NORTH ADAMS -- Buy, view, participate -- residents and visitors have an opportunity to engage the city's arts community this weekend at the eighth annual North Adams Open Studios.
All downtown galleries and several peripheral locations open their doors Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the showcase of local artists.
Organizer Gail Sellers said she looks forward to the event, recommending attendees start at the Eclipse Mill, 243 Union St., where 12 participating studios are located.
"This is really about the studios and the artists opening their studios," Sellers said. "We should have a good turnout."
As the event nears, Sellers said she's received many calls from residents of New York, Boston and other surrounding states who've shown an interest in coming.
More than 100 artists total will participate in the event, including Wendy James, Jarvis Rockwell, Wilma Rifikin, William Oberst, Beth Davis, David Lane and more.
Two of the artists, Oberst and Rockwell, plan to open their homes to foot traffic.
"One of the most interesting things is having no idea who's coming by," Rockwell said. "You really do learn a lot by showing your stuff."
Rockwell particularly anticipates viewers' reactions to a 20-by-9-foot drawing in his front hall that he's worked with on and off for eight years.
"It's drawn and drawn and drawn," Rockwell joked.
Work at some locations
Jonathan Secor, director of Special Programs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, said Gallery 51 will host an animation class and a follow-up discussion with the artists.
"The Eclipse Mill will be open, which is cool in itself," Secor said. "All the downtown galleries will be open as well. It's an opportunity to meet artists and talk about their work."
Attendees visiting Gallery 51 will also receive free passes to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Secor said he was also excited by the possibility of visiting artists' homes.
"It's an opportunity to look into someone's artistic medicine cabinet," Secor said. "[People will be] fascinated by what artists surround themselves with."
For more information, visit www.northadamsopenstudios.com.
To reach Phil Demers, email pdemers@thetranscript.com.
The essentials
What: Eighth annual North Adams Open Studios
When: Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: In addition to the Eclipse Mill on Union Street, other open galleries will be located on Main, Holden and Eagle streets. Locations also include 1315 Mass Ave., 19 Whitman St., and the Beaver Mill at 189 Beaver St. on Route 8.
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