The Artful Mind artzine

THE ARTFUL MIND

Monthly Berkshire Artzine Since 1994

January 2013

REBECCA LEIGH VOCALIST & ACTOR THE BERKSHIRES

Photography by Jane Feldman

JANE FELDMAN Family Portraits

PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.JANEFELDMAN.COM

JANEFELDMANPHOTO@GMAIL.COM

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 T S C A L E N D A John daVis Gallery 362 1/2 Warren St., Hudson, New York

museums & galleries

Berkshire MuseuM 39 South Street (Route 7), Pittsfield, MA Bryan Nash Gill: Beyond the Landscape thru May 2013.

518-828-5907 www.johndavisgallery.com / art@johndavisgallery.com (sculpture, painting, collage and installation). lauren Clark Fine art 402 Park St, Housatonic, MA • 274-1432 www.LaurenClarkFineArt.comLauren Art and framing in the heart of Housatonic.

510 Warren street Gallery Hudson, NY • 518-822-0510 Joel Mark Jan featured artist; Will Clark ebruary featured artist

neuMann Fine art 65 Cold Water St., Hillsdale, NY • www.neumannfineart.com Three Visions: H.M. Saffer, R. Goldfinger, and Jeffrey. L. Neumann, inaugural group show, Nov 24-Jan 26.

art et industrie 420 Park St, Housatonic, MA, 2nd fl.

• 413-353-0037 Reclaimed: Reused: Repurposed Furniture & Furnishings from Found Objects

norMan roCkWell MuseuM 9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-4100 Heroes and Vilains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross, Nov 10-Feb 24. Norman Rockwell: Home for the Holidays, Nov 16 - Jan 21.

Berkshire art Gallery 80 Railroad St, Gt Barrington, MA • 528-2690 www.berkshireartgallery.com 19th and early 20th Century American & European art and sculpture, contemporary artists

sChantz Galleries 3 Elm St, Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-3044 • www.schantzgalleries.com.

A destination for those seeking premier artists working in glass. (11 - 5 daily)

Front street Gallery Front St., Housatonic, MA • 413-274-6607 / 413-528-9546, or cell at 413-429-7141 Housatonic Gallery for students and artists. Featuring watercolors by Kate Knapp (Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment)

sohn Fine art Gallery & GiClee PrintinG 6 Elm Street, 1B; Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-1025; info@sohnfineart.com; www.sohnfineart.com The Proserpine Path (Eric Korenman) Exhibition Nov 2– March 4, 2013. Meet the Artist, Eric Korenman, Saturday, February 9, 4:00 – 6:00 (Please RSVP to this event).

hudson Valley arts Center 337 Warren St, Hudson, NY • 800-456-0507 Regional and nationally-known artisans. Classes.

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st. FranCis Gallery 1370 Pleasant St, rte 102, Lee, MA • 413-717-5199 Re-open with March art exhibition.

the harrison Gallery 39 Spring Street, Williamstown, MA Jan: My Favorites; Feb: George Van Hook & Mingea Ceramics; Mar: Leslie Peck

the oxBoW Gallery 275 Pleasant St, Northampton, MA • www.oxbowgallery.com 413-586-6300 Elizabeth Solley Caine, “One Side of a Mountain”, thru Feb 3, 2013

music/theatre/film

ProCtors theatre Albany, NY, Mainstage Brighten Beach Memoires, Feb. 15-24; A Soldiers Play, Apr 5-14; Doubt, May 31-June 9

the eGG Albany, NY • 518-473-1845 / www.theegg.org Marc Maron, Feb 1; Albert Lee, Kate Taylor, Feb 14; Shawn Mullins, Feb 23;...HOT TUNA, June 21

Point oF VieW Players oF ohaV 113 Krumkill rd, Albany, NY “A Shayna Maidel”, Thurs. Jan 24, 7pm, Sat. Jan 26, 7pm, Sun. Jan 27 Sun matinee, 1pm. A play that will warm your hearts on a winter’s day. Very well done, very sincere and heart-felt.

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place, from the sky, from the earth, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”

-Pablo Picasso

510 WARREN ST., HUDSON, NY

518-822-0510

www.510warrenstreetgallery.com

January

feaTured ARTiST

Joel Mark

MuseuM Quality Furniture

AND

Mill riVer studio Prints and Posters

510 Members include: WiLL CLARK LiNDA CLAYTON DiANA FELBER JOAN GiUMMO iSKA KENNEY KATE KNAPP JOHN LiPKOWiTZ NiNA LiPKOWiTZ ELEANOR LORD HANNAH MANDEL JEANNiNE SCHOEFFER PEGGY REEVES DORiS SiMON MUSEUM QUALiTY FURNiTURE BY JOEL MARK ANTiQUE PRiNTS & POSTERS FROM MiLL RiVER STUDiO

Friday and saturday 12-6, sunday 12-5, or by appointment

the artFul Mind january 2013 •1

the artFul Mind

artzine

January 2013

“With an apple I will astonish Paris” - Paul Cezanne

Elisa Cashiola Placement Designer

Specializing in the Art of Feng Shui and Color Elisacashiola@gmail.com

413.717.5559 (text only - deaf) www.elisacashiola.com

Blueberry Hill Market Cafe cover photo: Rebecca Leigh Photography by Jane feldman

Hair & Makeup by bridget coughlin, cranwell spa &salon lenox, Ma

rebecca leigh Vocalist and Actor Harryet candee .....6

Planet Waves december eric francis...... 10 simply sasha sasha seymour...... 11

architecture & arcadia stephen dietemann..... 12 Contributing Writers and Monthly Columnists elisa cashiola, stephen Gerard dietemann, eric francis, sasha seymour Photographers Jane feldman, Julie Mccarthy sabine Vollmer von falken, cassandra sohn

A most wonderful place to be.

RO U T E 2 0 , N E W L E BA N O N, N E W YO R K

PHOTO: JANE FELDMAN

Publisher Harryet candee

Copy Editor

Marguerite bride

Advertising and Graphic Design Harryet candee Box 985, Great Barrington, Ma 01230

artfulmind@yahoo.com

issuu.com/theartfulmindartzine 413-528-5628 all submissions for February due :: January 18, 2013

fYi: ©copyright laws in effect throughout The artful Mind for logo & all graphics including text material. copyright laws for photographers and writers throughout The artful Mind. Permission to reprint is required in all instances. in any case the issue does not appear on the stands as planned due to unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, advertisers will be compensated on a one to one basis. disclaimer rights available upon request. serving the art community with the the intention of enhancing communication and sharing positive creativity in all aspects of our lives.

our art...our Way

2 • JANUARY 2013

THE ARTFUL MiND

“When the individuality of the artist begins to express itself; what the artist gains in the way of liberty he loses in the way of order.”

-Pablo Picasso

the MusiC store

As we negotiate the Berkshires’ mid-winter symphony, we at The Music Store look forward to the pre-spring interlude at the end of the Railroad Street extension in Great Barrington.

The Music Store offers music lovers and musicians of all ages and abilities a myriad of musical instruments, Accessories and gifts that will help them join in the chorus of Berkshire living. Acclaimed as one of the area’s best music stores, The Music Store specializes in fine, folk and unusual musical instruments, accessories, supplies and music motif gifts. Music lovers and professional and amateur musicians alike will find an exciting array of new and used name-brand and hand-made instruments, extraordinary folk instruments and one of the Northeast’s finest selections of strings and reeds.

