Pittsfield Sets Sights on Hayman! Harvest

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Artist Michael Melle will lead a community workshop on building scarecrows for the city's newest initiative - Hayman!
PITTSFIELD - Following on the heels of popular attractions like Sheeptacular and Art of the Game, the city will welcome another public arts initiative this fall with Hayman!, a project to display up to 75 scarecrows in the downtown during the month of October. A collaboration among the city, Berkshire Bank and the Storefront Artists Project, Hayman! will pair local sculptor and self-proclaimed "scarecrow evangelist" Michael Melle with community members to create one-of-a-kind characters out of little more than sticks and hay. The scarecrows will be placed on utility poles, in trees, in storefronts and in other places along North Street from Carr Hardware to the Berkshire Museum. "Projects like these have a real ownership by the community and that's a big driving force behind the project," said Michael Rousseau, Hayman!'s coordinator. "It's not necessarily an artists project; you don't even have to be an artist to participate. It's always the goal to involve the community in the creativity." A "Community Scarecrow Building Day" will take place on Sept. 29 on the Common and will be taught by Melle and a group of 15 artists who have attended scarecrow-building training sessions. Artists, businesses and organizations and families are all invited to construct one of the project's scarecrows at no cost. Under the direction of Melle, participants will be instructed how to create a scarecrow skeleton out of a block of wood and several sticks for limbs. The core block allows the scarecrows to be constructed into any kind of position or imitating any action. The organizers of the project urge scarecrow-makers to be creative and to think "outside the box" when constructing their scarecrows. Rousseau said the creations need not be human forms at all. "I've heard proposals for straw mermaids, scorpions, Dolly Partons, and even a Joey Ramone scarecrow. All ideas are welcome, including scarecrows that represent or celebrate an organization, business or cause," said Rousseau. "It's projects like this that separate Pittsfield from every other community in Massachusetts," said Michael P. Daley, president and CEO of Berkshire Bank, which is sponsoring Hayman!. "I'm looking forward to seeing hay men and hay women and hay things." The scarecrow-building day is also designed to celebrate community, creativity and the harvest season by bringing together various groups to enjoy autumn in the Berkshires. "We're getting ready for October. With our partners, we know that the kids of Pittsfield and the grandparents of Pittsfield are going to have a grand ol' day," said Mayor James M. Ruberto. "Not only can they make [the scarecrows] and sit next to them, they can have a great day in the best small city." Scarecrows Everywhere Crowne Plaza's catering sales manager Janet Brennan attended Sunday's artist training and created "Bahama Bob," a seated male scarecrow wearing a Hawaiian shirt and straw hat. "It took about three hours," Brennan said. "But I'm excited to make another one." Brennan said the most difficult part about the making the scarecrow was forming the wood into a skeleton. At the community building session, she hopes to create a playmate for Bob. "Maybe Bahama Betty?" she said. The public will be able to enjoy the scarecrows throughout October and at the 3rd Thursdays after-hours event on Oct. 18. The scarecrows will also be a part of Pittsfield’s annual Halloween parade on Oct. 26. The brainchild of Berkshire Bank Foundation's Executive Director Peter Lafayette, Hayman! seeks to promote innovation in the Berkshires through unique partnerships and public involvement. "Hayman! will continue the creativity that has been promoted in Pittsfield over the last few years," Lafayette said. While this is not intended to be a contest, some awards will be given to the best scarecrows in the following categories: Funniest, scariest, most creative, best dressed and most bizarre. All materials for the scarecrows will be provided by Berkshire Bank, but participants should bring the clothing, accessories or other materials wanted to adorn their sculpture. People interested in registering to make a scarecrow should call Mary Ellen Puntin at the Berkshire Bank Foundation at (413) 447-1724. Registration forms can also be downloaded at www.storefrontartist.org or picked up at the Berkshire Bank offices at Old Town Hall at 33 East St. For Melle, who pioneered his scarecrow-making method in 1991, teaching his skills to a huge group is rewarding. "I just love it when people make scarecrows," he said. For more on Melle's work, visit www.scarecrowgarden.com
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Kennedy Calls BCC Workforce Graduates Inspiring

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.
 
Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.
 
They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
 
College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.
 
She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication. 
 
"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."
 
Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.
 
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