Textile sculpture exhibition
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College presents “MOTION,” an exhibition of textile sculptures by Hudson Valley, New York artist Kate Hamilton, on view in Koussevitzky Gallery November 1 through January 6. The gallery is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
In part of a project statement provided by the artist, Hamilton said, “The materials, structures and shapes I work with will always be defined by Motion. Movement through space, through time, though ideas. And as I work, thoughts float about, traveling in many directions, like dust through air, like tiny floating jellyfish.”
Kate Hamilton is a sculptor based in the mid-Hudson Valley. Her sculpture practice employs the process of sewing to create form. She uses it to explore the architecture, experience and nature of garments, in work ranging in scale from palm-sized to room-sized. Recently, her interests have diversified to include other objects of shelter, refuge and transport: bowls, boxes and boats.
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Niagara through the eyes of Black escape artists, Black activists, and Frederic Church
Hudson, N.Y. — On November 3, at 6 p.m. the OLANA Partnership presents “Impressions of Niagara through the Vantage Point of Black Escape Artists, Black Activists, and Landscape Artist Frederic Church,” a talk given by Dr. Daniel J. Broyld.
Niagara Falls separates the United States and Canada and in the 19th Century, Blacks employed international lines to pit the two nations against one another for the best possible outcomes. As Blacks from both countries crossed a fluid border marked by two-way movement and social collaboration, they were in awe of the Falls famously captured on canvas by Frederic Church in 1867. Against the backdrop of the picturesque Falls, Blacks cultivated a global and green outlook, developing the Niagara Movement which birthed the NAACP in the midst of Niagara’s wonders, whirlpools, and waves. Dr. Daniel J. Broyld, PhD will examine how Niagara, a vitally important painting subject for Church, speaks to a larger transformative transnational environment with potent importance for Blacks in the 19th century and beyond.
This is a free webinar. Register here.
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Shakespeare & Co. movement intensive
Lenox— Shakespeare & Company presents the online workshop intensive Movement: Presence, Power and Freedom, led by Director of Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay November 2, 9, 16, and 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. on Zoom.
Combining a variety of Eastern and Western somatic practices including Pure Movement (Swings), the Alexander Technique, yogic philosophy, and mindful awareness of self, students will have an opportunity to strengthen their connections to their bodies and being to facilitate greater freedom of expression. They will be guided through movement sequences and activities to deepen connections to sensation, imagination, and breath, while also having an opportunity to non-judgmentally observe limiting beliefs that may be holding them back. This workshop is an opportunity to dive deeply into the experience of authentic, embodied presence both for work as an actor and as a technique for living. All levels are welcome.
Tuition is $150. For more information, visit shakespeare.org, or call 413.637.1199, ext. 114.
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“Life Sciences” Innovation in the Berkshires 2022
Pittsfield— On November 2 at 5 p.m. Innovation in the Berkshires 2022 Virtual Lecture Series continues with “Life Sciences” at OLLI. Massachusetts is a global leader in the biotech and life sciences sector. This lecture will be an overview of the sector’s growth, the effect the pandemic has had, and what careers are and will be in demand.
Panelists include: Jeanne LeClair, Senior Director of Business Development & Workforce Partnerships; Linnea Koons, Director of Marketing at Boyd Biomedical; and Thorsten Scott, General Manager of Spectrum Plastics in Pittsfield.
This event is free via Zoom. Register here: https://berkshireolli.org/event-4993513
The next lecture is November 9 at 5 p.m. “Creative Economy,” and the last lecture is November 16 at 5p.m. “Growing the Tech Economy in the Berkshires.” November 16 will have an in-person option at the Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Ave. Pittsfield, MA.
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Virtual tour of Melville’s Arrowhead
Pittsfield— On Thursday, November 3 at 11 a.m. The Berkshire County Historical Society will offer a virtual tour of Herman Melville’s historic home Arrowhead. Lead by John Dickson, Arrowhead docent and Chair of the Pittsfield Historical Commission, the architectural tour will focus on how Arrowhead looked when Herman Melville and his family lived there, the changes over its 230-year history, and how the Berkshire County Historical Society has worked to preserve the site where Melville wrote Moby-Dick and three other novels, all of his short stories, and his initial works of poetry.
Cost for the program is $10 for BCHS members, $15 for non-members. Reservations are required and can be made at https://berkshire-county-historical-society.square.site/events.
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WTF Gala supports Berkshire artists
Williamstown— The 2022 Williamstown Theatre Festival Gala will take place on Monday, November 7, 2022 at City Winery in New York City. The Gala will begin with a cocktail hour with Festival artists at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7 p.m., and performances beginning at 8:30 p.m.
All proceeds from the Gala will support the Festival’s mission to bring emerging and professional theatre artists together in the Berkshires for a thrilling summer festival of diverse, world premiere plays and musicals, bold new revivals, and a rich array of accompanying cultural events. The Festival is possible only through your generous support.
Performers include Alex Edelman, Christopher Fitzgerald, James Naughton, Steven Pasquale, Phillipa Soo, and Kris Kukul.
To review the benefits associated with Gala tables and tickets, please click here.
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Open house at Berkshire Waldorf High School
Stockbridge— Berkshire Waldorf High School is holding an open house on Thursday, November 3 at 7 p.m.
An informative and engaging program will include a scene from their upcoming Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, and a student panel. Guests are welcome to ask questions about the students’ high school experience, the work they’ve done this year, and their plans for the future.
The school offers honors-level, college preparatory academics and is also well-integrated into the larger community, including classes and workshops in renowned artists’ studios, the use of local science labs and gyms, Shakespeare & Company, field trips to events and museums in the Northeast, and international travel. All students receive individual attention and guidance, their academic and personal progress thoughtfully supervised. They are fully prepared for the most demanding universities and colleges.
A specially-curated presentation of student work will be on view, including math, science, humanities, and technology projects.
Light refreshments will be served. Parents, students, friends, community members, and younger siblings are all welcome.
Registration is not required, but if you have any questions about Open Houses, please contact Samantha Stier, Admissions Director, at [email protected] or (413) 298-3800.