Music Store customers enjoy fine luthier handmade classical guitars, the peerless irish Avalon steel string guitars, Breedlove, the Baden Pantheon USA guitars, as well as guitars from other fine lines including Alvarez, Avalon, Composite Acoustic, Fender, Luna, Recording King and Takamine and from designers including Greg Bennett and J.T. Ribiloff. Acoustic and electric guitars from entry to professional level instruments are available. Famous names including consignment Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Gretsch guitars and basses join less-wellknown brands which appeal to those seeking high quality but are on tight budgets, providing any guitarist a tempting cornucopia of playing possibilities.

Unusual instruments are also available, including the locally hand-made Sonic Boxes, lovely and unique cigar box guitars and Diddly-Bows, by our very own Dr. Easy. Come in and meet him! We also carry the Sheffield-made and internationally adored Fluke and Flea Ukeleles and the peerless and lovely Stockbridge-made Serenity bamboo and walking stick flutes.

New and used student orchestral and band instruments are available, including violins from $159 to $3000.

All new instruments are backed by The Music Store’s lifetime warranty which provides free set-up and adjustments on any new instrument sold. For repair and restoration and maintenance of fine stringed instruments - guitars, banjos, mandolins and the like - The Music Store’s repair shop offers expert luthiery at reasonable prices on instruments of all levels, as well as authorized repairs on Lowden and Takamine guitars.

Those in search of the perfect present for music lovers will find a treasure trove of gift favorites such as bumper stickers (“Driver Singing,” “Go Home and Practice,” Tune it or Die” and more), tee shirts, caps, scarves, miniature musical instruments and instrument magnets, music motif mugs, socks, totes and ties. Small bronze and metal musician statues and cuddly ‘Music Lover’ stuffed animals, lapel pins and earrings add additional possibilities to gift giving customers.

A proud server of the community for over eleven years, The Music Store’s warm and friendly staff is available for help in tuning, stringing or instrument repair. Help in choosing tuners, capos, mutes shoulder rests and strings is as happily given as help in selecting instruments themselves. Our mission is to support and encourage our musical community, so consultation and advice are always free.

For capos to kazoos, guiros to congas, rainsticks to rosin, bows to bodhrans, mandolins to microphones, reeds to rods, Strats to stands, local artist’s CDs and harmonicas to picture frames and music motif ornaments, instruments and more, The Music Store is the place to be.

The Music store, 87 railroad street, Great barrington, Massachusetts, open Wednesdays through saturdays from 10 to 6, and on sundays from 12 to 5. call 413-528-2460 or email us at musicstr@bcn.net

CUSTOM RD STOOL

BY BRANDON PHiLLiPS FOR MiLES & MAY FURNiTURE WORKS AT ART & iNDUSTRiE GALLERiE RECLAiMED HEARTPiNE, WENGE H:22” W:14.75” D14.75”

art et industrie Gallerie housatoniC, Ma

Art et industrie is pleased to announce the extension of their blockbuster inaugural exhibition, reclaiMed. The stunningly restored 6000 SF gallery fills the entire 2nd floor of the former Waubeek Textile Mill in Housatonic and features an enormous range of some 200 works by 20 regional artists, artisans & designers, all working in reclaimed materials.

The event, titled “RECLAiMED, REUSED, REPURPOSED: FURNiTURE & FURNiSHiNGS FROM FOUND MATERiALS” was originally scheduled to run from July 21st through Oct. 8th. in light of the thrilled response from the enormously enthusiastic public, as well as the wonderful support & encouragement of the featured artists, we’ve decided to extend the installation through November, and to further develop this important event with replenished new additions.

Art et industrie is the largest & most ambitious new exhibition venue in the region. The expansive size of the breathtaking former industrial loft has encouraged several of our world-class artists to exhibit pieces of truly heroic scale, as well as extended groupings of more traditionally-sized pieces down to the intimate & hand-held, some even wearable.

Find incredible live-edge dining & conference tables sliced from salvaged enormous trunks of wind-fallen ancient trees by Hudson Valley stars Jessica Wickham & Richard Johnson, spectacular Claro Walnut work as well as side-tables & benches from reclaimed old-growth lumber & steel by Dorset, VT great Dan Mosheim, stunning high-design in super-strong, gleaming Brazilian ipe reclaimed from the Coney island Boardwalk by the famous Miles & May, & one-of-a-kind wooden wizardry from Berkshire County’s own Michael P. King, and many, many others.

Visit & view during our new autumn hours: Wednesday through sunday, 11:00 aM – 6:00 PM or by appointment. arT et iNdusTrie, 420 Park street, 2nd floor, Housatonic, Ma 01236. 413-353-0037 Gallerie@artetindustrie.com www.Artetindustrie.com

Photo: Jane Feldman

Joel Mark

Fine art Furniture With

Mill riVer studio antiQue Prints and Posters 510 WARREN STREET GALLERY

Museum quality furniture, uniquely designed and hand crafted by Joel Mark, is the featured exhibit for January at the 510 Warren Street Gallery, Hudson, N.Y. Joel’s furniture designs are at once both simple, yet elegant, incorporating many sculptural forms. His portfolio includes chairs, tables, credenzas, display cabinets and more.

They are meticulously made using both modern and traditional woodworking techniques. Exacting joinery and hand shaped elements are evident in every piece and may be customized to your specifications. Joel works from his studio in Hillsdale, N.Y. Come and meet Joel and enjoy his display at the Opening Reception, January 5, 2-6pm. Please view his web site at www.joelmark.net.

Also featured at the gallery in January are Mill River Studio Antique Prints and Posters.

510 members include Will Clark, Linda Clayton, Diana Felber, Joan Giummo, iska Kenny, Kate Knap, John Lipkowitz, Nina Lipkowitz, Eleanor Lord, Hannah Mandel, Peggy Reeves, Jeannine Schoeffer, and Doris Simon.

510 Warren street Gallery, Hudson, NY – Gallery hours: fri & sat 12-6pm, sun 12-5pm, or by appointment; 510warrenstgallery.com; 518-822-0510.

THE ARTFUL MiND January 2013 •3

st. FranCis Gallery

St. Francis Gallery ends 2012 with a thank you to the community at large, artists, friends and “family” for their support, encouragemen,t guidance and spirit.

At the end of the holiday season the gallery will close for the annual community work to begin in Kenya. We will be gone for most of January and part of February and will reopen with a wonderful show that will run thru March celebrating the human form and the coming of spring.

We hope to bring you a sense of renewal and enjoyment of our collected works for the new year...and hopefully from our humanitarian trip to Africa, we will bring back a sense of energy and creativity that the art works on display will echo as well.

Art is a celebration and reminder of the wonderful capacity of our local artists and their supporters to bring to life what is most important... often hidden beneath the surface.....an inspiration that feeds our spirit.

We look forward to your support of these hard working artists and our continued giving to the world community from our gallery profits. st. francis Gallery, 1370 Pleasant st., route 102, lee, Ma. closed January and part of february, 2013. Will reopen with new March exhibit.

