The seventh rendition of the “Colrain and the Hilltowns on Canvas” art show will make its way to the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center this weekend, showcasing artwork owned by the Colrain Historical Society and from private collections.
Some paintings to be displayed at 53 Main St. in Shelburne Falls were created by now-deceased residents who became legendary western Massachusetts artists in their lifetimes, including Robert Strong Woodward and William Lester Stevens, while others were made by current residents. Colrain Historical Society member Deborah Wheeler said the mix of old and new artwork is what sets the art show apart from others in the area.
The three-day event begins on Friday, Sept. 18, and continues through Sunday, Sept. 20. Doors open at 5 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Friday, while the showcase will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
“Seven years ago, we were looking at what we had for art in the Historical Society, and realized that we had quite a few paintings that were tied to Colrain in some way,” Wheeler said. “My mother … had been kind of collecting what I’ll call ‘regional artists’ works,’ some of the more famous artists from this area. And she suggested we have a show and hang contemporary people’s paintings along with the historic paintings.”
As of about three years ago, the art show expanded its horizons beyond just artwork of Colrain, and it now encompasses all of the hilltowns. Wheeler shared that artwork from Colrain, Charlemont, Ashfield, Conway and Shelburne Falls, along with other hilltowns, will be featured, with most of the artwork depicting landscapes in the communities.
This year’s art show will be dedicated to Wheeler’s mother, Marion Stafford, who died in January at the age of 100.
“She looked forward to the show every year,” Wheeler said of her mother. “We have a portrait of her done by Joanne Sherburne that will be hanging [at the show] for the first time.”
The event is a key fundraiser for the Colrain Historical Society, with entry at the door costing $10. The show will also feature a silent auction over the three days, with eight pieces of historic artwork being auctioned off. The auction closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be a certain number of paintings for sale, with Wheeler saying that a vendor will be there with artwork to sell, separate from the auction.
“It’s one of our main fundraisers,” Wheeler said. “It’s a very large show. … The other way we raise money through it is whatever we sell, the vendors give a portion of the proceeds to the Historical Society.”
Most of the paintings on display at the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center won’t be available to bid on, as more than 70 pieces of artwork from more than 40 artists will be exhibited. Returning attendees will see entirely new pieces of art that haven’t been displayed before, as the show includes new paintings every year. Wheeler said the Historical Society never hangs the same piece of artwork twice.
Most of the artwork that is displayed is loaned from private collectors.
“It’s amazing how much artwork is out there, that we can keep doing this show with different paintings every year,” Wheeler said.
The Friday night opening is a relatively new addition, with Wheeler saying the idea came to fruition within the last couple years. Also new for 2026, the show will highlight generational artists on the center’s main stage, with five families showcasing artwork from their family’s history.
“Some of the paintings that will be on display with these family artists go back to the mid-1800s,” Wheeler said. “It’s a little different.”
For more information on the event, contact the Colrain Historical Society at ColrainHistoricalSoc@gmail.com.
