Renowned Printmaker to Return to MCLA Campus

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announces the return of renowned printmaker, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. to North Adams for events taking place from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24.  
 
Kennedy's visit begins with a meet and greet print session on Oct. 22 at the PRESS Room in Bowman Hall Room 301/303 from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.  
 
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Kennedy will participate in MCLA's annual Day of Dialogue with a talk about his work and its relation to this year's theme, "Reclaiming Lost Narratives," which is centered around cultural erasure, stated a press release.
 
"I put ink on paper for the glory of my peoples. The words of my people have largely been excluded from fine print. I defy this condition and force my peoples' presence into this part of this civilization's culture," said Kennedy.  
 
A variety of Kennedy's letterpress work is currently on display at the Bowman Atrium Gallery on MCLA's campus. Visitors to the exhibit and participants in MCLA's Day of Dialogue will be invited to contribute to the exhibit by visually describing feelings of
erasure and writing to their past self on a piece of paper that will be folded up, crumpled and added to the exhibit.  
 
Kennedy's visit to North Adams will culminate with an event for his newly released book,"Citizen Printer" at MASS MoCA's Research and Development Store on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m., where he will be in conversation with MCLA Professor of Art, Melanie Mowinski, discussing topics such as perfection, failure, and letterpress printing. This event is free for members of the museum and $5 for non-members.  
 
Amos Kennedy Jr. is a printmaker born in Lafayette, Los Angeles, currently based in Detroit who owns and operates the print studio Kennedy Prints. Kennedy had a full career in the corporate world until he discovered letterpress printing in his forties, prompting him to leave his job at AT&T and receive an MFA in graphic design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
 
All these events are a part of Print Isn't Dead, a project initiated by MCLA Professor Mowinski; and funded in part by a Hardman Initiative Grant and the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a division of the Mass Cultural Council. 

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

 

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.)  The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.  

 

 

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

 

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few.  All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

 

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house.  New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house.  New paver patio in the back yard.

 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

 

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

 

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

 

 

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

 

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

 

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

 

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

 

What do the current owners love about this home?

 

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

 

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

 

 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

 

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.  

 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 

 

 

 

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