To my friends, collectors, family and fans of my art

When you live in an old mill surrounded by waterfalls and a river how can you not be inspired by the power and beauty of water. I am so honored that Sanctum Gallery (148 North Street Pittsfield MA) has invited me to do a large solo exhibition called the Spiritual Essence of Water and share this inspiration.

On Friday August 7, 4-7 PM you are invited to come to the reception… before the opening of the Berkshire Museum, a Tanglewood or Barrington Stage Performance, or stay for Pittsfield’s First Friday event. There is always so much to do in the Berkshires! Step into Sanctum Gallery for an experiential exhibition of lights, sights, sounds and images as well as a place for meditation, while Terry Keevil plays the oboe and duduk.

Water nourishes the world and is necessary for all beings. It can transform into a solid sheet of ice or turn into steam. It purifies rivers and can carve mountains, but it has no form as it runs through your fingers; it dissipates into the ground or evaporates into the sky. Its ephemeral nature and power embody spirituality in all cultures. It is our salvation, resurrection, fear and solace. It is a gentle pond, a bubbling brook, an endless wave or a powerful plummeting waterfall. The waterfall is analogous to the rhythm and journey of our lives. The roar and mist is a bridge between our physical and spiritual being. As the water crashes among the rocks and transforms the landscape, the sound and form is mesmerizing.

Spiritual Essence of Water (8/6-8/31) is an experiential installation of 2D and 3D works, with art on the floor, hanging from the ceiling, and digital projections. Oceans, rivers and waterfalls from New England, the Berkshires, NY, California, Florida, India, Japan, South Africa, or my recent trip to Iceland, transform into paintings and sculptures. Beginning with photographic imagery, I layer the image with encaustic paint. Many are then printed on fabric, put on a motion sensor light box, made into scrolls, relief sculptures or life size figures that become one with the waterfall. The viewer will quickly see that we are the water, and it is us. Come feel the power of water as well as the gentle sounds of a bubbling brook.

Accompanying my art will be some small sand paintings by Tenzin Wangchuk. Representing the spiritual symbolism of Tibetan Buddhism, Wangchuk takes the tradition of sand mandalas and butter sculptures and makes them permanent. Wangchuk was a senior monk in the art program for the Dalai Lama. We have worked together and shared ideas for almost 20 years and he has lived intermittently in the Berkshires.

Sanctum Gallery at 148 North Street is a program of Healing Arts Sanctuary. Its mission is to foster communal gesture, connections, reflection and healing. There will be programming throughout the exhibition.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition: Spiritual Essence of Water: The Art of Gail Gelburd and Tenzin Wangchuk

Location: Sanctum Gallery, 148 North Street, Pittsfield, MA

Dates: August 6–31, 2026

Open Days: Thursday – Monday

Reception: August 7, 4:00–7:00 PM (during Pittsfield’s First Fridays)

Events: Lectures, guided meditation, and music will be held during the exhibition

Contact: gailgelburd.com or Susan Jameson (413-854-8252)