Features:

After a Global economic meltdown it will hardly be business as usual for the recently booming art market. Like the greed and excess on Wall Street there will be a lot of blame and finger pointing. Hopefully the bottoming out may enduce new realiities and even result in more relevant art.

A broad range of work by 27 artists is on view in the Eclipse Annual Exhibition. The annual Open Studios event will occur during the run of the show from October 17 through October 19.

In London Kristin Scott Thomas won the Olivier Award as Best Actress for her performance of Arkadina in Chekhov's "The Seagull." Through December 21 the stunning Royal Court Theatre production is staged at New York's Walter Kerr Theatre.

One of the singular artists of our generation, Anna Deavere Smith brings insight, perception and intellect to the dramatization of the human condition in the 21st Century. Her latest performance piece Let Me Down Easy is both troubling and involving while equally enlightening and entertaining. It should not be missed.

Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost (1897) has served as the foundation for at least six film and television adaptations (1944-1996), several ballets (2006 and others) and even an opera (1966). The classic Oscar Wilde story is wonderfully suited to the theater as well, having been presented on stage by theatre companies throughout the world. With such a rich creative history, why then did Shakespeare & Company decide to start over from scratch?

Squeezing hairy chests into tight costumes and donning feathery headpieces, these Clown Prices of Ballet in full makeup danced sur les pointes across the stage of the Hunter Center at Mass MoCA. As both merry makers and serious dancers all they want is their turn in the spotlight, and endless applause.

As the MC for MCLA, Jonathan Secor stated, it was to be a "typical evening of New Orleans music." As though we were transported to the Maple Leaf Bar where Papa Grows Funk is the house band. For this Berkshire gig there were special guests Walter "Wolfman" Washington and pianist, Joe Krown. They put up a stunning wall of sound.

The revisionist, feminist approach of Rhoda Lerman's play, based on her novel, "Eleanor: Her Secret Journey" presents the developing independence of the first lady, portrayed by Elizabeth Norment, upon learing of an affair with Lucy Mercer by her husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The play "In Conflict" based on interviews by Yvonne Latty with Iraq veterans originated at Temple University. It won the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is now running Off Broadway in repertory with "The Atheist" through Culture Project.

There were tons of tourists and camera crews everywhere. The financial crisis lures the concerned and curious to Wall Street.

A World Premiere by a Tony Award-winning playwright, Richard Nelson, at the highly professional Huntington Theatre Company is generally a formula for success. However, even with good performances and technical mastery, an unfocused, overly complicated, confusing narrative by playwright Richard Nelson needs serious editing and refining. Less would have certainly been more.

How do you define a band that transcends the typical limits of genre? Uh, they are synth- driven, acappella and doo-wop roots rock, indie-funk-electro with a horn section. TVOTR has a new CD "Dear Science."

Last year the Coen Brothers won big with "No Country for Old Men." But, despite an all star cast, "Burn After Reading" is a flame out. This crash and burn film has a few but not enough amusing moments.

Since opening in 1955, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute has been distinguished by its quality collections, the depth of its research programs, and the natural beauty of its rustic setting. Working with Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando to develop a campus plan that enhances the Institute's setting, expands facilities and reconfigures its galleries, the Clark has recently introduced a star museum building by a star architect.

The film Miracle at St. Anna, by Spike Lee, is loosely based on a massacre of the people of Sant' Anna di Stazzema by the Waffen-SS in August of 1944. The film focuses on four soldiers from the all-black 92nd Infantry Division who have sought shelter in the village.

Ricky Gervais is a comic genius known for his remarkable series on BBC "The Office" and "Extras." Having made several films "Ghost Town" is his first starring role. Hopefully there will be other and better efforts.

Cirque du Soleil delivers an unforgettable evening of outrageous clowning, astounding acrobats and colorful spectacle that is best described as "Theatrobatics!" Best of all, Kooza is the newest and funniest of their touring shows and even given the pricey tickets, worth every penny.

The Berkshire Hills are very much alive this fall. Choose from the ridiculous or the sublime, from the Ballet Trockaderos with men in tutus and on pointe to the arrival of Irina Brook at Shakespeare & Company to wrest a play from Oscar Wilde's book, The Canterville Ghost. For a complete change of pace, the Cirque du Soleil is coming to Amherst and Boston.

Several months ago we met Andrew Klass when he was the youngest exhibitor in the "Berkshire Salon" at the Eclipse Mill Gallery. This is how first one man show at the popular Cup and Saucer in downtown North Adams. It is a short walk from the campus of MCLA where he is enrolled as a fine arts major.

