Berks artist Bruce Becker showing oil paintings, sculpture tonight [Spotlight]

Jun. 19—Internationally recognized artist Bruce Becker, who lives and works out of Berks County, will be featured in a solo exhibition that opens with a reception today from 5 to 9 p.m. and runs through July 8 at the Warehouse Studios, 700 Lancaster Ave.

Becker's work has been shown, requested and represented around the world. This will be a rare exhibit of 150 of his oil paintings in his hometown, with an additional display paying tribute to his sculpture "Touch Is Essential," honoring essential workers. This sculpture premiered at the Reading Public Museum and has traveled ever since and been seen by tens of thousands of people.

Becker has taught art for the past 16 years at Alvernia University and the Warehouse Studios. Many of his nearly 2,000 students have become successful artists themselves.

He has worked with numerous organizations to raise awareness and funds for their causes, including the Amish after the schoolhouse shooting at Nickel Mines. He later authored a book reflecting his experiences during that time, titled "Kindness and Compassion."

Art

Studio B in Boyertown will hold an opening reception for its "WORDS" exhibition on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. A virtual tour and awards ceremony will be held between 6 and 7 p.m. and streamed on Facebook LIVE, archived as a Facebook event and on YouTube following the opening. Amy Muzopappa of Muzo Media Productions hosts the virtual tour.

The exhibit is accompanied by the release of the studio's ninth book of poetry, prose and art entitled "Transforming Moments: Finding Our Voice." Over 50 local and international writers contributed to the anthology that is edited by Jane E. Stahl, Studio B's director of community relations, and Eileen "Mish" Murphy, book reviewer, visual artist, editor, teacher and poet.

The art exhibit, book and the activities offered at Studio B throughout the length of the exhibit are sponsored by the Boyertown Community Charitable Fund through Berks County Community Foundation.

Additional activities include a Writers' Reception on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.; Sunday Afternoon Book Talks scheduled for July 10, 17, 14 and 31; and a project entitled the "Human Library" that will be held on Aug. 7 and feature selected members of the community invited to tell their life "story." The exhibit opening and writers' activities are free and open to the public. The exhibition will run through August 21, 2022.

Juror selecting the art exhibit awards is Suzanne Fellows, a painter, printmaker, musician, teacher, designer and gardener. She saved 20 elephants from extinction with her art project "99 Elephants a Day." She holds a BFA from Kutztown University and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Art. Fellows is an acting professor of fine art and design at Reading Area Community College and is one of the studio artists at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts.

Jurying the writing awards is Susan LeClair. For over 25 years, LeClair taught English at the high school and college levels in Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, served as librarian at Boyertown Senior High School, and was a faculty member in the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Teaching.

----Clay on Main, 313 Main St., Oley, is presenting the exhibition "Nine or Ten Works I Like, In No Order," a sculptural ceramic showcase of local artist Madeline Consugar, starting today and running through July 24, with an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. next Sunday.

A Berks-based ceramic artist, Consugar creates ceramic sculptures focusing on color and repetition to create a unique visual experience for the viewer. Similar to the petals of a flower, her works may seem similar in their appearance and process from afar, but upon close inspection, each piece conveys individual personalities.

Smaller works by Consugar will also be available to purchase in the Main Street Gift Gallery at Clay on Main.

Gallery hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Walk-ins are welcome, or call 610-987-1273 for an appointment.

To learn more about "Nine or Ten Works I Like, In No Order" or other upcoming events, visit clayonmain.org.