West Stockbridge Chamber Players Memorial Day concert
West Stockbridge — On Friday, May 22, at 6 p.m. in Vaber Hall, the second-floor performance space in the 1854 Town Hall, the West Stockbridge Chamber Players will perform what is bound to be another sold-out benefit concert. Led by clarinetist and artistic director Catherine Hudgins, the West Stockbridge Chamber Players are a world-class ensemble made up of Boston- and Berkshire-based musicians who regularly perform with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops and Portland Symphony, and who teach at the Tanglewood Music Center. The May Concert will feature seven outstanding musicians, including, along with Catherine Hudgins on clarinet, Sheila Fiekowsky and Lisa Crockett on violin, Ronny Feldman on cello, Daniel Getz on viola, Elizabeth Morse on harp, and Linda Toote on flute.
Maurice Ravel’s short, Basque-inspired Pièce en forme de Habanera will start the concert, followed by the String Quartet No. 2 in A major by Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga. The String Trio by Jean Francaix will lead off the second half of the program, followed by Claude Debussy’s Syrinx. The concert will conclude, as it began, with Ravel — the beautiful Introduction and Allegro.
The event will not only kick-off the beginning of the summer season, but will also signal the start of the next phase of restoration of our historic Town Hall.
The concert is generously underwritten by Dr. Richard Ziter and a grant from the West Stockbridge Cultural Council.
Tickets, $35, available at downtown West Stockbridge businesses with a “Blue Note” in their windows, or online at www.weststockbridgehistory.org.
— Liza Bennett
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Traditional dance music concert in Monterey
Monterey — A free concert presented by the Monterey Cultural Council at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22nd will feature “Dancing Ears: A voyage in traditional dance music for the listener” with musicians Eric Martin on violin (fiddle), viola and voice, along with Northampton-based musician extraordinaire Karen Axelrod on piano and accordion.
Eric and Karen will perform traditional tunes and songs from the British Isles, France, Scandinavia, Quebec, Appalachia, New England, Argentina, and beyond, at the UCC Church Meeting House at 499 Main St. (Route 23 in the center of town, across from the General Store).
— D.S.
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Ceramic artist Michael Boroniec at Lauren Clark Fine Art
Great Barrington—Lauren Clark Fine Art will welcome the 2015 Summer Season with a Memorial Day open house and reception for ceramic artist, Michael Boroniec on
Saturday, May 23 from 4-7 p.m. at 25 Railroad St.
Boroniec’s “May Flowers” is an exhibition comprised of stunning floral arrangements created from ceramic material. Each delicate petal is handmade and assembled into beautiful bouquets frozen in time. The exhibition fuses Vincennes porcelain with Japanese Ikebana. With this work Boroniec follows up his well-received show at the gallery in 2014, “Spatial Spirals,” thrown and deconstructed vases.
In addition, here are a few of the other artists currently on exhibit in the gallery:
Bart Arnold, Dai Ban, Joan Barber, Richard Britell, Abby DuBow, Kiki Dufault, David Eddy, Warner Friedman, Kris Galli, Laurie Goddard, Julio Granda, Carolyn Letvin, Franco Pellegrino, Robin Tost, and Terry Wise.
For more about Lauren Clark Fine Art call 413.528.0432 or go to www.LaurenClarkFineArt.com
— H.B.
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Lime Rock at Mahaiwe: Paul Newman documentary, ‘Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman’
Great Barrington — Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, in partnership with Lime Rock Park, will screen Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman (2015) on Friday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at 14 Castle St. A half-hour panel discussion with Sam Posey, Ellen Griesedieck, and John Clagett, will be followed by the feature-length documentary that chronicles the 35-year racing career of actor Paul Newman.
Tickets are $15, and the event is free to Mahaiwe members and Lime Rock Memorial Day ticket holders.
The world knows Paul Newman as an Academy Award winning actor with a 50-plus year career as one of the most prolific and revered actors in American cinema. He was also well known for his philanthropy; Newman’s Own has given more than four hundred and thirty million dollars to charities around the world. Yet few know the gasoline-fueled passion that became so important in this complex, multifaceted man’s makeup. Newman’s deep-seated passion for racing was so intense it nearly sidelined his acting career. Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman, directed by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams, showcases Newman’s prolific racing career as both a driver and an owner. As a driver Paul Newman won four SCCA National Championships, 24 Hours of Daytona, took second overall at Le Mans (winning his class), and won multiple professional Trans Am races. He also owned Newman/Haas Racing with Carl Haas. Together with drivers Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, and others, they were one of the most prolific Indycar teams in history, winning eight championships. Newman lived and breathed racing—this is his story. The film features Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Joanne Woodward, Patrick Dempsey, Jay Leno, Robert Wagner, Mario and Michael Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, Bob Sharp, Sam Posey and many others who raced with, and for, Paul Newman.
Lime Rock Park put together the pre-screening panel of people who knew Paul Newman well. Sam Posey is one of the greats of American motor racing. Artist Ellen Griesedieck is married to Mr. Posey. She worked as a photographer for Sports Illustrated, People, and Road and Track. And John Clagett is the president of the Trans-Am Race Company.
Box office hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and three hours before show times. For tickets and information, see www.mahaiwe.org or call 413-528-0100.
— H.B.
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The Second Annual Kenver Summer Fest
South Egremont — Celebrate the beginning of summer at Kenver on Saturday May 23 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 39 Main Street with a festival featuring local artists including painters Jean Stover and Jan Schumacher, photographers B. Docktor and Michael Lampro, potter Sue Browdy and glass artists Jill Reynolds of Cheshire Glassworks and Clinton Smith.
Local high school band, Highland, will play easy-listening Latin and funk originals and covers from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Complimentary wine, beer and food will be offered by local purveyors including SoCo Creamery and Sweet William’s Bakery.
Kenver has been a Berkshire shopping tradition for visitors and locals since 1959, proudly outfitting generations of cold weather lovers with the latest gear and fashion, building a solid reputation for top-quality merchandise, excellent service, and a unique historical storefront. Now Kenver is part of the Berkshire summer scene too, with new departments including bike rentals and sales, home decor and premium pet supplies.
— H.B.
