Let It Shine! Photo Mural on the Berkshire Family YMCA

On Friday, May 24, 2024, the Let It Shine! partnership unveiled their most recent public art addition at 292 North Street outside of the Berkshire Family YMCA.

This project is a collaboration between local artists Huck Elling and Marina Dominguez, Morningside Community School, Mill Town Foundation and MassDevelopment’s TDI.

The project culminates in a photographic mural on 4 large panels that is displayed on the North Street facing side of the YMCA. The murals include playful portraits of 173 students from Morningside Elementary School.

“The inspiration for this project started with a desire to strengthen connections between people who live here and places we share, through making art with/for our community. We chose the format of black and white photos because the simplicity of the format lets the kids’ personalities shine,” said organizer and local artist Huck Elling.

Huck went on to say, “Our motivation for this collaboration is joy. Our method for achieving this goal is sharing the youthful exuberance of children that make up this community. It's our hope that their smiles bring you smiles.” As participant Kamaya, grade 2, said, “When people see it, they are going to think we are so beautiful. That is so beautiful.”

The Let It Shine! mission is rooted in making art accessible to all, building confidence in Pittsfield, and creating stronger ties between residents and their downtown. The Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership is a group of Pittsfield-based community members from Downtown Pittsfield, Inc./Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association (fiscal agent), City of Pittsfield Office of Cultural Development, Pittsfield Artists in Residence: Huck Elling and Jesse Tobin McCauley, and Mill Town Foundation who have formed to organize public art and revitalization on North Street, empowered by organizing efforts through MassDevelopment’s TDI. MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) is a program for Gateway Cities designed to accelerate economic growth within focused districts.

This year, Let It Shine! will operate a mentoring program in Pittsfield Public Schools surrounding downtown with the goal of educating young artists and building bridges between young people and downtown that boost economic vitality. Public art will be created with and by local youth in ways that engage children with themes of activism, environmentalism, and entrepreneurship.

Let It Shine! expresses gratitude for support from its major 2024 sponsors: Mill Town Foundation, Lee Bank, a grant awarded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation's Arts Build Community Initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation, Fiegenbaum Foundation, TDI Local funding from MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative, Pittsfield Cultural Council, NBT Bank, and General Dynamics.