The Wood Block Center is pleased to present Singulars, an exhibition of new paintings by local artist Berta Burr, on view and open to the public on Sundays, November 8, 22, and 29 from 3 to 5 pm in the recently renovated second floor gallery. A reception for the artist will be held Saturday, November 21, 3 to 5 pm.

Burr’s paintings are a still point in an often churning, chaotic world. Working within a deliberately focused range, she gives her attention to one thing at a time: an apple, a garlic bulb, a fold of cloth. Each subject is given room to simply be, and the results are quiet and patient, and contemplative, stopping us mid-hubbub and offering a chance to look closely.

“My painting is motivated by a need to view the world with a degree of detachment that allows for the possibility of beauty,” says Burr.

Writing in Art New England, Shanta Lee Gardner described viewing Burr’s paintings as “a powerful and contemplative experience,” noting that the quality of her brushwork and the quiet beauty of her palette compel viewers to linger.

Raised in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of an avid amateur artist, Burr grew up in a house where art materials were never in short supply and she began painting at an early age. Burr honed her skills over several decades as a specialist in harpsichord decoration, antique restoration, and gilding. Working with her husband, the noted harpsichord maker Walter Burr, she immersed herself in 17th- and 18th-century techniques. Her paintings maintain this meticulous approach, releasing it into a larger space. While her art is informed by tradition, Burr’s work is unmistakably of the moment.

Burr established her current Hoosick, NY studio in 1974. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions at the Left Bank Gallery (North Bennington, VT), 571 Projects (Stowe, VT), the Southern Vermont Art Center (Manchester, VT), the Bennington Museum (Bennington, VT), and the Foundation for Baroque Music (Saratoga, NY), among many others. The Burrs have been the subject of newspaper and magazine features in The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and International Herald Tribune. An article in Elle Décor focused on the decoration.

All works in the exhibition are available for purchase. Proceeds from painting sales will benefit the continued restoration of the Wood Block Center, including the installation of an elevator to provide accessibility for all visitors.

Berta Burr, Pear, 2026, oil on canvas, 20” x 20”

Wood Block Center welcomes audiences to its newly renovated 3rd-floor North Hall for an afternoon concert with the Linda Brown Jazz Project on Sunday, November 15, from 3 to 4:30 pm. Double bassist Linda E. Brown, a professional musician and bandleader, will be joined by talented colleagues Jeanne O’Connor and Elizabeth Woodbury-Kasius.

The series offers a first chance to experience the North Hall in person. The 34 x 58 foot room has 16-foot ceilings, plenty of natural light, and impressive acoustics.

Vocalist and bandleader Jeanne O’Connor has performed throughout the world, with a mastery of swing, subtlety, and improvisation. She has appeared at the Blue Note, Birdland, Smoke, Alice Tully Hall, Caffè Lena, and the Kennedy Center. A member of the Royal Bopsters, she will release her new solo album, The Sweetest Sounds, on Summit Records in 2027. 

Pianist, composer, and arranger Elizabeth Woodbury-Kasius brings jazz, classical, and world music into a soundscape often inspired by nature. A dance accompanist for more than 20 years, she has worked in residence with the Martha Graham, Mark Morris, José Limón, and Doug Varone companies. Her music has been featured on NPR, and her group Heard’s 2010 release Karibu reached #15 on the national world jazz charts.

Light snacks and hot cider will be provided. Audience members can also see Berta Burr’s Singulars exhibition, on view in the beautiful second-floor gallery, before or after the performance.

Our thanks to the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) and the Albany Musicians‘ Association, Inc., Local 14 of the American Federation of Musicians of United States and Canada for their grant in support of free admission for this program.

What: Linda Brown Jazz Project concert

When: Sunday, November 15, 3 to 4:30 pm

Where: North Hall, Wood Block Center, 3 Main Street (third floor), Hoosick Falls, NY

Cost: Free, donations welcome.

Reservations required: The performance is limited to 48 people. Reserve a seat by emailing civicure@gmail.com and specifying how many people are in your party.

Accessibility: The North Hall is currently accessible by stairs only. Fundraising to supplement a grant for an elevator is in progress.

What: exhibition and sale of Wayne Trimm’s works

When: ongoing during business hours

Where: foyer of 5 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY

Cost: Free

For an appointment or to purchase art: email civicure@gmail.com