Giant Whale coming to the Stockbridge Library
Stockbridge— On Friday, August 18th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Stockbridge Library Association, supported by the Ruth Krauss Foundation, invites children to meet Nile, the visiting 40ft whale!
Sign up to reserve a 30 minute trip INSIDE Nile’s belly and find out all about whales. The slots are every half hour from 10:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. Space is limited to 20 people per time slot. Email rnicholson@cwmars.org to reserve your spot. This activity is best for youth ages five and up. Children should be old enough to be able to sit inside the inflatable whale for a 20-minute presentation.
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The Norfolk Library hosts ‘Peter Coffeen: Photographs’
Norfolk— Now through August 30th, the Norfolk Library hosts “Peter Coffeen: Photographs”.
Peter Coffeen has had three exhibitions at the library and has participated in many group shows, including at Five Points Gallery in Torrington; Pinacoteca Gallery in Bantam; and Noble Horizons in Salisbury. His work won two second prizes and one first prize in the photography division of The Art of Experience, a juried exhibit of Connecticut artists over seventy at Pomperaug Woods in Southbury. He is an ex-collector of 19th and 20th century photography and works from his collection have appeared in books on photo history in exhibitions in this country and abroad.
Of his inspiration, Coffeen says,”I am interested in discovering shapes and designs, both in nature and the built environment, which provoke mystery, affection, wonder, and questions. Along with color, the gray scale, and, of course, light. Looking, seeing, and getting at the essence of a place or thing itself keeps me interested. Inspiration comes from the work of Giorgio Morandi, William Bailey, Charles Scheeler, and Lilo Raymond, a master of natural light in photography.”
The exhibit is on view through August 30th at the Norfolk Library on Greenwoods Road East in Norfolk. For more information, visit the Norfolk Library online.
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Capital Region Classical presents the Marmen String Quartet at the Darrow School’s Tannery Pond
New Lebanon— On Saturday, August 12th at 7:30 p.m., Capital Region Classical presents the Marmen String Quartet at the Darrow School’s Tannery Pond. The program will include Haydn, Ligeti, and Beethoven.
The Marmen Quartet is fast establishing itself as one of the most impressive and engaging new talents in chamber music since winning First Prize at both the 2019 Bordeaux and Banff International String Quartet Competitions, among other accolades. The quartet has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Boulez Saal, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Stockholm Konserthuset, Milton Court (Barbican), Palladium Malmö and Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.
The concert is on Saturday, August 12th at 7:30 p.m. at the Darrow School’s Tannery Pond on Darrow Road in New Lebanon. Tickets are $40. Children and students are free. For more information, visit http://www.capitalregionclassical.org or call 518-941-4331.
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Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. to host fourth annual “Filly Frolic”, a ladies-only evening of line dancing, and more
Richmond— On Tuesday, August 15th at 6 p.m., Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. hosts its fourth Annual “Filly Frolic”, a ladies-only evening of line dancing with Tina Mole, dinner, and cocktails to benefit equine assisted programs for at-risk youth and families.
Grab your girlfriends, put on your western boho chic attire, cowgirl hat, and boots, and come together for a ladies’ night of line dancing, dinner, cocktails, and fun. Food will be catered by the best restaurants of the Berkshires and our specialty cocktail, the Filly Frolic, will flow!
The event is on Tuesday, August 15th at 6 p.m. at the Egremont Barn on Main Street in South Egremont. Tickets are $75 and include dinner, entertainment, live auction, and unlimited Filly Frolic cocktails. There are a limited number of tickets available. All proceeds will go toward equine-assisted programming for at-risk youth and families at Berkshire HorseWorks. To purchase a ticket please call 413-698-3700. If you have any questions, please email events@berkshirehorseworks.com.
Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc., a mission-driven 501c3 nonprofit, which has been offering Eagala Model and Eagala-based equine-assisted, experiential activities and trail ride lessons for the past 10 years, has expanded programming to include more life skills curriculum for children, families, and those at risk with mental health and behavioral challenges, as the needs of the community have shifted.
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WordXWord’s ‘Poets Creating Conversation – Free Range Bullets and Banned Books’ at The Mount
Lenox— On August 16th at 6 p.m., The Mount presents WordXWord’s “Poets Creating Conversation” surrounding the topic of “Free Range Bullets and Banned Books”.
Not for the faint of heart, WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that invites and challenges poets to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the social discourse. Poets are invited to contemplate two subjects that are not only headlines, but have a very real impact on the lives and futures of children and young adults.
Poetry, unaccompanied rap, or short story – 3 minutes or less are welcome. No personal attacks are allowed. Collaborations (multi-voice pieces) are welcome and encouraged. Register online to take the challenge and share a poem. Note for poets: In this call there are two possible centers to circle around. Feel free to circle around either one or both.
The free event is on August 16th at 6 p.m. at The Mount on Plunkett Street in Lenox. It will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit The Mount online.
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Thinking about learning an instrument? Try the ukulele with the Stockbridge Council on Aging
Stockbridge— On Tuesday, August 15th from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Stockbridge Council on Aging hosts local ukulele enthusiasts and invites the public to join in, try it out, or just listen and enjoy.
Small, portable, relatively inexpensive, and fun to play, the ukulele is a great instrument for beginners to pick up and deepen their love of music. If you’re thinking of learning to play ukulele, there’s no time like the present!
This is an amateur group of ukulele players with varied experience who play and sing mostly older songs. If you have a ukulele and like playing and singing, or if you would like to just sit and listen (they might put some maracas in your hand), please join the event. It’s an informal setting. The group talks about what songs to play and specifics about how to play them. It’s not specifically a class or teaching event, but if you need a little help with something, someone will probably help you, or you may be able to help someone else.
Just show up!
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Arrowhead day residencies are open now through October 31st
Pittsfield— Berkshire County Historical Society at Melville’s Arrowhead’s day residency program runs seasonally through October 31st at Melville’s Arrowhead.
The day residency includes private use of your choice of the Mastheads studios, a tour of Melville’s historic home, and access to the extensive grounds and trail network at Arrowhead. It is open to anyone working on a creative project.
The residencies are open through October 31st at Arrowhead on Holmes Road in Pittsfield. The day residency rate is $100 per day. You may reserve as many days as you like. These funds support our free public humanities programming in Pittsfield and the Berkshire Historical Society at Melville’s Arrowhead. Browse the studios online, then reserve online. Several sliding-scale residency positions are available. If you’d like to participate, email info@themastheads.org with a description of your project and how much you can afford.
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Berkshire Immigrant Center announce an open call for artists the Iris Artistic Residency 2024 Program in collaboration with The Studios at MASS MoCA
North Adams— Berkshire Immigrant Center announces an open call for the Iris Artistic Residency 2024 Program in collaboration with The Studios at MASS MoCA.
The Iris Residency is an opportunity for artists living in Western or Central Massachusetts who are foreign-born/immigrant, or first- or second-generation American. Two artists will be selected for a funded one-month residency at MASS MoCA with a stipend, the usual residency benefits, and optional resources from the Berkshire Immigrant Center.
The application deadline for the Iris Residency 2024 is Friday, September 8th. Apply online. An information session about the Iris Residency 2024 will be offered on Monday, August 21st at 6pm via Zoom. Register online.
