MCLA Gallery 51: The Garden of Memory

09:07AM / Thursday, January 29, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gallery 51 at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will present "The Garden of Memory," a gallery installation and printmaking works by Junli Song.

The exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, Feb. 6, from 5-7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

In "The Garden of Memory," artist Junli Song invites viewers to enter her creative universe, the In-Between Cosmos, with an immersive installation created directly on the walls of the space using hand-cut papers, prints, ceramics, and other materials. This exhibition grows out of the cyclical nature of storytelling within her practice: Song not only makes in response to stories, but also invents myths to interpret what she creates. The narrative behind "The Garden of Memory" is inspired by her last installation, "Hagoromo" (University of Iowa, 2024), which explored a spirit realm populated by golden clouds and celestial beings. Who are these beings and what happens to souls when they die? This installation explores the story that emerged from wondering and dreaming these questions into being.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a performance that will bring this narrative to life within the space during First Friday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m., with a second performance at 7 p.m.

Junli Song grew up in Chicago, but lived abroad from 2012-2018 in South Korea, England, Italy, and South Africa. She originally majored in economics and international development at the University of Chicago and the University of Oxford, respectively, before returning to the creative path. She completed her MFA at the University of Arkansas with a concentration in printmaking in 2023. Song was selected as the Grant Wood fellow in printmaking at the University of Iowa later that year. She is currently the 2024-2026 Gaius Charles Bolin fellow in the studio art department at Williams College. Song has been selected for artist residencies including the Vermont Studio Center and the Women's Studio Workshop. As an artist and storyteller, she works across a range of media, from printmaking and painting to sculpture and animation, to explore imagined worlds and personal mythologies.

"The Garden of Memory" will be on view from February 6-April 11, 2026, at Gallery 51, located at 51 Main St. in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Gallery hours and additional programming information are available at Upcoming Exhibitions.

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

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

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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