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Artist Dorothy Sabean Opens Show at BCC

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Koussevitzky Arts Center welcomes artist Dorothy Sabean's show, "From Street to Elite and the Curiosities in Between." 
 
The exhibit is on view through Nov. 16. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
 
Sabean's, a visual artist who works with mixed media, art was first publicly displayed in the early 2000s at the Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida, one of many such large street painting festivals held throughout the southern and western parts of the United States. 
 
Trained in the public eye among talented madonnari (street painters) and muralists from all over the globe, Sabean street-painted and taught young chalk artists for many years.
 
In 2011, growing weary of seeing her artworks wash down the street in a heavy rain, she pursued canvas art training in St. Petersburg, Fla. She went on to have solo gallery showings and international sales.
 
In 2014, her book, "Seventh of Eleven: An Illustrated Memoir" was published. In this collection of drawings and essays, she chronicles her '70s era childhood as the seventh child in a family of eleven children. In recent years, the artist relocated from Florida to the Berkshires. 
 
Sabean continues to create art both indoors and out, large and small. 
 
For more information, visit Dorothysabean.crevado.com.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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