[Forum] Meeting Notes & List Discussions

Tue Mar 6 13:47:12 EST 2007

W would like very much to figure out ways that MCLA and the Berkshire
Cultural Resource Center can help, be it working on a float for the Fall
Foliage Day Parade (something I spearheaded for years at MASS MoCA) or
acting as a "bank" for open studios.  Also we are committed to making
ArtStart a useful tool for the arts community, so think how that site
might play into the conversation

Congratulations all on taking the first steps.

jds

"Edward Cating" <edwardcating at gmail.com> writes:
>It's said that contemporary artists frequently narrow their focus to the
>point where they are speaking only to other contemporary artists -
>preaching to the choir. It seems to me that the artists in Pittsfield
>have been able to present themselves to the community as a presence and
>that that presence has an inertia that keeps is moving forward, always in
>the public eye. Most of us know that mindshare - that cognitive
>real-estate that means people are either aware of you or not - is
>critical for the success of any endevour. How mindshare is generated is
>not so important. Generating it is. 
>
>In North Adams, we are seeing an increase in vacancies in downtown
>storefronts. It seems overly obvious to state that when Pittsfield was
>presented with a similar circumstance, it generated the Storefront
>Artists project. Storefront galleries - even when they attract artists
>from outside the community on a temporary basis - add momentum to the art
>scene as a whole. Passersby see art, indeed cannot escape it. There is an
>ogoing reason for flyers in windows and cards on countertops all over
>town. Landlords get nice mention in the papers. The papers have more to
>write about, and so it goes. Momentum builds. 
>
>We all understand that there are artists in North Berkshire for whom
>connections to the local community are not critical. Some were attracted
>by large, inexpensive studio space, but have a public elsewhere to
>satisfy their commercial and social needs. I daresay that not all of us
>fall into this category, though, as bourne out by this forum's postings. 
>
>For those who seek to become more engaged in North Berkshire, more
>rooted, there is, as Kurt said a need to organize, to reach out to the
>community, and to make our presense felt in an ongoing way. I think that
>a lot of things  could work but the most expedient is an "art czar". How
>else can we focus our sometimes diffuse energies into constantly pushing
>the stone up the hill? 
>
>
>On 3/6/07, Veronica Bosley <[ mailto:Veronica.Bosley at mcla.edu
>]Veronica.Bosley at mcla.edu> wrote:
>
>I agree that although it would be nice to have someone like Megan working
>for the art in North Adams or North County in general, but I am unsure of
>the feasibility of this and think that if we as an arts community
>organize 
>around certain causes/projects we could also become very successful.
>
>I think that a great way to invlove the local commuity is by trying to tap
>in to some of the long standing traditions here and carve out a space for 
>artists. One idea I had (although not being an artist I don't know exactly
>how tihs idea will be received) was for artists to become more involved
>with the Fall Foliage Parade by working with corporate sponsors to make 
>floats, design posters, ads, etc. surrounding this event.
>
>As a native of the Berkshires I know that the parade has been a long
>standing tradition that nearly everyone in the community attends. I also
>know that the parade used to be a lot more fun and full of life, mostly 
>because there were more organizations around to promote it and make floats
>for it. If the arts community could work together or maybe with local
>businesses I think we could make direct positive contact with the
>community through involvement with this event.
>
>I understand artists wanting to be able to do their own kind of artwork
>only, but this would be a great way to market artists and get the
>community interested and in support of area artists so that everyone can 
>ultimately "do their own thing".
>
>Al Bashevkin <[ mailto:abashevkin at nbccoalition.org
>]abashevkin at nbccoalition.org> writes:
>>I must say I am impressed by the communications that occur within this 
>>forum.  If I may add one more thing, I'd say look to the North as well as
>>the South. Bennington Vermont (my hometown) seems to have an active
>>artists
>>guild and has used art to both raise money and awareness for our local 
>>artists. And there is no art-czar to my knowledge within Bennington. It's
>>people like y'all who do it.
>>
>>
>>on 3/6/07 11:04 AM, Kurt Kolok at [ mailto:kurt at kolokgallery.com ]
>kurt at kolokgallery.com wrote:
>>
>>> The disconnect between the arts communities of North Adams and
>>> Pittsfield seems obvious in these posts.  I have to agree with Joshua.
