Marketplace Café Pittsfield presents photography by Monika Pizzichemi
Pittsfield— Now through December 30th, Marketplace Café Pittsfield presents “They Dance for Rain,” photography by Monika Pizzichemi.
Pizzichemi’s latest photographic project documents yearly tap dance workshops taught to children and adults in the underserved slum communities of Nairobi, Kenya, created by action-based dance artist Stefanie Weber, a frequent collaborator.
Pizzichemi is an arts administrator, educator and multi-media artist working in photography, mixed media assemblage, and performance. Monika currently works as the Director of The Wit Gallery in Lenox and is the co-owner of Empty Set Projects along with her husband, Michael McKay, in Pittsfield. She is the former director of the North Street Arts Collaborative.
The exhibit runs now through December 30th at the Marketplace Café, located at 53 North Street in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art presents ‘Free to Be…You and Me: 50 Years of Stories and Songs’
Amherst— From November 16th though April 6th, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art presents the first exhibition about the transformative power of “Free to Be… You and Me,” a cultural force that inspired generations of children and families, exploring the profound societal impact and enduring legacy of the groundbreaking 1972 record and 1974 book, as well as the multifaceted project’s evolution through subsequent picture books and TV specials.
The exhibition celebrates actress Marlo Thomas’s radical project on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1974 book. Among the approximately 60 objects on view are original artworks, first edition books, the classic album cover, period photographs, audio recordings, magazine articles, and other ephemera.
“We are so excited to showcase the first-ever exhibition featuring the art of ‘Free to Be . . . You and Me,’” said the museum’s executive director Jennifer Schantz. “The messages conveyed in the art, music, and project remain as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. No one has the right to tell you who to be. You can decide for yourself.”
The exhibit runs from November 16th though April 6th at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located at 125 West Bay Road in Amherst. More information can be found online.
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Guild of Berkshire Artists presents ‘Canvas and Clay,’ paintings and pottery by Alice Marie Dugan at at Art on Main Gallery
West Stockbridge— From November 14th through December 1st, the Guild of Berkshire Artists presents “Canvas and Clay,” paintings and pottery by Alice Marie Dugan at Art on Main Gallery.
As a visual artist, Alice Dugan has always been fascinated by the way light and color affect mood. She was mentored by several impressionist and realist painters and was able to pursue her passion for painting full-time 25 years ago in Costa Rica. She has since participated in solo and group exhibitions in Costa Rica, California, and North Carolina. Her favorite themes are orchids, waterscapes, and still life. Four years ago, she began to make colorful clay objects. She is attracted to the tactile quality of clay, hand-glazing, and painted pieces. Whether applying oil to canvas or shaping clay, she feels a sense of wonder at the myriad shapes and colors in our beautiful world.
The exhibit runs from November 14th through December 1st at Art on Main Gallery, located at 38 Main Street in West Stockbridge. More information can be found online.
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Let It Shine! debuts ‘Shapes of Togetherness,’ a new mural on Burbank Place
Pittsfield— On Friday, November 15th at 3 p.m., a new mural will be unveiled on Burbank Place, located near the Beacon Cinema in Pittsfield. The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Pittsfield Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership, under the direction of Artist in Residence Huck Elling, worked with students at Pittsfield High School to create a tile mural entitled “Shapes of Togetherness.” Local artists Jim Horsford and Daniel Bellow assisted in kiln firing the tiles, and Justin Nackoul is credited with the installation. The mural was inspired by artist Pallavi Sen of Williams College. The title comes from the collection of shapes that make up the design, the process that inspired the students along the way, and the sense of togetherness they felt.
This year, Let It Shine! is operating a mentoring program in the Pittsfield Public Schools surrounding downtown with the goal of educating young artists and building bridges between young people and downtown in ways that boost economic vitality. Public art is being created with and by local youth in ways that engage children with themes of activism, environmentalism, and entrepreneurship. Artist-in-Residence Huck Elling said, “The mentorship programs work within the Pittsfield Public Schools and independently within the community, with the goal of educating young artists and engaging in projects that enhance a sense of place and belonging.”
