Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® to benefit Elizabeth Freeman Center
Pittsfield — The sixth annual Berkshire County Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence will take to the street during the Third Thursday event on Thursday, Sept. 15, rain or shine. Walkers are encouraged to wear their flashiest shoes as they walk a mile downtown to demonstrate their commitment to stop violence and show solidarity with violence survivors. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Elizabeth Freeman Center (EFC), Berkshire County’s domestic violence/rape crisis center.
Registration will begin at 5 p.m. on the corner of North Street and Columbus Avenue and the march will begin at 6 p.m. Registration is free, but almost all walkers raise funds through pledges or by fundraising as teams to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence throughout Berkshire County. Participants who raise $55 or more will receive a 2016 Walk a Mile commemorative t-shirt. Men are encouraged, though not required, to walk in women’s high-heeled shoes. They can bring their own or choose from shoes and shoe decorations available at registration.
Pledge sheets are available online and at Bagels Too, Flavours of Malaysia, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Steven Valenti’s Clothing for Men, Berkshire Running Center, and all EFC offices. For more information, call EFC at (413) 499-2425.
–E.E.
* * *
OLLI to present art show

Lenox — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College (OLLI) will hold its annual art show from 2 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker St. A reception will be held Saturday, Sept. 3, from 2 – 5 p.m.
The art show will include work by participating artists Susan Geller, Thaddeus Kubis, Claudia Shuster, Thomas Doane Perry, Leon Nesis, Joan Davidson, Susan Sabino, Alan Rubin, Eleanor Windman, Barbara Barron, Arthur Winston, Freya Segal, Howard Shapiro, Naomi Schwartz, Judith Fox, Thomas Joseph, Arline Shalin, Anna Klocke, Harriet Pollack, Ray Grogan, Elna Nugent, Lance Sterman, Jacqueline Fisher, Larry Frankel, Elske Smith, Paul Smilow, Anne Roland, and Robert Schechter.
The reception will feature a silent auction, the proceeds from which will support OLLI’s educational programs. Artists Freya Segal and Marcy Isaacson collaborated on the mixed media piece entitled “Eyes Opaque with Terror,” inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis. They will sell prints of the work to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders.
For more information, contact OLLI at (413) 236-2190 or olli@berkshirecc.edu.
–E.E.
* * *
Robin F. Williams to exhibit at Simon’s Rock

Great Barrington — Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s Hillman-Jackson Gallery presents “Trailing Off,” a solo exhibit by Brooklyn, New York, painter Robin Williams, through Friday, Oct. 7. Williams will give an illustrated talk in the Gallery at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Her talk will be followed by a reception.
Robin Williams was born in Ohio and earned her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2006. More recently she has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony and teaches at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
–E.E.
* * *
RSYP culinary apprenticeship program seeks participants
Great Barrington — Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) is seeking youth ages 14 – 25 to take part in its culinary apprenticeship program, which will begin on Monday, Oct. 3. The program links youth with professional chefs from award-winning kitchens who will teach them the skills they need for employment in the world of culinary arts. Apprenticeships meet two hours per week for eight weeks. The program is free to participate in and transportation is provided from South County schools and from RSYP’s offices. Those interested in taking part in the program should contact Chris Tucci at (413) 528-2475 or chris@rsyp.org.
–E.E.
* * *
BPL requests submissions for playwrights’ festival
Great Barrington — Berkshire Playwrights Lab (BPL), in association with Saint James Place, invites writers living within 50 miles of Saint James Place to submit a short play for consideration for its first-ever Radius Playwrights Festival. The Radius Playwrights Festival will feature fully staged readings of five selected new short plays created by local talent. The submission process is blind and there is no fee; a panel of experts will read all submissions and choose five plays to be produced by BPL using local actors and directors. All submitted plays should be between 10 and 12 minutes in length and require minimal tech. The playwrights of the selected plays must be available to participate in the rehearsal process as well as to be present at the performances at St. James Place. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, Nov. 7, and the shows will run Friday, Nov. 11 – Sunday, Nov. 13.
Those wishing to participate should email submissions to submit@berkshireplaywrightslab.org by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30. Detailed submission guidelines are available online. For more information, call BPL at (413) 528-2544.
–E.E.
* * *
L’Atelier Berkshires to present art by Marshall Jones

Great Barrington – L’Atelier Berkshires presents “Land of the Free,” an exhibition of paintings by New York City artist Marshall Jones, through Friday, Sept. 30. An artist’s reception will be held Saturday, Sept. 3, from 7 – 9 p.m.
Originally from Atlanta, Marshall Jones moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League of New York where he learned the technical concepts and skills to create his photorealistic. Jones has exhibited his artwork nationwide and has won numerous awards and recognitions for his paintings.
For more information, call L’Atelier Berkshires at (510) 469-5468.
–E.E.