Destination Berkshires by New Venture Media Group

BERKSHIRES

DESTINATION BERKSHIRES Where Art Meets Nature

his is the summer for planning, doing, going, staying an extra day, playing more, dreaming, exhaling, and burning the candle at both ends. The Berkshires, culturally invigorating and beyond beautiful—regardless of the season—is all about living life to its fullest. For centuries, artists and art lovers alike have looked to this region for inspiration, solitude, and just plain fun. The region’s museums, galleries, and co-ops test the boundaries of contemporary art, and whether it’s your first trip or your millionth, the potential for artistic adventures in the Berkshires is limitless. Highlights follow, add them to your “to go” list.

Frelinghuysen Morris House in Lenox

Built in 1934 and 1941 on 46 acres in the heart of Lenox, next to Tanglewood, it was the home of artists George L.K. Morris and his wife Suzy Frelinghuysen, founding members of the American Abstract Artists. Together they championed American abstract art, and collected some of the 20th century’s greatest Cubist works, including paintings by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, and Fernand Leger. Morris was instrumental in building the collection of New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. At the same time, he collected for himself, often from artists he knew, including Henri Matisse, Fernand Leger, Jean Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp, and Joan Miro. This collection, alongside works by

Aerial view of the Norman Rockwell Museum & Studio in Stockbridge, MA.

Frelinghuysen and Morris, are on display in a home which embodies the spirit of Modernism. Opening June 23: Suzy Frelinghuysen: Painter and Opera Singer—Influences of Cubism & Music in Her Art explores Frelinghuysen’s dual career as an abstract painter and dramatic operatic soprano. On display are her music-infused collages and opera costumes as well as paintings. frelinghuysen.org

SculptureNow at The Mount in Lenox

Founded in 1998 by a dedicated group of Berkshire arts patrons committed to enhancing awareness and access to sculpture, SculptureNow has been partnering with The Mount, American novelist Edith Wharton’s glorious estate, for the past eight years. Each year, visitors will experience a new, juried

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A must-see exhibition about the power of published art to30 shape June 11 - October attitudes about race and culture.

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s art to shapePluattitudes about race and culture. In Our Lifetime: Paintings from the Pandemic by

KADIR NELSON This exhibition has been generously sponsored by: This exhibition has been generously sponsored by: StevenThis Spielberg exhibition has been generously sponsored by: Major Sponsor Mellody Hobson Sponsor Steven Spielberg Mellody Hobson & Kate Capshaw’s Sponsor Steven Spielberg & Kate Capshaw’s & George Lucas &Major BerkshireBank Mellody Hobson George Lucas Sponsor &Hearthland Kate Capshaw’s Foundation & George Lucas Hearthland Foundation Hearthland Foundation Stockbridge, MA | 413.298.4100 | Kids & Teens FREE | Advance tickets at NRM.org

Major Sponsor

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With additional support from Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation, and the Upper Housatonic Heritage Area

Additional support Robert C. and Sohn Foundation, and the Upper Housatonic Heritage Area With additional support fromKathe and Tina Foundation, and the©Kadir UpperNelson. Housatonic Heritage difrom r NDr. elsoRobert n, Athe fter tC. heDr. Storm , 202Sohn 0. Collection of JKNBTina Group. All rights reserved.Area

Stockbridge, MA | 413.298.4100 | Kids & Teens FREE | Advance tickets at NRM.org

Stockbridge, MA

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413.298.4100

NRM.org

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BERKSHIRES exhibition of large-scale, outdoor sculptures by regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists located on The Mount’s meticulously-groomed grounds. Beginning June 1, the exhibition is free and open to the public. Self-guided tours are welcome from dawn to dusk. A sculpture map and an audio guide are available at The Mount and on the SculptureNow websites: edithwharton.org and sculpturenow.org

Sohn Fine Art in Lenox

Founded in 2011, by photographer Cassandra Sohn, the Gallery specializes in contemporary photography and is dedicated to the development, promotion, and exhibition of innovative contemporary artworks by international and local artists. Summer exhibitions include: Nature: Form, Function & Process, a collaborative exhibition with the 2022 outdoor sculpture exhibition at Chesterwood, in Stockbridge. While the work at Chesterwood is installation- and sculpture-based, work on view at Sohn Fine Art is primarily photographic, which includes camera-less photography made from glacial materials by Leah Raintree. The focus of the exhibitions, both curated by gallery owner Cassandra Sohn, are works that have a direct interaction with natural materials in form, function, or process or whose works are created using materials found in nature. Central to the exhibition is the interrelationship between humanity and nature. Upcoming this season: Wonderland, painterly photographs illuminating the mystiques of the natural environment. sohnfineart.com

