Albany, NY – On Thursday, May 11th, the Albany Underground Artists will return with an exhibition entitled "Unification," that will feature the greatest diversity of visual artists and art coalitions yet assembled in an AUA show.
Unification also represents the formation of a collaboration between AUA and two other local arts organizations working to establish permanent creative art spaces for Albany's emerging scene: The Barn and Kuumba Arts & Cultural Center. On Wednesday, May 10, from 6pm – 8pm, there will be a preview showing; media are encouraged to attend.
Entry to the show is free, but a minimum $5 donation is suggested as there is no budget for this show; Unification is being made possible through the generosity of participating artists, businesses and residents. A portion of all donations, as well as sales of artist works and merchandise, will benefit The Barn and Kuumba.
The Barn, a not-for-profit creative arts incubator, will house affordable artist residences and work/rehearsal studios, a live music/performance space, multiple galleries, public darkroom, multimedia lab, and more. Kuumba will provide a repository for people of African descent arts and cultural forms and an environment for the creation, exhibition, performance and education to the public. These spaces will be available to aspiring regional artists of all disciplines, particularly those who cannot afford or otherwise obtain such space.
As with earlier shows, AUA has chosen a vacant commercial space in which to stage Unification: the first floor of 457 Madison (formerly Dinapoli Opticians), located next to the Lark Tavern just west of Madison and Lark Street. "Unification" brings together twenty-three contemporary regional artists as well as three guest artists from New York City. Participants include well established artists (Leigh Wen, Michael Oatman, Chris Stain), veteran AUA exhibitors and first time entrants. Many styles will be represented, including photography, digital media, sculpture, abstract and representational paintings, tagging and more.
"Through this show, the Albany Underground Artists are attempting to show both the abundance and range of talent we have right here under our noses. More than that, we want to gain momentum for permanent art spaces here in our city," explains show curator, Chip Fasciana.
The Albany Underground Artists formed two years ago in response to a lack of galleries and exhibition opportunities available to Albany's vibrant, but oft unheralded visual artists. AUA sought out vacant buildings as one-time venues in an ongoing series of exhibitions that utilized such nontraditional locales as a former bakery, bank and factory.
The most recent AUA show in September, 2005 filled 4,600 square feet of the Albany Institute of History and Art with works by some 30 local artists, tripling the Institute's all-time attendance record for a single night. Collectively, AUA shows have attracted thousands of attendees from aficionados to the curious, with the intent of bolstering a healthier and more dynamic art and social scene in Albany.
Unification will remain open through Sunday, May 14.
Unification Hours:
Wednesday May 10: 6pm –8pm – PREVIEW SHOWING (*Not Open to the Public)
Thursday, May 11: 6pm–9pm – OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, May 12: 11am – 7pm
Saturday, May 13: 10am – 6pm
Sunday, May 14: 10am – 4pm
For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Mirel at 518-935-4858 or email: info@albanybarn.org
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis.
Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report.
During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report.
"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions. As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday.
"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements."
He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report.
"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote.
Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.
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Adan Wicks scored 38 points, and the eighth-seeded Hoosac Valley basketball team Saturday rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to earn a 76-67 win over top-seeded Drury in the Division 5 State Quarter-Finals. click for more
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