’s “Art on Tour” program, where original works of art created by CATA artists are featured in exhibits at museums, galleries, community centers, and other venues in Berkshire ​and Columbia counties.

About Community Access to the Arts: Community Access to the Arts is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing and celebrating the creativity of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and autism. CATA engages 1,250 people with disabilities across 16 towns and cities in Berkshire County, Mass., and Columbia County, N.Y. Through dynamic arts programs, CATA artists with disabilities are empowered to discover new talents and express their unique perspectives. CATA shares their vibrant work in public performances, art exhibits, and poetry readings — collaborating with major cultural institutions including the Clark Art Institute, The Mount, and Shakespeare & Company to shine a light on the remarkable creative abilities of people with disabilities. Learn more at CATAarts.org.