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Drive Walk Bike by Art Show Friday In Pittsfield

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Update: This event was postponed until Friday, July 17.
 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield has been hosting a First Fridays Artswalk for nearly a decade. But the event designed to bring people downtown to mingle has been put on hold for during the novel coronavirus panedemic. 
 
Instead, a citywide Drive Walk Bike by Art Show is scheduled for this Friday. 
 
Organizer and artist Jesse Tobin McCauley believes the pandemic should not stand in the way of art or people's ability to experience art.
 
"These have been confining, hard, scary times and art can help you forget and make you smile and just bring happiness to all," she said.
 
With many of the summer activities canceled because of the pandemic, McCauley was looking for creative ways to bring people together. 
 
She said a friend of hers sent her an article about a drive-by art show taking place on Long Island, N.Y.
 
"I just knew we needed to do this in Pittsfield," she said. "The First Fridays Artswalk had been put on hold due to COVID-19 but art was still being created in the Pittsfield."
 
The show was supposed to be held on the first Friday in July but rain delayed it to this week, which isn't looking much better. Should there be rain on Friday evening, the event will be postponed to Friday, July 17. 
 
Forty installations have been placed throughout the city in front yards, on houses, and on billboards. Starting Friday at 4, residents are encouraged to drive, bike, or walk through the city to see what their neighbors have created.
 
"Art uplifts the spirit. We all need that now," McCauley said. "Disconnect from your devices, get outside, and experience art. You might not even know that your neighbor is an artist."
 
She created a Facebook page and put out an all-call to Pittsfield artists. Those with yard space made their own installations and those who didn’t were paired with a host.
 
"Artists in hard times and good are always creating and we've been doing it alone in our homes and need to get it out for all to see," she said. "We need to reconnect with our neighbors."
 
She said Cultural Pittsfield helped them get the word out.
 
"It's important to organize events like this to bring people together even from afar to enjoy all of the art that the region has to offer," Pittsfield Cultural Director Jennifer Glockner said. "And again to lift people's spirits."
 
McCauley said people can expect to see a little bit of everything.
 
"The range is vast," she said. "Abstract, landscape, graffiti, sculpture, photography. You can see some examples on the Facebook event."
 
Glockner encouraged all residents to participate. 
 
"We encourage people to participate because it will make you happy and you may learn something new about a particular artist or person that you didn't know about before," she said.
 
The event wraps up at 8. A map of all the installations can be found here.

Tags: art installation,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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