NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll kicked off "413 Day" at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art on Sunday before heading to three more locations. 

 

"This is what you see in the 413," she exclaimed as she opened her arms under Spencer Finch's "Cosmic Latte."

 

New England Public Media's "The Fabulous 413" radio show is behind 413 Day (the 13th day of the fourth month) as a way to celebrate the western end of the state. NEPM holds a free festival at CitySpace in Easthampton, where Driscoll was headed later in the afternoon. She was also to visit the state's Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls and tour the Springfield Museums. 

 

"Our hope is that we can really have this be something that begins to send a message, people who live in 617, you're missing the boat out here, not coming to 413," Driscoll said.

 

Driscoll took a quick tour through several exhibits with by Director Kristy Edmunds, Mayor Jennifer Macksey, MoCA's Director of Communications Jennifer Falk and head of public initiatives Morgan Everett,  Mohawk Trail Association President Peter Tomyl and Governor's Councillor Tara Jacobs, among others. 

 

"It's always a great day to have the LG in North Adams," said Macksey. "[Gov.] Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll have been great partners to North Adams and we look forward to many, many continued efforts to get more funding in North Adams."

 

She made sure to ask about the proposed $100 million more in Chapter 90 funds, which is in the Legislature right now, and Tomyl piped up about the proposed passenger rail. 

 

Jacobs' told the lieutenant governor about the city's "secret" — there's only a two-minute wait at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. 

 

"You can spend the day sitting in Boston or come out here, spend two minutes and then have a fun time," she said. 

 

The former Salem mayor watched some of the visual imagery from Ohan Breiding's "Belly of a Glacier," which documents the "death" of the Okjokull glacier in Iceland and efforts to save Switzerland's Rhone Glacier; viewed "Dirty & Disorderly: Contemporary Artists on Disgust"; discussed integrating indigenous voices in the state's 250th anniversary while viewing Jeffrey Gibson's "Power Full Because We're Different;" walked through Alison Pebworth's "Cultural Apothecary" but didn't have time to try the golden root tea; and was entranced by Amy Podmore's "Audience" — a long wall of ceramic baskets with more than 3,000 winking eyes. 

 

"It's amazing to celebrate 413 Day right here at Mass MoCA, which has such a rich presence," she said. "You have a feeling right away it used to be a mill, obviously it's something else now and you can see not only amazing artists but the talent that they're bringing to this part of Massachusetts."

 

Driscoll was given a couple of gifts, including a Mass MoCA hat that she donned for a video touting the city and the museum. 

 

"We are here at amazing Mass MoCA. What a great place to not only enjoy an afternoon, you can enjoy a whole weekend here. There's plenty of exhibits, amazing artists and a great way to experience North Adams and all that we have here in the 413, see you soon."