An Art of Work Gala is hosted by the American Mural Project.
The American Mural Project will hold its 6th annual Art of Work Gala in Winsted, Connecticut on September 17th. Guests will be treated to a musical performance, cocktails, and other goodies. Guests can experience the event from three different viewing levels inside the historic mill building, which is located in the mural gallery.
The Art of Work Gala will feature a premiere collaboration of musical performances by an extraordinary group of artists, including internationally acclaimed children’s choir Chorus Angelicus directed by Gabriel Lfvall and renowned gospel singer Theresa Thomason. A dessert reception is held at the end of the fiestas.
Ellen Griesedieck, founder and artistic director of AMP, said that by opening up this massive arena for the three-dimensional mural, we have created a magic space for live music events. The acoustics of this building are amazing. We are going all out on September 17 and with a few surprises in store for everyone who makes it to this event! You won’t want to miss this one!
The Art of Work Gala supports a number of educational programs and events. The mural is a tribute to American workers, and serves as the centerpiece to inspire, educate, invite collaboration, and reveal to people of all ages the many contributions they can make to American culture. The mural is 120 feet long and five stories high and is the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world.
There are three tiers of tickets. General tickets include an open bar, seating for the performance and dessert for $175 per person. Priority seats for the performance are included in priority tickets for $300 per person. All of the above plus reserved parking, prime seating for the performance, and an intimate dessert reception with the musicians and artists is included in the price. Winsted, Connecticut is where AMP is located.
To purchase tickets, visit americanmuralproject.org/gala-2022.
It’s a good thing.
There is a celebration of Earth Day at Lee.
The year of Earth Day will be celebrated with a series of events after two and a half years of delay due to the Pandemic. There will be events at the park on Saturday.
Local musicians Steve Adams, Robin O’Herin, and Micah Stone will be playing music throughout the event.
There will be garden tours from 1 to 2pm. The tours will be offered at Lee Elementary School, St. Mary’s School and the Downtown Community Gardens. A litter sculpture will be unveiled at 2 p.m. as Senator Adam Hinds and local teen activist Keely Rose O’Gorman kick off the afternoon’s events.
Art activities, seed bombs, leaf rubbing, and exhibits by local, regional, and statewide organizations will be included in the rest of the afternoon. The En-ROADS climate change simulation, which allows users to see the impact climate change solutions would have on the Earth’s temperature, is available for trial.
It’s a good thing.
There is an online workshop with award-winning independent filmmaker Diego OngARO.
On Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30–8:30 p.m., award-winning filmmaker DIEGO ONGARO will give a talk about his experiences and lessons learned making two critically acclaimed feature films in the Berkshires: Down with the Hooks and the other one.
This two-hour online workshop will teach participants how to make award-winning feature films. The creative process, budget planning, the intricacies of casting, production and post-production, festival strategy, and distribution are just some of the topics he will discuss. In order to make production feasible and maintain creative control, Ongaro will explain how to best use the resources at hand.
A French writer and director living in Connecticut is named Ongaro. His second feature film, Down With the King, won the Grand Prix at the Deauville American Film Festival in France, just a few months after it was released. Down with the King was named a critic’s pick by A.O. Scott of the New York Times. His first feature film, Bob and the Trees, won the top prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic and was screened in more than 20 international festivals throughout the world.
Movie Maker Magazine named him one of their writers to watch in 2022. He was short-listed for the “Someone to Watch” Award at the Independent Spirit Awards for both feature films.
A class costs $35 per person. A quality learning experience will be ensured by the class size of 35. You can register and get complete information on Eventbrite.
The film and media industry and an economic initiative for Western Massachusetts can be found in the work of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts. Find out more at berkshire film.org.
It’s a good thing.
Many antique, classic, and hot-rod vehicles are expected at the car show.
There is a school called Hillsdale. The second annual Hillsdale Car Show will feature dozens of classic, vintage and hot-rod vehicles whose owners will compete for awards in 20 categories. The show will be held in Hamlet Park.
Cars, trucks and motorcycles will fill the park, along with the sounds of a local band.
The show attracted owners of muscle cars from the 1940s through the 1980s, as well as sports cars from the 1980s and models as old as 1915 Buick.
A fee of $10 per vehicle will be charged for participants, while the public is free of charge. There will be door prizes and a raffle.
The rain date is September 25.
It’s a good thing.
There is a free community day hosted by the Historical Society.
Pittsfield—The Berkshire County Historical Society will host a free community day highlighting local history at Arrowhead on Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The day-long event will include a variety of activities including tours, hiking, hands-on activities, family-friendly fun, music, and food. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.
Admission is required for tours of the historic house interior and all other events and activities are open to the public. You can visit berkshirehistory.org for more information.
The grounds will be open for hiking and architectural tours of the historic buildings will be offered throughout the day. Highlights from past events, exhibits, and more will be included in the presentation in the barn. The highlights from the BCHS collection will be shown in the presentation.
The Crane Museum of Papermaking and the Paper Arts will assist visitors with papermaking and printing activities. They will be joined by our friends from the Baseball in the Berkshires Museum, whose mission is to present exhibits and educational programs that will assist in telling the story of baseball.
There will be a variety of musical entertainment on the day.
11 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Whether singing new interpretations of their favorite folk/pop songs or Bobby Sweet’s original compositions, they achieve a balanced blend that’s packed with heart, soul, and fun. Bobby toured with Arlo Guthrie for many years, and he has seven albums to his name. As a resident vocalist for the company, she has performed all over the world. They have a special way of connecting with people who listen to music.
David is a long time resident of Egremont, a writer, music teacher, and guitarist who performs a wide range of oldies and current musical selections to please a varied audience.
There are spare parts available at 2:30 and 4 pm
Liz and Bill will perform music popular in the 19th century.
The food truck will offer smoked meats, fish, and homemade unique eats using farm fresh local ingredients. Tastings of their dry and sparkling ciders will be conducted by The Berkshire Cider Project in North Adams.
It’s a good thing.
Jim will perform in Spencertown.
Jim Kweskin will perform at the Spencertown Academy Roots & Shoots Concerts Series on September 17. General admission tickets are $25 public, $20 Academy members. There will be limited seating and advance reservations are suggested.
Gerald Seligman is a member of the Academy’s Music Committee and he says that Jim Kweskin made history in the 1960s. They rescued jug band music from obscurity and served it to a new generation. The majority of Jim’s work is from the 1920s, 30s and 1940s. In his 80s, he makes history again by playing as well as ever and keeping the tradition alive.
The group transformed the sounds of pre-World War II rural music into a foundation for their unforgettable performances. Their blend of youthful energy and antiquarian expertise made them the only band that could. Their imitators included a San Francisco jug band that became the Dead, a Los Angeles jug band that became the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a New York jug band that became the Lovin’ Spoonful.
One of the bedrock guitar styles of the folk revival was created by Kweskin, who adapted the fingerpicking of artists like Mississippi John Hurt and Pink Anderson to the more complex chords of pop and jazz. He has explored traditional folk and blues with the sophistication of a jazz musician, and jazz with the communal simplicity of a folk artist. He has recorded several albums, including collaborations with John Sebastian, David Grisman, Cindy Cashdollar, Happy Traum, and others.
The Roots & Shoots Concerts are an Academy series that showcases artists who reach back to earlier traditions in music, while incorporating more recent forms and influences of the present.
During the performance, the Academy recommends wearing masks.