Jacob’s Pillow presents ‘Lighting the Fire at the Eastern Woodlands Homesite’ with Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. and Nazario TallHairRedDeer Garate
Becket— On August 20th from noon to 1:30 p.m., Jacob’s Pillow presents “Lighting the Fire at the Eastern Woodlands Homesite” with Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. (Creative Director of No Loose Braids) and Nazario TallHairRedDeer Garate, to hold space together honoring tradition and preserving culture to learn about Eastern Woodlands culture, land use, and living presence through exploration of a traditional Nipmuc homesite located in Jacob’s Garden at Jacob’s Pillow.
Built by Nipmuc citizens Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. and Nazario TallHairRedDeer Garate, this homesite brings Eastern Woodlands peoples and the public together to highlight urgent issues of access, health, and the sustainability of cedar swamps in the Eastern Woodlands. The structures of the site are crafted from cedar trees harvested from Douglas State Forest and are centered around the hearth, where Gaines led the burning of a miniature mishoon (an example of a dugout canoe) over three days in May 2022. The homesite includes a traditional fishnet station, a tripod, and fish cookstation, fleshing and stretching poles used to process deer skin into hides, a deer hide rack, a large double tripod cooksite, and a miniature mishoon.
“Our people have kept a lot, but we’ve lost a lot as well. It’s really become our purpose, our mission, to have cultural revitalization and cultural preservation. One of those ways we do that is continuously building sites like this. Building traditional wetus, burning out traditional mishoons (dugout canoes), brain tanning skins, and doing all these things that we did traditionally, so that these things don’t get lost.” – Strongbearheart Gaines Jr.
The interactive talk will be on August 20th from noon to 1:30 p.m., in Jacob’s Garden at Jacob’s Pillow on George Carter Road in Becket. All are welcome to witness the making of a fire, the cooking of food, and continued work on the fishnet. Traditional hand games will be played, traditional meals will be prepared, and old social songs will be sung. This event is free and open to all. Register online.
Jacob’s Pillow is committed to creating accessible spaces and experiences. Please contact community@jacobspillow.org with accessibility questions or accommodation requests.
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The Sheffield Historical Society hosts their 13th annual Elizabeth Freeman Celebration Day
Sheffield— On Sunday, August 20th, the Sheffield Historical Society hosts their annual Elizabeth Freeman Celebration Day on the anniversary of her court case where she gained her freedom from slavery.
The events start at 9 a.m. with the 13th Annual “Elizabeth Freeman Walk to Freedom” leaving from the Ashley House at 117 Cooper Hill Raid in Ashley Falls. At 10:30 a.m., there is a brief talk at the “Elizabeth Freeman & Shays’ Rebellion” exhibit in the Old Stone Store at 137 Main Street in Sheffield. The Elizabeth Freeman Essay Award Ceremony is scheduled for the afternoon, details to be announced.
At 4 p.m., the day culminates with a performance of “Meet Elizabeth Freeman” a play by Teresa Miller at the First Congregational Church of Sheffield at 125 Main Street in Sheffield, followed by a reception. Wanda Houston will be reprising her role as Elizabeth Freeman, with music by Maggie McRae.
The event is on Sunday, August 20th beginning at 9 a.m. More information and play tickets can be found online. Play tickets are free for everyone.
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The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum will open their new exhibit “Hand in Hand” to celebrate Women’s Equality Day
Adams— On Thursday, August 24th, the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum will open their new exhibit “Hand in Hand” to celebrate Women’s Equality Day.
The opening celebrates August 26, 1920, the day the US Secretary of State certified the 19th Amendment, giving women in the United States, from Maine to California, the national constitutional right to vote.
“On this day, over a century later, we recognize the women who led the charge to glorious victory, Susan Brownell Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton,” said Carol Crossed, Birthplace Museum President. “Their mutual leadership, their dependence on one another, and the value they placed on collaboration are portrayed in this clasped rendering of their affection for one another in their struggle to win for women the right to vote.”
The cast is one of only four made by Anthony and Stanton and gifted nearly 128 years ago to significant Anthony and Stanton family members and friends. Besides the plaster cast, the exhibit features Anthony’s personal bank book and a letter penned by Anthony to her nephew Luther ‘Bert’ Anthony. In it, Susan advises her nephew in his career and offers sound, critical advice in an honest but affectionate tone, showing she was a loving and supportive aunt.
Items displayed in the exhibit were graciously donated on permanent loan by Nora Sabo, daughter of Charlotte Anthony Sabo and granddaughter of Susan B. Anthony’s favorite nephew, Bert Anthony. Susan’s great-niece Charlotte had a career as a voice teacher, songwriter, and folksinger, joining union organizers with her second husband Van Tyne. Known as Charlotte Anthony, she traveled the country performing with legendary singers of the era including Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, and Pete Seeger. She died in 2015 at the age of 97.
The “Hand in Hand” exhibit will be open to the public through the fall season at the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum on East Road in Adams. More information can be found online or by calling 413-743-7121.
