Third Thursday at Olana State Historic Site
Hudson, N.Y.— On Thursday, May 16th from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Olana Partnership will hold its monthly free Third Thursday event at Olana State Historic Site.
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., join artist Wennie Huang to make your own paper books using images from Olana. These 19th century 3D books were popular crafts that use layers of images to create the illusion of depth on a small scale. Make your own during this free, drop-in program for all ages at the Wagon House Education Center.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., explore Bollywood dancing during a free class and performance with instructor, Arobi. Learn moves to trendy and iconic Bollywood songs during this fun, beginner-friendly, outdoor class and stick around for a special performance on the East Lawn, located directly in front of the main house. For ages 12 and up.
Visitors are also invited to attend free tours of the historic landscape, Main House, and the new special exhibition, “Afterglow: Frederic Church and the Landscape of Memory.” Tickets can be reserved on-site, on the day of the event starting at 12:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours and programs will be offered in both Spanish and English. Spanish tours will be given at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Guthrie Center to host a weekend of community events to honor the Guthrie family and support those affected by Huntington’s Disease
Great Barrington— From May 17th through May 19th, The Guthrie Center welcomes the public to join in a series of community events to honor the living legacy of the Guthrie family, to support the Guthrie Center, and to benefit organizations that support individuals and families affected by Huntington’s Disease.
Friday, May 17th is the grand opening of the exceptional “Native Son Exhibit” from the Arlo Guthrie family archives. It features never-before-seen memorabilia from seven decades of Arlo’s personal and professional journey. This is an opportunity for fans and music lovers to view many of the items that were on display last year at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame at the Boch Center in Boston, along with many newly uncovered pieces of musical history. Special hours for the weekend are Friday, May 17th from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10.
On Saturday, May 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., there is a special multimedia presentation of “She Came Along to Me – Finding Our Way,” the story of Woody’s life with Huntington’s Disease (HD) and with his wife, Marjorie, the loving and creative solutions they pioneered to live a full life with this fatal neurodegenerative illness and fight to find a cure. Granddaughter Anna Canoni will narrate the story, followed by a musical celebration of the Guthrie Family Legacy with Annie Guthrie and Friends, featuring Abe Guthrie & Terry A La Berry. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $60.
On Sunday, May 19th, The Guthrie Center hosts its annual Huntington’s Disease Walk as a fundraiser to benefit individuals and families affected by Huntington’s Disease. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. at the Guthrie Center, but please note that the walk will begin at the Main Street Cafe (the old Alice’s Restaurant) at 10 a.m. People may catch a ride on a microbus to the Main Street Cafe or drive on their own. Those who are unable to make the walk but would like to donate should make checks payable to HD Walk, c/o 216 Beach Rd., Washington, MA 01223. Or they may send funds via VENMO @Lisa-Guthrie-37. The walk, known as the Garbage Trail Walk, connects the key sites in Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” saga. For more information, contact garbagetrailwalk@gmail.com.
All events will take place at The Guthrie Center, 2 Van Deusenville Road, Great Barrington. More information can be found online.
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Walk Unafraid Foundation and One Resilient Earth launch new community initiative to address climate-related anxiety and foster resilience
Great Barrington— On the second Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning today, Tuesday May 14th, The Walk Unafraid Foundation, in collaboration with One Resilient Earth, launches monthly online Community Climate Circles, a new community initiative to address climate-related anxiety and stress. This initiative, supported in part by Lee Bank Foundation, offers a vital mental health resource for individuals grappling with the emotional impacts of climate change. The virtual circles, facilitated by creative activist and empowerment coach, Gabrielle Senza, will provide a supportive environment for expressing feelings and fostering resilience.
Gabrielle Senza is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist, a trauma-informed empowerment coach, and the founder and artistic director of the Walk Unafraid Foundation. She has devoted her creative practice to addressing human rights and environmental issues for more than 30 years. Her work has been included in solo and traveling group shows throughout the U.S. and abroad, and is included in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA New York, Lifetime Entertainment, and numerous other corporate and private collections. She is happiest working out in the world where she can creatively engage with individuals in a variety of public and intimate spaces. Gabrielle seeks to make visible the invisible through multidisciplinary projects and to create opportunities for people to feel seen, heard, respected and connected.
“We’re creating a space where we can talk openly about the injustice, exhaustion, frustration and sadness that we are experiencing or witnessing. In the same way, we celebrate moments of joy, hope, togetherness and inspiring experiences,” states Gabrielle Senza, the founder and Artistic Director of Walk Unafraid. “Through creative expression and deep listening exercises, these circles allow participants to safely explore their emotions any way they choose – in art, poetry, song, sound, movement, or simple shares. We believe that by coming together to share our experiences and emotions, we can build a more resilient and proactive community,” adds Senza. “These circles are about transforming our anxiety and sorrow into collective action and hope.”
