[Forum] Meeting Notes

[Jane Hudson]

Veronica Bosley kindly provided these comprehensive notes from the  
January meeting. There is a lot of content for further discussion.
Thanks Veronica!!

Meeting notes: submitted by Veronica Bosley

Recap of January Northern Berkshire Community Coalition meeting abut  
Artists and Arts Community in the Berkshires

Intros/those in attendance at meeting and associated occupations &  
organizations (please excuse any misspellings):

Jonathan Secor: Director of Special Programs at MCLA
Dan Field: Artist, Owner of Widgitz
Noman Thomas: Painter
Howard Cruse: Cartoonist/Teacher
Jason Morin: Digital Artist, owner of …
Kurt Kolok: Owner, Kolok Gallery
Josh Field: Artist/Graphic Designer
Mia Singer: Artist
Zhee Singer: Artist
Gail Burns: Writer, Theatre Critic (www.gailsez.com)
Mark Mulherrin: Artist, Teacher, Writer for iBerkshires
Sally Sussman: Visual Artist, Teacher
Leanne Jewett: Writer, Business Owner
Brian Jewett: Artist
Sharon Carson: Painter
Karen Kane: Painter, Writer
Dianne Sullivan: Artist, Teacher
Dot Rasbird: Business owner, Teacher, Artist
John Sherman: Designer, Theater
Rachel Porter: Ceramicist, Teacher, SVC Coordinator
Greg Scheckler: Artist, MCLA Professor
Sandra Thomas: Director of Images Cinema, Willinet, Cultural Council
Debbie Pendell, painter, printmaker
Barry Goldstein: Photographer, Teacher
Glen Shalan: Owner of Stained Glass Studio, MASS MoCA volunteer,  
Cultural Council, Music Community
Susan Groves: Berkshire Community College – Visual Arts and Film
Ed Sedarbaum: NBCC, politics, community organizer
John Leary: ?
Veronica Bosley: Program Coordinator, Berkshire Cultural Resource  
Center, MASS MoCA tour guide, Conference Coordinator at Williams College
Jane Hudson: Video Atist, Photographer, Teacher, Open Studios Organizer
Charles Bonenti, Arts Editor/Critic for Berkshire Eagle
Rob Cubie_____: Artist
Rebecca DeWitt: Director of Northern Berkshire Community Arts
Hezzie Phillips: Director, Contemporary Artists Center
John ____: Artist
Martha Rose, artists____:
Some of the issues of interest raised during the introductions:


How artists and the arts community can work with the traditions and  
lifestyles of the already standing general community in order to  
integrate ourselves?



If we have reached some kind of critical mass (which most of us think  
we have) how can we make the Northern Berkshires an arts destination  
instead of a community made up of individual studios, galleries, etc.?



The arts community needs to come up with a “business plan” with  
very specific goals and methods to reach those goals in order for any  
of our ideas to go forward. How can we identify certain goals and  
areas of interest and then effectively implement those ideas?



How can we use local media (t.v., radio, internet) to further our  
causes/spread word of our events?



Is the current artist community of the Northern Berkshires like new  
immigrants, with separate living areas, separate culture, separate  
identity from that of the rest of the community?



Thoughts on geography of the Berkshires in relation to arts community:



Traditionally the Berkshires have been isolated from major cities,  
etc. Now that is changing due to innovations in technology and  
communications so that artists can make a living through internet  
sales/publicity. It makes it possible for a artists to support  
themselves outside of major urban centers.



Role of technology in relation to arts community:



There was an overall consensus that technology is now a major part of  
the arts economy and most artists lives.



Jason Morin will be designing this year’s Open Studios webpage



Kurt Kolok is currently writing a blog featured on the webpage of the  
Kolok Gallery, and proposed that we get a list of all arts-related  
blogs and get them together in one place.



Ed Sedarbaum offered to send rounds of e-mails where we can get a  
comprehensive list of people’s websites who are involved with the  
local creative community



The local access stations will soon have the technology to have  
streaming video and videos on download.







Politics:



Some people want to organize the arts community around particular  
agendas or issues, as the community has enough members to hold a  
significant amount of votes in the area



Sandra Thomas from Images said that she wants to organize groups of  
artists to go to the North Adams City Council meetings.



People commented that in order to be successful in politics or have  
political influence in the area artists need to become more involved  
with community activities, events, politics – we can not just decide  
to run for a position and win if we are not part of the rest of the  
community



Artists need to come together and organize for a successful political  
campaign or to hold political power in the area.



People also noted that we need to look at the context of the area’s  
politics – do city council members have any political sway? How  
likely is it artists can break into the political world, etc? Do we  
have any influence with city council members?



It was stated that we need to actively support those in politics who  
are supporting us. People like Dan Bosley or Ben Downing, who are  
supporters of many arts programs and initiatives.



Maybe we should invite local officials like Megan Whilden, from the  
Mayor’s Office in Pittsfield or other local officials (especially  
those involved with arts and tourist industries) to our meetings.



It was concluded that the arts community needs to become involved  
with the local community, we need to get people with connections in  
various local institutions, etc.



MASS MoCA:



People mentioned that the arts community is paternalistic, and MASS  
MoCA is the type of world-class arts institution that should be  
having a “trickle-down” effect.



It was suggested that MASS MoCA should be more supportive of local  
artists by having a gallery or some sort of space dedicated to the  
exhibition of local artwork.



There seemed to be a general consensus that MASS MoCA could be doing  
more to support the local arts community and the creative economy –  
particularly in relation to smaller non-profits and individual artists.



Some people suggested that we should entirely forget about MASS MoCA  
and try to operate autonomously, and others argued that this is  
impossible, as the arts community is located here because of MASS  
MoCA and other similar, large institutions.



How artists can become more connected (public forums and physical  
locations):



ArtStart (www.berkshireartstart.org) Offers open forum for artists,  
announcements, arts calendars



“Drinking Liberally” – North Adams Chapter  
(www.drinkingliberally.org), a place to get together and talk  
politics over a few drinks.



Going to local bars or other public spaces that the rest of the  
community frequents ie: Freightyard Pub.



Organizing “mixers” where arts community can get to know one  
another – Jonathan Secor offered Gallery 51 as a site for one of  
these gatherings. The gallery also has openings the last Thursday of  
every month.



Ed Sedarbaum mentioned a monthly “Second-Sunday Potluck for the  
Creatively Afflicted” -- he will invite everyone on the artist list- 
serve.



Misc:



Howard Cruse is going to start a Zine called the “North County  
Perk” and will be looking for cartooning, writing, etc. You can get  
info on this at www.howardcruse.com , and Howard’s e-mail address is  
on there as well.



  
http://officialjeffandjane.com


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