Full Service Salon

photo: Jane feldman

Open to the public 7 days a week

Lenox, MA 413. 881. 0721 • www.cranwell.com

4 • January 2013

THE ARTFUL MiND

desiGninG saCred sPaCe

Kent Mikalsen expands his design consultancy to include designing sacred space.

Living near these magnificent northeastern forests it easy to be aware of the positive effect our natural environment has on our sense of well being. We are deeply connected to the sensuous and integrating experience of nature. Even in our sheltered built environments we create openings to invite nature’s light and spaciousness inside. Designing our interiors we emulate her natural colors, textures and patterns. These spaces that we inhabit can significantly affect our mental, spiritual and even physical health. Clinical research has linked the positive effects of a beautifully appointed hospital room to the length of time a patient requires to heal. Employing the essential elements of good design, sacred spaces are beautiful healing environments that contribute to our vibrant health and confirm our most positive aspirations.

Kent is a professionally trained artist and designer with an unusually broad and experienced background in fine art, architecture, woodworking, film and entertainment design.

He studied yoga and meditation for ten years while living at an ashram in rural Pennsylvania and has maintained his practice for more than thirty years.

Kent Mikalsen Studio creates beautiful and healing environments for homes, businesses and institutions, designing a wide range of venues including yoga studios, hospitals, clinics, meditation rooms, chapels, memorials, pavilions and events.

Kent Mikalsen studio – 413-652-4801 or email kentmikalsen@gmail.com; kentmikalsen.sacredspace.com

The newly reorganized group of artists with studios on the second floor of Pittsfield’s Greylock Building, corner of North and Union Streets, has christened its revamped organization NU Arts Gallery and Studios. The group of 19 professional artists works in a wide range of mediums and disciplines and includes painters, jewelry designers, sculptors, fabric artists, photographers, videographers, and sound recorders.

Although the former offices, with entrances at 311 North Street and 25 Union Street, have served as artists’ working spaces for eight years, it has been a well-kept secret. Visitors to the open studios on Third Thursdays and First Fridays Artswalks have voiced their surprise and delight in discovering that this artist community exists, and once discovered, have become regular visitors.

The NU Arts Gallery, located at the top of the Union Street entrance has new exhibits each month with openings in conjunction with Pittsfield’s First Fridays Artswalk. Many shows are solo exhibits, some duo shows, and a few times a year the entire group will display works to celebrate special occasions: in January the show will be “Under Construction” in which artists display pieces still in the process of being developed; in February, starting February 14, NU Arts will be participating in Pittsfield’s 10x10 Winter Festival, and in May the NU Arts Gallery will have a festive Spring Opening.

The NU Arts artists are Marguerite Bride, Dan Brody, Debbie Carter, Joanie Ciolfi, Diane Firtell, Kathy Gideon, Susan Himmel, Ellen Joffe-Halpern, Sophia D. Lee, Lisa Merullo, Dee Randolph, Dawn Metzer, Sam Ponder, Deborah Rufo Buratto, Harrison Searles, Sally Tiska-Rice, Eric Shuman, Claudia Shuster and Scott Taylor.

The arts group was started in October 2004 by artist Annie Laurie who spearheaded a project to get empty offices on the second floor of 311 North Street ready for local artists to rent.

Soon at 100% capacity and completely transformed,. Art On No became one of the largest concentrations of artists under one roof working in downtown Pittsfield. Laurie’s goal was to increase support for the arts in the area and to keep the scene lively and creative. She leaves NU Arts with an impressive legacy.

NU Arts will continue to provide a safe and affordable environment for artists to achieve their artistic endeavors right in the center of Pittsfield’s newly designated UPSTREET Cultural District.

Nu arTs Gallery and studio – 311 North street, Pittsfield, Ma. email: nuartspittsfield@gmail.com; website: nuartspittsfield.com ; facebook page: NU arts gallery + studios ; twitter handle: @NU_arts .

Pilaes Plus PFilates SHARON TRUE ON PiLATES APPARATUS

Regular exercise is an essential component of optimal health and functioning. Conscious Exercise with Sharon True, owner of WholePerson Movement, takes exercise to a whole new level. in the personalized one-on-one workouts she creates in her Pilates studio she guides her clients to become masters of their own body movement. They learn to become conscious of the inner experience and process of doing an exercise, as well as of its precise outer form. Conscious Exercise workouts stretch and strengthen muscles, promote concentration, reduce stress, and deepen understanding of the body.

True has recently completed training in a variant of Pilates called Pfilates, (Pelvic Floor Pilates, pronounced Fi-lah-tees) which focuses on conditioning the muscles of the pelvic floor. Pfilates helps with pelvic floor disorders such as incontinence, organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction, weakness as a result of abdominal surgery and more. As an added benefit it strengthens the lower body and improves posture. Pfilates is an excellent companion to the regular Pilates workout which has always focused on working “from the inside out.”

True applies her Conscious Exercise approach to Pfilates work with clients, coaching them to gain mastery of these often-neglected muscles. Currently she teaches a homebased program of Pfilates exercises to students in 6-week workshops as well as to private clients. Pfilates is a handy “package” of 10 exercises that can usually be learned in 3— 6 lessons. it includes a kit that supports people in doing a home practice, containing a workout DVD, a booklet, and a Pfilates ball. To be added to an email contact list about the next Pfilates workshop, call or email Sharon True at the number below.

True is a registered somatic movement therapist, certified Laban movement analyst, and a certified Pilates and Pfilates instructor. She has been teaching Pilates-based workouts for over 15 years, first at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires and then in her own fully-equipped Pilates studio in Great Barrington. These years of teaching, together with her commitment to continuing her own education, give clients the benefit of a vast array of experience to effectively address their goals and concerns. She is an expert partner and guide in the discovery of an exercise program that works and is a pleasure to do. call to learn more about Pfilates, now a component of conscious exercise workouts with sharon True. contact her at sharontrue@roadrunner.com, or phone 413-528-2465, 9am -9pm.

saBine Photo art

Front street Gallery KATE KNAPP, WiNTER TREE

neW oils plus BlaCk and White draWinGs and PaintinGs Pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors…..abstract and representational…..landscapes, still lifes and portraits….a unique variety of painting technique and styles….you will be transported to another world and see things in a way you never have before….please come join us and experience something different.

Painting classes continue on Mon Wed mornings 101:30pm at the studio and Thursday mornings out in the field and are open to all...come to one or come again if it works for you...all levels and materials welcome...

Classes at Front Street for those wishing to learn and those who just want to be involved in the pure enjoyment of art and who have some experience under their belt. Perfect for those seeking fresh insight into watercolors, and other mediums.

Kate Knapp has been teaching for many years, and has a keen sense of each student’s artistic needs to take a step beyond! Perfect setting for setting up still lifes. Lighting and space is excellent. Peak in to see!

Kate Knapp’s paintings are also on display at 510 Warren St. Gallery in Hudson, NY. Please stop by to see all the many works of art by exceptional artists. front street Gallery – front street, Housatonic, Ma. Gallery now open by appointment or chance...if you call my home phone 413-528-9546 or cell 413-429-7141. i can meet you there very quickly...i look forward to seeing you!

Still young at twenty-something, Sabine’s studio has become a brand for contemporary, unobtrusive, relaxed photography in the European style. Did you have a “Sabine” experience, yet?

