ArtBeat: The Housatonic Paper Trail

Today is the third Thursday of the Month, which means it’s the Pittsfield Third Thursday celebration, and this month it’s extra special – it’s the launch of The Housatonic Paper Trail, a celebration of the economic and cultural impact of the Upper Housatonic River region’s paper industry that historically supplied much of the nation’s paper and paper products, swelling to 65 mills in the 1860s.

Here’s some of the highlights:

Paper Airplane contest @ North Street. Tonight, North Street will be closed to traffic as Howard Fink demonstrates how to fold extraordinary paper airplanes and judges the best planes made by children and adults (you can make one there or bring your own, but make sure you adhere to the guidelines.)

Paper and Light @ The Berkshire Museum. Henry Klimowicz has transformed the Wider Window Gallery with a site-specific installation extending vertically across the gallery’s two-story window composed of disused cardboard that has been carefully re-configured and arranged to highlight the interplay between natural light and the artwork. Also at the museum is a small exhibit of historical items from its own collection and from the Crane Museum of Papermaking presenting a practical history of the work of Crane & Co. through the years. (Through January 16)

Paper Makers @ Storefront Artist Project, Pittsfield. Bill Wright’s photographic portrait of workers from several Berkshire County paper mills including Crane & Co. in Dalton, and the Onyx Specialty Paper Mill in Lee, MA. Opening reception: Thursday, 9/16, 6-8pm. (Through October 16)

Housatonic Paper Trail Official Kick-off @ Lichtenstein Center for the Arts. The Center will host a group show of contemporary regional artists who work on or with paper; clips from “Paper Town,” a new documentary film by Judith Monachina and Erica Spizz about the paper mills of Lee, Mass.; and an animated video by Alice, Anna and John Myers. 5-7pm.