Race Brook Lodge presents ‘Birdheart’
Sheffield— On Friday, October 6th, Saturday, October 7th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 8th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Race Brook Lodge presents the groundbreaking theatre piece “Birdheart” by world renowned puppet-theatre master, Tony-nominated Julian Crouch. “Birdheart” asks the question “how does a piece of trash learn to fly?”
A widely celebrated show that’s toured the world multiple times as far as Zimbabwe and Abu Dhabi including a private performance for His Holiness The Dali Lama, “Birdheart” comes home to roost in Sheffield for a two-day run in the Barn on the first weekend of October.
Inspired by an image of litter washed up on the shore and poisoning Albatross nests, Julian Crouch and his co-creator Saskia Lane have created a puppet show that largely eschews traditional narrative and favors instead the magical art of visual transformation. Defying expectations, through a series of animated images built in front of the audiences’ eyes, “Birdheart” creates something achingly beautiful from the humblest of beginnings, a sheet of brown paper, found objects, shadows, and a box of sand. The result is an intimate and stunning chamber piece of animated theatre about metamorphosis, loneliness, and the urge to fly.
Birdheart holds a mirror up to humanity, reminding us of the profound simplicity of form, story, and emotion that is possible when artists return to the elemental within themselves. The piece is a quietly powerful, utterly compelling articulation in miniature of the mystical idea that the whole of life can be conjured from sand, sticks, paper, and the will to imagine. It is an example of puppetry practiced at the highest levels of human artistry and expression and it will transform all who are lucky enough to witness it.
The performances are on Friday, October 6th, Saturday, October 7th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 8th from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Barnspace at Race Brook Lodge on South Undermountain Road in Sheffield. Tickets are $25, $10 for children, and free for children under age 4. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Brooks Robinson painting put on display at Norman Rockwell Museum as tribute to the baseball great
Stockbridge— Through October 29th, Norman Rockwell Museum is honoring baseball great Brooks Robinson, who died on Tuesday, by putting Rockwell’s iconic painting of the celebrated third baseman on display.
Titled “Gee Thanks, Brooks! Baseball Autograph (Portrait of Brooks Robinson)”, the painting depicts Brooks autographing a baseball for an enthused young fan while excited spectators look on. Rockwell’s portrait captures the rapport between baseball stars and fans of that era. It stands as an enduring tribute to Robinson at the height of his career. Rockwell painted the tribute to Robinson in 1971 as an advertising commission for A-T-O, Inc.’s sporting goods division, Rawlings Sporting Goods. The company decided to feature Brooks Robinson as the centerpiece of this advertisement because he was named Most Valuable Player in the 1970 World Series when his team, the Baltimore Orioles, defeated the Cincinnati Reds four games to one. Interestingly, Rockwell painted himself, smoking a cigar, as a fan in the stands.
Brooks Robinson played for the Baltimore Orioles for 23 seasons, from 1955 to 1977, and is considered perhaps the finest third baseman in baseball history. According to his obituary in the New York Times, “Robinson became known as the Human Vacuum Cleaner for his ability to snare just about anything that came his way.”
The painting will be on display through October 29th at the Norman Rockwell Museum on Glendale Road in Stockbridge. The exhibit is included with museum admission. Admission is $22, $20 online, and free for members and youth. The museum is open six days a week, closed on Wednesdays. More information can be found online.
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Dewey Memorial Hall presents ‘People’s Pie Contest and Tasting’
Sheffield— On Saturday, October 14th from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dewey Memorial Hall presents “People’s Pie Contest and Tasting”.
Dewey Hall is rolling out the return of the People’s Pie Contest! Attendees will have the chance to taste and vote on their favorite fruit pies in traditional or gluten-free crust categories. Additionally, each attendee will also have the chance to win an award winning pie. Live music, beverages, and general fun all included.
The event is on Saturday, October 14th from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Dewey Memorial Hall on Main Street in Sheffield. Tickets are $25 and include the tasting, voting, and entry into the pie raffle. Additional tastings and raffle tickets may be purchased. Tickets and more information can be found online. For those wishing to enter a pie, guidelines, registration, and more information can be found online.
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Dewey Memorial Hall presents ‘Pie Time’, a demonstration with Lavender Lady Supreme
Sheffield— On Friday, October 6th at 6 p.m., in advance of Dewey Hall upcoming pie contest on October 14th, Dewey Memorial Hall presents “Pie Time”, a demonstration with Lavender Lady Supreme.
