Return of DownStreet Art: City Shows Its Creative Side Tonight

Staff reports
iBerkshires
03:47PM / Thursday, June 25, 2009

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Cartoon characters in the 'Threaded' exhibit at Gallery 51. Top, Jonathan Secor displays a new sign to guide visitors to the downtown.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — DownStreet Art has turned North Adams into a citywide gallery exhibiting artistic endeavors in every form.

The summerlong collaboration between the city of North Adams, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the North Adams Arts Co-Operative, Scarafoni Realty and numerous groups, galleries, shops, restaurants and businesses kicks off tonight with a wide range of activities and events.

"Last year was a big success, so we're building on a success," said Jonathan Secor, director of special programs, on Wednesday. And more businesses are offering specials or gallery space or other incentives, "There's been greater interest ... some people really saw the difference last year."

The dozen or so exhibitions drew thousands to the city last summer to visit the temporary galleries created in vacant storefronts around Main Street and more permanent spaces downtown and in the many studio mills.

This year is poised to be even bigger, with double the number of participating venues and greater collaboration between existing businesses and the blooming galleries.

They're blooming literally in the case of Kidspace @ 107 Main, which features an auxialiary space for the "Cribs" exhibit now at Mass MoCA. Over the past weeks, the former Sears catalog storefront has filled up with odd objects, many filled to bursting with plants and flowers.

'Hanging' a precise display of bows — with glue and directions.

The arts co-op, which was in 107 Main St. last year, has moved to the corner of Marshall and Main streets in the first floor of the Roberts Co. building, a prominent location from which to draw visitors headed over the Hadley Overpass to Mass MoCA.

Two signs — including DownStreet's distinctive green — standout on the white brick facade. Some 20,000 maps of all the venues have been doled out around the city and at Mass MoCA. An events calendar showing receptions, opening dates and city activities, such as the popular Eagle Street Beach Party.

If even a fraction of the more than 100,000 annual visitors to Mass MoCA wander downtown, the season will be a success, said Secor. What they'll find is art that's not only accessible, but sellable as well.

The summer season kicks off with the opening reception of "Threaded" at Gallery 51 on Main Street, with MCLA President Mary Grant speaking at 6:15; most shops and restaurants will be open later and Cafe Latino will end the evening with a dance party.

"It's about making art accessible and part of the community," said Secor. "And it's a great excuse to get people out."

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