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The museum’s diverse collection of more than 40,000 objects combines art, science, and history to create thought-provoking experiences for kids and grownups, including exhibitions, educational programming, digital content, and fun community events. Its mission is simple: To bring people together for experiences that spark creativity and innovative thinking by making inspiring educational connections. The museum encompasses three floors of its century-old building: below the lobby, an Aquarium hosts hundreds of live specimens, including native and exotic fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Upstairs, you’ll find an ever-changing assortment of interdisciplinary exhibitions that convey the endless stories behind the fine art,

historical artifacts, and natural science specimens that make up the museum’s collection. Opening June 4: Art of the Hills: Visual Evidence, the third installment of the Berkshire Museum’s juried art exhibition. Celebrating the rich, creative culture of the region, Art of the Hills will highlight the works of both emerging and established Berkshire-based artists working in all styles and genres. berkshiremuseum.org

Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield

A living history museum on 750 acres in the heart of the Berkshires, this is a magical place for families. The property includes 20 historic Shaker buildings dating back to 1783, and the oldest working farm in the Berkshires. The museum is home to more than 22,000 artifacts

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Berkshire based artists.

Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield

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Mary Sipp Green, Berkshire Sunset, 40 x 54"

71 Spring Street, Williamstown, MA 01267 413.884.6926 | www.greylockgallery.com

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BERKSHIRES including furniture, textiles, hymnals, and everyday goods, making it one of the premier Shaker collections in the world. Beginning May 30, Hancock Shaker Village will present its first major exhibition on contemporary Asian art, featuring three artists working on the cutting edge of international art trends. A Spirit of Gift, A Place of Sharing is a campus-wide exhibition exploring the link between 19th century Shaker and contemporary Asian art. Featuring three artists—Yusuke Asai of Japan, Kimsooja of Korea, and Pinaree Sanpitak of Thailand—the campus-wide exhibition connects the forms rooted in various Asian sensibilities and aesthetics as manifested in the contemporary visual language of these three artists, sharing a concentration of minds, handcrafted intimacy,

SculptureNow at The Mount

Exhibition 2022 June 1 – October 20, 2022 2 Plunkett St., Lenox, MA Guided tours are available Special Event: Meet the Artists June 12, 2022, 2–5 PM Preregistration Requested

SculptureNow (413) 358-3884 www.sculpturenow.org The Mount (413) 551-5111 www.edithwharton.org

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and unique use of space. Although worlds apart in origin and distance, these artists and the Shaker community are all dedicated to a place of sharing. hancockshakervillage.org

Chesterwood in Stockbridge

Chesterwood is the former summer home and studio of Daniel Chester French (1850–1931), sculptor of the Minute Man and Lincoln Memorial Abraham Lincoln statues and a leading artist of his era. The site includes: French’s home and studio; museum Installation view of Objects and Their Stories. At the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA. collections of objects owned or created by him; an archive of historic documents and photographs; outbuildings; and 122 acres of stunning wooded landscape. Opening May 7: Chesterwood is collaborating with its Stockbridge neighbor, the beloved Norman Rockwell Museum in honoring the centennial of the Lincoln Memorial, which was dedicated on May 30, 1922. This exhibition will highlight the work of illustrators and artists who have incorporated the Lincoln Memorial and Daniel Chester French’s seated Lincoln into their art as a symbolic element—an instantly-recognizable icon upon which to build meaning. Approximately 50 historical and contemporary artworks by noted illustrators and cartoonists will be featured, as well as archival photographs, sculptural elements, artifacts, and ephemera. On May 26, Daniel Chester French: American Sculptor, a new documentary film, premieres at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. chesterwood.org

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BERKSHIRES Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge

The life and art of Norman Rockwell, one of the most popular artists of the mid-20th century, is beautifully honored in this museum that illuminates “the power of American illustration art to reflect and shape society, and advances the enduring values of kindness, respect, and social equity portrayed by Norman Rockwell.” Spend time with his Four Freedoms, Rockwell’s fourpiece painting series—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear—inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 Four Freedoms State of the Union address where he discussed basic human rights that should be universally protected. Opening May 4: Lincoln Memorial Centennial Exhibition, The Lincoln Memorial Illustrated, created in collaboration with Chesterwood to honor the Lincoln Memorial’s centennial in May 2022, the exhibition highlights the work of illustrators and artists who have incorporated the Lincoln Memorial into their art as a symbolic element. Imprinted: Illustrating Race opens June 11 and examines the role of published images in shaping attitudes toward race and culture. More than 100 works of art and artifacts of widely circulated illustrated imagery will be on view, produced from the late 18th century to today, which have an impact on public perception about race in the U.S. nrm.org