You are invited to an apple pie demonstration/workshop with Leah Guadagnoli with a focus on pie crusts. Learn to make a delicious spiced apple pie. Guadagnoli will share her many secrets to a flaky crust perfect for all of your fruit pies. Best of all, there will be enough for everyone to have a slice!
Leah Guadagnoli is an artist, chef, homesteader, and founder of the creative dinner series Fancy Feast Supper Club. She brings people together through homegrown, globally inspired, vegetarian meals prepared from her garden with passion, love, and a genuine curiosity for the overlapping flavors and techniques our expansive universe has to offer. Her goal is to celebrate our commonalities and unique differences to form connections and better understand the world we share.
The workshop is on Friday, October 6th at 6 p.m. at Dewey Hall on Main Street in Sheffield. The cost is $30 which includes pie and hot tea. Registration and more information can be found online.
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BFAIR hosts ‘Dine for Disabilities’ event
North Adams— On Wednesday, October 4th from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR), and many restaurant partners throughout Berkshire County, will host ‘Dine for Disabilities’.
‘Dine for Disabilities’ is an event to benefit BFAIR’s programs and services for people with developmental disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injury. On Wednesday, October 4th, restaurants around Berkshire County will generously choose to donate a portion of proceeds to support BFAIR.
Tara Jacobsen, Director of Development at BFAIR shared, ”We are excited to collaborate with amazing and generous restaurants around Berkshire County as a way to further the BFAIR mission of providing high quality services to people of all abilities.”
Participate in Dine for Disabilities by checking out the list of restaurant partners and making your breakfast, lunch, or dinner plans for October 4th. Find more information about the event, and a full list of the restaurant partners online.
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The Clark Art Institute’s popular ‘First Sundays Free’ program returns with free admission and special grounding activities
Williamstown— On Sunday, October 1st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Clark Art Institute is offering free admission to the galleries, special exhibitions, special activities, and a pop-up display of works on paper will be on view from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The theme for the October 1st event is “Grounding.”
Explore what it means to be grounded both inside and outside of the galleries. Engage your senses through a guided forest bathing experience, the Japanese practice of consciously connecting with nature in order to slow down and be present in the natural world around you. Learn about the geologies depicted in artworks in the Clark’s collection, play with the ideas of foreground, middle ground, and background (used to create the illusion of depth or perspective), and design a take-home terrarium so you can stay “grounded” throughout the week.
October 1st visitors can view the current exhibitions including “Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth”, “Humane Ecology: Eight Positions”, “Printed Renaissance”, “Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper”, and “Elizabeth Atterbury: Oracle Bones.”
The free event is on Sunday, October 1st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Clark Art Institute on South Street in Williamstown. More information can be found online.
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Berkshires’ Academy for Advanced Musical Studies presents a special evening of music at Studio 9
Williamstown— On Sunday, October 1st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., join Berkshires’ Academy for Advanced Musical Studies (BAAMS) for a special evening of music at Studio 9 at Porches.
A benefit performance for BAAMS, the concert features members of the BAAMS faculty, Dario Boente (Grammy and Latin Grammy Winner) on piano, Richard Boulger (toured/recorded with Allman Brothers’ Band) on trumpet and flugelhorn, Alex Blake (once called “an entire rhythm section”) on bass, and Victor Jones (Toured with Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Chaka Khan) on drums and percussion.
Studio 9 is the perfect setting for this intimate concert, its gorgeous, pure acoustics competing only with the lovely views of the campus of North Adams’ Porches’ Inn, directly across from MASS MoCA.
The concert is on Sunday, October 1st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Studio9 at Porches on River Street in North Adams. Tickets are $25. All proceeds go to support music education from BAAMS. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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The Great Barrington Land Conservancy presents ‘Run for the Hills 10K & 5K’
Great Barrington— On Sunday, October 1st from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., the Great Barrington Land Conservancy (GBLC) presents their traditional road race through the rolling Berkshire hills, “Run for the Hills 10K & 5K”.
Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to enjoy the fall foliage and help GBLC to raise the funds needed to promote conservation, farm preservation, and community trails.
The race is on Sunday, October 1st from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Pre-registration is recommended and the first 100 registrants will receive t-shirts. On-site registration will also be available on Race Day. Families are encouraged to participate and children six and under are free. Computerized timing will be provided by our partner the Berkshire Running Center and race results will be posted online. Registration and more information can be found online.