For more information on the Pittsfield Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership, email Artist-in-Residence Huck Elling at huckelling@gmail.com or call the City of Pittsfield’s Office of Cultural Development at 413-499-9348.
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Triplex Cinema presents screening of local filmmaker John Tedeschi’s ‘A Book By Their Cover’
Great Barrington— On Thursday, November 14th at 7 p.m., the Triplex Cinema announces a special screening of local filmmaker John Tedeschi’s fictional narrative film “A Book By Their Cover,” inspired by local events in Berkshire County, as well as events around the country including book bans connected with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community. The film was shot entirely in the Berkshires.
“A Book By Their Cover” tells the story of Samantha, a 12-year-old girl who discovers a book while staying at her grandparents’ house. The book, a medical journal written in 1962, piques Samantha’s curiosity about sexuality. After discussing it, Samantha’s parents give her another book, “The Every Body Book,” widely considered to be a valuable and groundbreaking resource for parents navigating early conversations with children about puberty, consent, sex and gender.
Samantha brings the book with her to school, where the school janitor sees the book and confiscates it. The book is turned over by the school administration to the police and an investigation ensues. The film deals with the aftermath of these events, which play out during a town meeting where opinions about the book and the police investigation that followed are played out. A similar situation occurred last year at W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School over the well-known book “Gender Queer,” an incident which serves as inspiration for the film.
The screening is on Thursday, November 14th at 7 p.m. at the Triplex Cinema, located at 70 Railroad Street in Great Barrington. There will be a Q&A with the director as well as members of the cast and crew. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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BCC Players presents ‘Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,’ 30 plays in 60 minutes
Pittsfield— On Friday, November 15th and Saturday, November 16th at 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 17th at 2 p.m., BCC Players, Berkshire Community College’s theatrical troupe, presents “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,” a high-paced, energetic, laugh-out-loud show written by Greg Allen.
Directed by BCC Technical Director Alzie Mercado, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” is a wildly entertaining compilation of 30 plays performed in 60 minutes. The audience will choose the order of the show each night. With a wide variety of modern subject matter, the performances revolve around practical, real-life experiences by everyday people. Much of the content is comedic, but depending on audience choice, some plays may be dramatic or tragic.
The performances are on Friday, November 15th and Saturday, November 16th at 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 17th at 2 p.m. in BCC’s Robert Boland Theatre, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Chatham High School and Shakespeare & Company present ‘As You Like It’
Chatham, N.Y.— Celebrating its 25th year at Chatham High School, The Fall Festival of Shakespeare is back, and this year the school is putting on “As You Like It.”
As You Like It, one of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, is a romp through the magical Forest of Arden. Shepherds, sheep, and exiled nobles mingle in the Forest. Hilarity and love ensue.
On November 15th and 16th at 7 p.m., the show will be performed in the high school’s auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the door. The following weekend, Chatham’s show will be the concluding performance of the Fall Festival in Lenox at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse. Tickets and more information are available online.
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Berkshire Concert Choir presents ‘Hope Unfolding’
Pittsfield— On November 16th and 17th at 3 p.m., the Berkshire Concert Choir presents “Hope Unfolding: Choral Reflections on Power, Pain, and Perseverance” at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
The chorus will be joined by a chamber orchestra in performance of J.S. Bach’s “Cantata 150,” the centerpiece of the program. Other selections include choral works by Aaron Copland and Randall Thompson as well as contemporary pieces by U2, Paul Simon, the Wailin’ Jennys, and others.
Says LaBoy, “This election cycle has taken on unprecedented emotional power as, together, we have been forced to confront two starkly contrasting visions of what ‘America will be!’ We are all grappling with questions of power and authority. We are all coping with the pain that comes with fracture and ideological division. We offer you this performance as our hope unfolding.”
The performances are on November 16th and 17th at 3 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located at 67 East Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online.
