Works by three Berkshire artists — Adam Brown of Lenox, Sarah Sutro of North Adams and Shelsy Rodriguez of Pittsfield — are on display outside the governor's office until Sept. 12.
Governor Healey Unveils Art Exhibition by Berkshire Artists
Sarah Sutro's 'Blue Web' on display outside the governor's office.
BOSTON — A temporary art installation outside the governor's office on Beacon Hill features three Berkshires artists.
Gov. Maura Healey unveiled the exhibit this month in partnership with Mass Cultural Council. It includes works in photography, paintings and digital prints.
The artists are Adam Brown of Lenox, Sarah Sutro of North Adams and Shelsy Rodriguez of Pittsfield. Their works will be displayed in the reception area of the governor's office through Sept. 12.
"Western Mass has an incredible legacy of arts and culture, and these artists remind us of the creativity that comes from all across the state," said Healey. "We're grateful for the talents of Adam, Shelsy and Sarah and for our partnership with Mass Cultural Council to display this exhibition for the thousands of visitors to the State House."
The governor has hosted temporary exhibits before, including for months celebrating diversity like Black History Month and American and Pacific Islander Month and for women veterans and for the Cape and Islands. The office also has on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts "Early Summer" and "Showery May Morning" by J. Appleton Brown, "Spring Hillside" by J. J. Enneking, "George Washington" by Francis Alexander, and "Landscape" by Leslie Prince Thompson.
"I'm thrilled to have my painting 'Blue Web' represented," said Sutro, who has a studio in the Eclipse Mill. She primarily works in abstract ink drawing, acrylic painting, and watercolor, although "Blue Web" is done in oils. Her art amplifies cycles of the natural world and explores the inner realities of nature, using colors derived from organic material.
Brown has 44 years of experience in marine consulting and is professional deep-sea diver, and established SilverScreen Marine, a marine production company that provides underwater support services to the motion picture and television industries. His photographic works "Skating Underwater" and "Synchro #3" are on display.
Rodriguez, also known as Stephx. works primarily in painting and photography, and explores her indigenous roots and her cultural diversity. An environmental science scholar, her works "Colombia – Andean and Orinoco Regions" and "Smile from the Heart" are based on her ancestral past, cultural present and the environment.
"This exhibition is bringing the creativity of Western Massachusetts here to Boston, and I am grateful to Adam, Shelsy and Sarah for partnering with us to display their work," said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
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Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid.
The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.
"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.
A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid.
Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million.
Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters.
They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.
The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.
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