With Labor Day Weekend approaching Jordan Young will be heading back to college. For the past summer he was an intern at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art with a range of duties and challenges. Overall he reports that it was a remarkable experience.

With this new film shot in Barcelona Woddy Allen is back on his game. Sure there are flaws but already there is Oscar buzz for the performance of Penelope Cruz. This film is worth seeing twice for all the jokes you miss the first time.

Because of the ground water issues the burials in New Orleans are above ground in vaults. A tour of the Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District reveals interesting evidence of the ethnic diversity of the Crescent City.

The Mount was the home of the writer Edith Wharton. It was built in the Berkshire Mountains to escape what she referred to as an overstuffed and suffocating life in New York and Newport, RI. It's where she wrote some of her classic books like "The House of Mirth," where she hosted distinguished friends like Henry James, and where she put into practice her sophisticated ideas of home décor and garden design. It is a special place created by a special American artist. It is currently in need of creative help.

The several large, surreal, ceramic heads by Sergei Isupov on view at Ferrin Gallery in Pittsfield were creted during a residence in Kecskemet, Hungary. When the series is completed they will be shown at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Center in Arizona in 2009.

Using a computer program Devorah Sperber reduces details of Old Masters into a pattern of individual pixels. These are then combined in grids made of spools of thread. The results prove to be visually delightful as well as educational.

In the last decade, universities and museums have had star architects create and renovate. Several prominent projects are now underway with high expectations. They stretch from Boston to the Berkshires. Like the Field of Dreams film axiom, “if you build it, they will come,” apparently, museums feel the same way. Part I of three parts.

In the last decade, museums have had star architects design their renovations and new buildings. Massachusetts is blessed to have an abundance of museums. Several prominent projects are now underway with high expectations. Stretching from Boston to the Berkshires, art and architecture intertwine. This makes sense as architectural stars create buildings as art objects. Part II.

Of the several prominent museum projects underway throughout Massachusetts, none is more unique than the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. This mansion museum is being changed for the first time in over 100 years. Mrs. Gardner stipulated in her will that nothing be changed from the day she died. Now, changes are occurring. Like its namesake owner, the changes have not come without a bit of controversy. An architectural star is designing the project. Part III.

A provocative public art piece has been making visual and media waves since its installation around July 4th. This ephemeral 100 foot mural by agi-pop artist Ron English morphes the faces of Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama. Commissioned as part of a political art exhibit at the Boston Gallery XIV, this temporary piece is a layered work reaching far beyond simple art and politics.

In the past few years Mass MoCA has presented major installations by the leading Chinese artists, Cai Guo Qiang and Huang Yong Ping. The current exhibition presents a diverse group of Western artists inspired by visits to China and encounters with a rapidly changing economy and culture.

Despite the challenges of rainy weather,gas at $4 a gallon, and a bad economy it was a superb season of theatre in the Berkshires. Nicholas Martin was the MVP for putting the venerable Williamstown Theatre Festival back on its feet.

Memories of many wonderful nights in the Shed and under the stars on the lawn at Tanglewood. As well as superb Berkshire theatre.

Three dozen productions emerged from our four resident theatre companies this Summer making it the busiest Berkshire season in memory. Quality was surprisingly high given the hectic pace of productions. As Fall approaches, we offer you one person's opinion as to the best and the worst for 2008.

This exhibition presents the work of eight artists who are dead serious about the issues they deal with but with an enormous sense of humor. With this project it is quite alright to have a few laughs.

Over the past several months, Greylock Arts, in Adams, MCLA Gallery 51 (North Adams) and Turbulence (a Net Art organization) have been working together to bring forward a series of exciting events, exhibitions, and opportunities to Northern Berkshire County.

New England contains several architecturally distinctive houses. This is the first in an occasional series of articles and reports in BFA focused upon these special structures. Built in the late 1930’s, Bauhaus founder and Harvard architecture professor Walter Gropius’ house followed his Modernist’s philosophy and principles while sensitively being company-comfortable and family-friendly.

We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001 due to a terrorist attack that shook our nation's soul. Seven years later our country has marked the date. The winning design of a competition has been completed at Boston's Logan Airport. Does it serve as a serious symbol of remembrance or simply a structure of obligation?

Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh on August 6, 1928 and died in New York at 6:31 AM, on February 22, 1987. His friend and long term collaborator, the poet, photographer and archivist, Gerard Malanga (Born March 20, 1943) reflects on Andy.

