‘Diapause’ interactive art at L’Atelier Berkshires
Great Barrington — L’Atelier Berkshires, at 597 South Main St., will host an opening reception for “Diapause,” an interactive art installation by sculptor Natalie Tyler on Saturday, February 20, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
“Diapause” incorporates human-sized cocoons that hang from the ceiling and brighten and dim in response to the movement of the viewers, thereby creating an environment of introspection through illumination. “Diapause” has exhibited in galleries and museums in Estonia, Ireland, and New York City. The show at L’Atelier Berkshires will be its New England debut.
The opening reception will also include a wine tasting with Les Trois Emme Winery. For more information, contact the gallery at (510) 469-5468.
–E.E.
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Simon’s Rock faculty recital series
Great Barrington — Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s Faculty Recital Series will present a program of chamber music with clarinet that will feature longtime faculty members Ronald Gorevic and Larry Wallach with guests Paul Green on clarinet and Jonah Thomas on cello. The program will include works by Paul Hindemith, Darius Milhaud, Gabriel Fauré, and Robert Schumann. The concert will be held on Sunday, February 21, at 3 p.m. in the Kellogg Music Center and will be free and open to the public.
Green, Gorevic, and Wallach are renewing their collaboration after performing together in the Fall 2014 Faculty Recital Series program. Jonah Thomas, a Berkshires native and Juilliard graduate, performs and composes in a variety of genres with the new-music group Quiet in the Head.
–E.E.
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Williams College to provide support for solar project
Williamstown — As a part of its commitment to invest in regional alternative and sustainable energy projects, Williams College will provide a bridge loan to the Williamstown Youth Center for a solar energy project.
The youth center will install a 100 kWh solar array on its roof that would fulfill the electricity needs of the entire facility. Youth center supporter Sheila Stone has agreed to provide funding for the total cost of the project over time and, so that the project may proceed now, Williams has entered into an agreement with Stone to provide a $350,000 no-interest loan for the entire project. The array is to be installed and operational in 2016.
–E.E.
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Ramsdell Library Winter Sundays
Housatonic — A 2 p.m. free screening of “Frozen River” is the featured event scheduled for Week Seven of Winter Sunday Afternoons at Ramsdell Public Library on Sunday, February 21. Winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and nominated for two Academy Awards, the film catapulted the careers of both writer/director Courtney Hunt and actress Melissa Leo.
At 1 p.m. artist Holly Hamer will lead a workshop on abstract painting using gouache and casein. The library will be open from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. for checking materials in and out, the Sunday papers and crosswords, and refreshments provided by the Friends of the Great Barrington Libraries.
For more information call the Library at (413) 274-3738.
–E.E.
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BCC to hold auditions for ‘Avenue Q’
Pittsfield — The BCC Players will hold auditions for the Tony Award-winning “Avenue Q” on Monday, February 22, and Tuesday, February 23, in Room K-111 Berkshire Community College’s (BCC) Koussevitzky Arts Center. The show will run Friday, May 13 through Sunday, May 22, in the Boland Theatre.
The cast includes Princeton (puppet), a fresh-faced kid just out of college; Kate Monster (puppet), a kindergarten teaching assistant a bit older than Princeton; Nicky (puppet), a slacker who lives with Rod; Rod (puppet), an investment banker who is Republican and a closeted homosexual; Trekkie Monster (puppet), a reclusive creature obsessed with the Internet and all it has to offer; Lucy (puppet), a “vixen-ish” vamp with a dangerous edge; The Bad Idea Bears (puppets), two snuggly, cute teddy-bear types; Mrs. T. (puppet), crabby and ancient, and Kate’s boss; Brian, a laid-back guy married to Christmas Eve; Christmas Eve, a therapist who recently moved to Avenue Q from Japan; and Gary Coleman, who lives on the Avenue and is the superintendent of the apartment buildings.
Those auditioning should bring a 32-bar song (backing tracks are acceptable but an accompanist will be provided) and a one-minute monologue. Participants may also be asked to learn some basic puppetry as part of the audition. Auditions will begin at 7 p.m. on both evenings. Callbacks, if needed, will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24.
The production will be directed by Tom Towne with musical direction by Ellen Shanahan. Questions concerning auditions or the production in general may be directed to Ellen Shanahan at (413) 236-4703 or eshanahan@berkshirecc.edu.
–E.E.
