Chase named Berkshire Museum director

By Anthony FydenPrint Story | Email Story
Newly appointed Berkshire Museum executive director Stuart A Chase poses with his daughter, Eliza, and wife, Julie, after greeting staff and board members on Wednesday evening. (Photo By Anthony Fyden)
PITTSFIELD — It’s time for the Berkshire Museum to shine, newly appointed executive director Stuart A. Chase told a gathering of museum staff, trustees and other supporters Wednesday evening. Museum trustees officially announced Chase’s appointment at the reception, held in an upstairs gallery. “We went through a very thorough search process to ensure we selected the best candidate,” said board president Michael Christopher. “Stuart’s extensive background in art and history, his outstanding leadership accomplishments, combined with the fact that he already has relationships with the local community, made him the ideal candidate.” Chase comes to the Pittsfield museum after serving as director of membership and community affairs for the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown for the past two years. He brings nearly 20 years of museum management and leadership experience to his new role. Prior to his position at the Clark, he served as executive director at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, N.Y. Trustees also lauded Chase’s fund-raising experience. “We are indeed fortunate to have a person with Stuart’s vision and record of accomplishment serving the Berkshire Museum,” Christopher said. “Under his leadership, we are all confident that the museum will continue to be a vital cultural resource in our community and further expand its strong educational programs and exhibitions.” Chase greeted the group of supporters and staff enthusiastically, praising the Berkshire Museum’s history of dynamic natural science and art exhibits. The new director suggested that the museum must build on its accomplishments, not rest on its laurels. “I see the museum as being active, engaging and fun — it must be fun,” Chase said. He added it’s time for the museum to “really sparkle,” with exciting exhibits and events, such as the current showcase of “Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly,” which features live snakes, turtles, crocodiles and other creatures [See story below, on this Web site]. “[The museum] needs to come up and shine,” he added. Chase said that the enthusiasm of the Pittsfield community for art played a role in his seeking the Berkshire Museum job. This past fall, he watched Pittsfield embrace the “Sheeptacular,” citywide art exhibit. He and his family also attended an art auction this past fall, which capped the Sheeptacular event. “The energy was incredible,” he said. “We were just blown away.” Chase’s appointment comes as the museum community mourns its previous director, Sharon Blume, who died recently. Museum staff member Mike Willson has served as interim director. According to a news release from the museum late yesterday, Chase, during his tenure as executive director at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, led the development of a bold new business plan that reversed declines in membership and visitation, refocusing its mission on Western and Native American art. He also managed a 14-month, $10 million improvement plan of the museum's historic building, meeting museum-quality environmental standards and other requirements. While serving as director of the Raynham Hall Museum in Long Island, Chase obtained American Association of Museums accreditation for the Institution — a very rigorous process, which is a highly desirable achievement among museum professionals. Additionally, Chase has established major gift programs, significantly increased endowments and has secured major grants from private and governmental sources, according to the news release. Chase holds a BFA in art history and museum studies and an ABD from the Long Island University C.W. Post Center in Greenvale, N.Y. He has served on the Master Plan Advisory and Design Review Committees for the city of Corning; was a board member of the Exhibition Alliance (formerly GANYS) from 2001-2004; served as vice president of the Museum Association of New York from 2001-2002, and was a board member from 1996-2002. Christopher, in the release, said, "The trustees, corporators and I are grateful to the staff — particularly Interim Director Michael Willson — for their enthusiasm and dedication to carrying on the mission of the museum during the search process. Under his leadership, the museum curated a successful contemporary art exhibition, ‘Presence of Light,’ and opened the world's largest traveling reptiles exhibit." Chase said he looked forward to carrying out the museum's vision, which includes improving the physical presence of the building while serving the region and engaging audiences of all ages with dynamic programming that “reflects the great traditions and future of the Berkshire Museum." Information on the museum and its exhibits: 443-7171 or www.berkshiremuseum.org.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant. 

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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