A native of the Bronx returns there to see his last game at Yankee Stadium before the legendary home of the New York Yankees since 1923 is torn down to make way for a new $1.3 billion stadium. With photos by Steve.

It was some 52 years ago when the Duke Ellington Orchestra ignited the Newport Jazz Festival on July 7, 1956. Tenor player, Paul Gonsalves broke out in 26 choruses between the sections of Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue. This was included in one of the first live recordings a hit for Columbia Records, "Ellington at Newport '56." The superb book by John Fass Morton truly does tell the Backstory of that moment in jazz history.

Frank Lloyd Wright is synonymous with brilliant architect. However, besides being gifted and a genius designer, he was also quirky, rather eccentric and an egomaniac. His life was full of ups and downs from great acclaim to a has-been status, acts of bigamy to a murder of his mistress at his home. Yet, he died at age 92 or 94 (people were not really sure because he lied about his age) at the top of his profession. Frank Lloyd Wright’s name now means great American architect.

Besides the various mill building re-uses, nondescript chain stores and undistinguished houses, there are many notable and beautiful architectural structures, facades and details throughout the former mill town of North Adams, Massachusetts. This photographic portfolio is a glance at a few often overlooked details of architectural beauty.

For 33 years, Toronto has hosted a global movie mega-event that showcases some of the best and most interesting films from around the world. Visiting the Toronto International Film Festival is like participating in an athletic event where stamina and follow-through are necessary. Watching great films may be the second best thing that you can do in the dark.

On short notice the North Adams based Flown Home Band performed a concert at the Eclipse Mill Gallery. Despite the limited lead time there was a nice turn out for the launch of a series of concerts live at the Eclipse.

Having finally resolved a year long stuggle with Christoph Buchel Mass MoCA has cleared that clogged gallery and installed "Projections" by Jenny Holzer which will be on view for the coming year.

The upcoming Olympics prompted me to share my impressions of China, which I visited three years ago. My three week itinerary with Overseas Adventure Travel included Shianghai, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lhasa, Chongqing, Hong Kong and a cruise on the Yangtze River. In this first of a six-part series are insights to China's modernity and traditions.

Beijing is the modern political and administrative center of China. Despite its mega city problems of crowded streets, traffic jams and polluted air, Beijing fascinates with its historic treasures, classical gardens, gourmet restaurants and cherished customs. It is a city well worth visiting.

Surrounded by majestic mountains at 12,000 feet, Lhasa is the cultural and religious center of Tibet, one of five autonomous regions of China. Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama,sits atop Red Mountain with sweeping views of the city. Ornate temples, silk shawls and colorful flags that sway in the wind carrying written prayers to the gods, all add to the beauty of this Buddhist land.

As the past capital of eleven dynasties and a center of Chinese civilization, Xian has a rich array of cultural treasures: the famed Terra-Cotta Army, Buddhist temples,herbal medicine markets, ancient folklore and crafts in addition to unique Sichuan cuisine. Chengdu is the home of the Giant Panda Sanctuary and its distant cousin the red panda.

Originating in the Himalayas in Tibet, Yangtze is the world's third longest river. Our three-day cruise included shore excursions to cultural sites, a visit with a farmer, who lost his land to the Three Gorges Dam project, fascinating lectures on Chinese traditions and breathtaking views of spectacular gorges carved by the river through limestone highlands.

Although Hong Kong became part of China in 1997, it still operates according to the British system with its own $ currency. It is the financial center of China, where people seem to run instead of walk. The city boasts a panorama of high-rise buildings along with traditional districts. Hong Kong fascinates with its bustling local markets and harbor, and its shimmering skyline.

These three cities are distinctly different in character: Midyat is a mountain city of Syrian Christians; Hasankeyf is a city of impressive ruins, soon to be claimed by the rising waters of the Tigris River dam project; Diyarbakir,an ancient city of twenty-seven past civilizations, is now home to a large Kurdish population.

Southeastern Anatolia is a very distinct part of Turkey culturally and geographically. This is Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. With the demise of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War, Mesopotamia was divided by the allies to create national boundary lines for Iraq and Syria, and the Turks fought successfully to retain parts of their land. Inhabited by Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Kurds, Suryanis and Turks, the ancient cities of this area retain a cultural richness like no other.

Built on the side of a mountain with a commanding view of the Northern Mesopotamian plain, Mardin is an historic treasure. The artistry of the city's stone masons have shaped its architectural character, turning its streets into galleries in stone.