January 30, 2026 - February 1, 2026
25 Main Street, Suite 444
With more than 100 pieces on view, this fond retrospective of Dave Rothstein’s work is on view for three days in downtown Northampton. Rothstein died unexpectedly and far too young on November 11, 2025. He was beloved throughout western Massachusetts, where he lived for much of his life, but also around the world, where he was an award-winning carver of massive sculptures in snow and ice.
The exhibition title, Every Day Is Play, celebrates the spirit of humor and whimsy that animated the vast majority of his work. If a single element runs through all of his creative output, it’s a desire to amuse, share, and create joyous connection with every conceivable viewer. Even pieces lacking an overtly playful theme usually showed a childlike curiosity meant to simultaneously entertain and reveal small insights and moments that might otherwise pass unacknowledged.
While not comprehensive, due to the short time to gather work and prepare it for display, this show features images from all of the diverse and wildly creative artistic media and forms Dave experimented with:
- many examples of his extensive library of miniature photography, where he juxtaposed tiny archetypal or historical figures with everyday objects: food, toys,