DownStreet Art Kicks Off 12th Summer of Art

iBerkshires.com  reports DownStreet Art kicked off its 12th season of gallery openings, exhibits and performances Thursday.

The annual summer event is a prelude this year to the Solid Sound Festival at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art that opens on Friday. But while Wilco and the gang have the weekend, DownStreet Art continues with monthly events through the summer.

Local and regional artists have decked out Main Street storefronts for the occasion, and three locations will host simultaneous gallery openings downtown from 5 to 8 p.m.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Berkshire Cultural Resource Center coordinates the summer art festival.

Gallery openings include the Berkshire Art Museum's sixth year with the group show "Not Just Another Pretty Picture," "Dark Matter" and "Death of a Loved One," 1890s fashion from the collection of Greg Lafave, along with ongoing exhibitions from the permanent collection. Opening reception is from 6 to 9 with refreshments and appetizers from Meng's Pan-Asian.

MCLA Gallery 51 exhibits Jon Verney's "Burning at the Center of Things" through Aug. 24. Verney uses framed photographs, altered polaroids, light-boxes and video projection to embody his experimentation and embracing of chance.

Installation Space at 49 Eagle St. offers "Time-Link Present," an immersive and experiential installation by Studio HHH on view through Aug. 18.

And it's a last chance to see "Fused" at Ferrin Contemporary at 1315 Mass MoCA Way. The solo exhibit of "dimensional paintings" using clay by Philadelphia-based artist Lauren Mabry closes on June 30.

Two new galleries have also been added to the downtown scene: Gallery 28 on Holden Street and Robert Giardini on Wednesday was waiting for final approval to open at 70 Main St. Both pop-up galleries are exhibiting a range of artistic offerings and price points.