We’ve got Edward Burtynsky giving a talk on Thursday 6/26 at 7 but you should come to North Adams early to go to the opening of the Downstreet Art project.

There’s a ton going on on Thursday and its just the start of a great summer of art in North Adams. Here are some details:

There are SEVEN new galleries and nearly TWENTY art destinations including some with strong ties to MASS MoCA like: Primary Secondary Volumes 1 & 2 at 28 Holden Street which features the work of 20 of the drafts-people working on the Sol LeWitt project and Maya III by Jarvis Rockwell at 73 Main Street. You may remember Maya II which was here with Game Show in 2001. Its a nine-foot-tall pyramid covered with action figures plus a site specific wall drawing by Jarvis.

We’re just scratching the surface. There’s a great deal to see and its open all summer and into the fall.

On Thursday you can also celebrate with some of the participating businesses. Shima,Crafty Creations, Second Chance will all have extended hours. Shear Madness will have free eyebrow waxing; Papyri Books will host a sidewalk chalk project; Moulton’s General Store and I Got Goodies will have free chocolate and fudge samples; Cup & Saucer and The Hub will be offering DownStreet Art menu specials and Cafe Latino will host the official after-party.

Hope to see you there!

If you love Denise Markonish’s new exhibition Badlands, you’ll find plenty more of her curatorial talents to love around the region this summer. Here’s the roster of exhibitions she’s curated this summer:

• Cultivate (a companion exhibition to Badlands) at Berkshire Botanical Garden opens June 8
• In the Zone II through August 3 at Brattleboro Museum in Brattleboro, Vermont
• The Medium is the Message at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz which opens June 7
• AND the Fence Show at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy opens June 14

Those of us for whom a super-productive weekend  means getting rid of 2007 New Yorkers and replacing the paper towels in the kitchen are awed by Denise’s productivity and salute her success.

We’re so lucky to have friends like Leslie Ferrin (of Pittsfield’s Ferrin Gallery) who comes to the Badlands opening, takes  great photos,  and posts them on wonderful blogs like Rural Intelligence. It was a beautiful night and our first outing under the Wapenaar Pavilion for the season.

You’ll find more photos and coverage at The Pit and Berkshire Fine Arts will likely post something soon.