A master of the subtleties of lighting and the nuance of background, her eye for detail provides imagery to be treasured for a lifetime.

Assignments are tailored to meet her client’s needs - a remembrance for a special occasion or a logo image to create an authentic professional online presence. it is to no surprise that she is a sought-after wedding photographer, as well.

Her editorial work includes book projects to photograph all imagery for “WOODLAND STYLE” and “SHELL CHiC”, published by Storey Publishing, author Marlene H. Marshall; they can be purchased from your nearby book stores. Signed fine art prints and books are directly available through her studio.

The Artful Mind has showcased her work since 1994, the very beginning of the monthly Berkshire Artzine.

Photo Art Sale every weekend by appointment. Sabine is a member of The American Society of Media Photographers asmp, The international Center of Photography iCP and the Wedding Photojournalist Association, WPJA. And just in case you don’t know what to give this holiday season: how about a gift certificate for a portrait session and / or photographic art prints? Certificates can be made out in any amount and are good for seven months. sabine Vollmer von falken studio: 20 Glendale road a.k.a. route 183, Glendale, Ma 01229; www.sabinephotoart.com, info@sabinephotoart.com; 413-298-4933.

CLASS SCHEDULE Mon-Fri 8:30 - 9;45am - Uma M-W-F 10:00 - 11:15am - Uma Tues. 6:00 - 7:15pm - Uma

Thurs. 6:00 - 7:15pm ... Jenna O’Brien Sat. 10:00 - 11:15am ... Jenna O’Brien CLASS FEES ...

413.528.YOGA (9642) www.528yoga.com 274 Main Street, Great Barrington Located in back of Main St., adjacent to the Triplex Theater

$15.00 per Class $120.00 for a 10 class card (good for 8 weeks)

$75.00 month unlimited (Uma only)

Owner - Uma McNeill

THE ARTFUL MiND January 2013 •5

sudden she heard a videotape playing, “The Wizard of Oz.” it was at the moment when the Lollipop Guild entered on the video and they did their whole spiel. From then on my mother was at ease. Here were three munchkins talking out of the side of their mouths and there was Rebecca, singing along. Her child wasn’t sick at all- she was merely an actor in training.

Since i was by myself for much of my life i had to learn how to occupy my time. On one occasion, my mother was filming me in a belly-dance performance, taking place in our living room. She asked, “Rebecca, give us your name! What is your name?” and without hesitation i replied, “Do you want my real name or my stage name?” and the rest as they say, is history.

At the age of four, i began performing simply because i liked entertaining others and myself. My parents did a wonderful job raising me. We are an incredibly close nit group. There were healthy boundaries and they helped occupy my time with movies, culture and music. Growing up there was always a concert to go to, and of course the theatre and it was easy to find right here in the Berkshires. i’m sure that i gave my mother a run for her money. She reminded me recently of a moment when she took me to the grocery store to pick up a few items. i couldn’t have been more than four or five years old. There was something on the shelf that i wanted and she told me, “No.” So a low note started forming and climbed my body until i reached a high E above C. Two little old ladies walked by pushing their carts, turned to one another and said, “Oh my G-d it’s the kid, i thought the fire-alarm was going off!” and i’ve never lived it down.

Rebecca Leigh VOCALiST aNd ACTOR interviewed by Harryet candee Photography by Jane feldman

harryet Candee: tell me a little about your years growing up in the Berkshires? rebecca leigh: Most of my life was spent living under the traffic pattern of small engine planes on Rte. 71 in North Egremont, Massachusetts. When Route 71 was too busy or my parents didn’t have the time to take me for a bike ride through Sleepy Hollow to Seekonk Cross Roads or Baldwin Hill (my favorite spot), i road my bike back and forth from one end of the driveway to the other. i used to wait by the old oak tree until my best friend was allowed to play outside and we would play in the nearby cornfields for hours. i recall a boom box throughout my younger years turning over cassettes of Jackson five tunes, songs of the sixties and

6 • January 2013 THE ARTFUL MiND

seventies (my parents era), Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, you know, the feel good songs. i loved being a kid. i still consider myself one though the tiny gray hairs that keep popping up tell me otherwise.

What were your earliest childhood memories of you being tuned in to acting and singing? rebecca: When i was three-years-old, my mother became particularly concerned with my overall health and well-being. She noticed that i started talking out of the side of my mouth. This went on for several weeks, perhaps months. One morning when she dropped me off at daycare (believing i had a tumor or perhaps Bells-palsy) she thought to call the doctor when all of a

rebecca, you received a very good formal education in voice and theatre. i am wondering, what was it like to complete an education in conservatory training? rebecca: Challenging. it’s not like a liberal arts education.

There is a higher expectation in conservatory training. The Hartt School offers extensive training in music, dance and theatre but also requires a full completion of undergraduate liberal studies in order to earn a Baccalaureate degree.

A day in the life of a musical theatre student consists of several dance classes, ear-training, music theory, acting, movement, master-class, voice, private voice-lessons and then you go to liberal arts classes like math, science, history, psychology etc., After classes are done for the day, you help stage-manage freshman year then perform from your sophomore through senior years. A normal day may start at eight in the morning and end at ten thirty at night. This prepares students for the real world and the challenges of work/rehearsal and show schedules.

The school prepares its students to become working actors.

What i mean by that is that they teach you everything you need to know in order to have a working career as an actor. it’s a difficult career because there is no guarantee you will find work acting. The ratio of jobs to actors is slim to none unless you have connections. Part of going to school is making those connections. Different managers and casting agencies frequented shows and our senior year we had a showcase to try to land a job. Many actors have to have other jobs in order to support their lives as actors. in my case, i decided i didn’t want a life of the unknown but i love to perform. So i act for others and for myself simply for the joy of it. it takes the pressure off and i can take time away from it as needed. tell me about one of your favorite roles you played on stage?

Rebecca: Though i loved singing along with the munchkins of the Lollipop Guild when i was a child, i was deathly afraid of the Wicked Witch of the West. i used to have nightmares about her. it wasn’t until the other side of her story became popularized (through “Wicked,” the Broadway production) that i fell in love with her demons. When Berkshire Theatre Group did, “The Wizard of Oz” in the summer of 2011, i was offered to play the part of The Wicked Witch of The West. (i was twentyfive about to turn twenty-six years old when i played the role of The Wicked Witch of the West. The show was co-directed

by Travis Daly and Gray Simons. Travis Daly is the current Artistic Associate for The Berkshire Theatre Group’s Plays!

Educational program. The musical direction for the show was lead by Carlton Maaia. ) Anyway, naturally, i was nervous to

take on the role and didn’t want to seem like i was mimicking Margaret Hamilton. When the first day of rehearsal began, i wasn’t sure how i would be received. i took a deep breath and just as the munchkins let out their last “tra la, la, la, la, la”- i screamed. Years of fear were finally expelled from my body.

The children let out a blood curdling reply and i was told the rest of the cast had been plastered to the wall from the sound.

To overcome a demon like that is priceless and i can report, i’ve not had a nightmare since.

