To the Editor:
We are artists, small business owners, parents, and Berkshire community members, and we support the Berkshire Museum’s bold plan and vibrant vision to bring the museum into the 21st century so it can continue to creatively serve all of us.
Thoughtful, proactive change is the only thing that will save our Berkshires from a rapidly declining population and rising income inequality. We have watched the Clark Art Institute, Mass MoCA and Barrington Stage Company take bold steps to expand their footprints and their missions to better serve our community in recent years, and we are excited that Berkshire Museum will be next.
We are impressed with the museum’s extensive 2-year master planning process and welcome the significant infusion of funding into our creative economy to go towards the renovation of the museum and the expansion of their endowment, allowing them to focus on serving our community. We trust the Berkshire Museum.
We understand and sympathize with the sadness among some that 40 works of art will no longer live in the Berkshires. But they will not be forgotten, and their departure will bring about something so much more priceless than what they’re worth — enriched experiences for a changing community.
We are excited to imagine the possibilities that will come to life with this bold step forward, and will let the museum lead the way with our full support.
Among those who signed this letter, in alphabetical order by first name:
Alan Bauman, Pittsfield ma |
Alan R. Sandstrom |
Alanna Kellogg, Schenectady, NY |
Alexandra & Andrew Groff, City Residents |
Alexandra Heddinger |
Alice and Brian McGowan, Egremont MA |
Alicia Ouellette, Slingerlands NY, educator. |
Alison Basdekis, Stephentown, NY (educator, parent, small business owner) |
Allison Lassoe Sheffield MA |
Amy Krzanik, Cheshire, Mass. |
Amy Rudnick, Sheffield, MA |
Andi McGraw |
Andrea Sholler, Managing Director, Jacob’s Pillow Dance |
Andrew Foster, West Stockbridge, MA |
Andrew W. Kelly, performing jazz musician, music educator, businessperson, youth sports coach, former Pittsfield mayoral candidate |
Anita Stuart |
Anna Traggio Educator |
Annee Goodchild Pittsfield, MA artist |
Audrey Bowen Pittsfield, MA |
Barbara Roberts, Pittsfield, MA, Retired Educator |
Bart Mosley, Stockbridge, MA |
Ben Urmston, Sheffield, MA |
Beth Hammond |
Betsy Hayes Longmeadow MA 01106 (retired educator) |
Bonnie Hoskeer Kirchner |
Brian Butterworth, Acton, MA Berkshires Cheerleader |
Brody McCauley |
C J Bolster, Pittsfield MA |
Cara and Lance Vermeulen |
Carly Gaherty Pittsfield, MA 01201 |
Carmen Dockery Perkins, Lakeville, CT, Parent and Educator |
Carolyn Butler – Lenox, MA – community member |
Cathy Deely, Pittsfield, MA community volunteer |
Charlie Noyes, Salisbury, CT Artist & Educator |
Chloë Geffken |
Chris Freeman Stonington, CT Non-profit professional |
Chris Parkinson |
Christina Wynn, Pittsfield, MA |
Christine Condaris, Williamstown MA educator |
Christopher Guidette, Otis, MA — member, OLLI Board of Directors |
Christy Curran, Needham Mass. Former Berkshire School parent |
Churchill Cotton, Pittsfield MA Grandparent |
Cindy Freeman |
Claudia Perles, Lenox, MA Philanthropist |
Colin D. Sykes, Pittsfield MA |
Colin Mathews |
Dan Mead and Sally Eagle |
Darcie Sosa, Dalton MA, Marketing Manager, Freelance Writer, Art lover, Museum lover |
Dave Sondrini, Northampton, MA |
David S. Rosenthal 2 Field Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 |
David Tierney -Pittsfield, Massachusetts-business owner |
Dennis Kinne, Pittsfield MA |
Diana LaCasse, educator and parent |
Elizabeth (elizag) Gordon |
Elizabeth DeMarco, Artist and Business Owner, Pittfield, MA |
Ellie Lovejoy, Mount Washington, MA — Parent, Educator |
Emil J. George, Attorney |
Eric Mabee |
Evan Hickok, Pittsfield MA. Engineer, manager, parent, art and science lover |
Evan Lurie, Lanesborough, MA |
Faith Gagliardi, Pittsfield MA, community member |
Frances Jones-Sneed, Williamstown, MA, Educator |
Gail Krumpholz , Pittsfield MA |
Gail Street. Lenox,Ma. |
Gary Pemble |
Gary Schiff, Lenox, MA |
Gina Foley |
Greer Hed, parent, Pittsfield MA |
Heather Gallagher, Pittsfield, MA |
Holly Smith-Bove, Hatfield, MA, former museum director |
Howie Marshall |
Jackie Melendez |
Jackie Thomas, Lee, MA, parent |
James Sylvia Pittsfield MA, Dad, Photographer, Business Owner |
Jan Charbonneau, Lenox, MA Retired Educator |
Jed Scala, Great Barrington, MA |
Jeffrey St. John, M.D., Pittsfield, MA (Parent and museum member) |
Jenn Gomez, Pittsfield, MA |
Jennifer A. Hines |
Jennifer Gaenzle Smith, Sheffield, MA |
Jenny Benson Pittsfield, Ma, Business owner |
Jenny Wright, Pittsfield MA |
Jeremy LaCasse, Educator and Parent |
