Weather Cold But Sales Warm for Open Studios

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
12:02AM / Monday, October 19, 2009Print Story | Email Story

Jean Fink of Otis and some of her wearable Woolart in the NoAMA mill. Left, a crop of glass mushrooms by Jill Balawander. Top, bold paintings by 19-year-old A.J. Schlesinger.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The traffic cooled slightly on Sunday along with the weather, but hundreds of area residents and other art lovers visited dozens of studios and galleries over the three days of North Adams Open Studios.

Committee Chairman Philip Sellers said the sixth year of the annual event went well.

"The crowds were down but sales were up," said Sellers after the studios closed on Sunday night. "Considering the economy and the weather, that was good."

Nearly 200 artists had work on view around the city, including the many downtown galleries on Main Street that have also been part of the summerlong Downstreet Art.

The results were hit and miss with some artists getting plenty of viewers but no sales. Eclipse Mill artists, who started the event as a way to introduce themselves and their work to the community, had a number of buyers among its more than 500 visitors.

Berkshirefinearts' article on the event has more statistics, with an estimate that the crowd was off by about 40 percent.

The Eclipse and NoAMA building (Hoosac Mill) across the street drew more than 800 visitors between them. The tiny Berkshire Arts Colony gallery on Eagle Street had so many people on Saturday, said event marketing director Brian Handspicker, that glass bead artist Isabella Raven gave up counting.

Main Street was busier than normal on Saturday as milder temperatures and blue skies drew people downtown. NoAMA (which stands for North Adams, MA) was filled with more than two dozen booths for artists who didn't have local studios handy.

The event was good for Jean Fink, who was participating in Open Studios for the first time with her "Woolart." In fact, the chilly temperatures inside the old textile mill may have prompted sales of her wearable art, she said.

"It was great working with the people who run the show," said Fink, who recently moved to Otis. "It was just really excited by the energy they had setting up Friday. It was just wonderful."

Fink was one of several artists from BerkshireMade at the mill. Gabrielle Senza said her booth didn't do quite as well, but "it was great for BerkshireMade to be part of this event."

The event brings an estimated 2,000 people out to meet with local artists and view their works. It's grown from a half-dozen studios in the Eclipse Mill to include the entire mill and galleries throughout the city representing dozens of artists, groups including the North Adams Artists Co-operative, and the Beaver Mill with its newly opened studio21south. Musical and other performances have also joined in.

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These numbers are grossly over-exaggerated. This was, by far, the slowest Open Studios event North Adams has had since the event began. I didn't see one person riding the old trolley either day and foot traffic was WAY down. I'm sure the weather & economy played a role, but other factors did too. Peak foliage had already passed (so maybe we should consider doing it a bit earlier next year). The NOAMA space was 'filled' with more crafts than art. If we're going to allow artists from outside the area to participate, then there should be a jury selecting the work to be shown. Art should far outweigh crafts during an "artists" open studios event. People also travel to these events to see "professional" artists (artists who spend most of their time building their art careers). If we dilute the event with amateur/hobby artists fewer and fewer people will come each year. There is certainly a place for artists of all levels, but that place is more of an 'arts and crafts' festival. I think it should be the job of the open studios committee to attend other major open studios events prior to next year--maybe we can learn a thing or two from events that have been going on for 10-20 years. We also need more live/work space here for artists...if we build it they WILL come. Editor: The numbers were provided by the organizers and based on counts made at both mill venues; other numbers are anecdotal. Should people who don't have studios not be allowed to participate? Who decides what's art and what's not?
from: OpenStudiosParticipant	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

I agree 100% with the last post. This is a complete puff piece which does not accurately represent the enormous, widespread dissapointment amongst everyone I have spoken to. People in the NoAMA space felt it was unbearable (how can you view art with NO LIGHTING? And no heat, either???), traffic and sales were both down in the mills, whatever the official committee is saying. Main Street was dead, dead, dead. Sales at the co-op gallery, which did fantastically all summer were a total bust. People who sold well in past years sold almost nothing this year. Please, iBerkshires. It's bad enough that the Transcript has to write its usual happy-go-lucky stuff, but can we count on you guys to do a little more investigation? Editor: We rely a lot on the feedback we get on stories. It's tough to cover everything - sometimes we need to sleep. Yes there were disappointed participants and a freezing mill. The numbers speak for themselves in the story - more than 800 visitors between the two mills when it's averaged 2K the last two years. I would argue about Main Street being dead, theough. I was downtown on Saturday for another story and there were far more people than normal. Not enough obviously.
from: local artist	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The fact that the event happened was an accomplishment in it self. The committee was very short staffed in comparison to previous years. - all I can say is that if you feel the event was not up to snuff, please transform your opinions into actions and sign up to be on the committee for 2010. There is contact info on the website - NorthAdamsOpenStudios.com
from: Committee Member	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

While I would definitely agree that there is progress to be made, and would also agree that numbers were down this year I do need to disagree that downtown was a bust. Saturday we had over 250 visitors at MCLA Gallery 51 and work. Others I talked to also had many more visitors then they would have otherwise. Sunday...yeah, that was a little sad. But even I decided that a rainy,sleety, snowy day was a great day to explore the Eclipse Mills from top to bottom.
from: jonathan	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants

Staff Reports 04:51PM / Friday, December 20, 2024

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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