Dr. Chartock (Ph.D. from New York University) spotted that "incredible couple" sculptor Don Gummer (he created the suspended split rock just across the road from Mass MoCA's parking lot) and actress, Meryl Streep. But in today's Eagle Chartock informs us that "Someone asked if I had a chance to speak to them, and I replied that I could have more easily had a conversation with the Pope while watching him from St. Peter's Square."
No, it seems that Chartock, who in addition to writing for the Eagle is also President and CEO of WAMC/ Northeast Public Radio, a National Public Radio affiliate, got no respect from whoever arranged the seating plan. Say it ain't so Joe. As in Joe Thompson, director of Mass MoCA.
But hey, in the Berkshires, Alan gets around. We had a nice chat during the recent Tanglewood event at upscale Cranwell in Lenox. He also reported on that today, as well as, moving on to the Colonial for its Peter Yarrow and Family concert. Puff the magic dragon and all that. Just don't inhale.
While Chartock didn't get to press the flesh with the Pope, in this case Meryl Streep, the finest American actress of her generation, he did get to sit next to ousted North Adams Mayor, John Barrett III. Some guys get all the breaks.
May not have been the Pope but Chartock was star struck by his dinner companion "Big John" Barrett.
"You just have to love the man" Chartock gushes. Be still dear heart.
Maybe you Alan but by a margin of 800 voters in North Adams didn't love "Big John" enough to bring him back for another term after a record run of 26 years. Chartock lives in Great Barrington and I doubt that during the recent campaign he sat in Cup and Saucer and over a mug of Joe took the pulse of local opinion. From the lofty perch of political punditry actually talking with folks is perhaps too déclassé.
Elaborating further on his best buddy "Big John" Chartock states that "He knows more about government and how to run a city than anyone I have ever met." An opinion apparently not shared by the majority of voters. Perhaps a moot point when compared to Chartock's knowledge of politics. It is also conventional wisdom that Tom Dewey knew more about governance than that upstart, political hack, and wannabe from Missouri, Harry S. Truman.
"As I sat listening to him (Barrett), I thought how ironic it was that Mayor Jim Ruberto won his race in Pittsfield in part because of the support of the arts community while a few disgruntled, self styled arts types did John Barrett in."
Well Alan, I suppose you are talking about me. And some 300 or so other "self styled arts types." You got that partly right. We did "do John Barrett in." But even if you count those alleged 300 artist votes (assuming that they voted as a block) what about those other 500 votes that tipped the balance? It has been widely reported that all segments of the North Adams community supported Mayor-elect Dick Alcombright. That included life long residents, senior citizens, blue collar workers, and not just the "carpet baggers" (as they were denigrated by Barrett's supporters).
Hey Alan, come on down to North Adams and we will be only too pleased to introduce you to some of those "self styled arts types." We might start with the 40 artist lofts in the Eclipse Mill and visit the Beaver and Windsor mills. Then move on to the many homes around town where "art types" have bought or rented properties. We can provide you with a crash course on the creative economy and how those 300 or so artsy fartsy folks have planted roots, upgraded properties, work their asses off to pay the rent, shop locally, pay taxes, and involved themselves in the political process. It's called democracy.
Yes, in 26 years John Barrett did a lot for North Adams. Just ask him. But I am sure he gave you an earful during that high society gathering at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. "Â…right around the corner from Katz's Delicatessen which has the best turkey, cole slaw and Russian dressing sandwiches in the world." Makes my mouth water. Probably a better meal than the rubber chicken at the MoCA benefit.
Just what is it with the Eagle? They can't seem to let go of Big John and all that he meant to his cronies. Alan, did he tell you about all the ingrates who stabbed him in the back after he brought us, personally, to North Adam? Hmm, I can't recall him helping us to finance the purchase of our loft. I don't remember him being there with the welcome wagon when we moved in. He never invited us to discuss our vision for the city, serve on any committees, or get involved with official city business. Hey, Big John didn't even send me a Christmas card. Or call me on my birthday. Drats.
Further commenting on the campaign, which Chartok appears to have followed second hand, he states that "The museum (Mass MoCA) became a focal point in the campaign when Dick Alcombright let it be known that North Adams was more than Mass MoCA. I sure hope Alcombright doesn't translate his win into a mandate not to help the now world famous museum. That would be a colossal mistake. In fact my bet would be that nothing could be more likely to make him a one-term mayor."
Since Chartock apparently never talked with Alcombright, considered his views in full, or attended any of the debates, these remarks are just absurdly outrageous. As well as vindictive, short sighted, and damaging. Seems like Big John played Chartock like a fiddle. Big John used the leverage of Chartock's bully pulpit to put the kibosh and a hex on an administration which is just getting up and running.
What Alcombright was stating, and many of us believe, is that North Adams has to work with but look beyond Mass MoCA in creating a city wide creative economy. The Mayor-elect is mandated to create a wider strategy for promoting cultural tourism. He needs to market the entire city and its unique creative community.
While the museum draws some 150,000 visitors no more than ten percent find their way around the city after they leave the campus. The new Mayor is the point man for developing a synergy that meshes all of the elements of the community. Of which, obviously, Mass MoCA is the largest and most important, but not the only player.
We all agree that Mass MoCA is doing a great job. Yesterday, we were delighted to bring our Holiday guests through the Sol LeWitt building. The museum was packed. Yet again, however, on a busy Holiday weekend there was a trickle of activity down town. There were some 50 visitors for the Small Works holiday show at the Eclipse Mill Gallery. We watched as sales were being made.
Last night, Jae's Inn was running slow at full capacity when we had dinner. It took an hour to be served appetizers. Same thing happened recently at Jae's Spice in Pittsfield.
So yes, there is the trickle down impact of Mass MoCA but it can be so much more.
This week Mayor Barrett will, for the last time, preside over lighting up Main Street for the Holidays. He has often told his how proud he is of making the downtown pretty with holiday lights and flowers in the center strip during the summer. He made sure that there was nothing to mar that beauty like benches for seniors to rest their bones on. Or signage that might inform folks passing by about shops, a movie theatre, mall and restaurants. No, that all falls to the next administration. The vulgarians.
When Alcombright plans to beautify the down town or celebrate holidays let's hope that he invites those "self-styled arts types," as Chartock describes us, to make proposals. Why not ask artists if there are other ways to illuminate Main Street than hanging Christmas Lights. Or planting petunias during the summer.
How about some site specific sculptures? Surely with such a vibrant creative community North Adams can come up with something more imaginative than the sheep, moose, bears and cows that are now the standard notion of public art. Let's hope that Alcombright talks with Joe Thompson about bringing some of that world class art into the heart and soul of the city.
What if a Sol Lewitt design was painted onto the wall of a downtown building? Or those logo upside down trees outside Mass MoCA were located along the center strip of Main Street? How about if a new work was commissioned annually in and about North Adams? Over a decade it would transform the city into a living museum. We need to find ways to extend Mass MoCA into the community.
Several years ago Astrid and I visited the Munster Sculpture Project which is staged every ten years in the German city. We rented bicycles and using a map explored the city finding the many, world class, site specific sculptures. Why not in North Adams under the leadership of Mass MoCA?
When those kinds of ideas were proposed to Barrett he nixed them because of the potential of vandalism. Or the cost of extra security. Excuses, excuses, excuses.
During that NY gala Barrett may well have said to Chartock "après moi, le deluge." Probably he phrased it differently. Perhaps non illegitimi carborundum.
