Newbergers contribute African artifacts to Williams College Museum of Art
Williamstown — Williams College Museum of Art has announced a promised gift of over 340 objects of African art from Edge columnists Carolyn and Eli Newberger. The collection includes works from the late 19th through late 20th centuries and represents numerous cultures from West Africa with decorative, religious and utilitarian objects.
In 1967, the Newbergers and their infant daughter, Mary Ellen, began two years of service with the Peace Corps, living in the capital city Ouagadougou in what is now Burkina Faso. They admired and appreciated the art around them and became friends with the director of the national museum, Toumani Triandé. The Newbergers were interested in village artifacts and everyday objects that expressed the artistic vision of West African people. Utilitarian objects such as sandals made from tire tread, bowls, spades, textiles, and door locks were given the same importance as ritual and iconic sculptures, masks, and figures. The collection includes works created by more than 15 different cultures including the Ashanti, Bamana, Baule, Bobo, Dogon, Igbo, Mossi, Peul, Senufo and Yoruba people.
“As new Berkshire residents and grandparents of a Williams College sophomore, we look forward through this gift to opening doors to scholarship on African life and culture,” said Carolyn Newberger. “Eli and I hope the collection will aid in building bridges to a vibrant local African and African-American community.”
“Not only does the collection contain important, fabulously iconic examples of Mossi art among others, but it also contains extremely rare and wonderful flashes of artistic individuality and interpretation within these iconic programs,” noted assistant professor of art Michelle Apotsos, “It is this element that allows the objects to both communicate and operate on multiple social, cultural, and political levels.”
–E.E.
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CHP elects new board officers
Great Barrington — The board of Community Health Programs has elected new officers. Marketing and communications consultant Christopher Phillips of Pittsfield, who has been a CHP board member since 2014, has been elected board chair. Brian Drake of Williamstown, a vice president at Mountain One who joined the board in 2016, will serve as vice chair. Arthur Ames of West Stockbridge, a writer and board member since 2010, was elected secretary. Christopher Pedersen of Pittsfield, a practice manager at Baystate Health in Springfield who joined the board in early 2017, will serve as treasurer. Phillips succeeds board chair Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, whose board term recently expired, and Drake succeeds Lynne Carlotto, whose term has also concluded.
–E.E.
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Salisbury Bank, nonprofits partner for mobile banking campaign
Lakeville, Conn. — Salisbury Bank and Trust Company has announced that three area nonprofit organizations received donations as a result of the collective effort of the bank’s employees and customers during its mobile banking campaign.
On April 21, Salisbury Bank kicked off a mobile banking campaign by placing puzzle boards at each of its branch locations. Customers were asked to show employees the Salisbury Bank mobile app on their smartphones or mobile device. Each app shown counted toward a puzzle piece and, once all of the puzzle pieces were collected, the completed puzzle revealed the name of a local nonprofit organization that would receive a donation.
The nonprofit organizations that received donations via the campaign are Geer Village in Canaan; Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Millerton, New York; and Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation Corporation in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
–E.E.
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Hanley joins Berkshire Property Agents
Great Barrington — Berkshires Property Agents has named Fintan Hanley as a sales associate. A native of Ireland, Hanley spent 20 years in Dublin’s fashion industry before relocating to New York City where he then worked with a production company. His work and weekends brought him to the Berkshires where, in 2014, he decided to settle full time. Hanley joined the real estate profession several years ago and has bought and renovated several properties in the area. His transition to a real estate career blended his longstanding interests in design and architecture with his love for the Berkshire region’s lifestyle and outdoor opportunities.
–E.E.
