Draw nature in colored pencil with Collette Hurst
Falls Village, Conn. — The David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will host three consecutive Saturday afternoon workshops in watercolor florals with artist Collette Hurst on January 14, 21, and 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. Students will create colorful, textured paintings of buds, blossoms, and foliage in a class presenting watercolor basics covering materials and supplies, composition, and techniques including color mixing, brushstrokes, washes and shading.
Students of all levels are welcome. A supply list will be provided prior to class. A fee of $75 covers all three sessions and is payable to the instructor, Collette Hurst. To register, please call the library at 860-824-7424.
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Attend the “Searching for Columbus” presentation at Lenox Library
Lenox— On Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 2 p.m., Lenox Library will host Searching for Columbus, a multi-media presentation given by Lenox resident Leo Mahoney.
In 1851, a traveling menagerie started its trek, leaving North Adams headed to Stockbridge. Disaster struck in Adams when Columbus the elephant fell through the wooden Center Street bridge, plunging into the rocky bed of the Hoosic River. Severely injured, the elephant was forced to continue the walk to Stockbridge. When Columbus got to Lenox he collapsed from pain and exhaustion. His handlers managed to get him into a near-by barn where he died 10 days later. Columbus was buried and then forgotten for 171 years.
Many children who grew up in Lenox know about the legend of Columbus, though his exact burial site has remained a mystery. Schermerhorn Park, Church on the Hill, Canyon Ranch, and the Bishop Estate are a few of the locations on which the grave is said to be located. After years of research, Leo Mahoney is convinced he has identified the area where Columbus rests. His engaging talk will cover the elephant’s history as well as future plans to more succinctly locate the grave site.
The presentation is free and open to the public and will take place in the main reading room of the Library, located at 18 Main Street, Lenox. Please visit https://lenoxlib.org or the Library’s Facebook page for more information.
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Explore the ghosts of Ventfort Hall
Lenox— Robert Oakes is hosting ghost tours at Ventfort Hall on Saturday, January 14 and Saturday, January 28 at 7 p.m. Robert Oakes will lead visitors through the rooms and halls of the historic estate sharing tales of its hauntings.
Robert Oakes is an author, teacher, storyteller, and singer/songwriter originally from northern New Jersey and currently residing in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. Since 2010 Robert has led the ghost tours at Edith Wharton’s The Mount in Lenox. He is the author of “Ghosts of the Berkshires.”
Admission is $30 and minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are required. To purchase tickets please call 413-637-3206. Masks are required.
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Attend three free musical events as part of the I/O Fest
Williamstown— The Clark Art Institute is hosting three free events as part of I/O Fest, the Williams College Department of Music’s annual immersion in the music of today. Students in the music program take audiences on a tour of new sounds and adventurous music during a concert for families on January 15. This year’s lineup also features a film screening on January 14 and a performance by guest ensemble GEORGE following the Family Concert on January 15.
The screening of Milford Graves Full Mantis will take place on Saturday, January 14 at 4:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. This is the first ever feature-length portrait of renowned percussionist Milford Graves, and explores Graves’ kaleidoscopic creativity and relentless curiosity. Graves was a founding pioneer of avant-garde jazz, having performed internationally since 1964, both as a soloist and in ensembles.
The family concert will take place on Sunday, January 15 at 1 p.m. in the Michael Conforti Pavilion. I/O New Music presents an exploration of new sounds and adventurous music. The group performs a family concert with I/Out Loud, Kids 4 Harmony, and special guest GEORGE.
GEORGE will perform in concert on Sunday, January 15 at 4 p.m. in the Michael Conforti Pavilion. Genre-crossing jazz and new music ensemble GEORGE performs music from their forthcoming album Letters to George. Composer and percussionist John Hollenbeck formed GEORGE during the COVID pandemic by bringing together Anna Webber, a flutist, saxophonist, and composer; Aurora Nealand of the New Orleans band Royal Roses; and Isis Paola Giraldo (a.k.a. Chiquita Magic), a musician and music producer.
These events are free and open to the public. For more information visit: https://music.williams.edu/ensembles/io/
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Clark Art Insititute hosts Start With Art preschoolers art program
Williamstown— On Saturday, January 14 at 10 a.m., the Clark Art Institute’s popular Start with Art series returns. January’s free event is themed to storytelling. Designed for preschoolers, Start with Art offers themed talks, gallery guides, and art-making activities. This program is best suited for three- to six-year-olds and their caregivers.
Admission to the Clark is free from January through March 2023. No registration is required. Art-making can be messy please dress for the mess! For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
