Friday, August 6, 2010

Call for Public Art to be Exhibited in Downtown Pittsfield

North St., Pittsfield, Mass. (c1906)
(Pittsfield, MA - PRESS RELEASE) The City of Pittsfield’s Artscape committee invites artists to submit proposals for public art work to be considered for the eleventh annual Artscape public art exhibition in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Located in the center of culturally rich Berkshire County, the exhibition runs from May 2011 – April 2012. The deadline for receipt of submissions is October 31st, 2010.

The Artscape committee is pleased to announce guest review panelist, Suzanne Ramljak, writer, art historian, curator, and former editor of Sculpture magazine. Suzanne is currently editor of Metalsmith magazine. She was past editor for Glass Quarterly, as well as associate editor of American Ceramics. Ramljak has contributed to several books and catalogues, and has lectured widely on contemporary art and craft and served as guest curator for several exhibitions, among them Seductive Matter at Rice University, Houston TX, and Playtime: Toys for Adults at Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT.

In addition, this year’s review panel is comprised of Artscape committee members, artist Kathy Fleming; Leslie Ferrin, founder and owner of the Ferrin Gallery; Maria Mingalone, Director of Interpretation at Berkshire Museum, chair of Artscape and the Storefront Artist Project; Mary Rentz, President of the Berkshire Art Association; and Megan Whilden, Director of the Office of Cultural Development for the City of Pittsfield.

A city of 45,000, Pittsfield is home to the Berkshire Museum, Hancock Shaker Village, Barrington Stage Company, Colonial Theatre, Storefront Artist Project, the Berkshire Athenaeum, and a variety of other cultural attractions. Pittsfield is the largest city in Berkshire County in western Massachusetts, and is a three hour drive from both Boston and New York City. For more information on Pittsfield, please visit the city’s website at www.pittsfield.com. Pittsfield is celebrating the City’s 250th anniversary in 2011 with a year long series of events. Applicant may be interested in submitting works that link to the City’s long history. More information can be found at www.pittsfield250.com.

Artists proposing a work for public display are encouraged to visit before submitting proposals. Applicants must take into account that the site is an urban outdoor environment. Please be aware that sculptures and installations must meet safety requirements and be able to withstand the effects of weather and public use. Outdoor sculptures juried into the exhibition are placed in downtown Pittsfield for a period of one year, and can be made available for purchase while on display. Artists receive an honorarium of $1,000. One or more proposals for new and/or site-specific work may receive, as determined at the discretion of the review panel, a $2,500 honorarium.

Submissions should include the artist’s resume, a proposal of work being submitted, as well as 10 images of past work on CD, or printed images no larger than 8.5 x 11. All work must be labeled with dimensions, materials, and a date, or a separate script with the same information. To have material returned, please include a self addressed stamped envelope. Artwork will be on exhibit for a period of one year. Installations will take place between mid-March through May 2011. Deadline for receipt of proposals is October 31st, 2010 for consideration. Full guidelines and an application form are available online at www.culturalpittsfield.com or by calling (413) 499-9348.

Materials should be sent to Megan Whilden, Director of Cultural Development, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

The mission of the city of Pittsfield’s Artscape program is to enhance the downtown’s character and attract visitors by installing and promoting works of art in various outdoor locations accessible to the public throughout the downtown area. For more information, please call 413-499-9348.


Visit the EWM post 'Photographs: The Spokes of Park Square, Pittsfield, Massachusetts (c 1900-1920),' for images of Pittsfield past.

For a bird's-eye view look at Pittsfield in 1899, head over to the post 'Map: Bird's-eye View of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 1899.'



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