>>> Pittsfield does not have a major contemporary arts venue to catapult 
>>> from/with, yet they are doing amazing things in a fraction of the time
>>> we've had Mass MoCA.  It is not all about baseball mitt
>sculptures--that
>>> is such a small fraction of what they're doing.  Even though they may 
>>> not be the most fascinating works of art they've accomplished their
>>> goal--to engage the local (non-art) Pittsfield community and raise
>>> awareness of the arts in their minds while bringing artists (who've 
>>> chosen to paint large baseball mitts) together for a common cause.
>>>
>>> Pittsfield is making it happen for several reasons:
>>>
>>> --Megan and her work with the mayor and city 
>>> --artists there are working with/reaching out to the city and are
>>> putting their ideas/words into action through organization and elbow
>>> grease (not to say some of the artists in this community haven't been 
>>> doing that here).
>>> --June-Oct., the city of Pittsfield will be transformed by art every
>>> third Thursday.  Storefronts will be displaying artwork,
>>> events/performers will begin filling the streets, and artists, 
>>> businesses, city leaders, and museums will all be working hand-in-hand
>>> to accomplish this.
>>> --A MAJOR South County gallery will be opening a new, large space in a
>>> couple of months. 
>>> --Pittsfield is already talking about placing ads in major art mags
>(Art
>>> in America and ArtForum) touting Pittsfield/Berkshires as a hub for
>>> contemporary art--there is no reason North Adams cannot tie into 
>>> something like that.
>>>
>>> Part of the problem we've had in North Adams, in my opinion, is that
>>> there are some great ideas in the community but we continue to try to
>>> make them happen individually without organization or planning.  If we 
>>> continue working in this way our audience reach will remain limited,
>>> individuals will continue spending MORE money on advertising &
>promotion
>>> while getting limited results, collaboration/cooperation with Mass
>MoCA 
>>> and other arts organizations will not expand, and the North Adams arts
>>> community will look the same in two years as it does today.
>>>
>>> I agree with Diane's statement that "Artists need to spend their
>energy 
>>> and time making the art that interests them".  However, as it has been
>>> throughout history, artists need to make a living like everyone else in
>>> order to do just that.  That is the main reason I've chosen to sell 
>>> art.  Many artists in this area have the means to spend their time
>>> making the art they want to make, while many others do not have that
>>> option.  If we are all to plug into the creative economy in the way
>that 
>>> would benefit us all the most, we must become more organized not less.
>>>
>>> North Adams needs an "art czar"--someone working with/for the city who
>>> has the same passion for art as Megan Whilden does in
>Pittsfield.  Rod's 
>>> focus is "tourism" not specifically art.  We need someone who will work
>>> with his office and the mayor's office to draw focus to the arts which
>>> are at the center of this creative economy we've been hearing so much 
>>about.
>>>
>>> This discussion thread is exactly what we need more of on this forum,
>>> with even more voices involved.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Diane Sullivan wrote: 
>>>> I qgree with Greg. Artists need to spend their energy and time making
>>>> the art that interests them. We don't need to copy Pittsfield but
>>>> rather celebrate all the diverse artists here. I think the galleries 
>>>> and open studios have started doing just that. I would love to see
>>>> some individual artists design their own public art projects that
>>>> would show the comminity what we do. However, that has to be the 
>>>> mayor's idea and maybe Ron Bunt would help with that??? I would be
>>>> willing to talk to him. Ron was helpful with the North Adams Open
>>>> Studio event last fall and seems to be supportive in general. It's 
>>>> interesting to hear what people think about these topics. Keep
>>>> talking. Thanks Josh!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> From: Joshua Field <[ mailto:joshua at joshuafield.com ]
>joshua at joshuafield.com>
>>>>> Reply-To: [ mailto:joshua at joshuafield.com ]joshua at joshuafield.com
>>>>> To: Kurt Kolok <[ mailto:kurt at kolokgallery.com
>]kurt at kolokgallery.com >
>>>>> CC: FORUM <[ mailto:forum at berkshirevisualarts.org
>]forum at berkshirevisualarts.org>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Forum] Meeting Notes & List Discussions
>>>>> Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:40:29 -0500 
>>>>>
>>>>> i have a topic that i would love to hear thoughts on. lately, it
>>>>> feels like pittsfield is kicking north county's (depending on where
