Opinion
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Fourth of July in the Berkshires
An Abundance of Riches
By: - May 04th, 2010The launch of the Fourth of July arts season in the Berkshires will be like an explosion in a fireworks factory. There has never been a greater offering of superb and diverse performances. While three days of James Taylor and Carole King at Tanglewood sold out ages ago there are many other top options. Mass MoCA is going head to head with Tanglewood on Friday night. It has Richie Havens vs. The Pops. Barrington Stage and Williamstown Theatre Festival will duke it out with dueling Sondheim musicals. There is a ton of stuff at Shakespeare & Company including the opening of John Douglas Thompson in Richard III. Jacobs Pillow and Berkshire Theatre Festival are in the mix. We offer a complete rundown.
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Wilco, Richie Havens Headline at Mass MoCA
Lively Summer Program Slated for North Adams
By: - Apr 29th, 2010There will be just tons of live music blasting from Mass MoCA this summer from a rock festival with Wilco, to the perennial Woodstocker, Richie Havens, to Carolina Chocolate Drops and a reggae dance party. Oh yes, there will also be some exhibitions. A show by Petah Coyne will open on May 29 and remain on view forever. But not quite for 25 years like Sol Lewitt.
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Dan Bosley Runs for Berkshire Sheriff
But I Didn't Shoot the Deputy
By: - Feb 09th, 2010Since 1987, State Representative, Dan Bosley, Democrat- North Adams, has been a great supporter of the arts organizations in the Berkshires. Last night, at the cozy Inn at Richmond, he asked a room of blue chip arts leaders for their support in a race for Berkshire Sheriff. He is opposed by Pittsfield Police Detective Thomas Bowler.
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Christoph Buchel vs. Mass MoCA Redux
Appellate Court Rules Artist's Claim Bears Merit
By: - Jan 29th, 2010On September 21, 2007, in Federal District Court in Springfield, Judge Michael A. Posner ruled that Mass MoCA had not violated the artist Christoph Buchel according to the 1990 Visual Arts Rights Act. Now a Federal Appelate Court has found that the claim of copyright infringement against the museum has merit and should be heard by a federal jury. Tension mounts as the artist will indeed have his day in court.
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The 2010 Tucson Gem Show
On the Rocks
By: - Jan 27th, 2010The Gem show as Tucson knows it, is a collection of shows that are all held in this city from the end of January to the middle of February, some spanning the full period, some for a week, some for a few brief days. This year, 2010, there are 42 different shows being held here between Jan 22 and Feb 15.
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ICA's Winter/ Spring Schedule
In Hot Waters
By: - Jan 16th, 2010Filmmaker John Waters will converse with artist Roni Horn. It is but one of the many events planned for the Winter/Spring at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art.
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Schedule
Events in Great Barrington Through August
By: - Jan 15th, 2010The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington announces a schedule of events and performances from now through August. Highlights include the sold out Live in HD broadcasts from the Met. Tony winner, Patti LuPone, jazz masters McCoy Tyner and Bucky Pizzarelli are among the highlights. As well as appearances by the Paul Taylor and Alvin Ailey dance companies.
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Picture Yourself at the Clark
Gala Opening of Boldini Exhibition Feb. 13
By: - Jan 12th, 2010In the Berkshires they say never miss a Clark party. Particularly in the dead of winter. February 13: The party of the season takes place from 6 to 8 pm at the Clark. "Picture Yourself at the Clark" celebrates the opening of the Clark exhibition Giovanni Boldini in Impressionist Paris with an evening of live music, delectable hors d'oeuvres, and fun with portraits
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Mayor Dick Alcombright Takes Charge
Regime Change in North Adams Starts This Week
By: - Jan 03rd, 2010For the first time in 26 years this week North Adams will have a new mayor in Dick Alcombright. After a busy weekend of ceremonies and celebrations he will be rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. In stating that this is "Our City" he pledges that his door will always be open. In a tough economy with many challenges nobody predicts that it will be easy.
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Cultural Groups Vie for $20,000 Berkshire Bank Prize
Bank Promotes Web Site with Charitable Contest
By: - Dec 22nd, 2009In addition to its large foundation contributions, Berkshire Bank has launched a "Join the excitement Grant" program. It intends to award four $5,000 grants to area non-profits in February, 2010. The recipients will be based on votes made by the general public.
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Mass MoCA Announces Winter/ Spring Schedule
Lie! Cheat! Steal! Fake It!
By: - Dec 17th, 2009In a pre Holiday meeting Joe Thompson, director of Mass MoCA, greeted staff, volunteers and the media followed by curators presenting a preview of the coming season. Musician and performance artist, Laurie Anderson, will be in residence with a dialogue on January 16. After a dinner break there will be Alt Cafe that night. Time to mark your calendars.
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Christmas Comes to the Berkshires
Traditional Family Shows Brighten December Days
By: - Dec 01st, 2009As reliable as Black Friday and White Christmas, holiday offerings in the Berkshires once again take center stage. From "A Christmas Carol" at the Berkshire Theatre Festival to "The Nutcracker" at the Colonial Theatre, with a Christmas Oratorio and British Panto tucked away here and there, the holidays are upon us.
