Community Gallery

On View Now: Hitchcock Staff | Crafting Through a Changing World

When you visit Hitchcock Center for the Environment, enter our Visitor’s Center and go left through the glass door to see what’s on view in our Community Gallery. Beginning in October, a group of Hitchcock staff have come together to share their work- weaving, photography, wood carving, collage, embroidery, drawing, printing, jewelry making- crafted through their work inspiring action for a healthy planet, and finding little joys in their everyday.

On view through Winter 2027

From “DAILY OBJECTS” by Casey Beebe

Artists’ Statement:

Every day at Hitchcock Center, we witness the spark that emerges when people—children and adults alike—are invited to learn from the natural world with curiosity, courage, and care. The Valley is a special place because of its forests, soil, farms, rivers, trails, historic places–and because of people like you, and us, who care so deeply about it.

Nature photography by Katie Koerten

If you’re feeling the impacts of a changing world, you’re not alone. The air we breathe here in Western Mass has changed. Our country has changed. And climate change is moving faster than ever. Just as our planet is facing some of its biggest human-made challenges, and Hitchcock is too, our staff are guided by shared values: continuous, joyful learning; resilience and problem‑solving; empathy; and a commitment to equity, social, and environmental justice.

Hitchcock staff are educators, naturalists and organizers, and also friends, parents, neighbors, artists and craftspeople. We educate to inspire action for a healthy planet, and we also sit in ecological grief. We’re a group of people who know the weight of carrying hope and possibility while keeping momentum. We choose the joy in taking small actions for self love and community care, and that’s what you see in this art show.

“Nature’s Baskets” by Jennifer Unkles

We believe a lifelong reverence for nature and learning is something that is passed down, like the love of art and the skills and commitment to craft. We create art- poetry, fiber arts, painting, photography- to honor nature, capture stories, and keep the world turning.

There must be intention in artmaking, especially when there’s so much noise and wind and things to do that can keep us from creating. Creating art takes confidence and support. Traditionally, weavers may incorporate a flaw into their work for good luck, to recognize the fragility and love inside each finished project. In this show, we celebrate each other’s commitment to creativity and resilience through a changing world.