What a cure you have made for yourself! rebecca, as far as music is concerned, what is your most favorite you like to participate in and lend your voice to? rebecca: i have a deep connection to soul music, R &B and Jazz with the occasional pop culture influence. i am inspired and influenced by the jazz greats: Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James and my love, Ella. These ladies bare their souls when they sing and this is something i connect with. if it’s a tune i connect with emotionally and spiritually, you will know, because i wear my heart on my sleeve.

Music is the one and only truth that transcends race, religion, cultural background, and stigmas of our culture. You may not speak the same language as the guy sitting next to you but you can both interpret and emote from the same piece of music that connects you in a way that nothing else can. Music is a gift. A gift we all should be sharing more readily and frequently. i agree totally with that, rebecca. since there are so many varieties and venues of music to venture into, i was wondering what your professional opinion is on opera? rebecca: Vocalists who study Opera are trained to use the full range of their voice (something extremely rare in today’s world). With that type of training, opera singers do not rely on synthetic sound in order to be heard. i was classically trained at the age of fourteen by renowned singer Judith Gray, who is an incredible mentor to me. She laid the vocal foundation that i continue to build on.

The Opera might exist as the only musical place that doesn’t use a sound system to generate sound. Nowadays, if you go to any theatre show whether it’s on or Off Broadway, sound systems use amplification for the audience to hear the actors on stage and to create a more uniform sound. Ask any one of those actor’s to stand in a grand amphitheatre without a microphone and generate that same quality of sound- you’ll be hard pressed to find those that can actually do it.

the student who is training his/her voice with the hopes of a professional career in their future, and while they are in training, do you think they should keep to the same private coach/instructor for as long as possible? What would be the advantage for a student to move on to other teachers down the line who may very well have a totally different style of teaching? rebecca: More people means more knowledge.

However, when you first Sing in g begin training, i do beh er heart out at a lieve it’s important to earl y ag e stay with one instructor to lay the foundation work. Your voice is an instrument.

You wouldn’t pick up a trombone and instantly be able to play it. Dedicating yourself to the study of voice is like any other training. A mathematician has to know the formula first before he can know how to solve the equation and the same is true for vocalists. So initially, yes, stay with one instructor but after a period of time when you’ve gathered all the information you can move on to another. There is always room for growth.

After i studied with Judy for several years, she encouraged me to move on to working with another instructor. Then i

Rebecca sings at First Church fund raiser in fall of 2012

worked with several at a time in college. To gain a new perspective on the voice was important after i knew how my instrument worked. Then i could learn how to manipulate and mold my voice into my own sound. it is distinct and i love that about music- everyone has their own voice and perspective and yet we relate to each other’s sounds emotionally.

tell me about your teacher, Judy Gray. rebecca: Judy is an inspiration. She is a beautiful soul and her grace radiates from the inside out. My time with her in lessons was precious and therapeutic. i was young, eager to learn and extremely driven. i know she recognized my potential and helped to cultivate it. She always made me feel comfortable. i could go to her for anything- she was more than a teacher she was my mentor.

your talent for acting from my point of view is very heart-felt and serious. this art—you have truly managed to get under your belt. tell me what school of training have you felt most comfortable with, and how it feels for you when you are completely emerged in your role? When you played nancy, in oliver twist this past fall with Berkshire theatre Group at the Colonial, i really noticed your intensity of how long before and after you stayed in charactor, it really impressed me!

photo: Jane Feldman

rebecca: Well, i’m a method actor. i’ve studied various forms of acting technique and found that bringing my own life’s experience to the role generates honest emotions.

When a role like Nancy in Oliver surfaces, i dig deep. i find hidden triggers in the text. i study her, and if there isn’t any historical information on the character, i begin to create a backstory. i will go through each line that she says and dissect it.

When in performance mode, i am no longer Rebecca Leigh.

She reappears at end during curtain call. Until then, every slap, emotional dig or heartfelt note is Nancy emerging. There were times in rehearsal where i had to physically remove myself from a scene once we had rehearsed it several times. From the slap leading into, “As long as he needs me” to the growls of, “it’s a fine life” towards the end of the second act, i became so emotionally invested that i really felt her pain. i’d walk away, breathe, meditate on whatever i could and return. You have to be careful in method acting that you don’t take it home with you. You must set boundaries. Otherwise, if you can’t control your emotions singing becomes next to impossible. Like any job leave the emotion at work, otherwise it carries into your daily living until the closing night of the show.

What is the hardest part about doing your very best performing? rebecca: Listening. Acting is all about reacting. We are storytellers. if you think for a moment about a natural conversation you have with someone else, you will realize that the words you are speaking were not rehearsed. it is organic and results continued on next page...

THE ARTFUL MiND JANUARY 2013 • 7

in your brain thinking a hair before your lips move to speak. That is Acting. Learn that you are small part of the whole picture and that your influence is neither greater nor lesser than but equal to that of your counterparts. Whether you are the lead or chorus number one hundred and five, you are an important part of the story. When i was younger i told my mother that the reason i wanted to be an actor was to help make someone laugh when they needed to laugh or cry when they needed to cry. That was the simple, hard and fast truth of why i felt compelled to act and i maintain that to this very day.

Rebecca Leigh

before, i’m a Method actor so i find all of the emotional material i need first, then i use Meisner’s repetition to ingrain the lines in my head. Sanford Meisner believed that you could repeat the lines with a partner until an organic emotional response is triggered. Then the lines become natural and are more easily memorized because they are attached to emotion. For the musical, Oliver, my scene partners and i would go off into another room to run the lines using this technique until they became natural and ingrained.

have you recently auditioned for any productions? rebecca: No i haven’t done any auditions recently. The last audition i did was for Oliver back in May for their fall production.

Right now i’m focusing on my career, The Berkshire Concert Choir (i’m also being kept busy as their Treasurer) and doing small projects around the home. if something comes up with night rehearsals or flexible weekends, i’d look into it. For now, it’s nice not having anything on the agenda. This is new for me, and i’m enjoying it- not for too long though.

rebecca, do you take on an acting role only if it’s paid, or will you take a role purely for your love of acting? rebecca: One of the most rewarding experiences for me as an adult actor is the influence i have on young upcoming performers. i volunteer mostly to be a part of the BTG community productions. i’ve watched these kids grow and learn from every production that i’ve been a part of. if i’ve influenced any one of them to pursue their dreams of working in the theatre, then that’s payment enough.

have you ever considered directing, script-writing, stage-managing, puppetry, scenic design, makeup, or costume designing? rebecca: Actually, yes, several years ago i had the pleasure of working for Berkshire Theatre Festival as an Artist-in-Residence before they merged with The Colonial Theatre to become The Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG). While working there and performing as an Artist-in-Residence, i had the opportunity to teach students, grades four through eight, on how to write their own plays, direct, design costumes, improvise etc., i was strict with my students, but compassionate. When i had to leave and move onto the next group it was always difficult. People don’t realize the importance of actor training in the school systems. Learning to work together as an ensemble, gaining confidence to speak in front of large crowds, studying and memorizing lines, focusing on completing the project are important attributes for students to learn.

Can you recall what went through your mind the very first time you had a large stage role? i know you must have felt thrilling ripples running through you, and, possible stage fright? rebecca: Of course i had stage fright. i think most people experience stage fright at one point or another.

