Hunt Library to host exhibit by painter Robert Cronin
FALLS VILLAGE, Conn. — Beginning Friday, March 18, the David M. Hunt Library will host an exhibition of figurative paintings by Robert Cronin. A reception will be held Saturday, April 2 from 3–5 p.m. The exhibit will be on display at the library during operating hours through Friday, May 6, and may also be seen online beginning March 18, where works can be reserved for purchase.
About four years ago, Cronin, just before falling asleep at night in his home studio in Falls Village, found himself doing small line drawings in pencil on 8 x 6″ pads of Fabriano paper. Only one per night, sometimes in using only one continuous line. From these simple line drawings, only a select few would be considered good enough for scaling up with absolutely no corrections in proportions or details, to canvases in which form and color would come to celebrate these images. This exhibition represents only these results.
Robert Cronin received his degrees at RISD and Cornell University and has taught at Bennington College and Brown University. His work is in the permanent collections of major museums including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the National Academy Museum (New York), the Carnegie Museum of Art (Pittsburgh), and the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston).
—A.K.
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BEAT to host winter tree ID walk at Springside Park
PITTSFIELD — On Saturday, March 19 at 10 a.m., Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) will lead a winter tree identification walk at Springside Park in Pittsfield. Winter is an excellent time for learning tree and shrub identification. The absence of leaves allows a closer look at features that often get hidden, such as buds, bark, and tree structure.
Join BEAT on a leisurely 2-mile walk that will take a maximum of two hours. Anyone is welcome to join, but the number of participants is limited. If you would like to join, email Chelsey at chelsey@thebeatnews.org.
—A.K.
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BerkShares mobile app gets virtual launch March 21 from the Mahaiwe
GREAT BARRINGTON — The launch of digital BerkShares will be broadcast live from the Mahaiwe on Monday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. See the public debut of the new BerkShares app, hear from area small businesses owners, artists influenced by the Berkshires, and the local currency team members. Viewers will also be able to participate in local trivia for a chance to win BerkShares-themed prizes.
When BerkShares was first launched 15 years ago, the occasion was celebrated at the Mahaiwe to much fanfare, so it’s only fitting to return to this venue to ring in digital BerkShares. Just as in 2006, State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli will serve as the event’s emcee. Register through the Mahaiwe to reserve your spot.
The BerkShares mobile app will provide a convenient, community-minded way to buy and sell local by scanning your mobile phone or tablet. Digital BerkShares will make scan-to-pay easy and cost-effective for the region’s businesses while keeping more wealth local. Digital BerkShares are backed one-to-one with U.S. dollars.
The virtual event will also introduce the new book “Follow the Money,” a printed collection of the entire BerkShares Business of the Month series to date. The book brings together the special stories of area business owners, farmers, and community practitioners who make the Berkshires such a vibrant place to work and live. The introduction is provided by renowned environmental activist Bill McKibben. The book will be available to purchase at Shaker Mill Books in West Stockbridge and The Bookstore in Lenox for B$20 in the coming weeks.
—A.K.
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BFAIR, Greylock Federal Credit Union promote brain injury awareness
NORTH ADAMS — BFAIR and Greylock Federal Credit Union have joined together during the month of March, which National Brain Injury Awareness Month, to distribute bike helmets to the community.
In the United States, more than 5.3 million children and adults have a brain injury. That is about 1 in 60. Acquired brain injuries (ABI) are those that happen after birth and can result in physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive impairments. The primary causes of ABI are trauma, stroke, tumors, degenerative diseases, alcohol and other toxins, and lack of oxygen to the brain.
With support from presenting sponsor Greylock Federal Credit Union, BFAIR will distribute bike helmets to promote brain health and safety.
“We will be sharing brain injury prevention tips during the month of March on our social media,” said BFAIR Fundraising & Grants Manager Tara Jacobsen. “We are also collaborating with the Brain Injury Association of MA on a project called Unmasking Brain Injury. Residents of BFAIR’s ABI homes will have an opportunity to create a mask that shares their own personal story of living with a brain injury to be displayed by the Association.”
—A.K.
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Simon’s Rock welcomed to semester abroad program in Montserrat
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Montserrat Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports welcomed students and faculty from Bard College at Simon’s Rock as part of the first cohort of 12 students, four faculty/staff in residence, and four visiting faculty to spend a full semester studying on the island.
The Montserrat Semester Abroad program is the first semester-long program by Simon’s Rock on the island, although the college has led service-learning programs in Montserrat since 2014. The program’s multidisciplinary curriculum offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of social and environmental issues on a small island that has suffered significant ecological and social disruption over the past 30 years. All students enroll in three required courses in Environment and Sustainability, Anthropology: Life Histories, and Service Learning: In Praxis, in addition to elective courses for a total of 15–18 credits.
Students will engage with the Montserratian community through working with local government, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and educational institutions. Specific opportunities include working with Montserrat National Trust Archives, Montserrat Botanical Garden, The Farm Project, and the Mountain Chicken Restoration Project.
The students and faculty will be abroad in Montserrat for the duration of the spring semester, until May 2022.
—A.K.
