Berkshire Botanical Garden to feature artwork by Hunt Slonem
STOCKBRIDGE — “Hunt Country,” a comprehensive installation of Hunt Slonem’s signature paintings of bunnies, butterflies, tropical birds and orchids, will run from May 7–June 5, in Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Leonhardt Galleries. An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7.
Through his paintings, sculptures, and printmaking, Slonem celebrates his subjects as hallowed forces of nature. Speaking of his work in his book “When Art Meets Design,” he wrote, “I’m endlessly mesmerized by patterns in nature, which is why I use so much repetition, just as in nature there is repetition in blades of grass, the leaves of trees, and feathers of birds.”
A collector and curator of objects, Slonem embraces a practice he calls “collectorating.” Works in this installation will showcase this practice, including his use of antique frames that embellish his work and become part of the piece.
An American Neo-Expressionist artist, Slonem has had more than 350 exhibitions at prestigious galleries and museums internationally, dating back to 1977. His work is in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, to name a few.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily Admission to the galleries is free with Garden admission.
—A.K.
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“Back to School in West Stockbridge” talk rescheduled for April 29
WEST STOCKBRIDGE — The West Stockbridge Historical Society program “Back to School in West Stockbridge,” postponed from February, will take place Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. in the Town Offices gym at 21 State Line Road.
This event will celebrate the history of the Village School. You can participate by offering your personal memories or simply enjoy listening to those of former teachers and students. Group class pictures from throughout the years will be displayed, along with photos, slides, and videos of special events and activities. Also on view will be the bicentennial quilt made by Barbara Louison’s class of 1974 and pictures of the children who created it.
If you have school memorabilia you would like included in the program, please call Jill Pixley at 413-232-4347 or email jillpixley@hotmail.com.
—A.K.
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Author Carolyn Brancato to discuss historical novel at Lenox Library
LENOX — The Lenox Library will host Carolyn Kay Brancato, author of “The Night Belongs to the Maquis: A World War II Novel,” in conversation with Bill Everhart, on Tuesday, May 3 at 3 p.m. This program will be held in person, as well as on Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of The Bookstore.
In “The Night Belongs to the Maquis,” Brancato weaves a tale of courage by ordinary people who rise to face the evil of Nazi occupation. Set in the small village of Foix, in Southern France, the novel follows the journey of the Maquis, a band of resistance fighters shepherding Allied pilots to safety across the mountains.
While a work of fiction, Brancato based many events in the novel on personal interviews she conducted with three members of the French Resistance. One was the leader of the circuit that escorted 500 Allied pilots over the Pyrénées and into Spain. He was captured by the Gestapo, tortured by Klaus Barbie, and personally gave Brancato his deposition in the Barbie trial in Lyon, asking her to please tell the story of his compatriots.
Brancato has worked as a theater director and playwright, and her plays have been mounted at Steppenwolf in Chicago and the John Houseman Theatre in NYC. She earned her BA from Barnard College and her PhD from NYU. She and her husband were among the founders of The Guild of Berkshire Artists.
—A.K.
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Mid-day Music and Meditation at Salisbury UCC to be held May 6
SALISBURY, Conn. — The Congregational Church of Salisbury, UCC will present its monthly Mid-day Music and Meditation on Friday, May 6 from 12–12:30 p.m. The Meeting House doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and attendance will be restricted to one-half capacity. Audience members will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Masks are optional.
For this musical meditation, the church’s Music Director, Dr. Samuel Lord Kalcheim, will present a half hour of organ and instrumental works. Free to the public, Dr. Kalcheim’s musical gift provides a time of reflection surrounded by inspiring, soul-nourishing classical repertory.
For more information, please contact the church office at 860-435-2442.
—A.K.
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Noble Horizons Art Gallery reopening May 6 with reception
SALISBURY, Conn. — The Noble Horizons senior living community announces the reopening of its art gallery with an exhibit of works donated by Tino and Susan Galluzzo, former owners of the White Gallery in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Inspired by Noble Horizons art shows of the past, Susan and Tino wished to enhance the lives of those who live and work there with special pieces from their collection. “Art is like medicine in so many ways — it has a healing effect on those who appreciate it,” said Tino.
The diverse collection includes works by Andrew Wyeth, Mitche Kunzman, Gerard Saladyga, Dennis Whalen, Cindy Kulp, and several others. Meet the Galluzzos and enjoy wine and appetizers at a free opening reception, Friday, May 6 from 5–7 p.m. No registration is required.
The gallery is open weekends through July 10, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
—A.K.