My first performance in front of large crowd was in high school. We did a production of, “Crazy for You” and i played a man named Hank. Not many guys took part in the musicals and i had short hair. At that time i didn’t have to worry about lines, just blocking, a few dance moves and a large brawl. i was terrified and thought about how i could to get out of having to perform. There were of course those constant dreams of being naked on stage and forgetting everything we rehearsed- it’s still a fear, but once i got through the first performance i was hooked.

When it comes to the logistics of memorizing stage lines, are they difficult or easy for you? What is the trick for getting off book that you have come to recognize as a successful technique? rebecca: i was blessed with memorization skills. As a child, i could easily memorize every line from a movie or song if i listened to it a few times, but i do have a system. As i mentioned

8 • JANUARY 2013 THE ARTFUL MiND

rebecca leigh, photo shoot with photographer Jane feldman

We all have very busy lives, i know you agree. have you found that having to juggle, bounce around, change hats— all that craziness kind of multi-dimensional life-style healthy for you? What do you do to de-stress?

Rebecca: i love what i do both for work and for fun. i’m really a homebody. Not many people know that. People who are closest to me know that i enjoy finding things for the home and for others. Knitting, crocheting, drawing, singing, photography and gardening are some of the little things i do here and there that relieve tension. Making Afghans is a secret hobby that i absolutely love doing, it just takes so darn long to make one!

What are you doing now when you aren’t acting? rebecca: i work for a local bank as a teller and i love it. My team is incredibly supportive and i have wonderful customers

with whom i’ve had the pleasure of getting to know fairly well over this last year. My career in banking has just begun and it feels right, really right. For the first time ever i feel comfortable with where i am in life. it supports my love of the arts and gives me the stability and freedom to do what i love to do with this community in the Berkshires. When i tell people i was Nancy in Oliver at BTG, some cannot believe i’m that same person.

Every now and then customers get a slight song or quick joke. it all exciting and i am looking forward to seeing where it all takes me.

What skills, or tricks in particular help you to manage your day? We all may learn from your answer. rebecca: This is an ongoing process for me and i assure you i don’t have it all figured out. i’ve not mastered the art of everyday juggling. i enjoy making lists and find it satisfying to cross items off. This makes me feel like i’m accomplishing my goals. i’m a very visual person—i set a time each day to focus on one sole project at a time. if i try to do more than that, my life quickly becomes chaotic. Even if it means that i don’t finish the project all at once, i’m solely responsible for one hour, half-hour or twenty minutes doing one particular thing. it takes the pressure off, and if i do things in advance, i feel more accomplished when the list of ten things i have to do becomes five, four, three, two, and one, then done. have you endured any struggle or hardship that has directly affected your decision to act? rebecca: Prior to 2003, i never really pursued acting. it was always something that i did at school, but something tremendous happened that Christmas in 2003 that i feel compelled to share with you.

Sometimes life hands us funny circumstances.

Things that are out of our control, that makes us think and question that we really are. i was involved in a major auto accident and this year marks my ninth year of survival. i was dubbed the holiday miracle after a bulldozer landed on my car and crushed me. Paramedics on the scene pronounced me dead until one kind off-duty firefighter took it upon him to climb in and try to save me. When i came to, my world had forever changed. i had always been religious and spiritual but to walk away from something like that makes you a believer. My eyes were then open to any and all possibilities. All the fears slipped away and once i regained the ability to move and think more clearly, i sought my dream of learning how to become a better actor. i applied to as many schools as i could, got accepted to The Hartt School in West Hartford, CT for musical theatre, completed the program, performed OffBway in NYC and now, looking back i am so thankful i woke up that next morning. My hope is that somehow in my sharing this with the readers out there, they too will feel a renewed sense of passion and determination. Anything is possible if you believe in yourself, and to the young artists out there; never give up, life is too short not to follow your heart and no matter what your dreams are they will happen if you believe hard enough.

What qualities about yourself you can say you are proud of possessing? rebecca: i’m honest. i try to be kind, and sincere and i enjoy making people laugh. i will go out of my way for anyone if i feel it is well deserved. if you are a part of my life, i am here for you no matter what. My life is about balance. i’m a Libra.

Conflict with me, is met with resolution (and as quickly as possible)

tell me about your love life? Who’s the lucky guy? rebecca: i’m in love with Carlton Maaia ii, he is my life-partner, my accompaniment in every sense of the word. He inspires me, and, is the reason i returned to music. We bring out the best in one another both emotionally and musically.

Berkshire Concert Choir “Awake My Soul and Sing� is now over and January is a month to breathe, catch up on laundry, sleep and resume some sense of normalcy. We will pick back up in February and prepare for two concerts. The March concert will focus on pieces by Franz Liszt and in May we will join The Taconic High School Chorus (more info to follow in the coming months). As far as theatre productions go, i have no clue. i’m open to any possibilities as long as there are flexible hours for my work schedule. i’m definitely looking forward to hearing more details of the BTG community production that takes place in the late summer.

you know the song, What the World needs now...�, well, i was wondering if you can come up with your own answer to that! rebecca: What the world needs right now is a stiff drink. i’m only teasing. What the world really needs is music and art. it’s what separates man from beast and keeps us civil. As i stated before, music transcends all differences and unites man in such a way that nothing else can and that is magical.

Rebecca and Carlton leisure walk downtown, Pittsfield, MA (2012)

how did Carlton help you to return to your music? rebecca: Before reconnecting with Carlton, i was working hard to make money in retail sales. i had just returned home to the Berkshires from New York. i hadn’t performed for some time after i left the city. it didn’t take long after we connected before i started singing again. He asked me one night to come up to the former Taylor’s restaurant (now Public Eat & Drink) in North Adams to sing a song for a cabaret show that he was playing at. i showed up with a friend, got up the nerve to sing a song from Les Miserables and we were inseparable from that night on. Carlton pushed me to sing everywhere i could. He was the catalyst for my involvement with Berkshire Theatre Group before i became an Artist-in-Residence. He asked me to audition for the role of Grace in “Annie� in the summer of 2010. From then on, i’ve been a part of the shows there and in surrounding musical venues throughout Berkshire County.

Acting means you are physically on display for a lot of people.

if asked by elle magazine, what would you say is part of your beauty secret? rebecca: Never pop a zit. it will grow back ten fold. Use Oil of Olay religiously. My grandmother swore by it. My medicine closet is fully stacked with it. Less is more, always. A strong base, healthy cheek, quick sweep of mascara and a colored lipgloss goes a long way.

define your fashion style. What is it all about? rebecca: i don’t have a sense of style. i’m a chameleon. i adapt to my surroundings and take convenience over primping any day! i have a work look, but favorite thing to wear is a nice fitted pair of jeans, a t-shirt and boots.

Who would you dedicate this interview to? rebecca: i dedicate this interview to my parents. They are the original loves of my life. They made my growing up years spe-

What would your suggestions be for emerging actors and performing artists? rebecca: Starting small helps to build confidence and allows you to explore your strengths and weaknesses as an actor.

Think of it as being a big fish in a small pond. it seems a lot less scary then trying to delve into a big pond when you’re a fish of several million.

Learn as much as you possibly can. invest your time and energy into school. Go to as many productions as you can.

