Sunday, February 9, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

BITS & BYTES: Berkshire Children’s Chorus presents Adriana Zabala; Louise Bichan at The Foundry; Angelo Moore at The Egremont Barn; Benny Kohn and Stefanie Weber at Dottie’s/Dorothy’s; ‘Creative Day’ at Whiting Mills; ‘Afterglow’ at Olana; Jane and Julian Craker at Art on Main; Yiddish Book Center free family event; OLLI at BCC summer open house; Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness free day; Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, The Clark, and MASS MoCA art club; The Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive

All donations will support Berkshire Children’s Chorus’ efforts to make sure “Every Voice Belongs,'' including its new sliding scale tuition model, the addition of a new rehearsal location in Pittsfield, and concerts that are offered free of charge.

Acclaimed mezzo soprano Adriana Zabala to perform at Berkshire Children’s Chorus benefit

Stockbridge— On Sunday, May 12th at 3 p.m., the Board of Trustees of Berkshire Children’s Chorus invites supporters to the organization’s annual fundraiser, entitled “Every Voice Belongs,” for a concert featuring acclaimed mezzo soprano Adriana Zabala, collaborative pianist JJ Penna, and singers from Berkshire Children’s Chorus at Ingleside, the historic home of Jennie and David Jadow.

Adriana Zabala. Courtesy Berkshire Children’s Chorus.

Adriana Zabala is an internationally acclaimed vocal artist with more than 50 operatic roles to her credit. She has been a guest soloist with leading orchestras across the United States, and has appeared in recital at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. She is an associate professor of voice at Yale University and recently performed the role of Madeline in Jake Hegge’s “Three Decembers” with Berkshire Opera Festival.

JJ Penna has performed extensively with a variety of eminent singers. He has held fellowships at the Tanglewood Music Center, Banff Center, and San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, to highlight a few. He has been on the faculties of the Juilliard School and Westminster Choir College, among others. He currently teaches at the Yale University School of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Steans Institute of the Ravinia Festival.

Founded in 1990, Berkshire Children’s Chorus explores the globe and travels through time by singing music from various cultures and eras, while also sparking new friendships between singers from across the region. Through a sliding scale tuition model, Berkshire Children’s Chorus is committed to providing musical opportunities for all youth regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

The fundraiser is on Sunday, May 12th at 3 p.m. at Ingleside, the historic home of Jennie and David Jadow at 1 Glendale Middle Road in Stockbridge. Refreshments will include cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages from mobile beverage caterers Higher Bar. Tickets are $100 each. All donations will support Berkshire Children’s Chorus’ efforts to make sure “Every Voice Belongs,” including its new sliding scale tuition model, the addition of a new rehearsal location in Pittsfield, and concerts that are offered free of charge. Tickets and more information can be found online. 

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The Foundry presents Orkney fiddler Louise Bichan

West Stockbridge— On Saturday, May 11th at 7:30 p.m., The Foundry presents Orkney fiddler Louise Bichan.

Join Orkney fiddler and photographer Louise Bichan as she embarks on a unique musical and sentimental journey, between her native northern Scottish isles and coast-to-coast Canada, in the footsteps of her late paternal grandmother. With a dilemma of the heart to solve, Tait, herself a beautiful singer, spent six months in Canada in 1950, before returning to Orkney.

Orkney fiddler Louise Bichan. Courtesy The Foundry.

Now carving her own path in New England’s vibrant music scene, Bichan is set to release her second record, “The Lost Summer” this spring. She takes to the road with Conor Hearn playing guitar, Brendan Hearn on cello, and Ethan Setiawan on mandolins, to present an evening of lively fiddle tunes from Scotland and beyond, weaving through stories of connection, to people, nature, the past, and the possibility of the future.

The performance is on Saturday, May 11th at 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry on Harris Street in West Stockbridge. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. Tickets and more information can be found online. Visit The Foundry online for information about parking.

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The Egremont Barn presents legendary Fishbone front man Angelo Moore

South Egremont— On Saturday, May 11th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., The Egremont Barn presents legendary Fishbone front man Angelo Moore. 

Screenshot Front man Angelo Moore. Courtesy Egremont Barn.

Have you ever seen a car crash in slow motion only to have all of the pieces from the crash come back together and drive off as if nothing happened? Fishbone’s Angelo Moore is a force of nature wrapped in a Circus sideshow tent that will propel you to the highest-depths of creative chaos as you dance and shake to pure unbridled joy.

