First Fridays Artswalk Preview for March 1

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March Upstreet This Friday for Artswalk!

Over fifteen new art shows, live painting, printmaking and drawing demonstrations plus a secret glimpse of centuries-old Masonic symbols make March 1st a lively First Fridays Artswalk in Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District Click here for a handy downloadable map and guide to the March 1st Artswalk, or pick one up upstreet! Below are some highlights from south to north.

First Fridays Artswalk | Friday, February 1st | 5-8pm | Upstreet Cultural District | 413-443-5601 | FREE

 

Freemason Symbols at the Masonic Temple

Curious about the Masons and their ceremonies? The Pittsfield Masons offer a rare look into the symbols of the Freemason fraternity—which has been part of Massachusetts history since 1733—displaying hand-painted 18th-century aprons.

Masonic Temple | 116 South Street


 

Photography by Alexa Green & Lear Levin 

Museum Facsimiles—in its new location at 31 South Street—presents the unique photography of Alexa Green (at left) and Lear Levin. Recent graduate of the film program at Tisch at New York University, Green spent a semester in Cuba photographing and gathering footage for a documentary film on a salsa band. Retired film director Levin's current passion are dancers photographed backstage, of which he displays ten printed on platinum paper.

Museum Facsimiles | 31 South Street | 413-499-0020


 

Drew Finn's Photography at The Marketplace

Local photographer Drew Finn presents a collection of work entitled Stops Along the Path during an artist reception from 5pm-7pm. His exhibit will be displayed through March.

The Marketplace Café | 53 North Street | 413-358-4777


 

Walt & Anne Pasko: 2 Wild Hearts Dancing

Walt and Anne Pasko's art exhibit entitled 2 Wild Hearts Dancing fills the Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. offices through the month of March. Walt Pasko's impressionist oil paintings are of the Berkshire landscape, while Anne Pasko's work (at left) displays her intuitive, abstract, mixed media and collage work. Enjoy an opening reception during which Walt Pasko will be doing an oil painting demonstration.

Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. | 33 Dunham Mall | 413-443-6501


 

Historic Quilt at Unusual Wedding Rings

A quilt made by Betsy Caprio Hedberg entitled The Path to the Peaceable Kingdom depicts a variation of the traditional American Snails Trail from the rural south. It was a finalist in the 1998 University of Nebraska's competition commemorating the 50th Anniversary of The Declaration of Human Rights announced in 1948 by the world members of the United Nations.

Unusual Wedding Rings & More | 137 North Street | 413-236-9600


 

Deirdre McKenna at Brenda & Co.

Brenda & Company returns to Artswalk in March  with a gorgeous show of new work by Deirdre McKenna, who combines her interests in painting, printmaking and art quilting in a new series of monotypes on fabric.

Brenda & Company | 137 North Street | 413-997-4500


 

Marion Grant & Sam Ponder at Kinderhook Real Estate

Join us in welcoming Kinderhook Real Estate in bustling Crawford Square to Artswalk! As 12-year old guitar talent Nico Wohl performs, Marion Grant displays work at Kinderhook Real Estate in the Crawford Square, along with a 10-whale mobile (at left) and other works by Sam Ponder. Plus enjoy 12-year-old Nico Wohl on guitar at Crawford Square while visiting Kinderhook, Brenda & Co, Unusual Wedding Rings and more!

Kinderhook Real Estate | Crawford Square | 141 North Street


 

Opening Reception for Sally Tiska Rice at Maria's European Delights

Stop by and enjoy an opening reception for a solo show by NU Arts member Sally Tiska Rice entitled Blooms and Birds, marking the second month Maria's European Delights participates in Artswalk.

Maria's European Delights | 146 North Street | 413-442-5100


 

Don Orcutt at BCC's Intermodal Gallery

You are invited to an artist reception for a solo show of work by Berkshire Community College alumni and local artist Don Orcutt "balanced between Symbolism, Surrealism, Satire and the Metaphorical."

Berkshire Community College Intermodal Gallery | Columbus & North Streets


 

Live Screen Printing & More at Shire City Sanctuary

The first in a series of limited edition prints developed from John ffrench's original ceramic work and the new works of upcycled clothing and home goods will be available for purchase, while The Dolphin Studio offers live demonstrations of screen printing.

Shire City Sanctuary | 40 Melville Street | 323-493-8247


 

Jackie Kearns' Breathe at Gallery 25

An opening reception for the artwork of Jackie Kearns takes place from 5pm-8pm. Her exhibit, entitled Breathe, features a collection of oil paintings on a variety of surfaces such as canvases, reclaimed furniture, draperies and other usable objects. Inspired by the streets and architecture of her surroundings in Berkshire County, Kearns aims to capture the essence of this imagery in a loose, airy way, using thin layers of oil paint.

Gallery 25 | 25 Union Street


 

Ellen Joffe-Halpern at Le Petit Musee

Berkshire County teacher and art therapist Ellen Joffe-Halpern's exhibit celebrates the completion of a three year project to complete 365 Backyard Dreams. The paintings are all 5”x 7” format and primarily mixed media on paper combining acrylic paint, oil paint, water color, pencil, ink, pastel, digital drawing, coffee, stains and smudges. Her attempts to capture the immediacy and freshness of making marks on paper are meant to transform what she sees and experiences into color, shape, pattern and line.

Wild Sage | 333 North Street | 413-447-7000


 

Arts Show Opening & Live Figure Drawing Demo with Bushey

Michael Vincent Bushey gives a live, model-figure drawing demo during the opening reception for a solo exhibition of his figure drawings entitled TIME, exploring how time informs aesthetics. And afterwards, DJ BFG spins tunes for your listening (or dancing) pleasure!

yBar | 391 North Street


 

Opening Reception for Steve Hamlin at BMC

Steve Hamlin travels New England and the east coast in search of adventure and new material to paint. This Friday, he exhibits watercolors of wildlife, pets, landscapes and seascapes, with an opening reception for his display from 3pm-5pm.

Berkshire Medical Center Lobby | 725 North Street | 413-447-2000


 
 

More New Work Upstreet!

Other brand-new exhibits include artwork by pen-and-ink artist and children's book illustrator Dee Randolph at West Side Clock Shop and 10 framed comic book covers and printed books for sale at TREEHOUSE Children's Boutique from the personal collection of Artswalk co-founder Mary McGinnis.


 

Great Returning Shows Too!

Ongoing shows on display during Friday's Artswalk include multimedia works by Karen Carmean, Susan Merrill (at left), Mitch Greenwald and Stanley Turnbell at Bagels, Too; large format photography by David Ricci at Spice Dragon; and the TEN Spot invitational show of Berkshire County artists at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, featuring Michael Boroniec, C. Ryder Cooley, Joel Curran, Joshua Field, Paul Grabbard, Susan Hartung, Eric Korenman, Maggie Mailer, Jarvis Rockwell and Tina Sotis.


 

Sister City Jazz Ambassadors, 8 Foot River at Mission

Make an evening of Artswalk with dinner out and live music at Mission Bar + Tapas, where the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors will play from 5:30pm-8pm followed by 8 Foot River from 8:30pm-11pm, with no cover charge. Other upstreet restaurants and hotspots will be hopping too!

Mission Bar + Tapas | 438 North Street


 

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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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