Letter: Mass MoCA Paint-Over Is Unresolved Issue

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To the Editor:

Although Mass MoCA painted over the school children's historic depictions of Northern Berkshire mill
workers and the textile dolls on the pillars on Marshall Street in North Adams, to our knowledge the
issue still remains unresolved.

Over the past month, I have attended the North Adams Art Committee meetings in which two issues
were discussed relative to the paint-over. The first, was that a meeting was to be held between Joe
Thompson and the artist who supervised the children's project. Secondly, there was discussion
concerning removing a small sample of the gray paint that Mass MoCA unilaterally used to cover over
the children's art works. This sampling was to be done because the artist indicated that the paintings
were sealed with an anti-graffiti coating, which may have protected the historic depictions and, thus,
their reappearance might be accomplished.



I believe that many residents of this city enjoyed and appreciated the children's art work as it reflects
the historic relations that the mills had with the people, history and economy of the region. Many of our
relatives worked in places such as the Windsor Mills, the Arnold Print Works and other textile
companies, thus the art had an important connection to Northern Berkshire's past.

With this being said, although the art is currently gone from view, it is still there. It should not be
forgotten and importantly, a resolution in restoration should be accomplished. It is equally important
the issue be resolved in a timely manner.

Let's not, "kick the can down the road" any longer!

Vincent Melito
North Adams, Mass.

 

 

 


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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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