6/20/19
NORTH ADAMS, MASS. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ Berkshire Cultural Resource
Center (MCLA BCRC) is excited to announce the first Downstreet Art of the 2019 season
will be 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. Local and regional artists have decked out
Main Street storefronts for the occasion, and three locations will host simultaneous
gallery openings downtown.
With live music from Kids 4 Harmony and DJ BFG, a beer garden in Eagle Street’s pocket park, live silkscreening demonstrations by Common Folk, and a four-mile community bike tour of the city’s murals, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s in store:
Main Street Storefronts:
49 Main Street:
Gloria Calderon-Saenz “North Adams with Strings Attached”
Eric Reinemann “Intersections”
68 Main Street:
Benjamin Lamb “Torn to Pieces”
101 Main Street:
Sarah DeFusco & Megan Karlen “Stratos-Fear”
105 Main Street:
Emilee Yawn “Fake Nature”
107 Main Street:
Hideyo Okamura “Abstract”
Sara Farrell Okamura “Fact vs. Fiction”
Music under the Mohawk Theatre marquee:
5 p.m.: Kids4Harmony
Berkshire Children & Family’s Kids 4 Harmony, established in 2011, is a new model for social change, to improve the lives of children by strengthening family and community relationships.
6-8 p.m.: DJ BFG
DJ BFG (a.k.a. Gabby Squailia) has been spinning professionally for 15 years. He got his start in New York City, during the first year of Scratch DJ Academy's top-notch DJ training program. Currently, DJ BFG is the Special Events DJ for Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and he performs for arts organizations, wedding receptions, and private parties all over Berkshire County.
Gallery Openings:
Berkshire Art Museum
Seasonal Opening Reception, 6-9 p.m.,
159 E. Main Street, North Adams, MA
BAMuseum.org
Liquid refreshments, appetizers by Meng’s Pan-Asian
The Berkshire Art Museum is presenting a group show: “Not Just Another Pretty Picture.” Some artists create for content, and not to make art that looks pretty above the living room couch. Art can be disturbing, but good art prevails. Also exhibiting: “Dark Matter” and “Death of a Loved One”: 1890s Fashion: Collection of Greg Lafave” along with ongoing exhibitions from the permanent collection.
MCLA Gallery 51
Opening Reception 5-8 p.m.
51 Main Street, North Adams, MA
mcla.edu/About_MCLA/area/bcrc/mcla-gallery-51
Jon Verney, “Burning at the Center of Things”
On view June 27-Aug 24, 2019
The exhibition will be comprised of framed photographs, altered polaroids, light-boxes and video projection. Approaching photographs as objects that can be pulled apart, dissected and dissolved, Jon presents a series of works embodying his experimentation and embracing of chance. The focus of the exhibition will be on the results and process of deconstructing a series of found polaroid snapshots.
Installation Space
Opening reception 5-8 p.m.
49 Eagle Street, North Adams, MA
49eaglestreet.com
"TIME-LINK PRESENT"
An immersive and experiential installation by Studio HHH
On view June 27-August 18, 2019
Time Link-Present is a reference to the facets of crystals usually named “time link-past” or “time link-future” depending on the direction of their slant. This project asks the viewer to be dramatically in the present. Visitors will walk into a room of immersive crystalline formations. Through projection mapping, these crystalline formations are brought to life as the viewer is encouraged to sit and put on a sensor belt for a unique experience activated by their breathing. The rhythm of each visitor’s breath becomes visualized within the installation. If multiple participants synchronize their breath together, they will unlock a visual light show on the crystalized forms throughout the space.
Ferrin Contemporary (exhibit closes June 30)
1315 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams
Lauren Mabry: “Fused”
May 4-June 30, 2019
FUSED, a solo exhibition by Philadelphia-based artist Lauren Mabry, introduces a new series of ‘dimensional paintings’ using color, form and an exuberant sense of play to explore transformative nature of clay.
Also join us for:
Eagle Street Beverage Garden: In the Eagle Street Pocket Park featuring fresh beer on tap from Bright Ideas Brewing and tasty margaritas from Desperado’s. (21+)
Bike to the Murals: A four-mile long ride through downtown North Adams, coordinated by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. Meet at St. Anthony's Municipal Parking lot at 6 p.m. and see the murals by bike.
Common Folk Presents: Live silkscreen printing demonstrations and an artist showcase.
Eagle Street Woonerf Project Design Charrette: What is a Woonerf? Drop by and learn about the Eagle Street woonerf project from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and provide your design input!
Frog Lotus Yoga: Check out the Frog Lotus tent for yoga demonstrations, or hop on a mat yourself! Frog Lotus Yoga has been serving the North Adams community for 17 years as the most beautiful yoga studio in the Berkshires! Frog Lotus offers yoga, Thai yoga massage, Barre, and Pilates. Stop by and learn all that Frog Lotus has to offer.
Vending Pop-ups: The VinylDonut and Bounti Fare.
Downstreet Art events are held on the last Thursday of every month from June through September and are free and open to the public. In addition to the Thursday, June 27 event, DSA Thursdays will continue throughout the season on July 25, Aug. 29, and Sept. 26.
DownStreet Art is a program of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, which provides professional development training, resources, and support to the artists, art managers, and creative workers of Berkshire County run by MCLA. DSA’s goal is to help the economic development of North Adams and encourage the dialogue between our community and the arts. Since its inception in 2008, more than 150,000 visitors have come downtown and through the doors of DownStreet Art’s galleries and exhibits.
