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DownStreet Art Opens Tonight

Staff reportsiBerkshires
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Nova Rockwell
NORTH ADAMS — Gloomy skies shouldn't stop area residents from finding something to brighten their day as DownStreet Art kicks off at 6 p.m. on Main Street.

The collabaration between artists and art groups, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, the city, Scarafoni Realty, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and Massachusetts College of Liberal Art includes the opening of four new temporary galleries in the downtown.


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Some 18 art venues and museums, including new exhibits at MCLA Gallery 51 and IO Gallery, are participating in tonight's art extravaganza. A number of local stores and restaurants are also taking advantage of the kick off with extended hours or specials. Cafe Latino at Mass MoCA, for example, is serving dinner until 10 p.m. followed by a deejay.

Artists and volunteers up and down Main Street were putting the final touches on gallery displays. And it's all inside — and out of any rain — members of the North Adams Artists Cooperative Gallery at 107 Main St. noted as they polished windows and cleaned up.

At 73 Main St., the last action figures were being added to Jarvis Rockwell's "Maya III," a massive stepped pyramid inspired by the ancient Hindu temples of India.

The artist's wife, Nova Rockwell, was one of those adding figures to the thousands already adorning the installation.

This third configuration of "Maya" is a little looser than earlier versions, said Rockwell, because workers seemed to be giving the figures more space. There's no particular order to the groupings, she said. "It's really a matter of their tastes."
     
Also opening is an exhibit at 28 Holden St. by artists working on the Sol LeWitt permanent exhibit at Mass MoCA and the interactive "Lumens" project at Gallery 51's annex at 61 Main St. ("Lumens" is offering a preview tonight; the exhibit doesn't formally open until July when the Adams portion opens.)



Jarvis Rockwell and wife Nova Rockwell position figures on 'Maya III' at 73 Main St. on Thursday afternoon. The exhibit opens tonight at 6.
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McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants

Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region. 
 
In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.
 
"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."
 
In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.
 
"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."
 
The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways. 
 
"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."  
 
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