New hires for area schools

NORTH ADAMS – Interdisciplinary artist, musician and performer C. Ryder Cooley can add a new title to that list: manager of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) Gallery 51.

A working artist for more than 20 years, Ms. Cooley has performed at the college and in downtown North Adams for several years at a wide variety of events, including “MCLA Presents!” and DownStreet Art.

“I feel like I already belong here, having participated in residencies at the Beaver Mill, exhibits at MCLA Gallery 51, the Tricks of the Trade series, and performing for MCLA Presents and at events for DownStreet Art,” she said.

A resident of Hudson, N.Y., Ms. Cooley plans to relocate to North Adams, and her first show as manager, “100 Hours in the Woodshed IV,” will come to downtown North Adams galleries tonight (Jan. 24), beginning with a free meet the artists event from 5-7 p.m. at MCLA Gallery 51.

“My relationship to the region stretches back to 2005, when I exhibited at the CAC in Beaver Mill for the first time,” she said. “This community has always felt like a second home to me, and I’m very excited to become more involved.”

She has also curated community exhibits at the San Francisco Public Library and taught youth programs at Time and Space Limited in Hudson.

“I’ll also be drawing from the pool of artists that I know in the Hudson Valley, the New York Capital District, San Francisco Bay Area and New York/Brooklyn areas,” Ms. Cooley said. “I hope to have some shows that will respond to themes of ecology, identity/queerness, as well as performance/installation documentation artifacts and residue.”

Miss Hall’s marketing director

Meanwhile, Lisa Lewis, a Pittsfield resident, has been hired as director of marketing for Miss Hall’s School. She will oversee the development implementation and monitoring of the school’s marketing communications, including new media strategies, public relations and advertising.

“We are very pleased to have Lisa join MHS,” said Chief Advancement Officer Janis Martinson.

The Pittsfield school hopes Ms. Lewis’ efforts will allow for greater collaboration among the MHS admission, development and publications offices.

“All of us at the school know that preparing girls for college and lives of great purpose beyond college is important and meaningful work, and adding Lisa to our award-winning communications team will move us that much further as we continue informing the broader community about the Miss Hall’s mission,” Ms. Martinson added.

Ms. Lewis’ prior job titles include director of communications at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge (2005-2012) and director of marketing at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. Outside of The Berkshires, she has held positions with the San Francisco Health Plan and the California College of Podiatric Medicine (both in San Francisco), in addition to experience at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on January 24, 2013. Filed under Arts and Entertainment,Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry