PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Downtown is a little more colorful with the unveiling of two new murals.

 

The pieces entitled "Burbank Place" and "Downtown Bound" were presented during the First Friday at Five Festivities. 

 

The works are through the Let It Shine public art partnership, a group that aims to make art accessible to everyone, build city pride, and strengthen connections between residents and downtown, said Rebecca Brien, managing director of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. 

 

Let It Shine's Emerging Artists Mentorship program was established in 2024 to support aspiring artists in the community by providing guidance, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to create large-scale public art, Brien said. 

 

"I'm so excited about this whole project, this program, the emerging mural artist program, which is meant to foster the next generation of mural artists that we have in our community," said Jesse Tobin McCauley, Let It Shine mentor artist and the city's cultural development assistant.

 

"We have an immense amount of talent in Pittsfield that just needs to be cultivated and given the chance." 

 

The first piece was unveiled on Burbank Place, across from the McKay Street Parking Garage, and was developed by seven youth artists aged 14 through 18, said Huckleberry "Huck" Elling, Let It Shine artist in residence. 

 

The artists came together twice a week for five weeks to design the piece, which features several elements, including a big tree, flowers, a moth, little monsters, a rainbow splash, and a mythical dragon, she said. 

 

"The artists were really inspired to bring exciting colors to this pedestrian walkway. They wanted it to pop. They wanted it to be playful. They wanted it to be fun and to inspire people to feel uplifted," Elling said. 

 

"It's gorgeous. I'm so happy about it. Not only is it a beautiful mural, but we had such a good time making it. Everybody who participated felt really enriched through the process, and we're so excited to keep going and do more."

 

The second mural, "Downtown Bound," was revealed at Berkshire Regional Transit Authority's Intermodal Transportation Center and showcases the community's vibrant, fun, and close spirit, said Carly Holmes, the artist, and the city's inaugural artist in residence.

 

"I think what inspired me most is just thinking about Pittsfield and how I was born and raised here. So growing up here, the energy of the city really comes down to the people," Holmes said.  

 

"It's a place that I hope to raise my children in the future, someday. So, I just wanted to embody that spirit, that energy, that excitement of coming to Pittsfield." 

 

As the first artist in residence for the city, Holmes was awarded a free studio space at the Lichtenstein Art Center and has the chance to be involved in a group show, which will take place on the first Friday in October.

 

The residence offers opportunities for people who may not have a lot of exposure the chance to become more involved, McCauley said. 

 

"We had a large applicant pool, and Carly won it based on what she presented to us. So it was wonderful," she said. 

 

During the residence selection process, what stood out about Holmes was her "extreme talent" and desire to engage more deeply with the community and immerse herself in the art world in Pittsfield, which is what the Lichtenstein is all about, McCauley said. 

 

"She's the first, so we are for sure hoping that it happens every year. It's a yearly thing–that's the goal," she said.