Led by Moore, the group consist of seven total members featuring Skabone Stan and Danny Kay in the brass section, an engine room consisting of the powerful Ben Kishaba, Hasma Angeleno, and L.A.’s own Princess Frank; lead/backing vocals and antics by Sonia Harley, and Angelo Moore on vocals and instigation. 

The concert is on Saturday, May 11th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Egremont Barn at 17 Main Street in South Egremont. Tickets are $30. Tickets and more information can be found online. 

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Dottie’s Coffee Lounge and Dorothy’s Estaminet present piano-tap duo Benny Kohn and Stefanie Weber

Pittsfield— On Thursday May 9th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dottie’s Coffee Lounge and Dorothy’s Estaminet present piano-tap duo Benny Kohn and Stefanie Weber.

Benny Kohn and Stefanie Weber. Photo by Jess Robinson. Courtesy Dottie’s/Dorothy’s.

Kohn and Weber team up as a duo continuing the long jazz tradition of dancers collaborating with jazz pianists, drawing on their diverse repertoire of songs ranging from jazz to blues to open textural explorations.

The event is on Thursday May 9th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge and Dorothy’s Estaminet at 438/444 North Street in Pittsfield. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. More information can be found online. 

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‘Creative Day’ at Whiting Mills

Winsted, C.T.— On Saturday, May 11th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the general public will have the opportunity to unleash their inner artist and let their creativity run wild at Whiting Mill’s “Creative Day” where a variety of classes and workshops are offered at no charge

Step away from the mundane and get your creativity flowing by signing up for up to three classes. Jewelry makers, candle and soap makers, painters, photographers, special effect makeup artists, and Tina Puckett, a nationally awarded woven arts weaver have joined together to celebrate and nurture the creative spirit that lives in all of us.

Tina Puckett’s Studio. Courtesy Whiting Mills.

All materials are provided and participants will leave with a piece of art that they have created under the guidance of professional artists and craftspeople. In addition to classes, there will be a series of demonstrations throughout the building to show what the creative process entails and to encourage folks to pursue their dreams in the creative arts.

“Creative Day” is on Saturday, May 11th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Whiting Mills at 210 Holabird Road in Winsted, C.T. More information, including how to sign up for classes, can be found online. 

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The Olana Partnership to open ‘Afterglow: Frederic Church and the Landscape of Memory’ at Olana State Historic Site

Hudson— From May 12th through October 27th, The Olana Partnership will exhibit ‘Afterglow: Frederic Church and the Landscape of Memory’ at Olana State Historic Site,

Since 2020, global events, including COVID-19, have brought many of us face-to-face with the realities of death on the largest scale in our lifetimes. In a time of grief, reflection, and hope, “Afterglow” looks at how Frederic Church and his family grieved and found peace after loss in their own time.

Frederic Edwin Church, To the Memory of Cole, 1848. Oil on canvas, 31 3/4 x 47 5/8 in. Collection of Christopher Larson.

At the heart of this exhibition are Frederic Church’s rarely seen memorial landscape paintings. While Church is best known for his monumental, panoramic paintings of natural wonders, he also created smaller, intimate works full of personal symbolism for a primary audience of friends and family. As he experienced personal losses, Church expressed grief through his paintings and immersed himself in the natural world to heal. Church painted these memorial landscapes throughout his career, and they are key documents of nineteenth-century America’s search for spirituality in nature.

The exhibit runs from May 12th through October 27th in the Sharp Family Gallery at Olana State Historic Site at 5720 Route 9G in Hudson, N.Y. More information can be found online. There is a members exhibition preview on Saturday, May 11th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more about becoming a member online.

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Art on Main Gallery presents ‘A Family Affair,’ the work of husband and wife artists Jane and Julian Craker

West Stockbridge— From May 9th through May 19th, Art on Main Gallery presents “A Family Affair.”

Jane Craker, oil.

“A Family Affair” represents husband and wife team, Julian and Jane Craker, and their artistic endeavors in various media, including watercolors, oils, and found objects. They inspire each other and sometimes collaborate on their work. Jane’s paintings of flowers are energetic and vibrant giving them a voice of their own. She manipulates paint and color with carefree expression inviting the viewer to enjoy.

Julian Craker, watercolor.