Watch movies and take notes. Become a triple threat. it is not enough anymore that you sing or act, you must be able to dance, play an instrument, throw a baton, and hang upside down from the ceiling. if you have a unique skill, something that sets you apart from the rest, cultivate it. it will become your saving grace. thank you rebecca.

G

Photo:Jane feldman

cial. My parents were there for it all, and it is because of their encouragement that i pursued my dreams of acting and singing.

your parents are a very important part of your life, are either of them in show-biz? rebecca: My mother will kill me once she reads this- she says she can clear a room with her voice. in fact, i remember hearing an out-of-tune “Home, Home on the Range nearly every night as a ploy to get me to go to bed. i would run upstairs just so she would stop singing it! Then of course in the quiet moments of mother daughter bonding she would softly sing (in tune), “You are my Sunshine�. My favorite song of all time because it is my mother’s song. That and “Smile.�

My father is a master at what he does. He is a Dentist, a TMJ Specialist, Sleep Apnea specialist and master at helping others deal with the pain and suffering of craniofacial pain and headaches. He didn’t become a master overnight, it took time and careful study and he still attends seminars and classes to learn more. He has a beautiful voice, he just doesn’t perform anywhere. i’ve heard him in choir before and he carries his section quite well.

As far as theatrics go, that was my grandfather Al, my father’s father. Albert was an unbelievable grandfather who would tease and laugh, joke and make me cry until i nearly peed my pants. i can still hear my grandmother Millie yelling at him to stop. it drove her nuts the way he would carry on. He used to sing, “Old Man River� with me and many other musical tunes. He used to get up and perform with me. i get a lot of my talent from him and his side of the family. Performing and sales; those are my strong suits and this was passed down from many generations.

What’s up and coming for you in terms of acting and singing? rebecca: A nice respite. Singing the December concert for The

THE ARTFUL MiND JANUARY 2013 •9

Planet Waves JANUARY 2013

BreakinG neWs: The world did not end on Dec. 21, 2012.

Mars, the planet of drive and desire, will square Saturn, the planet of structure, on Jan. 7. This looks like some kind of group consensus building that where emotional and erotic energy is involved, there is only so far stuffing things down can go; eventually the container fills up. Group opinion, described

by Mars in Aquarius, is saying that it's time to break free against the constraints of Saturn in Scorpio. Beware of emotional frustration, or conforming without careful thought, to what you think others want. The Sun is now in Capricorn, where we'll experience a New Moon on Jan. 11. The corresponding Leo Full Moon occurs Jan. 26. All of the inner planets are moving in direct motion. Jupiter is currently retrograde in Gemini, and stations direct on Jan. 30, where it will sail clear across that sign in one final go, and ingress Cancer (one of its home signs) on June 25.

aries (March 20-april 19)

You don't need validation from others to renegotiate a relationship arrangement; this is between you and the person you're involved with. Yet you may be influenced by the opinions of your friends, or what you perceive as public opinion. Monitor this factor carefully, even if you think that it doesn't apply. Much of what people do in their one-on-one relationships is influenced or even dictated by presumed norms of their social circle, or what they read in magazines. The kinds of relationships we have, why we have them and who we have them with are all under this influence. in the best-case scenario, you may be about to break free of both the views of others and the constraints of an intimate partnership.

Make sure that your intentions are what actually guides your life.

taurus (april 19-May 20)

There is no suppressing passion, though many have tried to harness its energy for purposes other than enjoyment and creativity.

Have you noticed that there's not one religion that suggests that the love of humans for one another is more important than God? Given that the existence of other humans is a proven part of daily life, we have reason to question this kind of philosophical dictate -- but only if we notice it. Speaking of the relationship between love, passion and religion, you seem to be ready to ignite the karma of very old patterns that has held you down for so long.

You've certainly done plenty of questioning what you've been told, though now you're in a position to directly challenge these instructions and patterns with your actual feelings, your body and your soul. Forget the theory; go into the experience directly.

Gemini (May 20-June 21)

if you want depth, you don't have to dig or blast. The way is open, and you're being invited in. This is a different kind of intimacy than what you may have known before. The one-on-one concept of closeness still exists, though in the context of other forms of contact. i suggest you take a gentle and exploratory approach to the events of the next few weeks, placing emphasis on opening up the possibilities rather than closing them off. if you remain open to experience, and stay alert, this journey will reveal how much potential there is in the realm of relationships. i would remind you that it's easy for old patterns to have an undue influence on new opportunities that you've never experienced -- and that's the very pattern this experience can take you beyond.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Plenty seems to be changing in your life, but is it really happening to you? it would seem that most of what is moving is focused on the lives and situations of others, and being the sensitive person you are, you need to exercise choice over your involvement.

There will be situations involving intimate partners where you will have a direct role, and even there, it's important that you recognize your limited involvement. This will help matters rather than hinder them. Part of your value in the situation is expressing empathy and holding space, while not being too wrapped up in it. Learning this skill may be one of the central 'lessons' of this lifetime. To safely assist and facilitate the processes of others, a measure of objectivity is required, and as you know, that is easier said than done.

10 • January 2013

THE ARTFUL MiND

leo (July 22-aug. 23)

Building your foundations is directly related to your healing process. This in turn is directly related to your ability to structure your work and accomplish what you set out to do every day.

These are practical matters, not merely emotional or intellectual notions. Your mode of development and expression is as much in physical space and time as it is an 'inner reality', to which healing is so often relegated. You're at the beginning of this particular process; what you're doing now is building the foundation for much that will follow. There is a relationship between your physical space, your emotional space and your growth process. One theme is how you define security, and this is rapidly evolving.

That at the moment it involves the space you occupy conceals a deeper truth -- the one about the roots of your soul.

Virgo (aug. 23-sep. 22)

it sometimes takes a push for you to break free from your cautious or retreating nature and take a chance. i'm not even talking about a very big chance; i mean breaking free of a familiar pattern long enough for something new to happen. Well, you're in a heck of a moment to establish something strong, solid, original and genuinely creative. it's as if your life cracks open and is revealed to be an egg, from which something truly beautiful hatches. That something would be you, with newborn passion for your presence on the planet and what you came here to do. Who needs enlightenment when you can devote yourself to having fun, in connection to a useful purpose? i recognize you have too many memories of living ways other than this, though they seem to be fading fast.

libra (sep. 22-oct. 23)

Those who strive for security tend to create false security rather than establish the conditions that would support actual confidence. Skip the externals, for now; work making peace with the mixed-up, antiquated ideas that you got from your family as a kid and young adult. Some of those people had no idea what it means to be secure on the planet, though fair to say, few people really do. You seem determined to find out; and you're in the perfect position to do so. One thing you may learn is that feeling grounded involves accepting the fact that the Earth is moving, that it is a work in progress and that you are a work in progress.

But there is such a thing as relatively solid ground -- and as the next few weeks progress you are likely to discover a few places that match this description.

scorpio (oct. 23-Nov. 22)

You have a lot of options open, including making some big moves with relative ease. There is a flow between the most personal aspects of your psyche and some of the most worldly, professional ones. There is a blend of the evolutionary impulse, deep instinct and a kind of freemason-like ability to structure the physical world. This is to say, you can make the decisions you've been wanting to make for a while, and you don't need to worry if they are too big. Once you make these particular choices, and address the changes that are involved in following through with them, you will see that in fact they were relatively minor and mainly served to improve your life and build your confidence, so that you can make even more significant adjustments over the course of the next year.

sagittarius (Nov. 22-dec. 22) You now get to focus on money -- perhaps in the most meaningful way ever. You get to make up for a lot of past mistakes this month, and do something with the whole "if i only knew then what i know now" thing. And it's true, this is about what you do with knowledge, in particular, knowledge of your priorities. if you have conscious priorities, you're so far ahead of the game, you would be shocked. if you develop them over time (which you do) you are at a significant advantage, and if you put your knowledge into action, you have what it takes to do this thing called succeed.

