The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Cécile McLorin Salvant
Great Barrington— On Thursday, July 20th at 8 p.m., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Cécile McLorin Salvant is a composer, singer, and visual artist. The late Jessye Norman described Salvant as “a unique voice supported by an intelligence and full-fledged musicality, which light up every note she sings.”
Salvant has developed a passion for storytelling and finding the connections between vaudeville, blues, folk traditions from around the world, theater, jazz, and baroque music. Salvant is an eclectic curator, unearthing rarely recorded, forgotten songs with strong narratives, interesting power dynamics, unexpected twists, and humor.
Salvant won the Thelonius Monk competition in 2010. She received Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album for three consecutive albums, For “One to Love” (2015), “Dreams and Daggers” (2017), and “The Window” (2018), and was nominated twice more for “WomanChild” (2014) and “Ghost Song” (2022). In 2020, Salvant received the MacArthur fellowship and the Doris Duke Artist Award.
The performance is on Thursday, July 20th at 8 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets are $59 for premium seating, $49 for preferred seating, $39 for reserved seating, $29 for lined upper balcony seating, and $15 for those age 30 and under. Members receive a five dollars discount off of preferred and premium tickets. For tickets and more information, visit the box office in person or call 413-528-0100 Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets and more information can also be found buy visiting the Mahaiwe online.
***
Lauren Clark Fine Art presents ‘Things I Saw When I Was Dreaming’, 29 new paintings by Richard Britell
Great Barrington— On Saturday, July 8th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lauren Clark Fine Art presents “Things I Saw When I Was Dreaming”, 29 New Paintings by Richard Britell.
Mostly on the smaller side, this new group of paintings by Britell encompass the wide range of subject matter the artist can claim as his oeuvre. Portraits, landscapes and architecture are all explored here. Additionally, and in a signature style, these paintings have been beautifully framed by the artist.
Richard Britell, career painter, writer, curator, teacher, studied at Pratt Institute with Philip Pearlstein and Walter Erlebacher. His first show in NYC at Staempfli Gallery was sold out, and reviewed in the New York Times. The artist currently lives in Pittsfield.
“Artists are often asked to create an artist’s statement, and although I have never written one, I would say that my paintings are informed by invisible, yet structural elements. These invisible structural elements consist of pivotal experiences that dot my personal history like buoys on the ocean, marking distances into the foggy horizon.” – Richard Britell
The show runs now through July 31st at Lauren Clark Fine Art on Main Street in Great Barrington. A reception for the artist will take place Saturday, July 8th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, visit the Lauren Clark Fine Art online.
***
The Clark Art presents a concert by Makaya McCraven
Williamstown— On Wednesday, July 12th at 6 p.m., the Clark Art Institute presents a concert by Makaya McCraven.
The Clark’s outdoor concert series continues with jazz drummer and composer Makaya McCraven. Working through a litany of percussion, McCraven engages with the histories of jazz and hip-hop. Taking you to the brink of experimentation and back again, the songs tell the sonic stories of our time, using his unique gift for collapsing space, destroying borders, and blending past, present, and future into arrangements of post-genre, jazz-rooted, twenty-first-century folk music.
McCraven was raised in a vibrant, creative community in the Northampton area. That scene, with its enticing blend of cultures, helped establish his philosophy around jazz as folk music. Eventually he discovered bridges between jazz and hip-hop, including classic jazz records being sampled by hip-hop producers, and began to devote energy to reappropriating jazz to be, in his words, “what it is, what it means to me, and what it means for my people.”
The fee outdoor concert is on Wednesday, July 12th at 6 p.m. at the reflecting pool at the Clark Art Institute on South Street in Williamstown. Bring a picnic and your own seating. For more information, visit. The Clark online.
***
Foundry presents ‘Preposterous!’, a sophisticated, family-friendly, pocket-sized, theatrical clown circus
West Stockbridge— On July 6th at 6:30 p.m., the Foundry presents “Preposterous!”, a sophisticated, family-friendly, pocket-sized, theatrical clown circus!
These charming vintage clowns play circus animals, sing as a human calliope, do the classic circus mirror routine, invent a number of ridiculous “entrées”, perform live music, and execute a very satisfying slow motion number involving a pie!
“Preposterous!” premiered in the summer of 2017 at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and has been performed at the National Theater as part of their Saturday Morning family series. In the summer of 2019 it toured to a variety of venues in New York and New England including the Waterfront Museum, Camden Opera House, Stonington Opera House, Celebration Barn, and Bread & Puppet. They are ready to hit the road again, just like the real circus!
The performance is on July 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Foundry on Harris Street in West Stockbridge. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $10 in advance for children under age 10, $20 at the door, and $15 for children under age 10 at the door. This show is indoors. For tickets and more information, visit the Foundry online. Parking is limited at the venue so please utilize the three public parking lots in Town. To avoid a parking ticket, visit the Foundry online for further details.
