Clark Art Institute presents the New England Synth Fest, an evening of audiovisual performances
Williamstown— On Saturday, January 11th at 6 p.m., Clark Art Institute presents the New England Synth Fest, an evening of audiovisual performances.
Experience regional synth musicians OrangePeelMystic, Architrave, Hissquiet, NXOR, and Michael William Gilbert as they create electronic soundscapes with striking visuals.
The Clark is also offering a chance to Interact with these unique instruments at their synthesizer petting zoo. Bring your headphones (1/4″ jacks or 1/8″ adapters) to experiment and create your own sounds.
The free program is on Saturday, January 11th at 6 p.m. at the Clark Art Institute. More information can be found online.
***
Becket Arts Center presents Irish Celtic-inspired jam band Kilashandra
Becket— On Saturday, January 11th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Becket Arts Center presents Irish Celtic-inspired jam band Kilashandra.
Mixing traditional and modern Irish music with twists of blues, rock and soul, Kilashandra will record this performance with a live audience — a first for the Becket Arts Center.
The concert is on Saturday, January 11th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Becket Arts Center, located at 7 Brooker Hill Road in Becket. Tickets and more information can be found online.
***
Temple Anshe Amunim 2nd annual Winter Community Film Series
Pittsfield— Beginning on Sunday, January 12th at 2 p.m., Temple Anshe Amunim presents their 2nd annual Winter Community Film Series presenting a selection of powerful films from around the world.
The mission of the new TAA Community Film Series is to bring entertaining and thought-provoking films to engage the Jewish community, while also providing an opportunity for the greater Pittsfield community to learn about Jewish history, culture, and heritage in a welcoming, accessible, affordable, and safe environment. The four films selected speak to issues to which people of all backgrounds and experiences can relate: artistic expression, family secrets, higher education, and friendship. Post-screening discussions will follow each film, led by filmmakers and/or experts in the subjects addressed by the film.
On January 12th, the series opens with the feature documentary “Nathan-ism” by Elan Golod and the dramatic short comedy “We Should Eat” by Shaina Feinberg. On February 2nd, the series will continue with the drama “Unspoken,” which addresses the universal challenge of maintaining family secrets. On March 9th, the series will continue with the documentary “Technion 10²,” which presents the incredible history of a leading technological research institution opened on Mount Carmel near Haifa 100 years ago before Israel was a nation. On March 30th, the series will conclude with “Call Me Dancer,” the acclaimed documentary about a street dancer from Mumbai who struggles against his parents’ insistence that he follow a traditional path until he meets a curmudgeonly Israeli ballet master who inspires him to follow his dreams.
The Sunday afternoon screenings begin on Sunday, January 12th at 2 p.m. at Temple Anshe Amunim, located at 26 Broad Street in Pittsfield. Tickets and more information can be found online. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
***
Great Barrington Library Board of Trustees to host ‘For the Love of Libraries,’ a winter reception to learn about all about the Ramsdell Library
Great Barrington— On Saturday, January 18th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Great Barrington Library Board of Trustees will host ‘For the Love of Libraries,’ a winter reception to learn about the Great Barrington libraries.
This fun event will help the community get to know the large network of dedicated individuals who keep both the Mason and Ramsdell libraries going and to create awareness of the importance of the libraries to our communities. Bring the whole family to learn about what is going on in the libraries, meet staff and trustees, while enjoying music, finger foods, and libations.
The free event is on Saturday, January 18th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ramsdell Library, located at 1087 Main Street in Housatonic. RSVP by January 10th. RSVP and more information can be found online.
***
Tracking winter wildlife with Mass Audubon at The Mount
Lenox— On Wednesday, January 15th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., The Mount, as part of their “Wildlife Wednesday” winter program, presents a winter wildlife tracking workshop with Mass Audubon.
Join a Mass Audubon naturalist for an introduction to the world of wildlife tracking. Walk through fields and forests searching for tracks, scat, and signs of the delicate but exciting interactions between predators and their prey, including coyotes, foxes, deer, and rabbits.
The Mount and Mass Audubon have partnered for over five seasons with warm weather programming. This is their first joint winter weather programming.
The workshop is on Wednesday, January 15th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Mount, located at 2 Plunkett Street in Lenox. This program covers up to a mile of trail depending on the amount of tracks found. Terrain is level or gradually sloping. The trail surface could potentially be uneven or slippery due to snow, mud, or ice. Dress for the weather. Traction spikes or snowshoes may be available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration and more information can be found online.
***
Winter hikes at the Bidwell House Museum
Monterey— On January 18th and February 23rd from 10 a.m. to noon, the Bidwell House Museum offers two guided winter hikes.
Join Rob Hoogs on January 18th and Richard Greene on February 23rd to learn about the animals active at this time of year, see evidence of the people who made this area their home long ago, and enjoy the stark beauty of the winter forest.
The hikes are on January 18th and February 23rd from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bidwell House Museum, located at 100 Art School Road in Monterey. If there is snow, bring your snowshoes, otherwise wear appropriate winter boots. All hikers should be aware that the terrain is uneven, especially in winter, so hiking poles are suggested. Dress for the cold and bring water. This hike will go one to two miles and will last approximately one to two hours. Rain cancels. Registration and more information can be found online.
