Learning Math through Art

Click here to read a recent story about IS183 Art School's innovative collaboration with Morningside Community School in Pittsfield to teach kids math through art after school...and last year Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival held their annual residency at Pittsfield's Conte Community School helping students there to learn math through dance! Studies show that involving more than just the brain in education can increase comprehension and retention, so we applaud these initiatives!

Art & Housing: It's all connected

The Boston Globe has featured Pittsfield on the front page of its real estate section twice in recent months, both times touting its affordability and its creative rennaissance. Click here to read about why it's a great city to invest in or live in, from its great location in the Berkshires with easy access to NYC to the outdoor amenities, funky old architecture, and burgeoning artist community congregating at hubs like Dottie's Coffee Lounge, pictured above from the Globe article.

Click here to read the Globe's feature about affordable housing for artists in Pittsfield and environs and a groundbreaking new program that's being developed here in the Berkshires to help support low income artists.

And click here to read about a grant recently received for the innovative and upcoming New Amsterdam housing complex, inspired by old world row houses and Hundertwasser, planned for downtown Pittsfield, to feature affordable rental units and...shops and a gallery!

Brooklyn comes to Pittsfield!

Dottie's Coffee Lounge is downtown Pittsfield's newest mecca for great coffee, locally sourced and yummy lunches and breakfasts, and a great open mike night on Thursdays (so I hear). This weekend they are importing young and restless talent from down south -- Brooklyn -- Friday and Saturday nights, January 11 & 12. Friday it's Ching Song Snog and the Wowz (both pictured here) and Saturday it's the wistful, mournful and captivating Drew Victor, and The Afternoon. No cover, donations requested for these fine musicians, and it's BYOB with a $5 corkage fee.

Ferrin Gallery heads south...to Palm Beach, baby!

Pittsfield's Ferrin Gallery is taking their artists' work on the road this week to the Palm Beach 3 Art Fair including two of Pittsfield's finest, painter Maggie Mailer (above) and photographer David Ricci (below). For more previews of their work and others, click here.

Pittsfield's Corey Zink

Last night I had the pleasure of hearing the country band County Line with the young Corey Zink on lead vocals. He sounds as old as the hills in the old-time country tradition, like Lefty Frizzell, George Jones, and Randy Travis. Plus he's in a traditional bluegrass band called Acoustic Blue (pictured left, that's Corey on the right), with two CDs to their name. Keep an eye out for this young talent!

Click here to visit Acoustic Blue online, and mark your calendars for Saturday, February 2, for the next appearance of County Line at the Masonic Temple in Pittsfield!