Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art announces major acquisition of artwork by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney
Amherst— The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (The Carle) announced a major acquisition of artwork by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney. The acquisition from the Pinkney family includes Pinkney’s iconic 2009 cover illustration for the Caldecott Medal-winning book, “The Lion & the Mouse” plus 39 related works of art from the book, including 15 published illustrations and 24 preliminary sketches.
Jerry Pinkney (1940-2021) was a brilliant artist and storyteller who changed the course of children’s literature. He influenced millions of young readers and entire generations of up-and-coming illustrators. In addition to his books celebrating African American history and culture, Pinkney also loved fairy tales, particularly Aesop’s Fables, from which “The Lion and the Mouse” is derived. One of his trademarks was to take famous tales, stories that often traded in racist stereotypes, and reinterpret them.
As an individual and as an artist, Pinkney always had hope for a better future. He was a founding trustee of The Carle, and the 2014 Carle Honors Artist. His work has been exhibited at The Carle dozens of times, and he was a frequent speaker at the museum. For many years, Pinkney served on the Museum’s Collections Committee, where he led efforts to diversify The Carle’s holdings and look at children’s literature through the lens of representation.
Jerry Pinkney’s cover for “The Lion & the Mouse” is legendary. Realistically rendered in graphite, watercolor, and colored pencil, the lion’s velvety fur and cascading halo of hair appear soft enough to touch. Pinkney, a master of anthropomorphism, depicts a lion with quizzical arched eyebrows and a sideward glance, inviting us into his wordless picture book. The publisher’s courageous decision not to overlay type on the cover serves to focus all attention on the majestic creature; there is nothing to compete with the lion’s noble presence. It is a portrait of immediacy, power, and personality. Pinkney’s cover for “The Lion & the Mouse” will be on display at The Carle from September 7th through March 9th as part of the installation “Recent Acquisition: Jerry Pinkney’s Lion and the Mouse.” More information can be found online.
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Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires presents pianist and comedian Sarge at the Colonial Theater
Pittsfield— On Sunday, September 22nd at 4 p.m., the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires presents the side-splitting comedy of pianist and comedian Sarge at the Colonial Theater.
Sarge is a classically trained pianist and comedian who delights with humor that resonates with audiences all over the world. Much more than a comedian, Sarge is also an author and a motivational speaker. His humor comes from a very personal place and touches the hearts and minds of people everywhere.
The performance is on Sunday, September 22nd at 4 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre at 111 South Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online. Proceeds from the concert will be donated towards agencies addressing unmet needs of the Berkshires’ community.
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Becket Arts Center presents ‘Nature Is Wild’
Becket— From September 20th through October 13th, Becket Arts Center presents “Nature Is Wild,” an exhibit featuring a variety of styles and media.
The exhibit runs from September 20th through October 13th at the Becket Arts Center at 7 Brooker Hill Road in Becket. There is an opening reception on Friday, September 20th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is a closing reception on Sunday, October 13th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Concurrently, the “Members’ Art Show” continues in the lower gallery through September 29th. The exhibitions and receptions are open to the public and free; donations are welcome. More information can be found online.
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Lenox Library presents best-selling author Candice Millard
Lenox— On Thursday, September 19th at 5 p.m. Lenox Library presents a talk by Candice Millard, award-winning author of four New York Times bestselling books.
Candice Millard’s first book, “The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey,” was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and a Book Sense Pick. It won the William Rockhill Nelson Award, was a finalist for the Quill Awards, and has been published in multiple foreign editions.
“Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine & the Murder of a President,” won the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime, the PEN Center USA award for Research Nonfiction, the One Book-One Lincoln Award, the Ohioana Award, and the Kansas Notable Book Award. Netflix recently announced it will adapt the book into a new dramatic series entitled “Death by Lightning,” starring Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon.
“Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape and the Making of Winston Churchill,” was an Indie Next pick, a top ten critics pick by the New York Times and named Amazon’s number one history book of 2016. Millard’s most recent book, released in May of 2022, is “River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile.”
Millard is the recipient of the 2017 BIO Award, and her work has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, Washington Post Book World, the Guardian, National Geographic, and Time magazine. She is currently working on her fifth book, which will be set in occupied Belgium and northern France in the early days of WWI.
