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Mass MoCA announced 17 winners of the Creative Challenge Monday morning. The local artists gathered for the announcement at the museum.

Mass MoCA Announces Creative Challenge Winners

By Andy McKeeverPrint Story | Email Story

Mass MoCA's Director of Retail Operations Jodi Joseph said the museum purchased more than $6,000 of products from the Creative Challenge winners.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts announced 17 winners of the Creative Challenge on Monday.

Local artists John Blair, Claire Fox, April May, Anne Hogeland, Jess Fitzgerald, Stephanie Gravalese, Joan Ciolfi, Stephanie Iverson, Lisa Anderson, Wendy Akroyd, Maureen and Michael Banner, Joseph Katz, Michael Wolski, Dan Bellow, Dai Ban and the students of Community Access to the Arts will sell their handcrafted goods though Mass MoCA's retail store Hardware.

"I was totally thrilled. Mass Moca is a big name so I'm excited to be in here," jewerly-maker Ban said.

The products range from handmade jewelry to wood block prints to leg warmers. Applicants had to submit photos of their work, a brief biography and an explanation on how the product fit in with Mass MoCA. A total of 41 people applied and four staff members of MoCA chose only the best and most fitting.

"I would have taken 100 people if there were 100. It just had to fit with Mass MoCA," Director of Retail Operations Jodi Joseph said. "I wanted to bring in locally made products but I couldn't because of time."

Joseph said she followed the challenge since its inception in 2009 and approached Berkshire Creative last year to be a host. Berkshire Creative provided the link between MoCA and the local artist community so Joseph did not have to spend time scouring the county for products. At the same time, local artists had an opportunity to expand their craft into the museum store.

For Williamstown-based Hogeland, MoCA will be the third location she sells her pottery – an exciting expansion for her one-time hobby.

"I started pottery in high school and it was strictly a hobby though college and law school and then I took a really long break to raise my family," Hogeland said. "I'm not practicing law anymore so I'm devoting myself to this new adventure."

Hogeland said she only began selling her products last year so the retail market for her work is new to her. Ban, however, is a vetern and sells his items in many locations spanning as far as California. Ban said he was glad not to have missed an opportunity to be associated with the museum.

"I saw it on the website and I had maybe two days before the deadline so I just clicked the button," Ban said.


Seventeen local artists will now sell their products at Mass MoCA as winners of the 3rd Creative Challenge.
The challenge typically asked artists to design a product for the host company to make but it had a slight change this time and the products will be made by the artists.

"This one was retailed based," Berkshire Creative Director Helena Fruscio said. "Mass MoCA bought $6,000 worth of goods but that's the start, these relationships will be maintained."

Berkshire Creative operates two challeneges a year. Previous host companies were Crane and Co in Dalton and Interprint in Pittsfield. The next company has been selected but Fruscio would only hint at which one.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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