Berkshire Museum to open three exhibits with reception June 4
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Museum will celebrate the bi-annual Berkshire-based artists’ exhibition “Art of the Hills: Visual Evidence,” along with solo shows by Julia Dixon and Bill Arnold, with an opening reception Saturday, June 4 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
This is the third installment of “Art of the Hills,” first debuting at Berkshire Museum in 2018. The series celebrates the artistic and creative culture of the region through both emerging and established artists working or living within 60 miles of the museum’s location in downtown Pittsfield. “Visual Evidence” was curated by jurors Christine Lafuente and Valerie Hegarty to feature 50 artists showing a total of 66 works out of more than 480 works submitted.
Alongside the main exhibition will be “Memento Mori,” a solo show from artist Julia Dixon, the 1st place awardee from “Art of the Hills: Narrative,” in 2020, and “Really Big Photos,” featuring the work of photographer Bill Arnold.
“Art of the Hills: Visual Evidence” includes works by the following artists: Alvin Ouellet, Ashley Garrett, Barbara Patton, Bradley Wakoff, Bryan Powers, Cara Petricca, Cassandra Sohn, William Zelazo, Dan Mead, Daniel Koretz, David T. Ricci, Diane McLeod-Packer, Dorene Beller, Ellen Joffe-Halpern, Gail Gelburd, James Singelis, Jamie A. Hankin, John Clarke, John MacGruer, John Roberts, Karen Lee Bognar-Khan, Katherine McClelland, Kay Canavino, Kent Mikalsen, Kest Schwartzman, Kit Curry, Lemmy Evans, Ligia Bouton, Mary Claire Hogan, Mary Davidson, Matthew Van Alstine, MJ, Nathan Hoogs / Elizabeth Crawford-Hoogs / Crawford Glass, Noah Depew, Patricia R. Hogan, Peggy Reeves, Peter Vacchina, Ralph Frisina, Ray Larrow, Robert H. Lafond, Robert Markey, Sara Mikula, Stephanie A. Blumenthal, Susan S. Miller, Terri Tibbatts, Terry Junoure, Toby Barnes, Virginia Bradley, William S. Casper
—A.K.
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Pleasant Valley Sanctuary to host family fun day
LENOX — Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary invites everyone to its Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., rain or shine. The event is free of charge.
At 11 a.m., Master Naturalist and Field Biologist Tom Tyning will present Turtle Time, an animal show with live turtles. Throughout the day, families are invited to explore the sanctuary’s ponds, forest, and meadows with skilled naturalists. Guided exploration stations will include: Insect Safari (“hunt” for butterflies and other insects in open fields); Wing Watchers (see what birds you can spot in the bluebird meadows); and Pond Creatures (find strange creatures who call Beaver Lodge Trail home).
Learn about protecting local wildlife with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and about the efforts of the Housatonic Stream Resilience project. Snacks will be for sale, as well as refreshments and snacks from BrewBerry food truck. During the event, Mass Audubon family memberships will be available at half price.
—A.K.
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Gerard Fromm to discuss new book on trauma at Lenox Library
LENOX — The Lenox Library will host local author M. Gerard (Jerry) Fromm to discuss his new book, “Traveling through Time: How Trauma Plays Itself out in Families, Organizations and Society,” on Saturday, June 11 at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of The Bookstore.
Organized in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, “Traveling through Time” collects stories and reflections on the conditions that lead to trauma, the forms it takes, and the ways it affects a person’s life and the lives of others. The book is about how the “big history” of societal trauma finds its way into the “little history” of families and work life. In his presentation, Dr. Fromm will discuss the foundations of this work at the Austen Riggs Center’s Erikson Institute and illustrate his theme with vignettes from the book.
M. Gerard Fromm, Ph.D., is a distinguished faculty member of the Erikson Institute of the Austen Riggs Center and a fellow of the American Board and Academy of Psychoanalysis. He was the first Evelyn Stefansson Nef Director of the Erikson Institute, and directed the therapeutic community program at Riggs for many years. He has taught at, and consulted to, psychoanalytic institutes across the country and has served on the faculties of the Yale Child Study Center and Harvard Medical School. He is president of the International Dialogue Initiative, an interdisciplinary group that studies the psychodynamics of societal conflict. He is also a past president of the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations and of the Center for the Study of Groups and Social Systems in Boston.
