Common Folk has had to close its downtown shop and reinvent itself online to support local artists. It's also doing online activities through its Facebook page.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Common Folk artists collective is doing its part to support the creative community during the pandemic.
With COVID-19 shuttering the downtown the collective knew it was important to find ways to protect the creative community and keep them together.
"Without the members, the collective isn't a collective," Common Folk's communications director Makayla-Courtney McGeeney said. "Sticking together and having everyone on the same page helps the organization grow and continue to offer benefits, even if things shift a little."
She said a majority of members have benefited from selling their work in the Common Folk store on Main Street as well as in other stores and restaurants throughout the city. With the city essentially shut down, there are no longer physical venues to share work.
"Some artists, particularly those in the collective, depend on foot traffic on Main Street to make a living from community members purchasing their art at our space," she said. "Without that, they can't make a living and contribute back to the community. It's a continuous circle. A community thrives and overcomes when everyone can support each other."
So Common Folks, like so many outlets, has moved art sales online for the time being.
But the novel coronavirus pandemic has caused deeper concerns among members, with many creative people losing their income.
"A large majority of creative people do not work full time in their craft. In the midst of COVID-19, many lost their part-time jobs in addition to losing access to creative resources," McGeeney said.
Common Folk is part of the North Adams Artist Impact Coalition, a larger group of cultural organizations intended to combine efforts in order to better serve area artists.
Members of the collective include various independent artists, musicians who have canceled tours and taken to livestreaming performances, and even staff from Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art who have been laid off.
"We are firm believers in collective action. We see first hand the significant benefits of people working together towards a common goal," Creative Director Jessica Sweeny said. "The North Adams Artist Impact Coalition is a bigger collaborative comprised of all stakeholders in the creative world here. And we are working together with data that we have collected locally to address the needs of the creative people that live here."
Beyond more tangible resources the two groups also look to keep the artist community connected when they are forced to be apart. McGeeney said they are hosting virtual craft nights as well as open "Common Ground" discussions.
They also look to share member art on social media, art supplies and other pick-me-ups. This is something they extended to the entire community through Community Supported Art (CSA) boxes.
"When things started to shake up with Covid-19 in March, it seemed like a good time to sprinkle a little love around the community," Sweeny said. "This idea was also an equitable way to support all the members who sell work in our brick and mortar while we worked to build out our online store."
McGeeney said the member-curated boxes are themed. She said they put together a date night box with hand made wooden spoons and even a cabin fever box with VHS tapes, CDs, and records.
They also believed it to be important to supply their members and the community with art supplies so they can keep on creating
"We also knew that no one would want to go to the store, especially just for art supplies, and in order to create at home, they needed supplies," McGeeney said. "While everything in the world changed each day, we gradually adjusted our store to meet the needs of our members and the public. Shortly after, creator members signed up to sell their own curated boxes of their specific items, similar to having their own retail spot in our physical store."
Sweeny said Common Folk by nature is flexible and throughout its existence, has adapted to different scenarios. She cited the members long search for a space of their own and noted for many years they were essentially "nomadic."
"Adapting has been important to us far before COVID-19 affected the globe," she said. "An artist collective only works to directly serve the members and their needs, so when those needs shift, we shift."
Sweeny said it is important to not only support each other and local businesses during the pandemic but also the creative community.
"The artist community is threaded between all facets of a community," she said. "They work at our favorite restaurants, they are volunteers for critical emergency and essential services, they work for essential services, they are our favorite entertainers, and keep us inspired. And we all could use a little inspiration right now."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
MCLA's Gallery 51 to Debut 'Materialscape' Exhibition
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — MCLA's Gallery 51 will host an opening reception for a new exhibition titled "Materialscape" featuring the work of three visual artists who explore the intersection of materiality and land.
The exhibition opens on Friday, Sept. 6, with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. including light refreshments and a performance by Marissa Baez. The exhibition is on view through Nov. 3.
According to a press release:
"Materialscape" introduces the work of three visual artists—Marissa Baez (Mexican American), Delaney Keshena (Menominee), and Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), each distinctively exploring the intersection of materiality and land. Their intentional use of material is deeply rooted in their cultural and personal journeys, manifesting either as a form of reclaiming or as a continuation. Ash, beeswax, metal, porcupine quills, paper, animal hide, and plants are not merely mediums but pivotal elements central to their expressive practices. By employing both natural and synthetic materials, the artists collectively share stories, memories, and histories that powerfully reflect on the contemporary Indigenous experience.
Through diligent research and the embrace of communal knowledge, these artists delve into the complexities of identity, resistance, and resilience. Their works act as a dynamic exploration of the interplay between culture, environment, and personal narrative, illustrating how deeply embedded materials can convey profound thematic inquiries. As they navigate through themes of dispossession and regeneration, their artworks resonate as potent symbols of cultural reclamation and personal revelation, offering insights into both shared and unique paths of Indigenous persistence and creativity.
The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery 51 is located at 51 Main St., North Adams, MA.
This grant is designated for Creative Community Fellows New England alumni to implement strategic plans that foster creative growth and community change in New England. click for more
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
click for more
The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more