[Forum] Meeting Notes & List Discussions
Blair Benjamin
BBenjamin at massmoca.org
Tue Mar 6 14:14:47 EST 2007
Another thing to "play into the conversation" is a new community-wide asset development program that is getting off the ground in north county, which will focus on providing resources related to accessing home ownership, growing small businesses, and helping people get training/education opportunities (including financial education) that can hopefully lead them to higher earning power and increasing assets for a more secure future.
We (MASS MoCA, in partnership with several groups on this list-serve including BCRC and the Coalition) have a small planning grant to look at how some of these services might benefit artists in our community and then develop a proposal that would seek direct support for such services if there's demand and it seems feasible. We'll try to determine if there's a group of artists in our community who would like to buy homes or live-work studios if they had a bit of financial assistance to do so. Are there artists who would like to receive some focused business planning or tax planning or other educational assistance? Etc.
We'll be talking with many of you over the coming months to see whether and how this might fit into the mix, but I thought I would throw it out there now as ideas are flying around.
-----Original Message-----
From: forum-bounces at berkshirevisualarts.org on behalf of Jonathan Secor
Sent: Tue 3/6/2007 1:47 PM
To: Edward Cating
Cc: forum at berkshirevisualarts.org
Subject: Re: [Forum] Meeting Notes & List Discussions
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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>----------------
>>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
>
>
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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
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