Multicultural BRIDGE’s ‘Berkshire Mosaic’ book release
Pittsfield — On Saturday, August 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Multicultural BRIDGE will present its Social Justice in Action campaign fundraiser featuring the release of “Berkshire Mosaic: a Multicultural BRIDGE Living History Project” at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts.
Author Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant, along with some of the book’s contributing writers and their interviewees, will be reading excerpts, sharing experiences and reflections, and answering questions as well as signing copies of the anthology. “In all of our fragmented pieces, some fuller than others, some shiny, some dulled over time, we make up an intricate piece of artwork. We each are part of a larger whole. This is what “Berkshire Mosaic” helps us remember and celebrate,” said Mrs. VanSant.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
–E.E.
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Fête des Fleurs at Berkshire Botanical Garden
Stockbridge — The Berkshire Botanical Garden will hold its annual Fête des Fleurs cocktail party on Saturday, August 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. during which it will honor its long-time relationship with the Lenox Garden Club. The flower arrangements and horticultural submissions for the Garden Club of America-sponsored Grow Show will be on display during the event.
The theme of the party is “water in the garden” and guests are encouraged to dress the part. Tickets start at $35 and are available online and by calling the Garden at (413) 298-3926.
–E.E.
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Rob Fisch’s Intentional Jazz at the Whit
Pittsfield — On August 8 at 7:30 p.m., the Whitney Center for the Arts will host Intentional Jazz, the brainchild of trumpeter Rob Fisch, which pays tribute to the heritage and roots of the hard bop-era jazz exemplified by Art Blakey, Cannonball Adderly, Charles Mingus, and others. Intentional Jazz offers a return to this rich tradition, complete with special sextet arrangements written for trumpet, sax, and trombone along with a traditional jazz rhythm section of piano, bass, and drums. This band features Rob Fisch on trumpet, Charlie Tokarz on sax, Alfred Brewer on trombone, David Bartley on piano, Jeff McRae on drums, and Otto Gardner on bass.
Tickets are $15 and are available online and by calling the Whit at (413) 443-0289.
–E.E.
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Bidwell House Museum history talk
Tyringham – On Saturday, August 8, author David M. Powers will give a talk on William Pynchon, the entrepreneur founder of Springfield, Massachusetts. Powers’ talk is part of the Bidwell House Museum History Talks series.
David Powers recently published the first book-length study of William Pynchon, entitled “Damnable Heresy: William Pynchon, the Indians, and the First Book Banned (and Burned) in Boston.” Powers tells Pynchon’s story by tracing the stages of his life beginning with his origins in England, his transatlantic crossing in 1630, his trek to Springfield, his forced return to England in 1652, and his end ten years later.
David Powers is a native of Springfield and a graduate of Carleton College and Harvard University. As an author he has focused particularly on researching and writing about early New England history.
The Bidwell House Museum History Talks are held at Tyringham Union Church, Main Road, Tyringham at 10 a.m. There is a suggested contribution of $15 for the general public and $10 for members of the museum.
For more information contact the Bidwell House Museum at 413-528-6888.
–E.E.
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Landscape art exhibit at Camphill Ghent
Chatham, N.Y. — Artist Christiane Marks will be on hand at an opening reception of her pastel and watercolor landscape exhibit August 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Breezeway Art Gallery at Camphill Ghent. The artist’s 2:30 p.m. talk about her work will be followed by refreshments.
The Copake Falls-based Marks is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has exhibited her small-format paintings in one-woman shows around the Northeast. She is a member of the Housatonic Valley Art League.
–E.E.