Registration and more information can be found online or by emailing hello@walkunafraid.org.
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Norad Mill to present two events in relation to the exhibition of the painter and musician Karl Mullen, ‘Every Hook in the Book’
North Adams— On May 17th at 7 p.m. and on May 26th at 11 a.m., LAPINcontemporary will present two events in relation to the exhibition of the painter and musician Karl Mullen, “Every Hook in the Book.”
Karl Mullen is a prolific, self-taught artist widely known in the outsider art world. His artwork is found in private collections, galleries, and museums in the United States and Europe. Equally abundant, his music originates from Leinster kitchens and crossed the Atlantic to transform into the underground punk band Carsickness, and the Celtic-inspired, Pittsburgh-based band Ploughman’s Lunch. Today, Mullen is the lead guitar/vocalist of 5 Pound Horse which will be on tour in Europe this summer.
The works on view present large scale and abstract canvases, and paper, richly layered with a mixture of vinyl emulsion paint, markers, oil pastels, pencils, raw pigment, clay earth, tea, and red wine. The result is at once vibrant and contemplative, human and sublime.
On Friday, May 17th at 7 p.m., Karl Mullen and friends will present an intimate acoustic performance for an evening of art, music, and good company. On Sunday May 26th at 11 a.m., Karl Mullen and Joe Thompson will engage in a friendly conversation about Mullen’s work, followed by a Q&A. The events take place at LAPINcontemporary in Studio 308 at Norad Mill at 60 Roberts Drive in North Adams. More information can be found online.
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Becket Arts Center to open ‘The Child Within,’ an intimate four-person group show featuring Morris Bennett, Sean McCusker, Sally Tiska Rice and Ilene Spiewak
Becket— On Friday, May 17th at 5 p.m., the Becket Arts Center will host a free opening reception for the exhibition “The Child Within,” an intimate four-person group show that celebrates the creative child within all of us. Featured artists are Morris Bennett, Sean McCusker, Sally Tiska Rice and Ilene Spiewak. The exhibit continues until June 9th.
On Sunday, May 19th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Becket Arts Center will host a free closing reception for the exhibition “Into the Light,” an extensive review of the work of its artist-in-residence Sean McCusker. This show culminates McCusker’s two-year residency at the Becket Arts Center, and reflects the inspiration he found working closely with the community. McCusker’s surrealistic paintings are made up of roughly thirty thin, transparent layers, each one adding complexity. As the translucent layers are carefully worked up, the forms and colors become more dramatic, creating a glowing composition of dark shadows suspended in light.
The events take place at the Becket Arts Center on Brooker Hill Road in Becket. More information can be found online.
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St. Francis Gallery reopens for the season
Lee— St. Francis Gallery has reopened for the season, showcasing new artists and reorganized displays for a better viewing experience.
Current artists on view include Sharla Fell, Debrah H Carter, Paula Churt, Tina Van De Water, Marc Davis, Paula Stern, Bill Cummings, Brian DeNicola, Froilan Vincente, Myla Blum, and Jim Singelis. Also featured is a unique selection of young Kenyan artists to support the Sawa Sawa Foundation.
St. Francis Gallery is located at 1317 Pleasant Street in Lee. Hours are Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Elizabeth Freeman Center and Triplex Cinema partner to screen ‘Shayda’ followed by a discussion about domestic violence
Great Barrington— On Thursday, May 16th at 7 p.m., Elizabeth Freeman Center and Triplex Cinema partner to screen ‘Shayda’ followed by a discussion about domestic violence with Jennifer Goewey, Director of Programs for the Elizabeth Freeman Center.
“Shayda” is an intensely moving film that shines a light on the essential resources that women’s shelters provide for survivors of domestic abuse. Shayda, a brave Iranian mother, finds refuge in a women’s shelter with her six-year-old daughter in 1990’s Australia. When her estranged husband re-enters their lives, Shayda’s path to freedom is jeopardized. Premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, “Shayda” was the Australian entry for the Best International Feature Film for the 2024 Academy Awards and has won worldwide critical acclaim.
Located in Pittsfield, the non-profit Freeman Center provides lifesaving, life renewing help to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and to their families.
The event is at The Triplex Cinema at 70 Railroad Street in Great Barrington.Tickets are $10 to $12. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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HospiceCare in the Berkshires remembrance ceremony and butterfly release
Pittsfield— On Saturday, May 18th from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., HospiceCare in the Berkshires will host a remembrance ceremony and butterfly release.
HospiceCare in the Berkshires invites Berkshire County residents to join in a celebration of life for those who have been a part of our lives and are no longer with us. This memorial service provides an opportunity to enjoy thoughtful reflections as butterflies are released to honor the memories of loved ones that have passed.
The ceremony will be held at the Controy Pavilion on Lakeway Drive in Pittsfield. It is free and will be followed by light refreshments. Register by calling 413-443-2994.
