“Flights of Fancy” opens season at Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Leonhardt Galleries
STOCKBRIDGE — Berkshire Botanical Garden (BBG) will open its 87th season on May 1 with a gallery exhibition, “Flights of Fancy: The Botanical and Bejeweled Universe of Mindy Lam,” on display in its Center House Leonhardt Galleries. An opening reception is scheduled from 5–7 p.m. on May 1, and the exhibit runs through June 6.
For her Berkshire Botanical Garden exhibition, Lam has created a special series of her signature jewelry. She spins 14k gold, copper, or stainless-steel wire around bejeweled and vintage flowers, animals, bugs, and birds, with accents of crystals and semi-precious stones. Lam’s Homme line of lapel pins for men are sought after and collected by men and women alike. Her jewelry was a favorite at luxury clothier Henri Bendel in Manhattan and has been featured in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Vogue, Elle, and Glamour magazines; and on the fashion runway.
For this exhibit, the Leonhardt Galleries will be transformed into a magical fairyland, with Lam’s unique adornments staged throughout. One room will feature the Homme Couture Collection, another will host the installation of a manmade ornamented garden containing nearly 500 Mindy Lam Classic original brooches, earrings, and a lariat come to life. The Wedding Room will feature Lam’s signature metal lace gown, a wearable sculpture originating with a single, delicate thread of wire. This gallery will also showcase her couture collection, designed for once-in-a-lifetime events. All pieces will be available for purchase.
During the exhibit, the artist has extended sales on her website to support the Garden’s horticulture and education programs.
This exhibition opens the ART/GARDEN season “Taking Flight,” with flight-inspired events, exhibitions, and family activities running through October 31. Berkshire Botanical Garden is open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Timed ticketing is required.
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—A.K.
Honorees chosen for 2021 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards
GREAT BARRINGTON – The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC), in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, has announced the names of 8 honorees who will receive recognition at the 4th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards on May 18. The Awards recognize the accomplishments and dedication of the people who work in the local nonprofit sector.
A panel of 18 judges from the business and nonprofit sectors chose one honoree in each of 8 categories, from among 98 nominations. The honorees are: Z Estime/Railroad Street Youth Project (Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership Award); Gabrielle Senza/Walk Unafraid Foundation (Unsung Hero Award); América López/Berkshire Interfaith Organizing, VIM Berkshires, Liderazgo Inmigrante, and Latinas413 (Volunteer Award); Patti Messina/Northern Berkshire United Way (Super Staffer Award); Michelle Lopez/Berkshire Immigrant Center (Rising Star Award); Marita Glodt/Barrington Stage Company (Board Leadership Award); Janis Broderick/Elizabeth Freeman Center (Executive Leadership Award); and Dennis Powell/NAACP, Clinton Church Restoration (Lifetime Achievement Award).
“The sheer number of excellent nominations made inspiring but tough work for the judges,” said NPC Executive Director Liana Toscanini. “Nonprofit folks all stepped up to meet a myriad of challenges during this pandemic. They all deserve to be honored and thanked for their commitment and resilience.”
On May 18, Massachusetts State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli will emcee a 45-minute virtual event featuring a presentation to the honorees, a tribute to all Berkshire healthcare workers, entertainment by Music in Common, and a drawing for a $3,000 cash prize for one nonprofit in attendance.
The event is free and open to the public thanks to sponsors Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Berkshire United Way, Black Rock Foundation/Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, Fitzpatrick Trust, JPMorgan Chase, Lamar Advertising Company, Lee Bank, and Salisbury Bank.
Register to attend the Awards online or call (413) 441-9542.
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—A.K.
Emmy-nominated writer and producer to discuss making a TV show
WILLIAMSTOWN — Michael Sardo, Williams College alumnus and Emmy-nominated writer and executive producer, will give an online talk titled Every Single Job in Television, Explained. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m.
In his talk, Sardo will use a screenshot of a single frame of a pilot television episode to illustrate the various roles, steps, and questions — ranging from pitching ideas to selecting a director and cast to budgets and editing — that are involved in making a show.
This lecture is sponsored by the English Department and The Class of 1960s Scholars.
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—A.K.
Pops Peterson Artist Talk: The making of a protest artist
STOCKBRIDGE — On Thursday, April 15, IS183 Art School will host Pops Peterson’s Artist Talk: The Making of a Protest Artist, via Zoom. The ticket levels for this event include a signed poster and private tour of “Reinventing Rockwell” at the Norman Rockwell Museum to raise money for IS183 and The Pops Peterson Scholarship Fund.
The Fund enables young students to empower the magic in their own hearts through the visual arts. Eligible recipients must be ages 5–19 with demonstrated financial need. Scholarships may be applied to year-round programming, including adult studio classes (open to artists ages 14+).
In his talk, Peterson will examine the reasons why select historic artists were prompted to devote their work to activism and discuss his own personal journey from landscape and portrait painting to activist art.
Sign up for this talk on the IS183 website, where you will find several ticket options:
$10 — Entry: Artist talk + Q&A + recording
$25 — Level 1: Everything above + donation to the Pops Peterson Scholarship Fund
$75 — Level 2: Everything above + signed poster
$250 — Level 3: Everything above + private tour for 2 of “Pops Peterson: Rockwell Revisited”
Nationally known for his award-winning painting series “Reinventing Rockwell,” currently on view at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Peterson has been featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” and in The New York Times and The Boston Globe. As an artist, Peterson says, “When people look at me and see me, I want them to know that any emotion I instill, any joy or sorrow that they find in my work, it is something that sits inside of everybody.”
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—A.K.
Tree-planting workshop
GREAT BARRINGTON — To celebrate Arbor Day, the Great Barrington Historical Society will present a tree-planting and maintenance workshop with Arborist Tom Ingersoll, on Saturday, April 17 at 9 a.m., at the Historical Society Museum Grounds at 817 South Main Street. Ingersoll will demonstrate how to properly plant a tree to ensure a healthy start, and how to care for your mature trees.
Tom Ingersoll is the owner of Ingersoll Land Care, an ISA and Massachusetts Certified Arborist, a member of the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association, and a member of the Board of Trustees at the Berkshire Botanical Garden.
This is an outdoor event and participation is free. Contact the Great Barrington Historical Society at 413-591-8702 to reserve your spot. The rain date will be Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m. Mask wearing and social distancing will be practiced.
—A.K.
