Dewey Hall to welcome composer-performer Ben Cosgrove
Sheffield — Berkshire Environmental Action Team and Dewey Hall will welcome traveling composer-performer Ben Cosgrove to Dewey Hall Friday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of music and conversation about landscape, place and environment in North America.
Cosgrove has performed his instrumental music in all U.S. states except Delaware and Hawaii. He has held artist residencies and fellowships with institutions including the National Park Service, Harvard University, Middlebury College, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology.
Tickets are $10-$15. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Dewey Hall at (413) 229-2357 or deweymemorialhall@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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New Lebanon Democratic Association to screen ‘Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook’
New Lebanon, N.Y. — The New Lebanon Democratic Association will present a screening of “Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook” Sunday, Feb. 2, at noon at the Immaculate Conception Church.
“Rigged” takes a look at the tactics being employed to suppress the right to vote in America, including purging voter rolls, gerrymandering, restrictive voter identification laws and intimidation. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Tim Smith, the Emmy Award-winning producer of the film, and Tom Gerety, former head of the at New York University Law School Brennan Center for Justice.
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact adeliamoore@gmail.com.
–E.E.
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BIFF to show ‘The Pollinators’
Great Barrington — Berkshire International Film Festival’s Environmental Film Focus series will present “The Pollinators,” a documentary film by Peter Nelson and Sally Roy, Sunday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. in the Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
“The Pollinators” features the filmmakers talking to farmers, scientists, chefs, economists and academics to give a broad perspective about the threats to honey bees and what it means for food security. Immediately following the screening will be a question-and-answer session with Lillian Lennox, director Peter Nelson and other panelists, as well as a reception.
The event is free to BIFF REEL Friends and Simon’s Rock students and faculty, and $10 for soon-to-be REEL Friends. For more information, contact the Berkshire International Film Festival at (413) 528-8030 or kelley@biffma.org.
–E.E.
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Darrow School releases ‘Tannery Sessions’ video concert series
New Lebanon, N.Y. — Darrow School music director Andy Wrba presents “Tannery Sessions,” a series of concert videos in which students, faculty members, guest performers and artists collaborate to create music and art in the Tannery on the school’s campus. Combining Wrba’s love of music and passion for teaching, “Tannery Sessions” features music and art in a relatively informal context. Much of the music performed is traditional music for the area, popular songs and other well-known tunes during which students and faculty improvise the accompaniment, song arrangements and musical ornaments to melodies of songs and art.
Berkshire County, Massachusetts, native Wrba founded the Berkshire Jazz Collective in 2012, which has served to showcase the talent and diversity of many local artists. He developed and curated the weekly Monday night jazz residency at Mission Bar and Tapas in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He has been the Darrow School’s music director since 2014. He can be found performing professionally as the founder of the Berkshire Jazz Collective, an original member of Barefoot Truth, and a featured member of the Whiskey Treaty Roadshow.
“Tannery Sessions” can bee seen on the Darrow School’s YouTube channel.
–E.E.
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Becket Arts Center calls for artists for its 2020 season
Becket — The Becket Arts Center invites visual artist, in all media to apply for placement in its gallery exhibits in 2020.
Emerging and professional artists are invited to apply online. Applicants are asked to include include size and media, website if available, and any pertinent exhibit information that could be used in the 2020 brochure. Work will be juried and selected for specific dates between June and September 2020. Artists accepted to exhibit will pay $40 to help cover refreshments and advertising their respective shows. The Becket Arts Center will retain 35% commission on all sales. A student discount may be applied.
The application deadline is Saturday, Feb. 15. For more information, contact jenn@becketartscenter.org.
–E.E.
