MCLA's Berkshire Cultural Resource Center Names New Director

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Berkshire Cultural Resource Center has appointed Erica Wall as its new director.

As director, she will assume oversight of MCLA's public art spaces and programs, including MCLA's Gallery 51, its performing arts program, MCLA Presents!, and its four-month summer arts festival, DownStreet Art.

Wall is the founder of the Erica Broussard Gallery in Santa Ana, Calif. and has worked as director of school and community programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and as director of education at The Crocker Museum in Sacramento. Prior to that, she worked as an educator at The Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Wall is a previous Smithsonian Fellow and holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA and a master's degree in museum education from California State University, Los Angeles.

Closer to home, Wall is the founder of 36 Chase Artist & Art Historians Residency in North Adams.
"While Erica is moving from California to join us in NAMA, she has very specific connections to the area," said Diane Scott, chair of MCLA's Department of Fine & Performing Arts. "She opened the 36 Chase Residency to support the work of underrepresented artists. Erica's expertise in this arena will strengthen the work of the BCRC, complement the work of the Institute for the Arts and Humanities, and benefit the entire MCLA and Northern Berkshire communities. We're very excited to have her join our team."


Wall chose North Adams as the location for her residency program in part because of its evolution in the past 15 to 20 years. It allows 36 Chase residents to network with other artists who are also making art and taking advantage of residencies in the area, while enabling them to meet curators and other arts professionals.

"There is so much wealth of talent in just a few miles," Wall said.

Wall said she is excited to settle into a city where she already knows people and can expand and build upon what she started with her residency.

"I already have ideas that would be great for programing, and I'm excited about partnering with all of the other institutions," she said. "I'm hoping to make a worthy contribution."

 


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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.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

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. 

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