—A.K.
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Daryl Lowry Quartet to perform at West Stockbridge Historical Society
WEST STOCKBRIDGE — As part of its Jazz Series, the West Stockbridge Historical Society will host a performance by the Daryl Lowry Quartet on Saturday June 11 at 8 p.m. Proceeds of the concerts go toward the restoration of the historic Old Town Hall.
Daryl Lowery is a saxophonist, composer, and educator who was born and raised in the Metropolitan New York area, where he was immersed in jazz, soul, funk, and R&B. He has recorded and performed with such renowned artists as Dizzy Gillespie and Jackie Byard, the eclectic Ran Blake and Boston’s legendary Ellis Hall Group. He appears frequently in many international jazz and blues festivals and venues such as B.B. King’s, the Bottom Line, Lincoln Center, and the Beacon Theatre.
Bassist Mary Ann McSweeney was chosen to play at the Monterey Jazz Festival with the All-Star band fronted by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis when she was 16 years old. She has played with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Joanne Brackeen, Lee Konitz, Gil Goldstein, and Bucky Pizzarelli, and for renowned conductors Leonard Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, and John Williams.
Keyboardist Gilson Schachnik attended Berklee College of Music and has performed with Peter Erskine, Harvey Mason, Claudio Roditi, Bill Pierce, Miguel Zenon, and many others. His recording “Raw,” released on Brownstone Records, was nominated for a Best of Boston Music Award.
Mark Walker is an award-winning drummer, percussionist, author, and educator. He has performed on many Grammy Award-winning albums and earned several Grammy nominations (including best instrumental composition) for his work with various artists, including Oregon, Donato Poveda, Paquito D’Rivera, and the Caribbean Jazz Project. He has performed and recorded extensively and appeared on major television shows.
Tickets for the concert are $35 and can be purchased online. Masks will be required.
—A.K.
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Jacob’s Pillow presents Dance for Social Justice™ residency with Danza Orgánica
PITTSFIELD — Join artists Mar Parrilla and Dey Hernández of Danza Orgánica in a 4-part workshop series exploring creative strategies for effective collaboration in the Pittsfield and Berkshire community — through movement, conversation, and art-making.
All community members are welcome, ages 8+; movement experience is not required. Artists from all mediums are welcome: dancers, visual artists, musicians, poets, and more. BIPOC artists are highly encouraged to participate.
Pittsfield Workshop Dates (locations to be announced):
Saturday, June 11 | 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, June 12 | 1-4 p.m.
Saturday, July 2 | 1-4 p.m.
Saturday, July 9 | 1-4 p.m.
Plus! Work-in-process sharings: July 15 and 21.
All participants will be compensated for their time, active participation, and creative contributions. Participants should present in all 4 workshops to be eligible for an honorarium: $18/hour per workshop hour, for up to 20 hours. Additional compensation may be provided for rehearsals, work-in-process showings, and reflection sessions.
Únete a los artistas Mar Parrilla y Dey Hernández de Danza Orgánica en una serie de 4 talleres que exploran estrategias creativas para una colaboración efectiva en nuestra comunidad de Pittsfield y Berkshire, a través del movimiento, la conversación y la creación artística.
Todas los miembras de la comunidad mayores de 8 años son bienvenidas. No se requiere experiencia en movimiento. Son bienvenidos todas las artistas de todos los medios (bailarines, artistas visuales, músicos, poetas, etc.) Animamos a todas las personas negras, indígenas y de color a que participen.
Fechas del taller de Pittsfield (Estén pendientes para la localización exacta):
sábado 11 de junio | 3-6 p.m.
domingo 12 de junio | 1-4 p.m.
sábado 2 de julio | 1-4 p.m.
sábado 9 de julio | 1-4 p.m.
¡Y presentaremos nuestro trabajo con el público en julio 15 y 21!
Todos los participantes serán compensados por su tiempo, participación activa y contribuciones creativas. Pedimos que los participantes estén presentes en los 4 talleres, de 3 horas cada uno, para ser elegibles de los honorarios de $18 por hora de taller, se compensarán hasta 20 horas. Posiblemente se pueda proporcionar una compensación adicional por los ensayos, las presentaciones de procesos creativos y las sesiones de reflexión.
—A.K.
