Opinion
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Steve Nelson on The Boston Tea Party
Reelin' and Rockin' (Part 1)
By: - Jan 24th, 2011From 1967 to 1970 Steve Nelson produced rock and blues shows at The Boston Tea Party, The Woodrose Ballroom in South Deerfield, MA and Paramount Theatre in Springfield, MA. Now he is a co-founder of the Music Museum Of New England. Charles Giuliano was art director and then music critic for Boston After Dark, which became The Boston Phoenix. They spoke about the Museum and the music scene back in the day. This is the first of four parts of their conversation.
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Boston Art Critic Greg Cook
Part One of a Dialogue
By: - Jan 22nd, 2011During the 1960s Charles Giuliano was the art critic for Boston After Dark which evolved as The Boston Phoenix. Later distinguished Phoenix art critics included Kenneth Baker, David Bonetti and Christopher Millis. Currently Greg Cook is the art critic for the Phoenix. Spanning generations this is part one of a dialogue on covering the Boston art world and the state of criticism.
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Mayor Dick Alcombright's State of the City
Mid Point of First Term in North Adams
By: - Jan 12th, 2011When Dick Alcombright defeated John Barrett as Mayor of North Adams, after a tenure of 26 years, nobody anticipated that it was going to be easy. While the city had come back from the dark days when Sprague Electric, the primary employer, shut down that progress appeared to have stalled. In this address Alcombright discusses progress and issues that remain ahead.
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Branding the Berkshires
Marketing July 4th Weekend
By: - Dec 01st, 2010For most of us right now its jingle bells. With the announcement of the 2011 Tanglewood schedule this week, however, Berkshire arts organizations are hard at work planning a fast launch to the season on the Fourth of July. But, like Abbott and Costello, come summer, let's hope they aren't wondering about "who's on first." There is desperate need for branding, pooled resources, and a marketing strategy for the Berkshires.
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December Arts Picks
A Brilliant Overview
By: - Nov 28th, 2010Our Boston arts and entertainment correspondent has been making a list and checking it twice. There is a lot of fun for the whole family on tap for the holiday season. Barbara Brilliant once again provides a cheat sheet to the best and brightest offerings and convenient links to the box office.
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Colonial/ BTF Merger: Now What
Thinking Outside Pandora’s Box
By: - Nov 22nd, 2010There is a domino impact for the arts in the Berkshires with the merger, over the next year, of the Colonial Theatre and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. A more dynamic Colonial increases the critical mass and leadership of Pittsfield as the matrix and hub of the arts and cultural economy. It is equidistant from the boundaries of the region that represent more than an hour to drive from one end to the other. Strengthening the thriving arts community in Pittsfield changes the paradigm for the region. It increases the potential for synergy or competition.
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Berkshire Theatre Festival and Colonial Theatre
Contemplating Collaboration
By: - Nov 18th, 2010With a $21.6 million renovation the 107-year-old Colonial Theater reopened in Pittsfield in 2006. Running with an average of just under half a house, with too many dark nights, the Colonial has yet to live up to its potential. In a bold move it may partner with the venerable Berkshire Theatre Festival, as early as June, 2011 to produce what are likely to be popular musicals with bankable stars.
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November at the Colonial Theatre
Tommy Tune to Arlo Guthrie
By: - Oct 15th, 2010November iz shaping up as a busy month for the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. It starts with The Spencers, Nov. 6 then sweeps in Tommy Tune on the 12. Kate Clinton appears on the 13th with Ani DiFranco on the 16th followed by Arlo Guthrie, 20th, Kathy Mattea, 27th and Sound of Christmas, 30th. That brings us up to the Holidays with lots of merry cheer.
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Covering the Art Wars
Schjeldahl in the New Yorker and The Globe’s Smee
By: - Oct 14th, 2010In the exercise of power, influence and ego art critics often like to make or break individuals and movements. The combative stances perpetuate the notion of artists as warriors. High art is depicted as a clash of the titans. The great artists are simply the last ones standing.
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Brilliant Arts and Entertainment
October 2010
By: - Sep 26th, 2010Boston correspondent Barbara Brilliant offers a selection of highlights of arts and entertainment for October. We are moving into high season with many options for audiences.
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Berkshire Forum 2010
The Commerce of Culture
By: - Sep 18th, 2010With three days of programming the arts and the creative community were underplayed in the recent Berkshire Forum. Although the arts are a major employer and drive the economy of the Berkshires just one session was devoted to this essential agenda. The too few seats at the table excluded any representatives from the four major theatre companies, or even Jacob's Pillow. Mass MoCA director Joe Thompson was included in another panel where he commented on the important Wilco Festival this summer.
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Berkshire Forum 2010
Thinking Beyond Pride of Place
By: - Sep 17th, 2010The founders of the first Berkshire Forum Tina Chase and Mary Collins George intend to move forward with planning next year. Despite a thin attendance for the three days of lectures, panels and performances they report nearly breaking even. A daunting range and depth of information and insights was provided. It evoked expanding and redefining the branding of the Berkshires. A highlight among many was the dialogue with Boston Globe editor Martin Baron.
