A painting by Donald Groscost will be featured in the Geoffrey Young Gallery's 'Black and Blue Plus Orange' exhibit.

Bits & Bytes: Fabergé lecture at Ventfort Hall; ‘Black and Blue Plus Orange;’ Olana’s Skyscape Series; the Josh needs volunteers; Williams faculty in scientific journal

The Josh Billings RunAground crosses five Berkshire County towns with a 27-mile bike ride; a 5-mile canoe, kayak, or paddleboard sprint; and a 6-mile run and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 18.

Archduke Dr. Géza von Habsburg to speak on Fabergé

Archduke Dr. Géza von Habsburg of Austria.
Archduke Dr. Géza von Habsburg of Austria.

Lenox — Archduke Dr. Géza von Habsburg of Austria, an internationally renowned authority and author on Fabergé, will present a lecture titled “Fabergé and the Russian Gilded Age” at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m.

Dr. von Habsburg began his career as Switzerland chairman of Christie, Manson & Woods auctioneers, overseeing offices throughout Europe. He later served as chairman (New York and Geneva) of Habsburg Fine Arts International Auctioneers. In 1994, he joined Fabergé as a consultant, spokesman and lecturer. Fluent in seven languages, he has authored nine and co-authored two books on Fabergé and related topics. In addition, he has been featured prominently in documentary films on Fabergé. He was also an associate professor at the New York School of Interior Design, Bard Graduate Center, and New York University.

The evening will also honor Museum supporters Lorraine Becker, Arthur Appelstein, Gerald Appelstein, and Claudia Perles. Following the lecture, balalaika player Elina Karokhina and guitarist/vocalist Mikhail Smirnov will perform traditional Russian folk music. The event committee has planned a gala Dinner à la Russe by SoMa Catering which will also follow the lecture.

Tickets for the event are $150 per person. Those planning to attend must RSVP by Monday, Sept. 5, as seating is limited. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Ventfort Hall at (413) 637-3206 or info@gildedage.org.

–E.E.

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Geoffrey Young Gallery’s ‘Black and Blue Plus Orange’

'Twinned' by Jen Hitchings.
‘Twinned’ by Jen Hitchings.

Great Barrington — The Geoffrey Young Gallery, 40 Railroad St., will present the exhibit “Black and Blue Plus Orange” Saturday, Sept. 3 – Friday, Sept. 30. “Black and Blue Plus Orange” centers around works of art that utilize the colors blue, orange, black and white. The exhibit features JoAnne Carson, Marnie Galloway, Mike Glier, Donald Groscost, Jen Hitchings, Warren Isensee, Sharon Ligorner, Ken RagsdaleErika Ranee, Andrew Small, Roxa Smith, Jane South, Barbara Takenaga, Sarah Walker, and Eric Wolf. The Gallery will hold an opening reception on Saturday, Sept. 3, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. For more information, call the Gallery at (413) 528-6210.

–E.E.

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Olana’s Skyscape Series to highlight Neptune

The Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association setting up telescopes at Olana in 2014. Photo: Sarah Hasbrook.
The Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association setting up telescopes at Olana in 2014. Photo: Sarah Hasbrook.

Hudson, N.Y. — Olana State Historic Site will continue its Skyscape Series on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. when it hosts the program “Neptune at Opposition.”

The evening will begin with a presentation of the currently observable night sky before moving out to the viewing field where members of the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will be present with telescopes to view the moon, stars, and stellar clusters and to point out other features.

The cost of the program is $5 for Olana members and $10 for nonmembers. Participants are welcome to bring binoculars and a red flashlight. For more information or to register, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call Olana’s education department at (518) 828-1872 x105.

–E.E.

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Josh Billings RunAground requests volunteers

Pittsfield — The Josh Billings RunAground will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. The annual triathlon crosses five Berkshire County towns with a 27-mile bike ride; a 5-mile canoe, kayak, or paddleboard sprint; and a 6-mile run and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 18. The race will begin at the Price Chopper plaza in Great Barrington and end at Tanglewood in Lenox. Teams as well as ironpersons are encouraged to participate and can register online. Organizers are also asking for the help of volunteers to help support the event. For more information, contact (413) 344-7919 or patty@joshbillings.com. Proceeds from the RunAground will benefit the Berkshire United Way.

–E.E.

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Williams College featured in scientific journal

Jay Pasachoff.
Jay Pasachoff.

Williamstown — Williams College professor Jay Pasachoff, Fulbright visitor to Williams College Marcos Peñaloza-Murillo, alumna Allison Carter ’16, and University of Michigan postdoctoral student Michael Roman contributed an article to the upcoming theme issue of the scientific journal Philosophical Transactions. The issue, entitled “Atmospheric effects of solar eclipses stimulated by the 2015 UK eclipse,” includes the article “Terrestrial atmospheric responses on Svalbard to the 20 March 2015 Arctic total solar eclipse under extreme conditions” by Pasachoff, Peñaloza-Murillo, Roman and Carter. Pasachoff and Carter were participating in an expedition to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard during the eclipse and measured the effects of dimming sunlight on temperature and pressure. The issue will carry the publication date of September 28, 2016.

–E.E.