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Gail Gelburd’s ‘Personification of Nature’ featured at the Becket Art Center
Becket— From August 24th through September 11th, the Becket Arts Center presents Gail Gelburd’s “Personification of Nature”.
Gail Gelburd, an Otis artist, will be featured at the upcoming exhibition “IMPRESS” at the Becket Art Center. Gelburd will be displaying more than 20 major works of art that are a part of her series entitled “The Personification of Nature”. She has stated that, “The majesty of our environment may sometimes be missed while the destruction of nature may also seem insignificant. But we are all connected, like the roots of trees, the stream of water, we grow together; we do need each other to exist.…My art layers the trees and waterfalls, streams, and sunlight with the human spirit and form, so that we might appreciate this interconnectedness.”
Gelburd’s process is as layered as her concepts. Using archival digital photographs, encaustic paints, sometimes wood and fiberglass, Gelburd’s artworks can be two or three dimensional. She always starts with photographs of nature, be it of the Berkshires, India, Africa, or Greece. Most of the works in this exhibition feature waterfalls and rivers from the Berkshires. The two-dimensional works are photo collages with encaustic paint while the three-dimensional works are photographs printed on fabric and then molded into humanoid forms. Many of the works include drawings of figures and faces hidden into the art. “This personification of nature”, said Gelburd, “seeks to visualize and remind us that we are our environment.”
Gail Gelburd has exhibited throughout the United States as well as in India, Australia, Greece, and Barbados. She has received numerous awards and grants for travel to photograph in India, Japan, Nepal, China, Tibet, and Greece.
The show runs August 24th through September 11th at the Becket Arts Center on Brooker Hill Road in becket. The exhibit may be viewed from noon to 4 p.m. There is an artist reception on Saturday, August 26th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. which is free and open to the public. More information can be found online.
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Chesterwood hosts a free public presentation of the recreation of the ‘Notre-Dame de Paris Rooster’
Stockbridge— On Thursday, August 24th at 4 p.m., Chesterwood hosts a free public presentation of the recreation of the “Notre-Dame de Paris Rooster”.
Chesterwood, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announces a collaboration with Handshouse Studio to hold a weeklong workshop to investigate the traditional process of fabricating a replica of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral’s copper rooster weathervane dating from 1860, that once stood at the top of the 315-foot spire and was subsequently damaged beyond repair during the devastating fire of 2019. Educational materials and drawings will be on display as well as a large-scale wooden model of the roof structure above the cathedral’s choir.
The public is invited to visit with the faculty and students of the workshop while in progress from Wednesday, August 23rd to Friday, August 25th, as well as attend a free public presentation on Thursday, August 24th at 4 p.m. at Chesterwood on Williamsville Road in Stockbridge. Chesterwood is open every day, except Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The presentation is free with admission. Admission is $20. Children under 13 and members are admitted free and discounts are available for military, seniors, EBT Card to Culture holders and members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Tickets and more information can be found online, in person, or by calling 413-298-2023.
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Dotties’ Coffee Lounge presents Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes celebrating 52 years of magic
Pittsfield— On Friday, August 18th at 11 a.m., Dotties’ Coffee Lounge presents Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes celebrating 52 years of magic with a charming and enchanting performance of “Sleeping Beauty”.
The free performance is on Friday, August 18th at 11 a.m. on the side patio (Maplewood Street side) of Dottie’s Coffee Lounge on North Street. In case of uncovering weather, the performance is moved indoors. Daily specials, the full menu, and the coffee bar are available until 2 p.m. More information can be found online.
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31st annual ‘Stockbridge Summer Arts and Crafts Show’
Stockbridge— On Saturday August 19th and Sunday, August 20th, the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce presents the 31st annual “Stockbridge Summer Arts and Crafts Show”.
Stockbridge, blessed with internationally renowned summer festivals of music, theater, dance, major art museums, and historic homes, brings hundreds of thousands of art and craft lovers to visit the most famous Main Street in America, as painted by Norman Rockwell.
Over 75 jury-selected artists and crafters will display their work ranging from paintings to ceramics, fiber-ware to jewelry, sculpture to photography including whimsical wearable art of original hand-painting on silk, vivid watercolors, hand-forged, one of a kind furniture and sculpture made of iron and wood, handcrafted dark bamboo flutes and walking sticks, unique handcrafted jewelry, stunning batik art, textural paintings, handmade pottery, and unique infant and children’s hand-painted wearable art made from eco-friendly dyes and cuddly natural cottons.
Berkshire Mountain Gourmet/Seven Barrels offers 25-year barrel aged balsamic vinegars and infused oils and Great Cape Baking Company will offer hand cut cider donuts, gourmet breads, sandwiches, french fries, and beverages.
The event is on Saturday August 19th and Sunday, August 20th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days on the grounds of the Town Offices and Bidwell Park on Main Street in Stockbridge. This event is free and open to the public. More information can be found online or by calling 413-298-5200.
