Berkshire Museum to feature Daniel Brody
Pittsfield — The BerkshireNow gallery space at the Berkshire Museum will feature the work of award-winning filmmaker and artist Daniel Brody from Friday, June 3, through Sunday, August 21. A reception will be held on Friday, June 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in conjunction with Pittsfield’s First Fridays Artswalk, when the BerkshireNow gallery will be open to the public at no cost.
The centerpiece of Brody’s exhibition will be the nine-minute looping video “Game On/Game Over,” a playful but thought-provoking mash-up of animation and live action. “Game On/Game Over” won the juror’s award at the 2015 Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region exhibit held at the University of Albany Museum. Brody’s films have won awards at the Ann Arbor 8mm Film Festival, the Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Super 8, the Belgium Film Festival, the Spacebound Film Festival, and others. Brody’s drawings and paintings have been exhibited in venues such as the University at Albany Museum; the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, N.Y.; and the Saratoga Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Brooklyn, N.Y. native Brody graduated from the Cooper Union School of Art, worked in New York City as an architectural renderer, and moved to upstate New York in 2003 to continue his career as a freelancer. Brody currently resides in Columbia County, N.Y. with his wife, Alexandra, and has his studio in Pittsfield.
For more information, call the Museum at (413) 443-7171.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Bach Society’s 25th anniversary concert
Great Barrington – On Saturday, June 4, the Berkshire Bach Society will present its 25th anniversary spring choral concert at the First Congregational Church.
The Berkshire Bach Society will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the vibrant setting of Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” which, combining both choral and solo vocal sections, is a choral repertoire staple and has remained an audience favorite for centuries. The piece will be paired with Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra,” with violinist Helena Baillie and violist Marka Gustavsson joining the Bard Baroque Ensemble for the performance. Rounding out the program will be two shorter choral works by Mozart, Zelenka’s “Magnificat,” and a Bach piece. The program will be conducted by James Bagwell.
James Bagwell maintains an active international schedule as a conductor of choral, operatic, and orchestral music. He was most recently named associate conductor of the Orchestra Now and in 2009 was appointed principal guest conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra. From 2009-2015 he served as music director of the Collegiate Chorale, and has maintained a long-time relationship with the Berkshire Bach Society.
Tickets are and $50 and $30 for the general public, $45 and $25 for Berkshire Bach Society members, and free for children and students with ID. A meet-and-greet with the musicians will precede the concert at 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Berkshire Back Society at (413) 528-9555.
–E.E.
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Benjamin ‘Bernie’ Kukoff poetry reading
Spencertown, N.Y. — Spencertown Academy Arts Center will present a poetry reading by Benjamin “Bernie” Kukoff on Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m. An acclaimed film and television writer and producer, Kukoff will read from his debut poetry collection “What This Country Needs (Conflux Press, 2015).” Following the reading there will be a reception with light refreshments and Kukoff will sign copies of his book. The event is free and open to the public.
Benjamin “Bernie” Kukoff has written poetry for more than 21 years, working with Mary Stewart Hammond in her master class at the New York Writers Workshop. After graduating from the Yale Drama School, Kukoff acted off-Broadway with Second City and was in the founding company of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He later moved to Los Angeles where he spent 28 years creating, producing, and writing TV series, specials, and films. Kukoff and his wife, Lydia, share a 19th-century farmhouse in New York’s upper Hudson Valley.
For more information, call (518) 392-3693.
–E.E.
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Exchange of blessings with immigrant communities
Pittsfield — Berkshire Interfaith Organizing will join other organizing groups across the state in hosting an exchange of blessings with immigrant communities on Sunday, June 5. In Berkshire County, the event will be held in Park Square from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., with processions from local church congregations to the park at 1:00 p.m. The event will feature an exchange of blessings between the Berkshire County immigrant community and local faith groups along with sharing of stories and music. The exchange of blessings will serve as a celebration of everything that immigrants already contribute to communities, and as an opportunity to come together to support passage of the Safe Driving Act, which would remove immigration status as a barrier to obtaining a Massachusetts driver’s license.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Jeff Lowenstein at (413) 464-1804 or jeff.lowenstein@berkshireinterfaithorganizing.org.
–E.E.
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Craft workshops at the Bidwell House Museum
Monterey — The Bidwell House Museum will present a weekend program series dedicated to homesteading crafts and wilderness awareness. On Saturday, June 4, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., “Primitive Art Skills and Fire-Building” will teach participants to use natural materials to make their own inks, paints, and writing utensils. Participants will also assist in building and tending a fire while learning the architecture of successful fire-building. On Saturday, June 11, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., “Home Medicine from Herbal Gardens” will introduce the practice of harvesting and using herbs from the garden for health and illness. Participants will learn about traditional herbs cultivated at the Bidwell House Museum’s heirloom garden and guest presenter Atalanta Sunguroff of Wake Robin Botanicals will discuss various remedies and preparation techniques.
There is a fee of $10 for members, $15 for non-members for each workshop. Registration is open to all ages with an emphasis on young families. Advance reservations are necessary. For registration information and inquiries, contact bidwelleducation@gmail.com or (413) 528-6888.
–E.E.
