Artscape Pittsfield Calling Artists for 2022 Mural Project

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  Artscape Pittsfield will oversee a new mural project in the city in the early Fall of 2022 and is looking for artists for the project. 

The call is open to all US-based artists. Artists from the Berkshires are strongly encouraged to apply.

Artists will be responsible for providing all their materials required, including paint, to complete their design. Proposals should be submitted by September 9th 2022. 

If traveling from out of the area, transportation and housing is at the artist’s expense. The mural will be located in a prime, highly visible location in Downtown Pittsfield at street level.

Mural Specifications are 11'4" height x 12'11" width. Scaffolding and/or tall ladders will be needed if covering the entire vertical area. 

Candidates must be professional artists, designers, or fabricators or partnered with professional artists, designers, or fabricators; eligible to work in the United States; and age 18 and older. The artist must be available to oversee the installation of the mural.

Color sketch of proposal, sample of previous work should be provided. The total budget for the mural is $5,000

Proposals will be reviewed by a jury comprised of Artscape and other project stakeholders who may include building owners, renters, funding donors, and other community members.

Timeline:

? RFP Published: 8/12/22

? RFQ Deadline: 9/2/22

? Selected Artists Notified: 9/16/22

? Project Deadline: 11/1/22

Artscape is a volunteer-led committee that sponsors, plans and oversees annual juried exhibitions of public art in Pittsfield. Artscape’s mission is to enhance the overall character of the city’s downtown and attract visitors by installing and promoting works of art in various accessible outdoor locations throughout Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District.

Current Artscape initiatives on display include murals, paintboxes and sculptures. The Artscape walking tour is an outdoor gallery that changes each year. Come experience Pittsfield through its artists and their works.

This mural is generously sponsored by Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. If you would like to sponsor an Artscape project please let us know at artscapepittsfieldma@gmail.com.


Tags: Artscape Pittsfield,   murals,   

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Residents Concerned About Injured Bear in Northwest Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members have rallied in concern over an injured bear wandering northwest Pittsfield into Lanesborough the last few days.

Since late last week, Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre has received several calls about what appears to be a mama bear with a broken leg traveling near St. Joseph Cemetery to outer Hancock Road and Churchill Road with her cub. 

Home-security camera videos have also been posted to social media depicting the duo, including footage on a Lanesborough community Facebook page.

Serre is concerned about an injured bear being in a residential neighborhood, both for the safety of residents and the bear. She noted that as kind human beings, we have the responsibility of helping if possible and an injured bear is an angry bear.

"I would just like to find a way for her to be rehabbed and let back out into the wild," she said. "Because it's very obvious it's not just a little booboo on her foot."

MassWildlife's Black Bear Project leader Dave Wattles urged residents not to interfere, such as providing aid or food. He reported there is "really not a facility in the state" that can treat the bear but said they have an amazing ability to heal on their own.

"Unfortunately, there are a lot of vehicle collisions with bears where they end up with potentially a broken leg or a leg injury," he said. "Unfortunately, people also will shoot up bears for various reasons so there's a number of reasons that they can potentially have these injuries."

Serre has been contacted by seven or eight constituents showing pictures and videos of the bear, who is seen limping and not able to put pressure on her right front leg. She noted that they seem to have a pattern, during the day going up a hill in the area and then coming down.

"It seems like [her cub] is scavenging for her," she said. "She will lay down and he will go in and get the garbage bags."

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