Finding more galleries on a downtown walk in Bennington

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When it comes to the visual arts, there’s a lot to see and do in downtown Bennington, Vt. In the past two years the downtown has grown to become its own destination for those seeking arts and crafts in a variety of media, with several shops and galleries located within walking distance of each other. The amount of exhibition space downtown has also increased, with a new gallery and an ongoing program that brings the work of local and regional artists to storefront windows. Flanking the corner of U.S. Route 7 and state Route 9, in the large marble building that once housed the First National Bank, is Fiddlehead at Five Corners, which co-owner Joel Lentzner calls “a retail theater.” Lentzner and his partner Nina Hardt spent many years as furniture-makers travelling throughout the country and met many crafters along the way. The store is an all-star lineup of their favorites; items include prints, hand-blown glass, furniture, lamps, and sculptures. They have a special room for kids’ items and each month they have a mini-exhibit from a local artist in what used to be the vault of the former bank. Sarah Dole’s Left Bank Gallery, a few doors down on West Main Street, is chock full of interesting gifts and decorations. While she usually holds monthly exhibitions every summer in her upstairs gallery, this year she decided to focus on her downstairs shop and take time for her own artwork. Earlier this summer she had planned to hold a show of her own work, but she has postponed it until a later date. Entering the Left Bank is like stepping into another world. With global influences including Chinese calligraphy, Indian weaving, and Renaissance art, Dole creates an atmosphere that is both inviting and eye-opening. The smaller items make her shop/gallery most unique: a collection of unique greeting cards and prints, pillows made from a women’s co-op in India, and wrapping paper that is worth framing on its own. The small storefront located to the right of Left Bank is of Katie Cleaver, a metalsmith who has been in business for more than 25 years. Her small store specializes in contemporary jewelry with some sculpture. Cleaver said she has become so busy that she no longer takes custom orders, “unless someone is willing to wait for a year.” Around the corner, next to Your Belly’s Deli on Pleasant Street, is the historic Stark Hose Co. building, headquarters of an former neighborhood fire station. The building, with a Dutch style roof, was renovated through an adaptive reuse program by the North Bennington-based Vermont Arts Exchange (VAE). An artist apartment is located upstairs, and downstairs the Stark Hose Gallery opened this past winter. Currently, the VAE is holding an exhibit of photographs from students at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. And they’re gearing up for this fall’s WindowWorks program, which invites local artists to submit artwork that may be chosen to go on display downtown in one of the many store windows. Heading east on Main Street, The Pea Pod has a wide variety of gifts and accessories for the home, including pottery, clocks, candles and lamps. For art supplies, both Knapp’s Pets, Hobbies and Music on Main and Jay’s Art Shop and Frame Gallery on South Street are excellent resources. Jewelers include Tofel Jewelers and K.F. Armstrong Jewelers, longtime dealers in fine jewelry. And just a jaunt down the road, up Route 7, one will find an interesting mix of items at Hawkins House, which has handmade games, hand-woven rugs and much jewelry. Each of these venues has its own unique quality, and it is rare to find one hub with so many options.
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North Adams School Committee Applauds Award Winner, Hears Budget

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Superintendent Timothy Callahan presents his first Superintendent's Award to Brayden Canales. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee on Tuesday voted to send a recommending fiscal 2027 budget to a public hearing and congratulated the newest recipient of the Superintendent's Award. 
 
Drury High School senior Brayden Canales is graduating at the top of his class with 33 college credits and a grade-point average of 4.3.
 
"In addition to his impressive list of college courses, he has rounded out his transcript with several Advanced Placement and project based learning courses," said Superintendent Timothy Callahan, adding, "I had the honor to be Brayden's principal when he began a Drury."
 
Canales is a member of both the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies and received the Principal's Award for having the top five average in his class all four years and the Rensselaer (N.Y.) Institute of Technology award for science and math as a junior outside of the classroom.
 
He's also been a member of the soccer, hockey and baseball teams and this year was presented the Berkshire County Ice Hockey Officials Association's Sportsmanship Award for his leadership. Canales has also been a peer mediator, student ambassador, among other activities.  
 
He plans to pursue a major in architecture but has not yet selected a college. 
 
The Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Certificate of Academic Excellence is awarded to students who have achieved not only academically but in leadership and community service. 
 
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