North Adams Open Studios 2008 Event
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This year promises to be worth talking about as nearly 100 artists are set to participate in what has become a weekend holiday of sorts for many artists, businesses, and patrons of the arts in Berkshire County and beyond.
North Adams will be alive with art. Many downtown and nearby locations will be host to a multitude of the areas most talented, inspired, and accomplished artists.
"This event has really made an impression and has earned the respect and support of many local businesses and organizations," stated Jason Morin who sits as co-chair with Jessica Conzo of the North Adams Open Studios committee, "One business in particular stated that this event brought about his best day for sales of the year - he actually ran out of bagels!" The committee is made up of local artists, representatives from the City of North Adams, local business people, a branch of MCLA (North Adams' own liberal arts college) as well as a logistics person from MASS MoCA.
The city of North Adams will provide its antique trolley to shuttle people from location to location and MASS MoCA will provide free passes that may be acquired at all of the Open Studios locations.
Last year thousands of people made their way through the many galleries, studios and empty store fronts occupied by artists. This year there aren't as many empty store fronts downtown due to many commercial, co-op and college run galleries that have opened for business. Fortunately Ariel Sutain, owner of the NoAMA Mill located right across the Eclipse Mill on Route 2, has donated a very large space to accommodate the large quantity of artwork that will be on display. It's a win - win situation resulting in more art.
In addition, the Eclipse Mill, Windsor Mill, and Beaver Mill will showcase artists and artists spaces as will the North Adams Cooperative Gallery, IO-Gallery, Gallery 51, Kolok Gallery, and other DownStreetArt.org participating galleries & businesses.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Local Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
For more information, and online representation of some of the works to be on display, visit NorthAdamsOpenStudios.com or call MCLA Gallery 51 at (413) 663-5253.