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Alan Chartock Loves Ousted Mayor John Barrett
Berkshire Eagle Columnist Just Doesn't Get It
By: - Nov 28th, 2009In article after article since John Barrett III lost a tough Mayor's race in North Adams the Berkshire Eagle has shed crocodile tears over his unanticipated defeat. To say the Eagle blew its coverage is an understatement. Now columnist Alan Chartock wades in on why he loves "Big John" who was "done in" by a "few disgruntled self styled arts types."
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Mayor Elect Alcombright Announces Transition Plans
Jump Start for January 4
By: - Nov 24th, 2009In one of the toughest campaigns in the history of North Adams Dick Alcobright succeeded in ousting John Barrett III at 26 years the longest running seated mayor in the Commonwealth. Today he updated transition plans.
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Martha Coakley Stumps in North Adams
Greeting Hometown Gal at Cup and Saucer
By: - Nov 23rd, 2009While home for the holidays in the Berkshires, Martha Coakley, the front runner for the vacant U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, took time to greet her home town supporters in North Adams. She endorsed incoming Mayor Dick Alcombright, and he was up bright and early to return the favor.
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Harvard Square Celebrates Folk Era
Performances and Exhibitions Through Nov. 30
By: - Nov 17th, 2009Joan Baez got her start singing at Club 47 on Mount Auburn Street in Harvard Square. Her then boyfriend, Bod Dylan, would fall by and jam. Tom Rush ambled over from his dorm at Harvard. Tim Hardin, Jim Kewskin, Geoff and Maria Muldaur and Mel Lyman appeared. Later Club 47 morphed into Club Passim. There is a city wide celebration of that folk era in Harvard Square through November. David Wilson, the publisher of the seminal Broadside provides the liner notes for this historic event.
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Spinning Alcombright's Landslide Victory
Media Is Not the Message
By: - Nov 05th, 2009Both the Berkhire Eagle and the North Adams Transcript are playing catchup for their blown coverage of the era ending upset when challenger, Dick Alcombright, ousted the Dean of Mass. Mayors, John Barrett. Their spin is mostly too little and way too late. While the on line media, such as feisty Tammy Daniels for iBerkshires, had it covered, big time, from the getgo.
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Dick Alcombright Wins in North Adams
Ousts Barrett After 26 Years as Mayor
By: - Nov 04th, 2009The old line print media, The Berkshire Eagle, the North Adams Transcript, and the Boston Globe were dead wrong in their unflinching support of Mayor John Barrett. At 26 years he was the longest running mayor in the history of the Commonwealth. Yesterday some 60% of the 52% of registered voters in North Adams supported Mayor Elect Dick Alcombright.
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Alcombright for Mayor of North Adams
Barrett: Thanks but No Thanks
By: - Nov 01st, 2009During 26 years as Mayor of North Adams, John Barrett has done a lot for the city. Just ask him. Thanks, but it is time to move on. Berkshire Fine Arts endorses Dick Alcombright for the Mayor of North Adams. It is more about hope, ideas, survival and progress than just change for the sake of change.
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North Adams City Council Debate Reveals Deep Divide
Incumbents Mostly Look Back, Challengers Look Ahead
By: - Oct 22nd, 2009Election 2009 seems to come down to this: who stands the best chance of delivering more jobs and economic growth in 2010-2011, the incumbents, the challengers, or some blend of both. It's a tough question, and one the voters will decide in just a matter of days.
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Second North Adams Mayoral Debate a Tie
Most Answers Focus on Past and Present, Not Future
By: - Oct 15th, 2009For all the rhetoric about jobs and growth, neither Mayor John Barrett nor his opponent Dick Alcombright had very much to say about new directions for the troubled city of North Adams. The second Mayoral debate was mostly about how each counts beans and sees the problems the city faces, not about solutions. Their mutual lack of specific solutions is troubling.
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Shakespeare & Company's Fiscal Crisis
Catastrophe or Bump in the Road
By: - Oct 15th, 2009To quote Winston Churchill during the Battle of Britain "Is this the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning?" In the coming months artistic director Tony Simotes will be charged with getting Shakespeare & Company back on track and out from under a stagering debt of $10 million.
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Catching Up With Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Company
Taking a Break from Playing Martha to Attend a Press Conference
By: - Oct 14th, 2009Although Tina Packer is in the midst of a controversial production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" at Boston's Publick Theatre she attended the important press conference of Shakespeare & Company convened to discuss the current fiscal crisis. It was a chance to catch up with Packer and share her insights as founding artistic director of the company.
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Lisa M. Blackmer Event at the Freight Yard
North Adams City Council Incumbent
By: - Oct 07th, 2009North Adams City Council incumbent and candidate for reelection Lisa M. Blackmer held a meet and greet at the Freight Yard. While drinking and snacking the rumors were flying in an ever more contentious Mayoral campaign between incumbent, John Barrett, and challenger Dick Alcombright. They both dropped by to press the flesh.
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Alcombright Dinner at Bounty Fare in North Adams
Mayoral Race a Piece of Cupcake
By: - Oct 04th, 2009There was a lively turnout of some 272 supporters for a sit down dinner at Bounty Fare for Candidate Dick Alcombright. For many, the cupcakes with their Alcombright banners on top, baked by Keith Bona, were symbolic of the rising tide. While some feel the race is now a piece of cupcake Alcombright says it would be a mistake to be overly confident in the final month of a tough campaign.
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