Julian’s watercolor doors are inspired by them being portals, are they welcoming or forbidding? What lies behind? His paintings of trees come from his great love of nature, seeing beauty in the wood through every stage of its existence and the found objects bear witness to the truth that nature is the greatest creator of art.

The exhibit runs from May 9th through May 19th, at Art on Main Gallery at 38 Main Street in West Stockbridge. Gallery hours are Thursdays to Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is an opening reception on Saturday, May 11th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. More information can be found online.

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Yiddish Book Center to host ‘The Book Rescuer: How a Mentsh from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come,’ a free family event 

Amherst— On Sunday, May 12th at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Yiddish Book Center to host ‘The Book Rescuer: How a Mentsh from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come,’ a free family event. 

‘The Book Rescuer: How a Mentsh from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come’.

Families are invited to a reading of “The Book Rescuer: How a Mentsh from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come” and a show-and-tell of early 20th century Yiddish children’s illustrated books, and an exploration of the new exhibit, “Yiddish: A Global Culture,” with a family guide featuring the Center’s mascot, “Tsiggy the Goat.” Kids can search for exhibit highlights and add stickers to their guides as they explore. 

The free event is on Sunday, May 12th at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Yiddish Book Center at 1021 West Street in Amherst. More information can be found online. 

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OLLI at BCC summer open house

Pittsfield— On Wednesday, May 8th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Osher Lifelong Learning Institute  (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College (BCC) presents its summer open house. 

Whether you are brand new to the OLLI at BCC, or a seasoned member, you’re invited for the chance to meet other OLLI members, get to know the BCC campus better, and most importantly, chat with the instructors for upcoming courses and ask any questions you have before registering.

OLLI at BCC.

At OLLI, there are no tests, no grades, just learning for the love of learning. The summer semester begins on June 7th and continues through August. Courses are a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid with a number of different lengths and a variety of start dates. Find the summer 2024 course listings online. 

The open house is on Wednesday, May 8th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Berkshire Community College on West Street in Pittsfield. It is free and open to the public. More information can be found online or call 413-236-2190 with any questions. 

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Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness to host day of free classes to celebrate 10th anniversary

Pittsfield— On Saturday, May 11th from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness is hosting a day of free classes to celebrate their 10th anniversary. 

BYDF will be hosting a day of complimentary classes at their beautiful North Street studio, offering exclusive membership specials, honoring their 10-year community members, and celebrating a decade of helping the Berkshires feel more grounded, peaceful, present and at ease.

Courtesy Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness.

The event is on Saturday, May 11th from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness at 55 North Street, Suite 201 in Pittsfield. Pre-Registration is required for all classes and space is limited. Registration and more information can be found online. 

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Northern Berkshire Community Coalition with the Clark Art Institute and MASS MoCA partner to offer a free weekly art-making club

North Adams— On Tuesdays, from May 7th through August 27th from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition with the Clark Art Institute and MASS MoCA partner to offer a free weekly art-making club for youth ages eight to 19 hosted at UNO Community Center in North Adams.

The art club was created by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition in 2022 to provide children with free after-school and summertime activities. Snacks and supplies are provided. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Program facilitators are not responsible for childcare.

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.

The club meets on Tuesdays, May 7th through August 27th from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at UNO Community Center at 157 River Street, in North Adams. Email gglasier@nbccoalition.org for more information. 

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Support the Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive on May 11th

Berkshire— On Saturday, May 11th, Dalton, Pittsfield, North Adams and Great Barrington residents are encouraged to leave out a bag of nonperishables to be collected by their postal carrier.

Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive.

One out of every six people turn to hunger relief programs for support. Berkshire County food pantries have all seen an exponential increase in need this year, which is why Berkshire United Way (BUW) supports efforts like the annual National Association of Letter Carrier’s (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive.

Amy Breault, NALC Branch 286 president, has overseen the drive in Pittsfield since 2006. She said that at the height of their success, Pittsfield carriers collected 42,000 pounds of food. The pandemic paused the annual drive for two years and it has been slow to rebound. In 2023, Pittsfield collected 11,500 pounds and North Adams collected 5,000 pounds.

BUW coordinates volunteers to assist with sorting the food and then allocating it to local pantries. If you’re interested in volunteering, sign up online.

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The Edge Is Free To Read.

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The Edge Is Free To Read.

But Not To Produce.