The free event is on Thursday, September 19th at 5 p.m. at the Lenox Library at 18 Main Street in Lenox. There will be a book-signing after the talk. More information can be found online.
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Lee Founders Weekend
Lee— From September 20th through the 22nd, the Lee Chamber of Commerce presents “Founders Weekend,” a full weekend of events to celebrate the town of Lee’s 247th birthday.
Highlights include the local favorite, “Taste of Lee,” a beer tent, a road race, a parade, crafters, antique fire trucks, a classic car show, a slider cook-off, and a duck derby. There will be activities for children including Carr Hardware’s children’s “CARRnival,” an obstacle agility course, circus activities, Bowey the Magic Clown, Pittsfield Police Department’s “Copsicle” van, live music by Terry a la Berry, a skateboard and fingerboard competition, and a fireworks display.
The events take place from September 20th though the 22nd in Lee. A complete schedule of events can be found online.
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Berkshire HorseWorks presents “Rescues On The Runway: A Walk Of Resiliency,” celebrating ten years of community service
Lenox— On Friday, September 20th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc., which for 10 years has offered Eagala Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning, Equine Assisted Team building, and other therapeutic and recreational activities with horses, will be holding its 10 year anniversary gala, “Rescues on the Runway: A Walk Of Resiliency”
Interact with Berkshire HorseWorks’s rescue herd of horses and ponies, and its clients as you learn about the ranch’s experiential, strength-based programs. Enjoy specialty drinks and hors d’oeuvres outside with music by The Dreamers before moving into the arena for a live auction and paddle raise run by Copake Auction House to support equine assisted programs at the ranch for children, families, first responders, veterans, and those at risk with mental health, behavioral, and academic challenges in the community. Don your best interpretive western wear and watch horses and clients walk the “Runway of Resiliency,” followed by a live performance by the Opera Cowgirls to close out the evening.
The event is on Friday, September 20th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at HomeFarm at Undermountain at 400 Under Mountain Road in Lenox. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Literacy Network annual fundraising celebration
West Stockbridge— On Friday, September 20th at 6 p.m., The Literacy Network (LitNet) will honor John Toole, LitNet Board Member and President of Acrisure (formerly Toole Insurance Agency,) at its annual fundraising celebration, “A Celebration of Friends,” which will be held at Amici Restaurant in West Stockbridge.
LitNet’s annual celebration is a main source of fundraising for the organization’s year-round, individualized, free tutoring programs in ESOL, US citizenship preparation, adult basic education, and first-generation college support. In recent years, LitNet has made an effort to make this annual celebration more inclusive to its learner community—95% of which is immigrants working on English skills.
For 44 years, John Toole has maintained and grown his family business as President of Toole Insurance Agency (now Acrisure). He has served as Chair for the Chesterwood Museum Council, the Lenox Library Association Board, and the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents and as President of the Lee Community Development Board. He is the Founder and Director of the Brock Wilkerson Memorial Fund, past Director of the Brock Trot Road Race, Co-Founder of the Lee Youth Soccer League, and has coached youth basketball, softball, and football. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Literacy Network where he chairs the Peoples and Operations Committee.
LitNet chose Amici as its venue for the event because of its ties with the restaurant’s co-owner, Octavio Nallin. Nallin, a Brazilian immigrant who has been in the U.S. for over four years, worked on his English with LitNet before opening Amici. He is now working with LitNet to become a U.S. citizen as one of this year’s recipients of the Matthew and Hannah Keator Family Scholarship for New Americans.
The event is on Friday, September 20th at 6 p.m. at Amici at 5 Albany Road in West Stockbridge. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County volunteer tutor informational sessions
Pittsfield— Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County will be holding four separate informational sessions on how to become a volunteer tutor. Each session will provide information on the tutoring program and the training offered to our volunteer tutors. After the information session all interested individuals can sign up for the next training sessions offered by LVBC.
The informational sessions will take place on Wednesday September 18th at 10:30 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m. or Monday September 30th at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. All four sessions will be held in Pittsfield at the Berkshire Athenaeum at 1 Wendell Avenue. Interested individuals need to only attend one of the four sessions available. More information can be found online.
