Simon’s Rock to exhibit ‘The School of Love’ by Steve Locke

Great Barrington — Bard College at Simon’s Rock will present “The School of Love,” a multimedia exhibition by Boston-based artist Steve Locke, opening Monday, Oct. 1, with an artist talk and reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Daniel Arts Center. The exhibit will be on view through Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Hillman-Jackson Gallery of the Daniel Arts Center.

Locke’s introspective and poignant installation of painting and sculpture studies love’s confusion under contemporary influences of race, religion and pop culture. “The School of Love” is a reference to the painting by Correggio, depicting the intricate relationship between Venus (love), Mercury (communication) and Cupid (desire). In this dynamic body of work, Locke explores the convoluted process of learning about love in today’s society, and questions where and to whom adolescents turn when scrutiny, violence and adult entertainment feel omnipresent, but acceptance and compassion are deficient.

Locke was raised in Detroit, Michigan. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He has received grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation, the Art Matters Foundation, and the LEF Foundation. His first institutional solo exhibition, “there is no one left to blame,” was curated by Helen Molesworth for the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, then traveled to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. It coincided with the publication of the artist’s first monograph by the same title. His work has been reviewed in ARTFORUM, Art in America, Art New England, JUXTAPOZ, the Boston Globe and the New Yorker.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bard College at Simon’s Rock at (413) 622-4400 or info@simons-rock.edu.

–E.E.

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Hoffmann Bird Club to present birding lecture

Pittsfield — At its monthly meeting Monday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. at Guardian Life Insurance, the Hoffmann Bird Club will present the program “North on the Wing: Travels With the Songbird Migration of Spring” with Bruce Beehler, Ph.D., a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s Division of Birds.

In the illustrated lecture, naturalist and ornithologist Beehler will recount his 100-days-long 2015 field trip following the spring migration of songbirds from the coast of southeastern Texas up the Mississippi River and into the boreal forests of northern Ontario, the breeding ground of many of the wood warblers. Along the way, Beehler visited various migratory bird field projects as well as local, state and national parks and refuges critical for the preservation of the migration phenomenon. He also spent time in rural communities from southern Louisiana and Mississippi through the heartland and to the northern limit of roads in Ontario. Beehler’s informal goal was to spend time with all 37 eastern wood warblers in their breeding habitat. In pursuing his objective, he saw much of deeply rural North America. His presentation will touch on wildlife, nature conservation, migration research, American history and rural culture.

The presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Hoffmann Bird Club at hoffmannbirdclub@gmail.com.

–E.E.

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Local colleges to present financial aid programs at area high schools

Pittsfield — The financial aid offices of Berkshire Community College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Williams College have announced the upcoming schedule of Berkshire County high school financial aid presentations.

Parents and students who are unable to attend their own high school’s program are encouraged to attend another presentation in a neighboring community on an alternate date. Program highlights will include a discussion of financial aid concepts; the application and delivery process; an update of federal, state and college financial aid programs; and an in-depth review of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and PROFILE application forms. All programs are designed to last a minimum of 90 minutes and begin promptly at the times listed. Ample time for questions will be available at each session.

Financial aid nights are scheduled as follows:

• Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire with Betsy Hobson of Williams;
• Thursday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Taconic High School with Anne Moore of BCC and Michael Goodwin of Williams;
• Thursday, Oct. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, with Karrie Trautman of BCC;
• Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at Miss Hall’s School with Courtney Hatch Blauvelt of Miss Hall’s;
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Pittsfield High School with Karrie Trautman of BCC;
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. at McCann Technical School in North Adams with Carrie Alibozek of MCLA;
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown with Betsy Hobson of Williams;
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at BART Charter School in Adams with Lori Keating of MCLA;
• Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton with Ann Lundhild and Richard Davis of Williams;
• Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington with Ann Murtagh Gitto of Vassar College;
• Thursday, Oct. 25, at 5 p.m. at Mount Everett Regional High School in Sheffield with Ann Murtagh Gitto of Vassar College; and
• Thursday, Nov. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at Drury High School in North Adams with Beth Petri of MCLA.

Students and parents should contact their schools’ guidance offices for more information.

–E.E.

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Fairview Hospital gala celebrates nurses

Great Barrington — There was dancing in the aisles at the 2018 Fairview Hospital “Light the Lantern of Caring” gala Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Fairview’s largest annual fundraiser honored Doreen Hutchinson, chief nurse and vice president of operations at the 25-bed critical access hospital in Great Barrington.

Nearly 400 dined under a tent decorated by interior designer Carrie Herrington of Hillsdale and catered by the Marketplace with music by Release the Penguins.

At the theater, local musicians Wanda Houston and Jeff Stevens starred with Fairview Hospital nurses, patients and leaders highlighting Hutchinson’s career and the impact she has had on nursing at Fairview. Anthony Rinaldi, Fairview’s executive vice president, and Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, welcomed nearly 700 attendees who enjoyed a taste of authentic Motown with “The Legendary Ladies of Motown” starring Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Martha Reeves of the Vandellas.

Funds raised at the event will be used to invest in a new cardiac monitoring system for inpatients at Fairview Hospital.

–E.E.