Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series presents Misty Blues
Spencertown, N.Y.— On Saturday, October 12th at 8 p.m., Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series, in association with the Capital Region Blues Network, presents Misty Blues, a Berkshire-based band that plays original and traditional blues with hints of jazz, soul, funk, and tent revival gospel.
Founded 25 years ago, Misty Blues performs extensively throughout New England and has toured the continental U.S., Canada, and the UK. They have also recorded with Eric Gales, Charles Neville, and Joe Louis Walker, and opened for contemporary blues artists like Tab Benoit, James Montgomery, John Primer, Roomful of Blues, Albert Cummings, and Michael Powers.
The concert is on Saturday, October 12th at 8 p.m. at Spencertown Academy, located at 790 NY-203 in Spencertown, N.Y. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents the Pink Martini 30th Anniversary Tour
Great Barrington— On Saturday, October 12th at 8 p.m., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents the Pink Martini 30th Anniversary Tour.
Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world, crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education, and parks. Thirty years later, Pink Martini still tours the world, singing in 22 languages at opera houses, concert halls, film festivals, museums, and fashion shows.
The concert is on Saturday, October 12th at 8 p.m. at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Adams Theater presents Gypsy Layne
Adams— On Friday, October 11th at 7:30 p.m., the Adams Theater presents Gypsy Layne.
Spooky Season has never been sexier thanks to Gypsy Layne, the Berkshires’ own homegrown burlesque and cabaret troupe.
The Gypsies will bewitch you in this night of electrifying entertainment, where steamy strips, astounding circus arts, howl-worthy dance numbers, and more meet in a ghoulishly glamorous, rip-roaring spectacle that will leave your heart racing. All of this is delivered with the unabashed body positivity that has made Gypsy Layne a beloved Berkshires institution for 14 years and counting.
The performance is on Friday, October 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the Adams Theater at 27 Park Street in Adams. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Mad Rose Gallery to showcase groundbreaking works from acclaimed American artist Daniel Jocz
Millerton, N.Y.— From October 10th through November 24th, the Mad Rose Gallery will present “Daniel Jocz: Ripped, Shredded, and Sprayed,” a significant solo exhibition highlighting the extraordinary and innovative work of celebrated American artist Daniel Jocz.
Renowned for his unconventional approach and boundary-defying creativity, Jocz explores masterful sculptural forms imbued with autobiographical elements and clever, subtle visual humor, trademarks that have earned him a reputation as both a “trickster” and an “outsider” in the art community. The gallery will bring together a diverse collection of his work, including bold sculptures, dynamic wall pieces, and vibrant jewelry. For the first time, pieces from across Jocz’s prolific career will be available for purchase in a single location, marking a unique and unprecedented opportunity for collectors and art enthusiasts alike.
Jocz’s art is part of prestigious museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
The exhibit runs from October 10th through November 24th at Mad Rose Gallery at 5916 North Elm Avenue in Millerton, N.Y. There is an opening reception on Saturday, October 19th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is an artist talk on November 16th. More information can be found online.
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Future Lab(s) Gallery and Studio B at Hotel Downstreet present ‘Resurrection: Sergio Demo’
North Adams— From October 4th through January 15th, Future Lab(s) Gallery and Studio B at Hotel Downstreet present “Resurrection: Sergio Demo.”
Sergio Demo is an installation artist known for his assemblages of salvaged materials and strategic use of light, working primarily with found objects and rusted metals that reference the industrial past of his hometown. He incorporates discarded materials like old scrap metal, and wiring, granting new purpose to objects that have been weathered by time. Strategic lighting transforms Demo’s pieces, casting shadows and illuminating surfaces to reveal new textures and dimensions, drawing focus to the visual interplay between materials within the assembled pieces. He embraces qualities like oxidation, decay, and the passage of time in his artwork, seeing beauty in damage and imperfection. His work encourages new perspectives and creates a visual language formed through the synthesis of light and found objects. “I Resurrect things. Things that have been abandoned, discarded, left as junk. I believe in the potential of materials even when it appears they’ve lost all possibilities,” he said.
The exhibit runs from October 4th through January 15th at Studio B at Hotel Downstreet located at 40 Main Street in North Adams. There is an opening reception on Saturday, October 12th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. More information can be found online.
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‘The Art of Impermanence,’ a walk and workshop at Olana State Historic Site
Hudson, N,Y.— On Saturday, October 12th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., visit Olana State Historic Site for ‘The Art of Impermanence,’ a walk and workshop held in conjunction with Olana’s “Afterglow: Frederic Church and the Landscape of Memory” exhibit.
This nature-based walk and workshop led by ‘Snowy’ Andrea Lajoie will explore growing through grief and loss. Through a series of creative therapeutic practices including mindful nature walking, participants will discover different ways they can leave impressions in an impermanent world. This program will include making cyanotypes with natural materials as a way to more deeply engage with the natural landscape and the art of letting go.
‘Snowy’ Andrea Lajoie is a practicing therapist who graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from Wheelock College at Boston University. She is a level I certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide and a registered climate-aware therapist with the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. She operates Wolf Tree Therapy wilderness therapy, working with humans of all ages in diverse settings.
The event is on Saturday, October 12th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Olana State Historic Site at 5720 State Route 9G in Hudson, N.Y. More information can be found online.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden’s annual Harvest Festival returns
Stockbridge— On Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Berkshire Botanical Garden’s annual Harvest Festival returns.
This year, the Garden is celebrating its 90th birthday with an array of family-friendly activities, live music, a plant sale, an accessory pop-up shop, and a wide selection of regional artisan food and crafts vendors. The garden’s 24-acre grounds will undergo a remarkable transformation into a vibrant hub for celebrating community, the natural world, and our agricultural heritage.
Children’s activities include pony rides, a haunted house, the ever-popular obstacle course, a hay maze and jump, face painting, a cider press, and photo opportunities. Live entertainment for all ages includes performances by Wanda Houston, Katherine Winston, and more.
The festival is on Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Berkshire Botanical Garden at 5 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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North Berkshire Contra Dance monthly community dance
Williamstown— On Saturday, October 12th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., the North Berkshire Contra Dance will hold its monthly community contra dance with live fiddle music and dances taught by caller Quena Crain.
Quena Crain, who calls all over New England (and far beyond) brings an infectious joy to the dance hall. Her fun calling and easy teaching style are beloved by all age groups from elementary school through college and well past retirement. Music will be provided by Cedar Stanistreet on fiddle and Michael Sokolovsky on guitar, the duo version of the popular contra dance band, Sycamore.
The dance is on Saturday, October 12th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the community hall of the First Congregational Church at 906 Main Street in Williamstown. New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive by 7:30 for instruction in the basics. More information can be found online.
