North Adams Open Studios

A Smashing Pumpkins Success

By: Charles Giuliano - Oct 17, 2006

His Honor Mayor John Barrett chats with Astrid Hiemer.

Event Chair, Jane Hudson, reads from a long list of credits during the opening reception.

Gallerist Ralph Brill in his space in the Eclipse Mill.

Gregory J. Scheckler with his work in Gallery 51 runs the studio program for MCLA.

The temporary space at 107 Main Street featured Northern Berkshire Creative Artists.

The Kolok Gallery was a generous sponsor of the event.

Hezzie Phillips is the hip director of the Contemporary Artists Center.

Zhee Singer hauled this piece from California and is still working on it.

Larry Alice and his recent paintings.

Norman Thomas has recently returned to figurative paintings.

Rich Remsberg and Lisa Nilsson in their studio.

A ceramic relief piece by Diane Sullivan.

Phil Sellers of River Hill Pottery reported strong sales for the weekend.

Ric Harlow is finishing painting to be shown at New England School of Art/ Suffolk University next month.

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      A lot of locals making the rounds of the first ever North Adams Open Studios seemed just curious and somewhat awed about meeting artists and peeking into some of their live work spaces. The weekend long event was productive in normalizing relationships between this unique group of creators and the hard scrabble, working class community in Northern Berkshire County. Of course the city has long become used to the presence of Mass MoCA the enormous contemporary art museum in the sprawling site of the former Sprague Electic Company. But, somehow, that seems different than being up close and personal with living breathing artists. The folks you run into out and about in town grocery shopping at Big Y, hunkered down with a cup of joe at Cup and Saucer and Brewhaha, or wolfing down the wieners at Frank's. You know, like real people, but who make art.

         The festivities started with a gala preview reception  on Friday evening for the artists, patrons, and VIPs at the Eclipse Mill. The food and bar were lined up outside the gallery. At the height of the reception there was a log jam around the meatballs, rice balls and cannolis generously provided by the restaurant Red Sauce or the wine donated by West Liquors. Event chair, Jane Hudson, a frequent contributor to Berkshire Fine Arts, read from several pages of credits and thank yous. Most prominent among the dignitaries was Mayor John Barrett. Later Astrid chatted with him and I chimed in for my first ever one on one with His Honor. Who, by the way, held his own in the face of some tough questions and was utterly charming in professing his love of the arts and vision for the future growth of the city. There is an eight screen stadium seating megaplex opening in December and he wanted to make a bet that one day ("Within five years") we will enjoy the reopening of the Mohawk Theatre as a peformance space possibly in conjunction with Mass MoCA.

          It was a great kickoff evening with many artists pitching in to lend a hand. We came by the next day to make the rounds and chat with the many artists. The city provided a Trolley that made stops at the various exhibition spaces. These comprised a temporary space  featuring 16 artists including students and faculty of Northern Berkshire Creative Arts at 107 Mainstreet, Gallery 51 of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Kolok Gallery, Studio Space, the Eclipse Mill, and the Contemporary Artists Center and Studios. There were also works on view at Widgitz and Cup and Saucer.

           There were many wonderful moments and highlights including opportunities to make new acquaintances. Here and there were reports of strong sales. Once they recover from all the stress and strain the organizers hope that next year's event will be even bigger. Surely this was a great beginning to what promises to be an annual tradition. Smashing pumpkins.