Great Barrington Historical Society offering ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas’
Great Barrington — The Great Barrington Historical Society is hosting an exhibit of “An Old-Fashioned Christmas” at its Wheeler Farmstead Museum.
The exhibit starts in the 1733 Room of the farmstead, where stories of St. Nicholas and George Washington are featured along with a Colonial-inspired Christmas tree. Also included is an example of a tree created by Civil War soldiers that later inspired President Grant to make Christmas a national holiday. The Victorian Room is decorated with a full Christmas tree and a tree fence. A goose feather tree is also on display. The 1950s Room features a Christmas tree filled with bubble and Ice-Glo lights. An aluminum tree can also be found, lit only by its rotating color wheel. The Modern Christmas room features fiber optic lighting and a Christmas village display.
The exhibit is free and open to the public, and will run through January. For more information, contact the Great Barrington Historical Society at (413) 591-8702 or info@gbhistory.org.
–E.E.
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Heartflow solstice event to honor Housatonic River
Sheffield — Rights of Nature Berkshires will hold a winter solstice Heartflow event Saturday, Dec. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sheffield Yoga Studio.
The event is a sequel to the summer solstice Heartflow event held in June at Great Barrington’s Housatonic River Walk. The aim once again is to foster acknowledgment, respect and care for the river and watershed that has shaped the development of the Berkshires. It will also be an opportunity to learn more about what local residents are doing to protect the future of the watershed and to celebrate the coming of longer days. Families and people of all ages are welcome to join in an afternoon celebration of the winter solstice with music, song, ceremony and expressions of gratitude.
The event is free and open to the public, but donations are welcome for the use of the space. Participants are asked to dress appropriately for a short procession at the beginning and end of the celebration, and to leave pets at home. For more information, contact berkshirerightsofnature@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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SculptureNow seeks submissions
Lenox — SculptureNow is accepting applications from established and emerging sculptors for its 22nd consecutive annual exhibition of large-scale, outdoor sculptures. For the eighth year, the show will be presented at the Mount from June 1 to Oct. 31, 2020. Existing and proposed sculptures may be submitted for consideration. There is no exhibition theme and no application fee. Up to 30 sculptures may be selected. The exhibition will include both invited and juried sculptors. A $1,000 honorarium will be provided to each exhibiting artist.
The application deadline has been extended to Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. A prospectus and application form are available online. For more information, contact (413) 358-3884 or annjon@sculpture-now.org.
–E.E.
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Boys & Girls Club’s basketball team wins tournaments
Pittsfield — The Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires’ fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ basketball team competed in and won championships at two tournaments this month.
The first tournament, the West Side Tournament in West Springfield, was held Dec. 7-8 with the 2019 Golden Bears Holiday Classic. The second tournament was held Dec. 13-15 at Western New England University in Springfield. The Boys and Girls Club team played in and won four games, including the final championship. Team members include Harolyn Castillo, Giselle Cormier, Bre’Jai Ellerbee, Chantel Evans, Lorelei Hoskeer, Elizabeth Klepetar, Shay Kozlowski, Amalia Lamb-Gardiner, Alivia Mauer, Evaniece O’Neil, Madison Stetz and Kyana Summers.
–E.E.