Yet the name of the tune is succeeding at what is the most meaningful to you. And to do that, you have to be aware what that thing is.

by Eric Francis

Capricorn (dec. 22-Jan. 20) You have incredible strength to draw on now. it's coming from a diversity of sources, though one of the most powerful is from devotion. We've all heard that the reward of patience is more patience, which is not exactly encouraging, since that perhaps implies some shade of not getting what you want, or delaying gratification (which would be a brilliant thing, in modern Western society). Your devotion, however, is the source of your potency, and that devotion is driven by genuine affection. What the charts are suggesting is that you will be changed by this process, and so too will the people you are close to. There is something here about breaking through the facade of existence and opening yourself up to the core of what it means to be alive in a fully committed way. aquarius (Jan. 20-feb. 19)

We all have secrets, and yours are pretty interesting. The ones that you would think are likely to make you feel the most guilty for revealing are actually those most likely to stir up your passion.

They are the most nourishing and (dare i suggest) empowering.

Don't keep this stuff to yourself. Find people to share your most intimate thoughts with, and keep letting it out, engaging in an actual dialog with those who want to know you and, for that matter, those who express any interest. The release of pressure will remind you that you're a whole person with nothing to hide. That, in turn, will help you feel more comfortable in your skin, which will increase your sense of presence and stature. in other words, keeping secrets is not good for success. Feeling good is excellent for it, though.

Pisces (feb. 19-March 20) it's time to start focusing your energy. i suggest you begin that focusing project at home, as New Year's cleaning and organizing.

For good luck, collect everything you don't need and give it away or throw it out. The next step is focusing your social energy. You are in high-visibility, open-access season right now as the Sun transits through Capricorn, so you may be a little overwhelmed. i suggest that everyone in your life have their specific purpose, even if that purpose is 'good company'. i know that that functionality is not high on most people's social agenda, but it is on yours.

One other thing: The line between lovers and friends is as permeable as it will ever be right now. There is a space open for deep exchange. Keep an open mind and an open heart. ~ read eric Francis daily at PlanetWaves.net

Simply Sasha

by Sasha Seymour

in search of the Perfect salad

Happy New Year Art Lovers! Because we all have had a crazy and hectic season, I wanted this January recipe to be both simple AND satisfying. Every evening we enjoy a version of this salad to accompany our meal. It is a variation on a theme, with a few basic ingredients that shouldn’t be substituted. It is important to note that the blue cheese called for is a Danish Blue Cheese from Domaney’s in Great Barrington, and it is by far the most valued ingredient. You only need a tiny bit cut up in small pieces to sprinkle over the greens to create that kick. Paired with a hearty red wine (which you can also pick up at Domaney’s!) this salad is a feel good taste explosion!

Enjoy my friends!

arugula and Baby spinach Additional optional ingredients

1/2 tomato dried cranberries instead of pear 4 or 5 baby bella mushrooms almonds instead of walnuts 1/4 avocado artichoke hearts instead of hearts of palm domaney’s danish blue cheese roasted red pepper instead of tomato pear slices hearts of palm Home made croutons balsamic

FRONT STREET GALLERY

1370 pleasant st., rte 102, lee, ma (NEXT TO LEE FIRE STATION) 413-717-5199 open Friday - Monday 11 - 5:30pm St. Francis Gallery ends 2012 with a thank you to the community at large, artists, friends and "family" for their

support encouragement guidance and

spirit..at the end of the holiday season the gallery will close for the annual community work to begin in

Kenya...we will be gone for most of January and part of February...

to reopen with a wonderful show that will run thru march celebrating the human form and the

coming of spring.... bringing you a sense of renewal and

enjoyment of our collected works for the new year.

Kate Knapp, Snow Storm, 30 x30”

Painting classes continue on Mon & Wed mornings 10-1pm at the studio and Thursday mornings 10 - 1pm out in the field and are open to all NEW OILS plus BLACK AND WHITE DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS

413-274-6607 413-429-7141 (cell) 413-528-9546 Gallery Hours: Sat. and Sun 12-5 or by appointment FRONT STREET, downtown HOUSATONIC, MA

THE ARTFUL MiND JANUARY 2013 • 11

architecture & arcadia stephen Gerard dietemann

Back to the Basics

(My apologies to those expecting more about the house in beckett as promised in my previous column, but i need to interrupt that series of columns this month to address the recent murders in Newtown, ct. i will return to the house and its progress in my next column)

“dance is of all things the most concentrated expression of happiness and everyone needs to find happiness, to search for an ideal escape.”

-VioleTTe VerdY

The basic premise of this column. Architecture and Arcadia, is that we reveal who we are by what we build. My favorite example is that while we ‘officially’ consider ourselves an egalitarian culture supportive of social justice and equality of opportunity for all, our frantic construction of prisons and gated communities tells us that we really are dividing into a nation of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ and that we are content to hide away the evidence of the actual inequality. Such cognitive dissonance is not an abstract concept; it is ultimately dangerous for all of us. in fact, this idea is actually true of everything we do, not just what we build. Just as every shard of a holographic photograph contains the entire image within itself, everything we do reveals who we are and what we actually believe. Occasionally something happens that throw the real image of ourselves into focus and we are unable to continue to retreat into the artificial comfort of the prevailing cognitive dissonance. Such an event is the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut. it seems to be increasingly true that mass murder by gun is becoming as American as apple pie. The list of mass killings grows longer each year, and we all know the ‘highlights’, including Columbine, Aurora, and now, Newtown. My own town, Great Barrington, was the scene of horrific gun violence in 1992, but the killing of so many young children at Sandy Hook establishes a level a horror not previously experienced.

Each of us fears that just beyond the gruesome senselessness of the killings themselves is the unthinkable: that this is, at least in part, who we are. The comforting platitudes — the Madison Avenue images — of protecting parents and responsible adults, all caring for the children, dissolve and we see the barely concealed brutality of our society and the truth that even children are now fair game. The late Hunter Thompson once wrote of the United States, that “America...(is) just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable.” He was talking about the Vietnam War and our foreign policy at the time, but it seems that he could just as easily been talking about how we treat one another right here, right now. in short, the United States is at a crossroad. We can decide, as Australians did after they could no longer stomach the gun violence in their own country, that enough is enough and resist the twisted logic of the NRA to turn this country into an armed camp. This will involve — at the very least — a combination of restrictions on some types of firearms and ammunition, affordable and available treatment for mental illness and, perhaps most difficult of all, a ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ examining the violent reality of this country’s actions both here and abroad, now and for many years in the past.

Or we can go back to sleep again. if so, then James Joyce will be right: history will be the nightmare from which none of us can awaken. H

WiLL CLARK

February 2013

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