Berkshire Creative Economy Council
Tuesday January 12, 2010
I was recently asked by Helena Fruscio of the Berkshire Creative Economy Council to join the council. It’s an honor to be selected, and I look forward to working with the other council members to strengthen ties between the arts and local business in the Berkshires.
- Matt
Opening Reception for Target
Sunday December 13, 2009
Video of the opening reception.
We had our largest turnout yet, and there were many new faces at the opening reception of Target. Many thanks to all our friends who came out in the cold to see art and to show their support for Joan and Kelly. If you couldn’t make it to the opening, stop by any Saturday through January 31 from 1 – 4pm or make an appointment.
- Matt
Art After ITP
Sunday October 4, 2009
Marianne was recently on a panel with artists Danial Rozin, Leo Villareal, and Marina Zurkow. She gave a presentation about the work that we do here at Greylock Arts, and then participated in a discussion about making and showing art after graduating from ITP. The event was part of a series of events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the graduate program.
Taken from the ITP website: ITP is a two-year graduate program located in the Tisch School of the Arts whose mission is to explore the imaginative use of communications technologies — how they might augment, improve, and bring delight and art into people’s lives. Perhaps the best way to describe us is as a Center for the Recently Possible.
Marianne and I are both graduates of ITP, where she is currently an Associate Arts Professor there. Much of the work that we exhibit comes from ITP students and alumni. Yay ITP!
- Matt
CommentRelics Opening
Saturday September 26, 2009
Video of the opening reception.
Thanks to everyone who came out for the Relics of Futures Past opening reception. It was truly a great time! If you missed the opening, the exhibit will remain up through November 15th. You can stop by Saturdays between 1 – 4pm or make an appointment.
- Matt & Marianne
CommentThe Arts and Artists of Adams
Saturday August 29, 2009
Many thanks to our great friend Astrid Hiemer for covering the arts and artists of Adams in a new series of articles at Berkshire Fine Arts. The first article covers the organizations that make their home in Adams: Topia Arts Center, Greylock Arts, and Bascom Lodge. The second article covers eight artists who make their home in Adams.
- Matt & Marianne
Help Us Bring LED Floaties to Hoosac River Lights!
Wednesday July 29, 2009
We’re trying to raise money so that we can give out hundreds of LED Floaties at the Hoosac River Lights festival on August 22nd.
The Hoosac River Lights festival is a free event which uses art to focus on the history and future of the Hoosac/Hoosic/Hoosuck/Hoosick River that flows through Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont, and Upstate New York. Last year’s event featured several light sculptures and was attended by thousands. At this year’s festival we’ll be celebrating the native trout which inhabit the river, and the hot air ballooning that historically happened in North Adams. There will be a 36 foot long Brook Trout made of living plants on display, activities for children, as well as several light based works of art in and around the river after sunset. Plus, ongoing events at MASS MoCA and DownStreetArt.
LED Floaties are basically standard helium filled balloons with a light emitting diode inside. They are amazingly beautiful! See this Instructables page to learn how to make your own. With your help we can give out several hundred of these LED Floaties at this year’s festival!
We’re using Kickstarter, “a new way to fund ideas and endeavors”, to help us collect the funds. We’re hoping to raise at least $315 to make this happen. Help us make this project a reality! Click here to pledge now!
Many thanks!
Update: Due to the rains brought by Hurricane Bill, we were unable to bring LED Floaties to Hoosac River Lights. Look for them at another event in the near future. Until then, many thanks to the people who helped fund this project!
-Matt & Marianne
2009 Gallery Guide
Friday July 24, 2009
The 2009 Berkshire Living Gallery Guide is now available for download as a PDF from here. The guide is a comprehensive list of Berkshire County’s many cultural destinations compiled by Helena Fruscio of the Berkshire Creative Economy Council. You can also pick up a physical copy at any of the listed attractions. Use the guide to help plan your trip to the Berkshires.
- Matt & Marianne
The Captain's Privates by John Seven
Thursday July 23, 2009
We just wanted to make everyone aware of a cool new project, The Captain’s Privates, a novel in Twitter, by John Seven. We really want to see how this one progresses.
- Matt & Marianne
Daisy, Daisy
Monday July 13, 2009
Sunday we were thrilled to take in 2001: A Space Odyssey in HD, part of filmTopia at Topia Arts Center. The film was preceded by a talk from Douglas Trumbull, special effects artist on the film, and pioneer of the slit-scan photography technique employed in the stargate sequence. Check out this great interview with Mr. Trumbull by John Mitchell.
- Matt & Marianne
2nd Birthday
Monday July 13, 2009
Two years ago we opened our doors with our first exhibit. Since then we have had the opportunity to partner and collaborate with many extraordinary artists, organizations, and guest curators through the fourteen exhibitions, numerous special events, and teaching residencies. Thanks to all our friends out there! Your support keeps us going.
- Matt & Marianne
Congratulations to Amy Stevens!
Saturday July 11, 2009
Tonight we had the pleasure of attending a reading by our good friend Amy Stevens at Papyri Books. Her new book “Daniel Shays’ Legacy? Marshall Bloom, Radical Insurgency and the Pioneer Valley“ is a fascinating history and we can’t wait to read our new signed copy. We encourage everyone to run out and buy her book! Congratulations, Amy.
- Matt & Marianne
Dan Rose: Secret Century Opening
Saturday July 11, 2009
Video of the opening reception.
Many thanks to all who came to the opening reception of Dan Rose: Secret Century last night. As you can see above, the remarkable Dan Rose Special was on view and it was wonderful to see attendees stroll up and down Summer Street between Greylock Arts, Betty’s Storefront, and Pure Theory, Formerly Bob’s Used Furniture. Special Thanks to Richard Harrington for curating a wonderful exhibition! It is on view through the end of August!
