Begun last summer, North Adams Regional Hospital’s Community Art Project proved to be a great success, so in its second phase more works by more artists hang in various places around the hospital.
The program has been expanded from 46 works loaned to the hospital from 13 local artists, to more than 80 works by 30 artists.
The works range from oils to watercolors to photographs and mixed media to prints and quilts. They were introduced at a reception at the hospital March 15.
Sally Sussman, an artist who lives in Williamstown and serves as curator of the project, said “There is artwork all over this building.
“This is a large, large building, and hanging artwork here has been a challenge and a real joy,†she said. “Somehow the pieces have just found their right place.â€
People who work in the hospital have favorite pieces: “Now, we’ve gotten to the point, dear artists, that people are requesting pieces ... they would like a piece of artwork to come to a certain area,†Sussman said.
“Every artist in the original hanging extended their loan to NARH, which is a tribute to them and fortunate to visitors to the hospital,†she said. “This project met a need for local artisans to display their work in public, and the hospital’s desire to complement the healing process with artwork.â€
NARH President John C.J. Cronin thanked the artists who had come to the reception for brightening the hospital environment.
“It can use that, and it does make a difference. We get a lot of comments about the work hanging throughout the hospital,†he said. “At least, I don’t get any that aren’t positive, so I think it’s very much appreciated by visitors, patients, families.
“And I think [it] has impacts that go beyond what maybe we all anticipated when we first started this project,†he added.
“The view has evolved from one that is focused entirely on ‘our mission is to take care of those who are sick’ to where today we talk about our mission to be one of improving the health of the people in the community,†Cronin said. “If we act on that, we engage in projects such as this one.â€
Improving health has far more to do with things we engage in than just the best physicians, technology, medication, and staff, he said.
“It also means that we have to address the elements in the environment around us that begin to contribute over time to the reason we need these facilities,†Cronin said. “So part of what we’re doing with this effort is to begin to affect our environment.â€
The Artist Resource Trust (A.R.T.) fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has helped cover some of the costs of the project, said Virgil Stucker, Northern Berkshire Health Systems’ vice-president for external relations.
The A.R.T. fund has announced a grant to purchase three works of art for Northern Berkshire Health Systems, the parent corporation of NARH. The works, all by artist Mary Natalizia of Williamstown, include Poppy, Morning Glory, and Multiples, all in mixed media. The pieces hang in NARH’s main lobby and near the emergency department.
Natalizia is a local visual artist who holds a master’s of art from the Rhode Island School of Design and a bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts. She also teaches art to students in the Pownal Elementary School.
Other local artists who may be interested in showing their work may contact Sussman at 458-4670. Works are rotated approximately twice a year.
The reception ended with several tours through the hospital to see the artwork.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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