Berkshire Botanical Garden hosts gala and auction
On Saturday, July 2, from 5-8 p.m. the Berkshire Botanical Garden will host a “Fête des Fleurs” gala.
At this year’s gala, guests will be encouraged to “slip down the rabbit hole” at Searles Castle in Great Barrington. The artist Hunt Slonem, famous for his artworks that feature bunnies, butterflies, birds and orchids, will host the event. Slonem purchased Searles Castle in 2021.
The elegantly whimsical evening will feature special guests, hors d’oeuvres, optional tours of the castle, and much merriment. The dress code is “castle casual,” and whimsical hats are welcomed.
Tickets are for sale here, and all proceeds will benefit the Garden’s education and horticulture departments. As an additional bonus, those who purchase “gala sponsor” tickets will have the opportunity to take a tour of Searles Castle’s upper floors.
Additionally, BBG’s third annual online auction is running until July 2. From unusual vintage tools to antique plant stands to a vintage croquet set, the auction has lots to offer to curious gardeners.
All funds raised by the auction help support the programs and educational offerings of Berkshire Botanical Garden.
To view the items up for auction, visit this webpage.
— A.J.
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The People’s Pantry launches first fundraiser in 23 years of operation
GREAT BARRINGTON — Since 1999, The People’s Pantry of Great Barrington has been respectfully addressing food insecurity in our community by distributing healthy food that is locally sourced whenever possible. In recent years, both demand for their services and their operating costs have skyrocketed. As a result, The People’s Pantry is raising money with their newly launched Help-Fill-The-Bag fundraiser.
Massachusetts is the second most expensive place to buy groceries in the contiguous United States – falling only slightly behind front-runner New York State. As of late, dramatic increases in the cost of living in combination with diminished affordable housing have resulted in an exponential increase in the number of clients the Pantry serves.
Prior to the pandemic they helped feed roughly 500 individuals a month. Currently, the Pantry helps to feed over 2000 individuals a month. Even as the coronavirus pandemic has receded, their demand has increased.
Between 2018 and 2021, the operating budget of The People’s Pantry has increased by 500%, and in recent months their costs have increased even more. Just as individuals have felt the effects of inflation in recent months, so too have non-profits like the Pantry.
The Help-Fill-The-Bag fundraiser hopes to raise $300,000 by year’s end to cover this year’s projected expenses. More than 85¢ of each dollar will be turned directly into food on the tables of families in our community.
The People’s Pantry of Great Barrington is a 501(c)(3), and all monetary donations are tax deductible. For more information, please visit www.ThePeoplesPantryGB.org.
— A.J.
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Berkshire Backyard Beekeepers Club to meet
GREAT BARRINGTON — The June meeting of the Berkshire Backyard Beekeepers Club will be held on Zoom and in person on Thursday, June 30 at 6 p.m. at Bard College’s Simon’s Rock Fisher Science auditorium.
Participants will discuss the following questions: How are my honey bees doing? What challenges am I facing as a new beekeeper? and What steps can be taken for managing my hives at this time of year?
Attendees, both via Zoom and in person, are encouraged to share any concerns and photos of hive activities/conditions available to enhance the discussion.
Contact Skip Del Vaglio for Zoom information and in person requirements at 203-560-2034.
— A.J.
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Berkshire Pulse offers a wide variety of summer dance classes
HOUSATONIC — Berkshire Pulse, the Berkshire dance studio and center for creative arts, continues its longstanding tradition of providing world class dance instruction in the Great Barrington borough of Housatonic.
This summer, instructors include renowned guest teachers hailing from Congolese, Brazilian, Midwestern American, United Kingdom, and Latin traditions. The special guest instructors have experience in Hip Hop, Samba, African Dance, film, the disability dance community, ballet, jazz and modern dance.
The summer offerings have classes for children, teens, and adults. The highlights include the Hip Hop Street Style Intensive (ages 12-14 and 15+), which teaches foundational movements and techniques as well as the cultural meaning and significance of these moves and Dance Discovery (ages 9-12), which introduces students to ballet, modern dance, jazz, and African dance techniques.
In addition to teaching dance, instructor Ian Spencer Bell feels that Pulse creates community; “Teaching at the Pulse reminds me of why I love the Berks: community and the arts. Dancers leave our studios with a sense of belonging and accomplishment. Pulse is a positive environment with an empowering culture.”
Berkshire Pulse summer intensive offerings include Contemporary and Ballet for two levels of students each, as well as A Taste of Spain, an introduction to Flamenco dance for kids and adults. In addition, guest speakers Victoria Guy and Beth LaPierre from Fairview BMC will hold seminars on dancer wellness and injury prevention.
Pulse continues to offer a variety of weekly classes for community members of all ages, including but not limited to Samba, Salsa, Zumba, East Coast Swing, Breaking, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Yoga, and Shake Your Soul.
Class registration is available online, and interested students can call 413.274.6624 for more information.
For more information on the Berkshire Pulse Summer Intensive programs, visit https://berkshirepulse.org/summer-intensive-programs/ For a full list of classes, visit https://berkshirepulse.org/courselist/
— A.J
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The Carrie Chen Gallery presents D. Jack Solomon exhibit
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Carrie Chen Gallery presents the exhibition D. Jack Solomon: Further Notice from July 2 – 31. This solo exhibition features recent paintings by Hudson based artist D. Jack Solomon. A public reception will be held on Saturday, July 2, from 3-5 p.m.
Further Notice marks an evolution in Solomon’s long career where his unique pop-art inspired vocabulary is met with constructivist elements of form, line, and a rich, earthy color palette. Solomon’s paintings are an intricate blend of his strong, personal vocabulary, nuanced colors, and punctuated abstract surfaces. Working in acrylic, Solomon incorporates the design elements of line, shape and color with recognizable images, text, and characters from popular culture. His work draws inspiration from musical composition and orchestration, and has a lyrical vibrancy, syncopation, and rhythm.
Jack Solomon is a painter who has exhibited widely in one-person and group exhibitions throughout the United States. He has taught at the Brooklyn Museum School of Art, New York State University at Purchase, and at the New York State University at New Paltz. He taught drawing at the Parsons School of Design in New York City for 28 years and retired from teaching in 2011. He is represented in numerous public, corporate and private collections throughout the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Chief Curator and Gallery Owner Carrie Chen comments “D. Jack’s recent painting is creative, whimsical, and thrilling. He draws a space for us to be playfully engaged.”
The Carrie Chen Gallery is located on Railroad Street in Great Barrington, MA. The gallery showcases talented artists locally and globally, working in a wide range of styles and media.
For more information, visit www.carriechengallery.com.
— A.J.