Jesse McCauley |
Jessica Provenz, parent, writer |
Jill Vantine, Norfolk, CT 06058…Parent and realtor |
Jim McKellar, Becket MA |
JoAnne Moran Pittsfield, MA |
Jocelyn Chapman |
Joe & Laurie Gallagher Pittsfield MA |
John Krol, Pittsfield MA, small business owner, husband, father, city councilor |
John Toole, business owner, Lee,Ma. |
Jonah J. Sykes, Chair of Berkshire Young Professionals |
Judith Frost |
Judith winters |
Jules Seltzer Pittsfield, MA business owner |
Julia Doyle, Pittsfield MA. Business owner and parent. |
Kaitlyn Pierce |
Karden Rabin |
Karen Rowe |
Karin Noyes Salisbury CT, Artist and art appreciator, 30+ year resident of Western New England |
Kat Lockridge, Lee, Ma 1Berkshire Board member, owner, Classical Tents and Party Goods |
Kate Moran and Rafi Pitts, Los Angeles, CA, Artists |
Katherine Casey |
Kendal Phipps |
Kenneth M. Shearn |
Kevin Kraham, Pittsfield, MA |
Kim and Dennis Kinne, Pittsfield, MA |
Laura Bushey |
Laurie Grusauski, Salisbury, CT |
Laurie Tierney -Pittsfield Massachusetts -business owner |
Leah Thompson |
Leigh Sylvia, pittsfield ma, parent |
Leslie Sears, Dalton, MA, stage manager |
Letty Downs, Lakeville, CT educator |
Lindsay Codwise, Pittsfield, MA |
Lindsey Marion |
Lisa Kuerzel, Montague, MA (Educator) |
Lisa Martin, Richmond MA |
Lola Jaffe – Stockbridge Ma. resident |
Lyn Biasin |
Lynne Mazzeo Pittsfield Mass |
Marc J. Wrzesinski, Photographer, Pittsfield, MA |
Marcia Mitchell, Lee, MA – small business owner, grad student, millennial badass |
Marcia Z. Feuer, Richmond, Community Member, Grandparent |
Marissa Dubecky, Pittsfield, MA |
Marjorie Cohan Pittsfield MA |
Mark Pedrotti, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Vice President – Marketing at Berkshire Bank |
Mark Tomasi, Pittsfield, MA |
Mary Ann Fanning, Excellent letter. |
Mary Garnish Bauman, self-employed graphic designer, Garnish Design |
Mary Huth Pittsfield, Ma |
Maxine Bookless, Pittsfield, MA |
Megan Whilden, former Director of Cultural Development for the City of Pittsfield |
Meghan St. John Pittsfield, MA |
Melissa Bissell Pittsfield, MA parent, photographer |
Melissa Quirk Cairns, Berkshire, MA, parent, educator, poet |
Michael and Lynne Mazzeo, Pittsfield Ma, business owner |
Michael Mazzeo |
Michael Vincent Bushy, Pittsfield |
Michelle Artioli, Pittsfield MA, Downtown Pittsfield Business Owner |
Mr and Mrs Gerald S. Doyle, Jr. |
Mr and Mrs Paul J. Capitanio |
Matthew Chester, Stockbridge, MA Role, business owner |
Nan Bookless, Pittsfield, MA; owner/partner BookMarc Creative; graphic designer and fine artist |
Natalie Johnsonius Neubert |
Pamela Downing Pittsfield MA |
Pamela Effrein Sandstrom |
Pamela Knisley |
Parker Chandler of Pittsfield, MA; Educator, Parent, BM Member |
Pat Cotton , Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
Paul M. Byrd, Pittsfield, MA. Structural Engineer and appointed member of the Pittsfield Historical Commission |
Peter & Robin Buratto |
Peter Garlington Pittsfield MA, Designer, parent, art lover |
Peter Lafayette Pittsfield, MA |
Peter Merwin Pittsfield MA |
Phil Coleman, Business Owner |
Phyllis Criddle, North Adams, MA. |
PJ Danahey Pittsfield, MA – business owner |
Priscilla Wolf, Educator, Lakeville, CT |
Rachel Mabee |
Rebecca Marzotto |
Regina Burgio, Pittsfield, MA (designer/business owner) |
Renee and Steven Erenburg Richmond MA |
Richard Rowe, Dalton, MA, President, U.S. Government Products, Crane Currency |
Richard Squailia, West Stockbridge, MA Business Owner |
Robert Grien, Board Member of IS 183 and Fine Art Photographer |
Robin McGraw , President, Black Rock Foundation, Major supporter of Berkshire Museum |
Roger Gutwillig, museum volunteer |
Rose Ellis, Williamstown, MA, Former Superintendent of Schools |
Sandra Lanning – pro science & pro solvency parent and engineer |
Sandra L. Burton |
Sara Paul, Hinsdale MA |
Seth Nash, Lenox MA |
Shannon Costello, Brooklyn, NY, MCLA Alumni & Nonprofit Administrator |
Sharon Chambliss, Clifton Park, NY |
Stan Spencer, Lenox, MA Spoken Word Poet and Storyteller |
Stephanie Iverson, parent + artist |
Stephanie Merwin Pittsfield, MA, Parent |
Steven Green |
Susan Finnegan, Emerson NJ |
Susan Kelly, Pittsfield , Ma. Psychotherapist, museum volunteer. |
Tammy Decker Sharon CT, Teacher |
Tessa Kelly |
Nancy Vale, Lenox, MA, This decision to move ahead and preserve our wonderful Museum in a new and expanded way to keep up with the ever changing times is wonderful!! I wholeheartedly support this effort! I am a parent, grandparent, educator and concerned citizen of the Berkshires |
Tom & Suky Werman, Lenox MA |
Tom Biasin |
Tracey Garlington – Richmond, Ma |
William Hines, Sr., Retired Founder of Interprint, Inc. |
William Yehle |