Mill Children Exhibit to Open This Weekend in Adams
Young boys posing outside the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing in 1911. Lewis Hine's photos were instrumental in the passing of child labor laws.
Native William Kolis, who has been an advocate for arts, culture and economic development in Adams, said the exhibit, based on Lewis Hine's photographs of child mill workers in the early 20th century, finally has a home.
"We finally did it and it is a wonderful space," Kolis said. "It was difficult to get done but I have no qualms."
The exhibit was previously displayed in a space in the former Waverly Mill down the street but because of financial constraints and incoming tenants the exhibit had to be moved.
The original "Mill Children" exhibit opened in the Brill Gallery in the Eclipse Mill in North Adams as a project of gallery owner Ralph Brill, historical researcher Joe Manning and a number of other artists and educators. It's focus is on local children photographed by Hines, an investigative photographer for the National Child Labor Committee, his photos of children working the mills help lead to child labor reform.
Since then, there's been an effort to find a permanent home for the grouping of history, art and photography. Kolis and other advocates have raised funds and support over the past year in hopes of installing the exhibit in Berkshire Mill No. 1, where some of the children pictured once toiled on the textile machines of the Berkshire Cotton Manufacturing Co.
Kolis said because of communications issues with the then building inspector and time spent bringing the space up to code, the project was put off until this spring.
"I said stop the brakes we will do it next spring, and I thought we had it in the bag," he said.
Kolis said he raised nearly $5,000 during this time and thought the project was ready to go and by April a lease was signed.
However, the next building commissioner also found issues.
"In the room, you will look up and there are maybe 100 holes in the ceiling where the belts used to come through and they were determined to be a fire hazard," Kolis said.
He said he and some volunteers plugged all of the holes and with the help of Berkshire Mill staff were able to get everything up and running.
"We had final inspection yesterday and everything is in," Kolis said Friday. "It was just a long haul to get into a space that otherwise looked like it was ready to be occupied."
He said the space is a little smaller than 5 Hoosac St. but there are more amenities and the rent is more reasonable. He added that there are windows in the space that look out into the atrium that can be utilized. The mill is a mix of office and professional space on the lower floors and residential units above.
Kolis said in the future he wants to expand on the gallery and perhaps add animated portraits that tap deeper into the history of Adams in relation to the mills.
"We are toying actually having [textile mill owner] W.B. Plunkett talk to you, I want to get Hine to talk, and maybe one of the children to talk," he said. "That is down the line though."
He said he hopes the exhibit will grow to showcase art, history, social awareness and local history.
"I want people to weave through how art comes in, how history ties in, and how those social questions come in," Kolis said.
Kolis said there are many photos on display that were taken in Adams and he hopes to gain the community's support and invite them in to get more familiar with local history.
"I want people to get a feel for the incredible history that we sometimes take for granted," Kolis said. "When I was a kid I used to walk through the empty mill section and I realized how powerful those people were and those workers were an incredible asset and you can track that to where we are today."
This weekend will be a soft opening with hours tentatively set from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free and the entrance is on Hoosac Street.
A grand opening is being planned in October. The gallery is also in need of volunteers.
Tags: exhibit, gallery, Mill Children, mills, opening,
