Weather Cold But Sales Warm for Open Studios

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
12:02AM / Monday, October 19, 2009Print Story | Email Story

Jean Fink of Otis and some of her wearable Woolart in the NoAMA mill. Left, a crop of glass mushrooms by Jill Balawander. Top, bold paintings by 19-year-old A.J. Schlesinger.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The traffic cooled slightly on Sunday along with the weather, but hundreds of area residents and other art lovers visited dozens of studios and galleries over the three days of North Adams Open Studios.

Committee Chairman Philip Sellers said the sixth year of the annual event went well.

"The crowds were down but sales were up," said Sellers after the studios closed on Sunday night. "Considering the economy and the weather, that was good."

Nearly 200 artists had work on view around the city, including the many downtown galleries on Main Street that have also been part of the summerlong Downstreet Art.

The results were hit and miss with some artists getting plenty of viewers but no sales. Eclipse Mill artists, who started the event as a way to introduce themselves and their work to the community, had a number of buyers among its more than 500 visitors.

Berkshirefinearts' article on the event has more statistics, with an estimate that the crowd was off by about 40 percent.

The Eclipse and NoAMA building (Hoosac Mill) across the street drew more than 800 visitors between them. The tiny Berkshire Arts Colony gallery on Eagle Street had so many people on Saturday, said event marketing director Brian Handspicker, that glass bead artist Isabella Raven gave up counting.

Main Street was busier than normal on Saturday as milder temperatures and blue skies drew people downtown. NoAMA (which stands for North Adams, MA) was filled with more than two dozen booths for artists who didn't have local studios handy.

The event was good for Jean Fink, who was participating in Open Studios for the first time with her "Woolart." In fact, the chilly temperatures inside the old textile mill may have prompted sales of her wearable art, she said.

"It was great working with the people who run the show," said Fink, who recently moved to Otis. "It was just really excited by the energy they had setting up Friday. It was just wonderful."

Fink was one of several artists from BerkshireMade at the mill. Gabrielle Senza said her booth didn't do quite as well, but "it was great for BerkshireMade to be part of this event."

The event brings an estimated 2,000 people out to meet with local artists and view their works. It's grown from a half-dozen studios in the Eclipse Mill to include the entire mill and galleries throughout the city representing dozens of artists, groups including the North Adams Artists Co-operative, and the Beaver Mill with its newly opened studio21south. Musical and other performances have also joined in.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

Budhaus Cannabis Store

Open 9:00am Mon–Sat An elevated cannabis company providing highly crafted product & personal touch

www.budha.us

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

These numbers are grossly over-exaggerated. This was, by far, the slowest Open Studios event North Adams has had since the event began. I didn't see one person riding the old trolley either day and foot traffic was WAY down. I'm sure the weather & economy played a role, but other factors did too. Peak foliage had already passed (so maybe we should consider doing it a bit earlier next year). The NOAMA space was 'filled' with more crafts than art. If we're going to allow artists from outside the area to participate, then there should be a jury selecting the work to be shown. Art should far outweigh crafts during an "artists" open studios event. People also travel to these events to see "professional" artists (artists who spend most of their time building their art careers). If we dilute the event with amateur/hobby artists fewer and fewer people will come each year. There is certainly a place for artists of all levels, but that place is more of an 'arts and crafts' festival. I think it should be the job of the open studios committee to attend other major open studios events prior to next year--maybe we can learn a thing or two from events that have been going on for 10-20 years. We also need more live/work space here for artists...if we build it they WILL come. Editor: The numbers were provided by the organizers and based on counts made at both mill venues; other numbers are anecdotal. Should people who don't have studios not be allowed to participate? Who decides what's art and what's not?
from: OpenStudiosParticipant	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

I agree 100% with the last post. This is a complete puff piece which does not accurately represent the enormous, widespread dissapointment amongst everyone I have spoken to. People in the NoAMA space felt it was unbearable (how can you view art with NO LIGHTING? And no heat, either???), traffic and sales were both down in the mills, whatever the official committee is saying. Main Street was dead, dead, dead. Sales at the co-op gallery, which did fantastically all summer were a total bust. People who sold well in past years sold almost nothing this year. Please, iBerkshires. It's bad enough that the Transcript has to write its usual happy-go-lucky stuff, but can we count on you guys to do a little more investigation? Editor: We rely a lot on the feedback we get on stories. It's tough to cover everything - sometimes we need to sleep. Yes there were disappointed participants and a freezing mill. The numbers speak for themselves in the story - more than 800 visitors between the two mills when it's averaged 2K the last two years. I would argue about Main Street being dead, theough. I was downtown on Saturday for another story and there were far more people than normal. Not enough obviously.
from: local artist	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The fact that the event happened was an accomplishment in it self. The committee was very short staffed in comparison to previous years. - all I can say is that if you feel the event was not up to snuff, please transform your opinions into actions and sign up to be on the committee for 2010. There is contact info on the website - NorthAdamsOpenStudios.com
from: Committee Member	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

While I would definitely agree that there is progress to be made, and would also agree that numbers were down this year I do need to disagree that downtown was a bust. Saturday we had over 250 visitors at MCLA Gallery 51 and work. Others I talked to also had many more visitors then they would have otherwise. Sunday...yeah, that was a little sad. But even I decided that a rainy,sleety, snowy day was a great day to explore the Eclipse Mills from top to bottom.
from: jonathan	on: 10-20-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

View Full Story