Pittsfield 250 Announces Sidewalk Art Installations
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Go ahead and walk all over the city.By the end of June, many of the city’s sidewalks will be images depicting the city’s past, present and future. The pictures will be comprised of a lot of digital photographs, but also other forms of art to celebrate the Pittsfield‘s 250th birthday.
The Pittsfield 250 Committee, organizers of the yearlong birthday party, announced on Thursday the installation of the 3-by-4-foot photographs on sidewalks in the city's business sectors.
“We want people to go around the city looking for these,“ committee co-Chairwoman Mary Rentz said. “We’re doing a call for artists.”
The committee is seeking submissions from artists of all kinds to create the images and sponsors to pay the installation cost in front of their businesses. The “Walk-On” project is similar to the prior city campaigns Sheeptacular and Art of the Game. Sponsorship costs $350 and pays for the printing and installation fees.
“The Berkshires and Pittsfield have a history of innovation,” Megan Whilden, director of Cultural Pittsfield, said. “We like to have these projects that are open to everyone.”
Graphics on top of sidewalks have been used in other cities for advertisement but Rentz said she could not find anywhere that it had been used it for art.
A jury of local artists will choose which submissions get printed, Rentz said. A total of 144 images will be placed throughout the city. Some of the historic photos will be taken from the library. The deadline for submissions is April 1.
“Brilliant Graphics is doing the printing at a discounted price for us,” Rentz said of the local high-tech printing company. “We’re also calling for writers.”
There is space for up to 75 words below the photographs as well as space for up to three sponsor names.
The committee is still undecided where to display the stories behind the images. Rentz said the committee is leaning toward a Facebook page or a website to explain each piece.
The installations also will go along with the committee’s plan to host a “Where in Pittsfield” game during the summer, Rentz said. Details of that game have not been fully developed.