>>>>> you draw that line) butt in the promotion of all things cultural. 
>>>>> some think this to be largely attributable to the the great job that
>>>>> Megan Whilden is doing running the "cultural pittsfield" initiative
>>>>> and the buy-in of their city government (the cultural council grant 
>>>>> of $65 two years ago, the $40k last year and $50k year toward that
>>>>> initiative can't hurt either!). my question/topics for the group:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1) is it okay that pittsfield take the lead in promoting the 
>>>>> berkshires as a cultural destination? should there be a similar
>>>>> effort in north county? should the effort be berkshire-wide? whose
>>>>> job is it anyway??
>>>>> 
>>>>> 2) north adams may be home to mass moca, the eclipse mill, gallery
>>>>> 51, a burgeoning arts community and soon an arts focused program at
>>>>> mcla - but how does this fit under a broader umbrella that is 
>>>>> something people outside of this community will
>>>>> understand/appreciate/be drawn to?
>>>>>
>>>>> my feeling is that ,while north county has the advantage of number
>of 
>>>>> large arts organizations (moca, the clark, wcma/williams, mcla) who
>>>>> often cooperate, the arts community and smaller organizations seems
>>>>> to have a hard time breaking into that group (due to lack of 
>>>>> coordination, funds, etc?) in order to take advantage of big summer
>>>>> marketing initiatives, group grants, etc. i personally feel that we
>>>>> would really benefit from someone in a role like megan's with buy-in 
>>>>> from local gov't.
>>>>>
>>>>> if you aren't comfortable sending responses to the group, feel free
>>>>> to send them directly to me and i'll try to synthesize. 
>>>>>
>>>>> thanks!!
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> // [ http://www.joshuafield.com ]www.joshuafield.com
>>>>> // [ mailto:joshua at joshuafield.com ] joshua at joshuafield.com
>>>>> // +1 [413] 329-4789
>>>>> // 121 Union Street, Studio 1E
>>>>> // North Adams, MA 01247 USA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Kurt Kolok wrote: 
>>>>>> I think we could accomplish a great deal more if we have some of
>>>>>> these discussions online (on this list-serve).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I sent out a message a couple of weeks ago with a suggestion on how 
>>>>>> we might actually begin to make some progress on achieving some of
>>>>>> our goals (first by identifying what they might be) and only noticed
>>>>>> one response.  It may be that many of you have never used something 
>>>>>> like this for a discussion tool.  I think it's critical that we
>>>>>> literally record that type of information to begin putting words
>>>>>> into action and I think it's much easier to do that via email than 
>>>>>> in person.  It is my opinion that if we're to accomplish any long
>>>>>> term/community-wide goals we need to be communicating between
>>>>>> meetings and social gatherings.  With this forum, we can do that 
>>>>>> whenever each of us has the time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To take full advantage of this great opportunity driven by Joshua
>>>>>> Field's generosity...we should remind ourselves what the definition 
>>>>>> of a forum is...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --the center of judicial and business affairs and a place of
>>>>>> assembly for the people.
>>>>>> --an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the 
>>>>>> discussion of questions of public interest.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Food for thought,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Kurt
>>>>>
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> [ http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum
>]http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________ 
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>>> [ http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum
>]http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum 
>>>
>>
>>----------------
>>Al Bashevkin
>>Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
>>85 Main Street    Suite 624
>>North Adams, MA 01247
>>[ mailto:abashevkin at nbccoalition.org ] abashevkin at nbccoalition.org
>>
>>Ph:(413) 663-7588
>>Fax: (413) 663-9877
>>
>>[ http://www.nbccoalition.org ]www.nbccoalition.org
>>
>>
>>
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>>[ http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum
>]http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum 
>
>
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>
>-- 
>Edward Cating_______________________________________________
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Jonathan D. Secor
Director of Special Programs at MCLA
MCLA's Gallery 51
51 Main Street, North Adams, MA 01247
413-664-8718
jonathan.secor at mcla.edu     www.mcla.edu