Downtown – North Adams, Massachusetts
<blank" >target="_blank" >figure class="wp-block-image size-large">MASS MoCA is the jewel of North Adams attracting people in search of glossary/contemporary/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="3ab80db4c0dbb87427d624038f652226" target="_blank" >contemporary art. Going around town there are ample signs of an emerging arts scene from galleries, to theater, to public art.
Mills are an important part of the identity of North Adams. These posters in a door describe several of them – the Eclipse Mill, Windsor Mill, and Beaver Mill. Art galleries are located in each one. Eclipse Mill is home to both the Brill Gallery and Eclipse Mill Gallery. Windsor Mill is home to the kolok gallery. And, Beaver Mill is home to studio21south.
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Mary’s Carrot Cake is also home to Gallery 25. A blade-sign/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="ccb12f3cec4b5998bf63162f898b39bf" target="_blank" >blade sign enhances the visibility of this location off of main streets with a narrow sidewalk and difficult to find location.
Across the street from Mary’s Carrot Cake is the Barrington Stage. They have an attractive vertical marquee style sign to draw attentio to their main entrance.
A simple wayfinding sign helps to direct people from MASS MoCA to the restaurant and shopping district, and other important locations in town. A rack for brochures is attached despite not being filled.
The North Adams Farmers Market is on a nondescript parking-lot/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="015f75eb4090904e6f535eb738aa9c4c" target="_blank" >parking lot. Permanent signage makes the public aware of the market day and hours every Saturday from mid-July to October.
Stencils provide evidence of another regular program – 3rd Thursdays. The location around town reminds people that this is a good time to visit North Adams. The graphic design of the stencils makes clear it is a high-design and arts centric event. That’s the power of design. a temporary poster for Gallery 25 advertised an opening reception.
A marker is on the spot of Easton’s Tavern. On May 1, 1775, Colonel James Easton and John Brown of Pittsfield, and Captain Edward Mott, of Preston, Connecticut, planned the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. The fort surrendered to the Continental volunteers under Ethan Allen, with Colonel Easton second in command, on May 10, 1775.
DownStreetArt is a program of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center. Attractive vinyl stickers help to highlight this program.
Vinyl is used playfully elsewhere such as in these paper airplane and bicycle vinyl installations. PittsfieldContemporary.Com feature these prominently in their windows.
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The streetscapes are defined by several multi-story buildings.
Multiple temporary signs either direct people towards art, or bring a street art element on to lighting and utility poles.
This gateway arch marks the transition from an auto oriented parking space to a public plaza. On the wall/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="ac1fadae4cb84058632b2237d0399064" target="_blank" >blank wall facing the parking lot are outlines of buildings and architectural features to give those walls more of a place/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="4b233c808e57c9efe42594fbb1e673b0" target="_blank" >sense of place.
Lastly, this wayfinding sign as we left town helps to direct people to the major sites. It lacks the color and design treatment of other signs, though does get the job done.