‘Art of the Hills’ exhibition to feature local artists
Pittsfield — The Berkshire Museum will present “Art of the Hills,” a juried exhibition featuring the work of local artists, Saturday, June 2, through Monday, Sept. 3. An opening reception will be held Saturday, June 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include an awards ceremony, refreshments, and signature cocktails from Berkshire Mountain Distillers.
Celebrating the creative culture of the region, “Art of the Hills” highlights the works of emerging and established Berkshire-based artists working in all styles and genres. Forty-two works of art by 36 artists were chosen by juror/curator Ryan Seslow through a blind jurying process, and the exhibition includes painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, photography and sculpture. Artists living within a 60-mile radius of the museum were invited to submit their recent work for the exhibition. The artists who were chosen to participate are Tracy Baker-White, Madeline Bohrer, Michael Boroniec, Michael Bufis, William Casper, John Clarke, Laurie May Coyle, Laura Didyk, Julia Dixon, Helen Evans Febbo, Jacob Fossum, Joe Goodwin, Robert Hill, Patricia Hogan, Crystalle Lacouture, JD Logan, John MacDonald, Ben Mancino, Jesse Tobin McCauley, Scott R. McClintock, Sean McCusker, Robert Morgan, Lynne O’Connell, Bruce Panock, Bryan Powers, James Singelis, Anne W. Smith, Nelena Soro, Ilene Spiewak, Paula Stern, Rose Tannenbaum, Barbara Shea Tracy, Joseph Tracy, Margot Trout, Katherine Ryan Waiveris and Rachael Warnock.
The opening reception is free and open to the public, though registration is required due to space limitations. For more information or to RSVP, call the Berkshire Museum at (413) 443-7171 x314.
–E.E.
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Mary Berry to speak on supporting farmers
Great Barrington — The Schumacher Center for a New Economics will present Mary Berry in a talk titled “Good Work Is Membership” on Sunday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Saint James Place.
In her talk, Berry will address the topics of what it will take for farmers to be able to afford to farm well, and how to become a culture that supports good farming and land use.
The executive director of the Berry Center in New Castle, Kentucky, Berry and her brother were raised by their parents, Wendell and Tanya Berry, at Lanes Landing Farm in Henry County, Kentucky. She attended Henry County public schools and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1981. She farmed for a living in Henry County, starting out in dairy farming; growing Burley tobacco; and later diversifying to organic vegetables, pastured poultry and grass-fed beef. Berry serves on the boards of directors of United Citizens Bank in New Castle, Kentucky, and the board of directors of the Schumacher Center for a New Economics. She speaks all over the country as a proponent of agriculture of the middle, in defense of small farmers, and in the hope of restoring the culture and economy of rural America. Recently she wrote a letter for inclusion in the book “Letters to a Young Farmer: On Food, Farming, and Our Future” and the introduction for a new edition of essays titled “Our Sustainable Table.”
The talk is free and open to the public. To pre-register, contact the Schumacher Center for a New Economics at (413) 528-1737 or schumacher@centerforneweconomics.org.
–E.E.
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Crescendo to present Baroque concert featuring young singers
Lakeville, Conn. — Crescendo has announced that it will present the final concert program of its 2017-18 season, “Laudate Pueri Dominum – Praise the Lord, Ye Children,” Saturday, June 2, at 6 p.m. at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and Sunday, June 3, at 4 p.m. at Trinity Lime Rock.
The program features the German Baroque composer Johann A. Hasse’s work, including “Laudate Pueri Dominum” and his “Miserere” for four high voices. The works were written for the Ospedale degl’ Incurabili in Venice, which was a shelter for orphaned young girls supported partly with performances of works by composers such as Hasse.
The concerts will include young singers Elizabeth Chamberlin, Søren Clulow, Elisabeth Enoch and Skylar Norton, who are from local communities and attend Mount Everett Regional High School in Sheffield, Massachusetts; Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village; and the Millbrook School in New York. They will perform alongside professional early-music soloists mezzo-soprano Kristin Gornstein and soprano Catherine Hancock from New York; and Crescendo’s soloists and section leaders Jennifer Tyo, Jordan Rose Lee and Mavis Hsieh. Hideki Yamaya will play theorbo and Crescendo’s founding artistic director, Christine Gevert, will conduct from the organ and harpsichord.
Tickets are $35 general; $60 premium; $10 for students under 18 years of age; and $100 for a concert plus a benefit dinner, which will be held in a private home after both concerts. The concerts and dinners support Crescendo’s music programs and educational outreach. For more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Crescendo at (860) 435-4866 or crescendo@worldclassmusic.org.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Pride Festival to celebrate its second year
Pittsfield — Berkshire Pride and the Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition will present the second annual LGBTQ+ Berkshire Pride Festival Saturday, June 2, from 2 to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine, at the First Street Common.
This year’s theme is “Embrace, Encourage, Empower.” The event will include speakers from local community organizations and the statewide Freedom for All Massachusetts campaign, as well as a community resource fair with more than 20 local organizations and entities represented. A stage show will begin around 3 p.m. and feature music by Melissa Fine, Madelyn Gardner and Erinn Furey, along with DJ Ephraim Adamz; spoken word by performance artist Lia Russell-Self; and drag performances from Philly Pina, Boxxa Vine, Gemini DaBarbay, Nancy NoGood, Noelle Diamond, Millennial and Unique Nelson.
There will also be vendors selling an array of items as well as local food vendors. The event will conclude with a pride march and all attendees are welcome to participate. An after party by Weekend Warriors Entertainment will be held at the Berkshire Hills Country Club beginning at 6 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public, family-friendly and wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact berkshirelgbtqpride@yahoo.com.
–E.E.
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Mass Audubon to host Family Fun Day
Lenox — Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary welcomes all to Family Fun Day Saturday, June 2, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Throughout the day, families are invited to explore the sanctuary’s ponds, forest and meadows with skilled naturalists. Guided exploration stations will include looking for butterflies and other insects in open fields, seeing what lurks in Pikes Pond, spotting birds around the trout pond and finding strange creatures who call Yokun Brook their home. At 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Trish Marki will present “Silent Wings for Raptors” with live birds of prey. Wintergreen will perform acoustic music and nature songs at 12:30 p.m. Tom Tyning will present “Beautiful Butterflies” at 3 p.m.
Children can learn about protecting local wildlife with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and about rivers and streams with the Housatonic Valley Association. Flying Deer Nature Center will offer nature activities, and the Northern Berkshire Beekeepers Association will answer questions about beekeeping and explain why honeybees are so important.
Snacks will be for sale, as well as empanadas and more from Lucia’s Latin Kitchen. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary at (413) 637-0320.
–E.E.
