Letter: North Adams Needs Resolution on Children's Artwork

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To the Editor:

Just a note to the community and to all who have lent support to the efforts of restoring our schoolchildren's art project located on the Marshall Street pillars located in North Adams.

We began our efforts with a small group of four concerned citizens who opposed Mass MoCA's illegal paint over of the children's artwork, which by the way, is located on public property and had the approval of the city. Our group consisted of one artist, one teacher and two community activists. From that passion, we have grown with the support of some 400-plus area petition supporters as well as the collaborative efforts of community educators.

Although there has been sacrifice by some members of our group, we pledge and will continue our efforts in representing the interest of the community. With that said, we hope you will help by lending your voices to the efforts honoring our children, ancestors and history. All of which are depicted in the two-year art project done by students, teachers and parents.



Over the past few month, we simply have asked that a small sampling of the paint covering the historic artwork be allowed to be taken to see if restoration is possible. To date, not one individual or group in a position to grant or support approval has positively responded to our community supported request.

With that said, we call on the leadership in our community (the Public Arts Commission, Office of the Mayor, North Adams City Council, Mass MoCA) to make things right and support our children and history rather than acquiesce to a small number of special-interest individuals who have continued to make resolution impossible.

Vincent Melito
North Adams, Mass.

 

 


Tags: public art,   

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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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