MCLA Gallery 51 Introduces Senior Art Project

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) presents its 2024 senior art project showcasing the work of students Skylah Zayas, Hailey Rolon, and Matt Flanagan. 
 
"Synthesis: Sluts, Beasts, and Synths" is an inquiry into themes of love, imaginative beasts, and post-punk/industrial music, according to a press release.
 
The exhibition is open for viewing until May 11 at Gallery 51, located at 51 Main St. in North Adams.
 
Zayas' project explores themes of love and sexuality using reclaimed wooden pallets fashioned into a bed. The fabric upholstery and bedding incorporate quotes gathered from participants' relationship experiences.
 
"This sculpture/installation reflects emotion and experiences of modern hook-up culture from not only myself, but my peers," Zayas said. "My artwork strongly utilizes the opinions and voices in my surrounding community."
 
Rolon creates life-sized dream-like beasts using paper mâché, clay, and drawings. She sees her work as an extension of herself, expressing the physicality of her lived experiences.
 
Flanagan combines his interpretations of post-punk and industrial music with art historical inquiry. His work merges music and art through experimental compositions using metal scraps and found materials.
 
"We are all combining our external influences with our own ideas, in uncomfortable or shocking ways," he said. "The shock factor in my project is through my materials - rusty, sharp, and bizarre metal scraps."
 
Under the guidance of MCLA art professors and Gallery 51 staff, alongside guest artists, the students create professional statements, resumes, and other documents necessary for entering the art world. In addition to the exhibit, students will deliver artist talks at MCLA's Undergraduate Research Conference.
 
 

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North Adams Shop Offers New & Vintage Games to Play

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The shop is located in the corner of the Oasis Plaza, next to the ice cream shop. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A new card shop is bringing old and new games and trades to Oasis Plaza.

Renzi Retro and Repair owner Christian Richardson opened last Friday at 150 American Legion Drive, right next to the ice cream shop. 

Richardson grew up collecting and playing different types of video games. He was recently selling games and cards on Facebook before deciding to find a space last month.

"I really just liked video games. I play a lot of video games, and I just started collecting them. And then one day, I was like, Oh, why don't we try seeing if I can make some money doing it?" he said.

His shop is filled with older game consoles, Pokémon cards, sports cards, and video games new and old. He hopes to give people a better deal than other places.

"We're just trying to be different. We're trying to give people better prices than they're given other places. Since prices have got kind of crazy and it's hard to live nowadays, so we're trying to make it a little bit easier," Richardson said.

His shop will also take in items like consoles, cards, and other game accessories for trades or cash back.

"We pretty much take anything in, from cards to retro to modern games to consoles, accessories," he said.

He plans to get televisions and host tournaments on Sundays in the future.

"Tournaments are going to be a big thing that we're going to be working towards. We're also be working on getting TVs set up for certain days so people want to come sit down," he said.

Richardson wants his shop to be a space for people to gather and have fun.

"I just want to get more people off the streets. I mean, the area is not always the best, and people get involved in the wrong things around here," he said. "I just want to be able to bring people in at a younger age and give them a place to be able to play cards, or at some point, we're going to get TVs up so they can play video games. And I just want not everybody to be stuck on the streets and give them something to do in the community."

He hopes to one day expand and create a room dedicated to game play.

"I really want to get a whole store set up just for people to be able to come and play video games and and that's it not to buy things, but more of a place with a membership where you come and you play games, or you you do tournaments all day," he said.

His store is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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