Happy 10th Anniversary to the collaboration of the Blackstone Valley Art Association and the ValleyCAST organization! We are so proud of all we have achieved together in these past ten years, and we look forward to an amazing future of creativity, art, and inspiration!
Extraordinary Director of ValleyCAST Cristi Collari first contacted the Blackstone Valley Art Association in August 2015. Cristi was in charge of the Heritage Gallery at the Whitin Mill in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Inspired by our artwork, Cristi asked if we would like to hold our annual Fall Show in the Heritage Gallery space. We enthusiastically agreed!
That first art show, our BVAA 58th Annual Fall Show, was held in November to December of 2015.
We had a great turnout at the Whitin Mill and loved working with Cristi Collari.
The collaboration worked so well that Cristi asked us to host our 4th Annual “Anything Goes” Photography Show at another gallery she oversaw – the ValleyCAST gallery space at Alternative’s location at 5 South Main Street in Uxbridge. We joyfully agreed and set that up for Jan 13th – Feb 29th, 2016.
We then held our 2016 Fall Show in October 2016 in the same Uxbridge Massachusetts gallery space –
At the time we were holding our monthly meetings at the Northbridge Senior Center. The main other show being held in the Uxbridge gallery space was the fall-winter “Tapestry” community art show. BVAA members participated heavily in this show. For the 2016 Tapestry Show, our members won first and second place.
Then in 2017 the BVAA held our 5th Annual “Anything Goes” photography show in the Uxbridge gallery.
We added a new show to our cycle – the “Show of Hands” anything-but-photography show, to serve as a counterpoint to our “Anything Goes” January show. We held this in Uxbridge in August-September 2017.
Our wonderful shared experiences led to the delightful collaborative idea – that the Blackstone Valley Art Association would become the primary gallery manager of the 5 South Main Street location and use this space as our Home Base! We announced this on August 20, 2017!
We have had a joyful relationship ever since.
Over the years Alternatives became part of the larger Open Sky group. ValleyCAST has maintained its commitment to arts, culture, and inclusivity! ValleyCAST is the Arts & Culture arm of Open Sky Community Services.
Thank you to Cristi Collari for reaching out to us back in 2015, and for all her support, encouragement, and inspiration in the ten years since! We treasure you!
Here is how to learn more about all that ValleyCAST does. ValleyCAST’s mission is to foster a creative and engaged community in the Historic Blackstone Valley that is inclusive and supportive of all people with and without disabilities.