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State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, records a section of 'Moby-Dick' for a new art installation.

Pittsfield Bench To Spout 'Moby-Dick' For Melville Event

By Joe DurwinSpecial to iBerkshires
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Local author Gabriel Squailia, left, chooses a passage to read with artist Evan Lurie.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Politicians, police, writers and many other area residents lent their voice to a new Melville-themed talking bench for downtown, as part of Pittsfield's summerlong "Call Me Melville" celebration of all things related to the famed author and his whale of an epic.
 
Called the Herman Melville Memorial Moby Dick Reciting Park Bench, this interactive piece of public art will recite pre-recorded passages of the classic 19th-century novel whenever passersby sit on it.  
 
The project is being undertaken by Evan Lurie as part of Artscape, the city's yearly installation of works of art to enhance public areas, which this year will be all Melville-themed. Lurie, who lives in Lanesborough, is a musician and composer for television and film. He plays piano and most recently was the musical director for the "Backyardigans," a globally popular preschool animated series on Nick Jr.
 
Mayor Daniel Bianchi, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and dozens of Pittsfield residents from all walks of life contributed readings, recording a favorite passage or selecting one of many available from the lengthy tome, penned in Pittsfield and first published in 1851.
 
The bench will be installed at Palace Park (the North Street lot formerly occupied by Palace Theatre) and on display throughout the summer, and will issue a randomly selected recording of a local voice reciting "Moby-Dick" whenever someone sits on or otherwise triggers the installation.

Tags: art installation,   downtown,   Melville,   

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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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