***
The Hudson Festival Orchestra presents their annual community celebration, ‘Hudson in Concert’
Hudson— On Saturday, July 15th, the Hudson Festival Orchestra presents their annual community celebration, “Hudson in Concert”, a variety concert held on the shoreline of the Hudson River.
A quick glance at the program includes selections from a new musical performed by the Columbia County Youth Theater, an Armenian influenced jazz number played by Hudson’s Armen Donelian, and a Broadway selection sung by the Hudson Community Choir.
There are some prize winners included, too. Tango dancer Sydney Grant has won the USA Argentina Tango Championship. Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh has a Grammy on his mantle, and Demi Remick, a tap dancer, has more than 3 million views of her impressive Super Mario Bros. Medley on YouTube.
Joan Tower’s “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1”, composed and dedicated to the first female conductor of a major civic orchestra, Marin Alsop, will be the Hudson Festival Orchestra’s opening piece. This same piece was played the day before the 2021 inauguration as a dedication to Vice President Kamala Harris.
The concert is on Saturday, July 15th at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park on Ferry Street in Hudson. Opening acts begin in the gazebo at 5 p.m. The orchestra assembles at 7 p.m. under the tent. It is free to the public, but donations to the 501c3 orchestra are encouraged. For more information and to donate, visit Hudson Festival Orchestra online.
***
Second annual bat program for families, teenagers, and adults at the Scoville Library
Salisbury— On Thursday, July 27th at 7 p.m., the Scoville Memorial Library (SML) invites the public to the Buttons Garden at SML to hear CT DEEP wildlife biologist Devaughn Fraser, a specialist in bats, discuss the flying mammals that roost in the attics of SML and live throughout this region.
Devaughn Fraser, CT DEEP wildlife biologist, received her doctorate in biology from UCLA, where she used advanced genetic techniques to evaluate the impacts of infrastructure development and environmental toxicants on wildlife. She first started working with bats as a field technician in 2009 and has been dedicated to their conservation ever since. Her work as a bat specialist is largely focused on communication and mitigation. Dr. Fraser will introduce nine species of bats and discuss the methods used to monitor and protect these valuable members of our community as they continue to suffer from disease, habitat loss, and persecution.
Fraser will begin her talk a little after 7:00 p.m., providing instructions and clickers so that residents may observe and help count the bats leaving at sundown. At the end of the count period, approximately 8:30 p.m., results will be recorded. The buildings will be open if restrooms are needed. Please feel free to bring your lawn chairs, bug spray, and flash lights. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is suggested. Registration and more information can be found by visiting the Scoville Library online.
***
Berkshire Art Center offers a series of summer photography classes
Stockbridge— Beginning Sunday, July 16th at 11 a.m., the Berkshire Art Center offers a series of summer photography classes.
The Berkshire Art Center invites you to capture the beautiful Berkshires this summer! Grab your cameras and join local photographer, Thad Kubis, for a series of exciting photography classes. It’s the perfect time of year to explore trails in Stockbridge, streets in Great Barrington, and historic sites in Lenox.
On Sunday, July 16th at 11 a.m., the class is “Landscape Photography” with Thad Kubis on the Mary V. Flynn Trail in Stockbridge. This simple trail provides photographers with storybook-type images of the bridge crossing the Housatonic and close-up shots of plants, flowers, textures, and more!
On Saturday, July 22nd at 11 a.m., the class is “Street Photography at its Best”with Thad Kubis in Great Barrington. Capture the influx of tourist, locals, and others as they enjoy the street and treats of the southern Berkshire’s largest town!
On Friday, August 4th at 10 a.m., the class is “Explore the Heart of the Berkshires through Photography” with Thad Kubis in Lenox. Take a leisurely walk around the main part of Lenox, a town that offers a unique insight on creativity, galleries, restaurants, and turn of the century houses, buildings, and more!
On Saturdays, August 5th though August 26th, there is a mini-series class called “Fun With Your Camera System” with Thad Kubis in Pittsfield. Bored with your DSLR or no longer happy with your Smartphone or Tablet? In this 4-session course, we’ll review the basics of your camera system, learn about apps, and explore how postproduction can allow you to reach a new level of photography.
On Friday, August 11th at 6 p.m, the class is “Artificial Intelligence’s (AI’s) Impact On Photography And Art” with Thad Kubis in Stockbridge. Join Thad Kubis for an interactive, human-driven lecture and discussion explaining the new world of AI software and the impact this technology will have on the future of photography.
On Friday, August 25th at 11 a.m., the class is a photography hike (beginner level) at Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield with Thad Kubis Bring your camera system of choice and get ready to experience one of the most photogenic locations in Berkshire County, Bartholomew’s Cobble, located in Ashley Falls.
Registration and more information can be found by visiting the Berkshire Art Center online.
