MASS MoCA presents ‘Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream…’
North Adams— Beginning on May 24th, MASS MoCA presents “Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream…”
Vincent Valdez bears witness to the world around him, chronicling America at the margins. “Just a Dream…,” the artist’s first museum survey, included previously unexhibited and new bodies of work. Spanning over two decades, from early career drawings to recent monumental portraits, “Just a Dream…” cements Valdez as one of the most important American painters working today — imaging his country and its people, politics, pride, and foibles.
At 8:30 p.m., the exhibit’s opening will be celebrated with a performance by the groundbreaking rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor Saul Williams. Williams burst into the public consciousness as Nuyorican Poets Café’s Grand Slam Champion in 1996 and then the star of the 1998 independent hit “Slam,” has since toured the world with his band, opened for Nine Inch Nails, and had records produced by Rick Rubin and Trent Reznor. The two artists’ politically charged work interrogates the American experience with a furious rigor and dynamism that our historical moment cries out for.
The exhibit opens on May 24th at MASS MoCA located at 1040 MASS MoCA Way in North Adams. There is an artist talk on Sunday, May 25th at 11 a.m. Join artist Vincent Valdez in conversation with poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib. The two will discuss what it means to be American today through the lens of art, politics, music, and basketball. The artists will sign books in MASS MoCA’s Research & Development Store following the talk. More information can be found online.
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TurnPark Art Space opens ninth season with concurrent exhibitions from Payl Chaleff and Jim Morris
West Stockbridge— On Saturday May 17th, TurnPark Art Space opens its ninth season with concurrent exhibitions, “Sculpture – Tablets – Chargers” from Payl Chaleff and “Leaving Traces” from Jim Morris.
Ceramist and sculptor Paul Chaleff, known for his pioneering role in the revival of wood-fired ceramics and his innovative large-scale sculptures, bridges ancient traditions and contemporary concerns through Chaleff’s signature blend of rough, gestural forms, imbued with the artist’s unique philosophical outlook. Credited as one of the first sculptors to use wood-burning dragon kilns in the style of the Japanese anagama tradition, Chaleff also draws inspiration from Neolithic pottery, and the sculptures of Isamu Noguchi, Anthony Caro, and others.
Using archaic and modern charts, maps, architectural plans, satellite photographs, surveillance feeds, and medical records, Jim Morris captures states of transformation, volatility, and turbulence, offering a visual form to ideas and data that provide a bridge to understanding select aspects of our world. Focusing on themes of power and flux, Morris mines print and online sources for examples of the myriad ways information is visualized to communicate the dynamism of events—such as the built systems of cities and border spaces, as well as the natural processes of cellular growth and decay.
The exhibits open on Saturday, May 17th at TurnPark Art Space, located at 2 Moscow Road in West Stockbridge. There will be an opening reception for Paul Chaleff on Saturday, May 24th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be an opening reception for Jim Morris on Saturday, May 3st from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. More information can be found online.
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Berkshire County Historical Society presents ‘The Thinking Trees,’ a multimedia project by Bella Luna Rosa Photography at Arrowhead
Pittsfield— From May 23rd through June 16th, Berkshire County Historical Society presents “The Thinking Trees,” by Bella Luna Rosa Photography at Arrowhead.
“The Thinking Trees” is a multimedia project delving deep into the trees and surrounding forest at Arrowhead by Bella Luna Rosa Photography.
The exhibit runs from May 23rd through June 16th at Arrowhead, located at 780 Holmes Road in Pittsfield. There is an opening reception on Friday, May 23rd from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Photographer Bella Vendetta will give a short talk about the work, and refreshments will be served. More information can be found online.
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Adams Theater opens season with Ghost Funk Orchestra and comedian Shafi Hossain
Adams— The Adams Theater kicks off its 2025 season with Ghost Funk Orchestra on May 23rd and comedian Shafi Hossain on May 24th.
On Friday, May 23rd at 7:30 p.m., Ghost Funk Orchestra (GFO) takes the stage with a genre-blending sound of soul, psych rock, salsa, and beyond. Experimentation is the key, and unpredictability is what has been attracting folks from all corners of the globe to see what GFO pulls off next…don’t miss them!
On Saturday, May 24th at 7:30 p.m., comedian Shafi Hossain, “the funniest chemical engineer in the world,” takes the stage. While he moved from Bangladesh to the U.S. to study, Shafi fell in love with standup, and has been rising through the NYC circuit since. He made his TV appearance on Kevin Hart’s LOL Network’s show “Road Comics” (Peacock) and was named one of New York’s Funniest Stand Ups by the New York Comedy Festival. He’s also a regular at the world renowned Comedy Cellar. His debut special “Not From Here” released in October 2024.
Both performances are at the Adams Theater, located at 27 Park Street in Adams. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Mass Audubon presents outdoor activities at The Mount
Lenox— On Wednesday, May 21st, Mass Audubon presents outdoor activities at The Mount, located at 2 Plunkett Street in Lenox.
From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Mass Audubon presents Birding at The Mount. Explore Edith Wharton’s original estate, including its woods, wetlands, and meadows. Learn skills to find and identify migrating and resident birds during this casual, beginner-friendly walk. The walk will focus on the basics of bird-finding and identification as well as observing behavior. This program typically covers around one mile on an unsurfaced trail with some hazards and inclines. Registration and more information can be found online.
From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon presents a Spring Wildflower Walk at The Mount. Search The Mount’s meadows and woodlands for blooming wildflowers and other signs of spring while enjoying a leisurely walk in the warm sunshine. Learn to use guidebooks and smartphone apps to look up plants that we discover. This program covers up to two miles on an unsurfaced trail with some hazards and inclines. Registration and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Alliance to Support the Immigrant Community hosts community engagement and call to action event at Berkshire Innovation Center
Pittsfield— On Friday, May 23rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Berkshire Alliance to Support the Immigrant Community (BASIC) will host a community engagement and call to action event at the Berkshire Innovation Center.
BASIC is a collective of organizations and institutions that serve immigrants in Berkshire County. The event’s purpose is to inform the public about what immigrants are experiencing under our current administration and to provide information on how the public can be proactive in supporting immigrants. The event will have speakers, action-oriented workshops, volunteer sign-up tables, and an open forum where BASIC can hear questions and concerns from attendees.
“We have had and continue to have many community members reaching out to BASIC and affiliate organizations asking how they can help,” said Literacy Network’s Executive Director and BASIC event coordinator, Leigh Doherty. “This event will provide a place to learn more about what individuals can do to be part of local solutions and extended support.”
The free event is on Friday, May 23rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Berkshire Innovation Center, located at 45 Woodlawn Avenue in Pittsfield. Registration and more information can be found online.
