The printmakers at a collective studio called Zea Mays display extraordinary work, varied in style but equally accomplished. One-of-a-kind artist books are all the rage here and in the studios of painters such as Claudia Sperry, who displays her flowing brushwork next to an arrangement of shells and stones.
This is a feast for eyes, spirit, and, yes, stomach: Lest visitors' blood sugar take a dive from hiking up and down stairs, Northampton's restaurants have spread out offerings and coffee to keep them fueled.
Everyone knows that Boston has its own vibrant art scene, but at this time of year it's fun to venture out to an area where funky old factory buildings are set against hills and rivers that could have graced the canvases of Grandma Moses. Artists and artisans have been drawn here by both the scene and the scenery. Although the latter has been in place since the last glacier receded, the scene began gathering momentum in the 1970s and has now reached a critical mass.
Local residents are happy to support this thriving community, marking the dates of holiday sales to pounce on great deals on handmade gifts -- pottery, jewelry, handwoven clothing, beadwork, prints and books, pillows and paintings, photographs and sculpture. Some are made by nationally famous artisans, others are created by the less well known but talented artists who populate these parts: the Connecticut River Valley towns of Northampton, Easthampton, and Westhampton; hill towns such as Williamsburg, Windsor, Worthington, and Cummington; and the village of Shelburne Falls on the Deerfield River. Most of these are only a two-hour drive from Boston, although the hill towns lie another 45 minutes west.
