Berkshire Museum's 'Art of the Hills' Will Open On Time, Online

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Berkshire Museum’s featured summer exhibit, "Art of the Hills: Narrative," will open on its previously scheduled date, Saturday, June 6, with one major modification: Instead of hanging on the plaster walls of the community museum’s galleries each selected work will be displayed on the simulated walls of an immersive, high-resolution 3D rendering. 

Visitors to the virtual exhibit will feel as if they are touring the museum’s galleries thanks to a cutting-edge technique that combines a three-dimensional digital model with crisp, colorful images of the artists' work and user-friendly navigation.

The online exhibit will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on June 6 with a virtual tour of the show presented by jurors Amy Myers and Seung Lee followed by a live Q&A. The community is encouraged to register online to reserve their space at the free online event.

After the virtual opening event has concluded, the innovative digital exhibition will be added to the website so that visitors may "walk" or "fly" through the galleries using their web browser or virtual reality headset as they examine each artwork in high definition at their own pace as part of the museum's popular Berkshire Museum@Home online programming. Additional "Art of the Hills: Narrative" events and digital content will be added to the site throughout the run of the virtual show as they are announced.

"We are committed to carrying on our mission, fulfilling our promise to the many talented artists in the show, and above all else: keeping or community and staff safe," said Jeff Rodgers, executive director of the Berkshire Museum. "Bringing this exhibition online does just that. I’m thrilled that we are able to share the work of Berkshire artists with the public now and look forward to opening."

The new exhibit is the second installment of "Art of the Hills," a juried exhibition that celebrates the rich, creative culture of our region by highlighting the works of emerging and established artists that live or work within a 60-mile radius of Berkshire Museum’s location in downtown Pittsfield. The first "Art of the Hills" exhibition debuted at the Berkshire Museum in 2018.

"Art of the Hills: Narrative" features 78 works by 64 artists thoughtfully curated from a collection of more than 530 submitted works. Jurors Seung Lee and Amy Myers embraced the "narrative" theme in similar but unique ways: Lee sought pieces that "tell the viewer a story by using features such as character, scenes, time, technique, and purpose," with an emphasis on skillful interpretation of a perceived concept; while Myers reviewed the works from the standpoint of time and wonder, selecting pieces that left her with "a question or curiosity" rather than a conclusion.

"Art of the Hills: Narrative" is expected to open in Berkshire Museum’s physical galleries with a community celebration on Oct. 10. Guests at the October 10 event will have the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy their work up-close and in-person.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.