Artist Book Foundation in North Adams

The Artist Book Foundation (TABF), a nonprofit art book publisher, celebrates visual artists

with distinguished books, public programs, and focused exhibitions. TABF is delighted to announce the release of its latest monograph, Don Gummer, which details the acclaimed sculptor’s life and artistry. In TABF’s gallery, on view throughout the summer of 2022, is an exhibition of the artist’s work, Don Gummer: On the Wall & In the Air. While exploring the expansive campus of MASS MoCA, you’ll find TABF on the second floor of Building 13. If you collect art books along with artwork, peruse their bookshop where you’ll lose all sense of time amongst current titles and limited editions. For every book purchased, another is donated to an underserved library or school. TABF believes “providing access to art sustains and enlivens an essential source of knowledge and cultural

vitality.” Admission to the gallery is free and all are welcome. artistbkfoundation.org

Berkshire Art Museum in North Adams

This 25,000 square-foot gem of a museum— the product of the repurposing of two former churches, exemplifying the adaptive reuse of architectural space for cultural purposes, and coined the “medium MoCA” by founding director Eric Rudd—reopens in June, highlighting contemporary art as well as five decades of Rudd’s work in the museum’s permanent collection. Carrying one of the most intriguing titles for an exhibition this summer is Artists of the Thursday Night Chinese Dinner Group, offering work from 30 artists and friends who

SURROUNDED BY COLOR

FREE PUBLIC OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022, 6–9 PM

BERKSHIRE ART MUSEUM 159 E. MAIN ST., NORTH ADAMS, MA Annex: 82 Summer St., (Post Office Square) Summer: W–Su 12–5

413.664.9550 | BAMuseum.org

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North Adams, Mass. massmoca.org

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BERKSHIRES regularly dine together, you guessed it, every Thursday at Meng’s Pan-Asian restaurant in North Adams. Multiple artistic styles define this collection of work, reflecting a fascinating array of personalities, tastes (pun intended), and tendencies. “Perhaps that’s one of the benefits of creating in North Adams and why the city has become a mecca for artists. It’s much easier to meet and socialize here than in a large metropolitan city says” Rudd. Everyone is invited to the Museum’s free public opening reception on Friday, July 1, 6–9 p.m. BAMuseum.org

Mass MoCA in North Adams

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DRIVE TIMES 2 hours and 30 minutes from Boston to Stockbridge 12 minutes from Stockbridge to Lenox 15 minutes from Lenox to Pittsfield 40 minutes from Pittsfield to North Adams

The Mass MoCA campus is exhilarating and all-encompassing. Self-described as “one of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art,” you’ll need to spend the day, two days, if you can, to scratch the surface. It’s an incredible space for adults and kids and is absolutely full of wonder. Summer art installations and exhibitions include Amy Yoes: Hot Corners, beginning May 18. This site specific installation will transform a 142-foot hall space in Building 6 into a multiroom, immersive complex of custom-built mobile furniture acting as shifting set pieces for art-making, socializing, reflection, and performance. Beginning June 26, the Kidspace exhibition Defining Moments explores how memories are formed, recalled, and visualized. Multi-disciplinary artist Shaun Leonardo and Brazilian pop artist Bruno Miguel share

14 minutes from North Adams to Williamstown their memories in a range of mediums including paintings, wall drawings, mixed media sculpture, and collage concerts. Summer Open Studios, Juneteenth celebrations, concerts— including Brooke Annibale on July 2 and The Roots on July 8—comedy, and events—including Cirque Kalabanté on June 26—await you. Research the schedule and plan your tickets in advance at massmoca.org.

Greylock Gallery in Williamstown

Greylock Gallery specializes in showcasing traditional and contemporary art from both emerging and established artists. Featured artists in this upcoming season include John MacDonald, Stan Taft, Tracy Helgeson, Mary Sipp Green, Kate

Tortland, and Teri Malo. Embracing a “Life is short… Buy the artwork. Drink the wine. Order the dessert” perspective, these words to live by hold great meaning in today’s culture. Gallery director Rachele Dario is a native Berkshires resident who returned to settle after many years living across the U.S. and in Italy. Her love of art has been cultured through various life experiences, and she’s thrilled to represent her roster of talented artists at the gallery. Dario looks forward to sharing her passion for art and helping you find that piece that resonates with you personally, to add to your new or existing collection. “Life is our experiences—art is our home,” she adds. Dario also offers private appointments and personalized home viewings, based on availability and location. greylockgallery.com

YUSUKE ASAI KIMSOOJA PINAREE SANPITAK May 29–Nov 14

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