Pittsfield — “Insight Out,” an exhibition of art from previously and currently incarcerated individuals from Berkshire County, will open at the Berkshire Museum on Saturday, September 2, and continue to be on display until October 1.
The exhibition, which includes 11 pieces of art and one poem, is co-organized by the museum and by the organization 2nd Street Second Chances. The organization operates out of the former site of the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction.
According to its website, the mission of the organization is to provide support to incarcerated and former incarcerated individuals in Berkshire County to “…greatly increase their chances to continue on a path to responsible citizenship and positive engagement.” As part of the organization’s mission, 2nd Street offers programs and support “…to encourage a successful reentry into a more welcoming community with dignity and sustainable opportunities to thrive.”
Organization co-founder and President Mark Gold said that the organization was formed in late 2021 with the support of several local businesses, state funds, and local organizations. “In the first year of our organization, we projected that we would serve 100 individuals, but we ended up serving 435 individuals,” Gold told The Berkshire Edge. “What we do is we start seeing the individuals we serve inside the jail. We develop a plan for them based on their individual needs. When they come out, they come to us as they need things. What we do is help people to get stabilized in their lives. We also want to provide them with the opportunities to pursue their interests, which is a little different than traditional reentry programs.”
Gold said that the organization has created several programs to assist formerly incarcerated residents, including programs relating to skills development and creative interests. “With our art program, we found a very welcoming partner at The Berkshire Museum to give these residents an opportunity for their art to be seen and appreciated by the public,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for them, but we also want to break down stigma and stereotyping. The best way to do that is to introduce the public to this kind of population that is often hidden away.”
Gold said that discussions with the Berkshire Museum regarding holding an art exhibit for residents in the 2nd Street art program started earlier this year. “What has always impressed me about the Berkshire Museum is that it is a community resource,” Gold said. “Communities have always been a big part of their mission and their focus. This was not just about art, but making the art of our people in this program accessible to all. The Berkshire Museum is a welcoming place for all populations, and it has been a very natural and pleasant partnership.”
“It has always been a challenge to get people to come to museums, for one reason or another,” Berkshire Museum Chief Curator Jesse Kowalski told The Berkshire Edge. “This exhibit is a perfect way to bring in people who are typically not museum-goers. But it is also a way to show people that there are talented artists out there who don’t have their names in The New York Times. I also think that this exhibit shows people that these artists are all not big bad criminals. They are thoughtful and emotional people who are creative and normal, just like everyone else.”
Gold said that the organization’s cultural programs were implemented a year ago. “We have this art project, and we also have a huge project coming up with a theater production that is based on the stories of women who are in our program,” Gold said. “Our gratitude for the Berkshire Museum goes beyond words that can be articulated. They gave our organization space and treated it like a real art exhibition. The way they handled it has been so thoughtful, and we are all deeply appreciative.”
For more information about the Berkshire Museum, visit its website.
For more information about 2nd Street Second Chances, including its programs, visit its website.