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The Mount Fall Programming
Season Ends on Halloween
By: - Sep 10th, 2010The season at Edith Wharton's historic home The Mount in Lenox, Mass. remains open with programming through October 31. There are many reasons to visit during the fall foliage season.
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Berkshire Forum September 14 to 16
The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield
By: - Sep 09th, 2010A three-day conference promising inspiring ideas and stimulating dialogue led by a remarkable network of business owners, economists, social innovators, technology visionaries, cultural enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and thought leadersâ€"bound by a devotion to region worth preserving and an interest in shaping its cultural and economic future.
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Hoosac River Lights September 11
Third Annual North Adams Event
By: - Sep 07th, 2010Ralph Brill a gallerist in the Eclipse Mill in North Adams reminds us that Mermaid Beatrice is swimming her way up the Hudson River. She splashes into North Adams after dark on Saturday night as the highlight of the Third Annual Hoosac River Lights event.
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Mark Volpe on Tanglewood’s Non-Classsical Programming
Thinking Inside the Box
By: - Sep 07th, 2010During the recent, season ending, Tanglewood Jazz Festival we spoke with Mark Volpe, the managing director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has had his hands full, yet again, with another medical absence by maestro, James Levine. Despite the concerns of some classical critics regarding the continuity and consistency of the orchestra, for the most part, the season has been successful. Even magical. But regarding non-classical programming, of which there is very little in the program, he was quoted making harsh remarks in the Berkshire Eagle. We asked him about that and were surprised but guardedly pleased by his response.
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MIT and the Arts
Full Schedule of October Events
By: - Sep 06th, 2010The Massachuetts Institute of Techology offers a great range of arts events many of which are free to the general public. We have the complete breakdown of the dense October calendar.
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Artists and the Academy
Is There a Doctor in the House
By: - Aug 29th, 2010The glut of artists with MFA degrees has made it difficult to find tenure track positions in colleges and universities. There is now an industry in cranking out artists through degree programs. What is changing the playing field is the progressive standard of a doctorate in the fine arts for tenure track positions. Try to imagine Dr. Michelangelo, Matisse with an MFA, or Picasso teaching Photoshop at a state university in the midwest. What a mess as we start a new semester.
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Interview with Dan Bosley
Candidate for Sheriff of Berkshire County
By: - Aug 26th, 2010"My message has to be more complicated... The job of the Sherrif is not a law enforcement job. The Sheriff is responsible for the care, custody and condition of inmates. You can take a broad or a narrow interpretation of that, but either one is public safety, not law enforcement. The Sheriff does not go out busting perps, he doesn’t go on stakeouts. The perception is that he’s Wyatt Earp or James Arness in the Wild West. That’s what people think, but that’s not what the job is."
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Joe Finnegan Comments on WTF Season
First Season as General Manager in Williamstown
By: - Aug 18th, 2010A large part of the success of Nicholas Martin's final of three seasons as Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival has been the year round presence of the Williamstown resident, General Manager, Joe Finnegan. With a strong background in finance, for the past year, he has brought a professional status to his passion for theatre. With WTF back on track signified by rave reviews and sold out shows he looks forward to working with the new artistic director, Jenny Gersten.
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Wilco Feedback
Where Do We Go From Here
By: - Aug 17th, 2010The enormously ambitious, weekend long, Solid Sound Festival, curated by Wilco at Mass MoCA was a complete success. What now follows is a critical analysis vital to the momentum for future arts and events development in North Adams. We put out a call for responses and ideas. These ranged from Mayor Dick Alcobright, Mass MoCA PR person, Katherine Myers, to arts leaders, politicians and artists. We invite your responses as well.
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Robert Henriquez North Adams Exhibition
Just an Explosive Thought
By: - Aug 17th, 2010The exhibition by the Pittsfield based, Haitian born artist, Robert Henriquez has evoked many provocative issues. The work is included in a group show at the summer long Gallerie Haiti on Main Street in North Adams. Here the artist discusses the ideas and resources for the work.
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Boston's September Arts Highlights
From Wicked to Cabaret
By: - Aug 15th, 2010As summer winds down it is exciting to anticipate the launch of the fall arts season. Our Boston correspondent and tipster is marking her calendar. Here are some suggestions and where to find them.
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Grants for New England Artists
August 1 Deadline for Artists Resource Trust
By: - Jul 08th, 2010Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that the grant application deadline for the Artists Resource Trust (A.R.T) is August 1. A.R.T. provides grants to mid-career New England artists in financial need. Non-profit organizations wishing to show, commission or purchase work by mature artists living in New England may also apply.
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The Arts Redefine North Adams
Mass MoCA, Wilco, Down Street, and Tons More
By: - Jun 26th, 2010This summer through fall foliage the arts are flourishing in North Adams. Now in its eleventh year Mass MoCA is lending a helping hand to a vital, imaginative and ever more vital arts community. New Mayor Dick Alcombright is working shoulder to shoulder with Joe Thompson of Mass MoCA, MCLA, local galleries, artists and community leaders. Now in its third year there are 35 stops on the Down Street arts map. There's a free trolley to get you around town. Events include a huge Wilco Festival at Mass MoCA, the Eagle Street Beach Party, and River Lights III. A world record sidewalk drawing is in the planning stages. Lots of family fun from now till whenever.
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