NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Robert Giardini wants to get art on people's walls.
That's one of the inspirations for his pop-up Media Gallery that opened during the season's first DownStreet Art event last month.
Located at 70 Main St., the walls of the former Radio Shack store in the L-shaped mall that once displayed electronics have proved a perfect setting for hanging a variety of artworks from both local and Philadelphia artists.
"We've got about, I think 12 or 13 different artists here," Giardini said not long after opening. "Some photographers, we have printmakers, a couple painters. We got some letterpress people. ...
"It's a collection of different media. And that was one of the reasons why I call it the Media Gallery."
A videographer by trade, Giardini and his wife, Lori Spencer, reside in Philadephia but have had a summer and weekend home in North Adams for about three years.
He saw the chance to open a small gallery during a time when the arts seem to be flourishing here and the real estate is reasonable.
"It was one of the reasons I figured I should just go ahead and do this," Giardini said. "I mean, it is a labor of love but I wouldn't be able to do this, I don't think, probably five years from now. This space would be too difficult or too expensive or whatever. But you know, right now it's still doable so I figured why not jump in and do it right away."
About half the works come from Spencer's connections at the Philadelphia University of Art's School of Art, where she is director and a professor. Also on display are their works, including Giardini's photographs from trips overseas. He also plans to add more video elements.
One attraction for local residents is the agreement he's made with the North Adams Historical Society to sell large prints made from its collection of vintage postcards of the area.
"They've given me I think about 40 images," he said. "They'll get part of the proceeds, if I can sell any, of these vintage postcards that I think are wonderful, beautiful. And then we have some old photographs as well. So if you have any interest at all in the history of North Adams, these are some beautiful shots."
Giardini said he's been working with the Print Shop in Williamstown and a printer in Philadelphia on the postcards and other prints for sale. Using an inkjet printer provides for a quality item at a lower cost than other forms of reproduction, he siad.
"You can get things for not nearly as much money and so I can sell it for less money and you know, my feeling is you want to get the art on people's walls," Giardini said. "So we can have artists reasonably priced."
Right now the Media Gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays 11 to 7 through August and Giardini will decide if he wants to go into the fall. He sees it as a first step in possibly a permanent studio where he can do his videography work as well. He largely works with nonprofits and educational institutions and his talking with the Historical Society about doing some videos for it.
"I'm on the hook for July and August and I'll be up every weekend," he said. "But I'm actually looking forward to it and you meet a lot of interesting people coming in and out of the gallery. And my big chore now is just to get people in the door because this side of the street is a little slow and doesn't get quite the foot traffic."
Giardini is working on website with more information at northadamsmedia.com.
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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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