Be Kind to Artists — Visit Them This Weekend
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| John Carter of Mars? One of the many works being displayed at NoAMA for Open Studios. |
"It started in the mills as a studio showing," said Jessica Conzo, director of the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, who is co-chairing the event with Jason Morin, owner of IO Gallery. "Last year, it moved more into the downtown. This year, it's sort of moving back to the mill buildings."
The mill buildings are primarily the Eclipse Mill Artist Lofts, which is currently exhibiting the work of 26 artists through Nov. 16, on Union Street (Route 2), NoAMA building directly across the street, the Windsor Mill and the Beaver Mill.
That doesn't mean there won't be plenty of art downtown, too. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students will have their works on display at 40 Eagle St. in the Flatiron Building; aspects of the summer's Downstreet Art project will be also be open during the weekend, such as the North Adams Artists Cooperative Gallery, MCLA Gallery 51 and Maia III.
 Photos by Tammy Daniels
Thomas Mikelson will be showing his photography in Open Studios for the first time |
With storefronts being filled up for the Downstreet exhibitions, space was tight for artists not living in the city to participate. Ariel Sutain, owner of NoAMA, the old Hoosac Mill, donated enough room for more than 30 artists to set up there.
Art lovers will start their tour through the building by entering an exhibit of works by Parisian Jean Noelle Chazelle. The large acrylic-on-Plexiglas sheets hang from the two-story ceiling, reflecting light like stained glass.
Sutain said the "very unique" works have been in the space since last year; Chazelle has also shown at the Kolok Gallery in the nearby Windsor Mill, which is also participating in Open Studios.
Once leaving the Chazelle exhibit, visitors will work their way around the perimeter of the cavernous mill where artists have been given spaces to display a wide range of works, from photography to textiles. Sutain said there were the inevitable issues of providing art space in a working mill (currently being used as a storage facility) but tarps were used to cover up the storage area, leaving a sweeping semi-circle of exhibition space.
On Friday, Thomas Mikelson and his wife, Patricia, were perusing which of his 22 framed photographs to put on display. It's Mikelson's first time showing at Open Studios and he was having a little difficulty deciding which of his pieces to fill in the last spot on the display.
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He's been in love with photography for 45 years, and began working seriously on his craft the last 15 with master instructors. Two years ago, he retired and was able to endulge his passion full time.
His works range from architecture (funhouselike reflections of Harvard campus buildings in windows) to exotic locales to exotic water nymphs.
Filling the final hole in the wall — a rustic landscape of Williamstown.
Open Studios is expected to bring thousands to the area. Some 2,000 people were estimated to have toured the galleries and artist lofts last year.
"This event has really made an impression and has earned the respect and support of many local businesses and organizations," said Morin in a statement. "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 historic North Adams trolley will swing through the area, offering free rides to the participating venues. For a map, click here. Skyboro Sound is holding a bluegrass, country, folk, blues concert at 8 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on Saturday. Marafanyi Drummers will be performing at Northern Berkshire Creative Arts in Western Gateway Heritage State Park on Sunday afternoon.
This is Conzo's first year working with the event, which is run by a volunteer group with support from local businesses, organizations and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. "It's been very hectic," she said. "I'm excited to see what it's all about."
The galleries and lofts are open 10 to 6 both days.