- Matt & Marianne
CATA Digital Photography Workshop
Monday July 6, 2009
We are so pleased to be working with Community Access to the Arts (CATA) this week in their Digital Photography Workshop which is being held at Berkshire Art and Technology Charter Public School (BArT).
Gordon Sasaki, a wonderful artist and instructor is teaching the class.
We were brought into this project to work with our good friend John Schimmel at the Interactive Telecommunications Program to switch-enable cameras for individuals with physical disabilities. The cameras are being used, and we’re having a great time participating in the workshop itself.
Daily sessions include composition, narrative, content, portraiture and collage. For more information or to sign up, visit CATA’s website.
The workshop has been funded by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
- Matt & Marianne
Summer Street Fair 2009
Sunday June 28, 2009
The Summer Street Fair was a huge success with lots of food, games, magic, inflatable jousting, a bounce house, music by Shut Up and Dance, and HillBilly Deal or No Deal!
Congratulations to all our friends at the Summer Street Association of Merchants and many thanks to all our friends who came out in support!
- Matt & Marianne
How You Can Help Andrew & The Other Former Tenants of 491 & 493 Myrtle Avenue
Friday June 26, 2009
Above photo by Geralyn Shukwit.
Thank you to those who have given or have expressed a desire to give already!
For those of you in and around New York City there will be a benefit for all the former tenants of 491 & 493 Myrtle Avenue at Chez Lola from 5 – 7pm this Sunday June 28th. Chez Lola is located at 387 Myrtle Avenue, Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Please bring a donation or if you have services to provide, clothes to spare, furniture that is collecting dust, come on by. Chez Lola has generously offered to help coordinate people with things and people in need of things.
Also, there will be a fundraiser this Saturday June 27th from 4 – 9pm at Sophie’s Bar, 507 East 5th Street (between Avenues A & B) for Anh Nguyen, another NYU/ITP alum and victim of the collapse.
If you live in western Massachusetts or the Albany New York area you are invited to donate at the Summer Street Fair this Sunday June 28th from 6 – 9pm on Summer Street in Adams, Massachusetts. Look for the Greylock Arts table near 93 Summer Street. People are encouraged to bring donations or small things. If you have larger items to offer we suggest bringing a list so that we may see if Andrew or the others have a need for and can accommodate such things.
If you can’t make it to any of these events consider sending your donation to the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project. Please make checks/money orders out to the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project at 472 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205. Specify “491 & 493 Myrtle Emergency Fund” in the memo field. MARP has offered to temporarily hold donations until they can be disbursed to the affected tenants. For more information please call 718-858-1484 and ask for Edit.
Councilmember Letitia James is also taking donations for the victims here. There are a couple of websites, here and here, where you can donate to Anh and Andrew directly. Also, you can make donations directly to Jess Banning, another victim, here.
- Matt & Marianne
Andrew's Home
Monday June 22, 2009
Above photo by Geralyn Shukwit.
The good news is that nobody was injured or killed, but we have something really unfortunate to report today. The home of Andrew Schneider, who just a few weeks ago performed at Greylock Arts, was destroyed yesterday when the building he lived in collapsed. Andrew has lost essentially all of his worldly possessions, including his art. Many may remember his solar bikini, which was featured in an exhibition at Greylock Arts in 2007. If you have anything to offer Andrew (money, a new toothbrush, a replacement bike, words of encouragement) please contact us, and we will see that he gets it. A benefit for all the victims is in the works and we will post those details in the future. Video of the unbelievable destruction has been embedded below.
Brooklyn Building Collapse from Cameron Hickey on Vimeo.
Andrew is a really great guy, and he needs your help!
- Matt & Marianne
BArT Opening
Tuesday June 16, 2009
Video of the opening reception.
Thanks to all the students, faculty, and staff at BArT for a successful exhibit and opening reception. And thanks to everyone in the community who came out in support these students’ work. The exhibit is the culmination of a visiting artist program supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Check out the video above of the opening reception, and if you missed the opening stop in on Sunday June 28th from 6 – 9: p.m during the Summer Street Fair.
- Matt & Marianne
Bascom Lodge Group & Andrew Schneider At The Salon
Tuesday May 26, 2009
Video of the Bascom Lodge Group talk.
Video of Andrew Schneider’s performance of Wow and Flutter.
Saturday we held the Storefront Artist Salon, a monthly gathering of local artists. The May salon was co-produced by the Storefront Artist Project and ourselves. It featured a talk by the Bascom Lodge Group about their plans for the lodge, which is in Adams and sits atop Mount Greylock. Plans include lodging, dining, and cultural programming including an artist residency program. The talk was followed with a performance by Andrew Schneider and his Experimental Devices for Performance. Thanks to Andrew for making a Herculean effort to be here. And Thanks to Peter, John, and Brad for sharing their exiting news with us. And thanks to all those who attended! Videos of the talk and performance are available above for those who couldn’t make it.
– Matt & Marianne
Congratulations To Our Friends At CATA!
Sunday May 3, 2009
We attended this year’s Mission: Imagination – Annual Performance, a tremendously enjoyable event full of tap dancing, singing, Shakespeare and more.
Congratulations to our friends at CATA!
- Matt & Marianne
Wearable Expressions Opening
Saturday April 18, 2009Thanks to everyone who came out for the opening of our latest exhibit, Wearable Expressions. For those of you who missed Marianne’s demonstration of Alexander Reeder and Yutaka Kitamura’s Touched by Strangers see the video documentation of the opening reception above.
- Matt & Marianne
