Talk Slated on Growth of North Adams Art Community

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gallery North will host a talk by artist and developer Eric Rudd on Wednesday, Nov. 12. 
 
"The North Adams Artist Community: How we got here and where is it going?" will be held at the gallery, 9 Eagle St., at 6 p.m. The public is invited
 
Rudd is a well-known sculptor/mixed media artist. He works with new technological processes and materials including robotics, theme park rides, industrial spray polyurethanes and blow-molded polycarbonates.
 
Born in Washington, D.C., Rudd majored in art at American University and studied in Italy and Austria. He was invited to join the Jefferson Place Gallery in Washington, where his work was shown from 1966 until the gallery's closing in 1974. Moving to North Adams in 1990, his 60,000 square-foot studio in the historic Beaver Mill is one of the largest individual artist studios in the country.
 
Along with his art, Rudd has focused on creating studio spaces for people in the arts and has been involved with numerous artist-space projects. He converted a large warehouse into the first artist-studio space in Washington for himself and 20 other artists and galleries in 1978 and repurposed the Beaver Mill in 1989 into 40 condominium live/work artist lofts. Rescuing a historic former church in 1999 and another in 2012, Rudd founded the Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation, doing business as Berkshire Art Museum.
 
He is the author of numerous articles, illustrated children's books, plays, novels, as well as books geared for artists including "The Art World Dream — Alternative Strategies for Working Artists" and "The Art Studio/Loft Manual — For Ambitious Artists and Creators."
 
For more information: www.EricRudd.com, Beavermill.com, BAMuseum.org.
 
Gallery North is open Tuesday through Friday 3-7, Saturday 3-8 and Sunday 10-2. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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