Photography Book Captures Old, New Berkshire ScenesBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
09:01PM / Thursday, November 13, 2008
 | | Kelly Lee, left, and Eric Rudd |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — There were some oohs and aahs at Wednesday night's launch party for "A Portrait of the Northern Berkshires" as guests rediscovered some local scenes that they hadn't appreciated in awhile and were introduced to the area's newest residents in the arts.
The scenes — some 100 — are contained in the softcover collaboration of photographer Kelly Lee and artist Eric Rudd, who wrote the backgrounds for Lee's photos.
"There are a lot of reasons I wanted to do the book," Rudd told the small crowd sipping wine in the lobby of the Williamstown Financial Center, after being introduced by MoutainOne Financial Partners CEO Stephen G. Crowe. "It's just a great showcase of the area. It came about because I wanted to document the great changes in the art world and art studios and the energy that fills the old mills. ... everything from Mass MoCA to the new art spaces."
Lee, an old classmate of Rudd's who moved to the area about six years ago, said he often would cite travel photos among his favorites — because he tended to be traveling when he was doing photography. "This was like taking a vacation at home."
 More recently, he's been involved with the North Adams Regional Hospital's gallery program, which displays paintings and photography by local artists in is hallways and public areas. That's made Lee more thoughtful and editorial in his selections.
For example, he said, you don't want to look at a scene with harsh edges or sharp objects if waiting for a shot or surgery. It's helped some patients feel calmer just looking at the photos he's selected. "That really meant something to me."
But he said he's always been struck by old photos, preserving images of a reality long gone.
"I'm so glad someone took those pictures," he said. "And I notice Pedrin's is already gone. So I'm so glad I took that picture!"
With both artists striving to document the area in their own way, the book seemed a "natural way of putting it all together," said Rudd. With Crowe's group providing the "critical step to make this happen" and design work by Keith Bona, a first printing of 4,000 to 5,000 copies is ready to be placed at area retailers, bookstores, museums and inns and motels around North Berkshire.
Rudd estimated it would be in about 40 venues;  about 18 percent are already accounted for. It's not only a great Christmas gift, he said, it's "a great thing for visitors — they pick up the book and realize there's a lot more."
For too long people have equated the Berkshires with Tanglewood or Stockbridge, he said. The book is a way to tie Adams, North Adams and Williamstown together as a destination and celebrate their architectural history and blooming artistic energy, they said.
Plus, said Lee, "We're always trying to get people to shop local."
"If you think about his area 20 years ago, it would have been a completey different book," said Rudd. "And, hopefully, 20 years from now there'll be another book with more positive changes."
The 50-page, full-color coffeetable book is priced at $14.95 and will be available beginning this week at various outlets. Lee will hold a booksigning the North Adams Elks craft fair this weekend. The fair runs 10 to 4 on Saturday and 9 to 2 on Sunday. |
