Kiwanis Club awards scholarships
Sheffield — The Kiwanis Club of Sheffield awarded $28,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Monument Mountain Regional High School, Mount Everett Regional High School, and Berkshire School at the Club’s annual scholarship picnic at the Sheffield Town Park on June 7. Scholarships were also awarded to prior awardees continuing their college educations.
Scholarships were awarded to Jessica Abbott, Shane Biernacki, Graham Collopy, Vaughn Collopy, Conaway Damontti, Forest Davis-Hollander, Sarah Deming, Ava Garrett, Sanuel Hess, Nicole Keefner, Ella Long, Bradley Lupiani, Justin Makuc, Claudia Martin, Isabel Morley, Noemi Ogaz, Mary Elyse Parsons, Evan Peretti, John Ryan, Lauren Scapin, Sean Smith, Parker Snyder, Russell Swartz, Samantha Twing, Brittany Walsh, Brialyn Wells, Taylor Willi, and Chad Wilson.
–E.E.
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Connecticut State Troubadour to perform at Hotchkiss School
Lakeville, Conn. — The Independent School Gender Conference will present folk-pop singer Kristen Graves at the Hotchkiss School on Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m.
Kristen Graves is a singer-songwriter and humanitarian from Fairfield, Conn. As the Connecticut State Troubadour from 2013 – 2015, Graves served as an ambassador of music and song, promoting cultural literacy. Gov. Dannel Malloy proclaimed December 15, 2015 “Kristen Graves Day” in recognition of her music and activism, and encouraged all citizens to spend the day in recognition of the arts, compassion, and social justice. Graves plays nearly 200 shows per year and has six albums and two EPs to her credit. In addition to her touring and recording schedule, she works with humanitarian organizations whose work she admires.
The concert is open to the public with a suggested donation of $10 for men and $7.80 for women (in recognition of the current gender pay gap in the United States). For more information, call (860) 435-2591.
–E.E.
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Second annual William Selke Memorial Lecture
Stockbridge — Warren D. Allmon, director of the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) in Ithaca, N.Y. and the Hunter R. Rawlings III Professor of Paleontology in the department of earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell University, will deliver the second annual William Selke Memorial Lecture on Saturday, June 18, at 4 p.m. at the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives. Dr. Allmon’s topic will be “How Paleontology Can Help Save the World.”
Warren D. Allmon earned his A.B. in earth sciences from Dartmouth College in 1982, and his Ph.D. in earth and planetary sciences from Harvard University in 1988. For four years he was assistant professor of geology at the University of South Florida-Tampa and became PRI’s fourth Director in 1992. Since 1992 he has been instrumental in rejuvenating PRI’s internationally-known fossil collections; starting its local, regional, and national programs in Earth science education; and planning and fundraising for its Museum of the Earth. Allmon is the author of more than 250 technical and popular publications. He is a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the Paleontological Society, and the recipient of the 2004 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Understanding of Geoscience from the American Geological Institute.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call the Library at (413) 298-5501.
–E.E.
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‘EXPOSED: Heads, Busts, and Nudes’ at Ferrin Contemporary
North Adams — Ferrin Contemporary will present “EXPOSED: Heads, Busts, and Nudes,” an exhibition of figural ceramic sculpture from 1970 to the present, from Saturday, June 18, through Sunday, August 7. An opening reception will take place on Saturday, June 18, from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
“EXPOSED: Heads, Busts, and Nudes” features American and British sculptors exploring themes that range from social realism to otherworldly surrealism to abstraction of form. Responding to a renewed and growing public interest in realism, the show offers an opportunity to view important works by three generations and showcases masterworks made by living artists at mid-career. The artists in the project include Robert Arneson, Rudy Autio, Beth Cavener, Cristina Córdova, Claire Curneen, Stephen Dixon, Jack Earl, Edward Eberle, Philip Eglin, Viola Frey, Alessandro Gallo, Jeanclos George, Gerit Grimm, Sergei Isupov, Doug Jeck, Michael Lucero, Kadri Pärnamets, Esther Shimazu, Mara Superior, Akio Takamori, Tip Toland, Jason Walker, Patti Warashina, and Beatrice Wood.
For more information, contact Ferrin Contemporary at (413) 346-4004 or info@ferrincontemporary.com.
–E.E.
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Helsinki Hudson to present Hedda Lettuce
Hudson, N.Y. — Hedda Lettuce, the self-described “world’s first and premiere eco-friendly drag queen,” will bring her gay cabaret – featuring her blend of poised characters, startling satire, and original music – to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, June 18, at 8 p.m. as part of the weekend’s Hudson Pride celebration.
Hedda Lettuce (aka Steven Polito) is a six-time Drag Queen of the Year Award-winner from HX Magazine. She has appeared with the likes of Tyra Banks, Madonna, and Sarah Jessica Parker on such TV shows as “Project Runway,” “Sex and the City,” the “Tyra Banks Show” and “Ugly Betty,” as well as at such New York City venues as Carolines on Broadway and the Metropolitan Room. Hedda Lettuce studied fashion illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and was awarded the Antonio Lopez Award for her artistic efforts.
For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar call the Club at (518) 828-4800.
–E.E.
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Anna-Marie Holmes to speak on dance
Sandisfield — Emmy award-winning choreographer, artistic director, master teacher, and celebrated ballerina Anna-Marie Holmes will appear in a special presentation at the Sandisfield Arts Center on Sunday, June 19 at 2 p.m.
Anna-Marie Holmes is a recipient of the prestigious Dance Magazine Award and an Emmy Award for her staging of “Le Corsaire” for the American Ballet Theatre on PBS’ “Great Performances.” She served as ballet program director for 16 seasons at Jacob’s Pillow. In her presentation, Holmes will give an inside view of the world of dance, leading the audience on her journey from young girl to prima ballerina. She will provide insight on what directors look for in young dancers today. Two dancers from the Jacob’s Pillow Ballet Program will demonstrate basic steps. Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau will provide accompaniment in order to show how important music is to dance.
Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for students, with a 50% discount for dance class groups. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact the Sanidsfield Arts Center at (413) 258-4100 or info@sandisfieldartscenter.org.
–E.E.
