Berkshire Museum

The main event is Wrapped: Search for the Essential Mummy. In an adjoining gallery is a thumbnail Nancy Graves: Journey to North Africa. The elegant and spacious Crane Gallery features a collaboration Joe Wheaton & Susan Rodgers: Spatial Relationships. The newly launched Wider Window Gallery features artist in residence Ven Vosiey’s Artifact .

The Berkshire season was launched in a sensational manner with three sold out Tanglewood performances by James Taylor and fellow singer/ songwriter, the legendary Carole King. They shared music, memories and intimate moments during concerts that averaged two and a half hours. Fans who bought lawn tickets last winter were rewarded by a gorgeous summer evening under the stars.

Pittsfield Museum’s Little Cinema celebrates 60 years of cinematic excellence . One of the longest-running film festivals in New England, Little Cinema presents first-run foreign and independent films. Little Cinema presents films nightly at 8 p.m. plus a weekly Monday matinee at 2 p.m. Kicking off this historic season is an appropriately historic film, Vincere, (128 minutes, rated R), running from Sunday, May 30 to Thursday, June 3.

A documentary on comic Joan Rivers launches the Berkshire International Film Festival on June 6 preceded by a short documentary on Marge Champion celebratng her 90th birthday. This year the festival is expanding from Great Barrington to Pittsfield with a schedule of more than 75 features, documentaries and shorts. Actress Patricia Clarkson will be honored.

Jazz pianist Randy Weston has Berkshire roots. He started as a dishwasher at the legendary Music Inn where owner Stephanie Barber discovered him, Weston will perform at the Berkshire Museum on May 29. Ed Bride, the founder of Berkshires Jazz also announces highlights of the annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival October 8-21.

Berkshire Theatre Festival's 2010 season features one world premiere, two musicals, and multiple classics from the theatrical canon. Critically-acclaimed directors David Auburn, Anders Cato, Kyle Fabel, Wes Grantom, Eric Hill, John Rando, and E. Gray Simons III will be charged with bringing this season of theatre that matters to life. Among the actors appearing this year in Stockbridge are Jayne Atkinson, David Chandler, Jeremy Davidson, Richard Easton, Michel Gill, and Randy Harrison.

Compared to other Berkshire theatre companies it seems that Barrington Stage plays it safe in running the hits. This season opening with Sweeney Todd. But Julianne Boyd in a recent interview responded that it just smart business in a tough economy. She takes pride in developing six productions that have moved on to New York. She is also excited by the cultural renaissance and economic development in Pittsfield.

The spacious Ferrin Gallery in Pittsfield has hosted events and dinners for charitable organizations. Now Leslie Ferrin has launched a series of Dish & Dine events featuring talks with gallery artists. Between courses of locally grown food the photographer Jason Houston discussed his exhibition Family of Mine and exotic global assignments.

Back in the day the Berkshire Museum, the oldest in the region, collected everything from soup to nuts. The museum's director, Stuart Chase, is challenged to find projects drawn from a vast collection of 30,000 objects. The interactive exhibitions are fun for families and instructive for 13,000 annual visiting students.

Since 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.

A clash of the Titans will prevail in Pittsfield.Berkshire Museum's current exhibition, Armed & Dangerous: Art of the Arsenal, explores the evolution, function, and craft of weaponry and armor throughout human culture and the animal kingdom. This exhilarating exhibition, drawn primarily from the Museum's permanent collection, runs through June 6, 2010.

During the cold winter in the Berkshires the hot new restaurants to enjoy is Flavours of Malaysia tucked away in a basement on McKay Street just around the corner from the new Beacon Cinema in Pittsfield. On weekends reservations are recommended.

Shorter days bring brighter nighttime events. With a cornucopia of choices, Fall 2009 promises to be the most entertaining in years. Check over our picks and previews which cover events from now until late November, and you're sure to find something to spice up your cider.

Located between the larger and better known artist communities of Pittsfield and North Adams it is easy to overlook the vibrant Adams art scene. We visited and interviewed eight artists in their studios. They are all well established with an intriguing variety of work.

The Arts and Artists of Adams, Massachusetts have received little attention. There are two vital and evolving arts organizations, the Topia Art Center and Greylock Arts Gallery, as well as several cultural entities to visit and enjoy.

Summer may seem to be drawing to a close, but you can't tell by the busy schedule in the next few weeks. In fact, more new shows are opening, fresh dance companies are unpacking and the jazz musicians are waiting in the wings for a festive climax to Summer in the Berkshires. To make sure you don't miss anything, here is another handy roundup of the best events for late summer through the big Labor Day weekend.

Just up Under Mountain Road from the main gate of Tanglewood is the posh, bed and breakfast Stonover Farm. The stone walled under level of the barn is operated as the Barn Gallery which is open to guests and by appointment. Through October 31 there is a lively and fun exhiition "Farm."

composers, cutting edge dance or perhaps an absorbing evening of great theatre? Take time to indulge your senses and treat yourself to some of the Berkshire's legendary performing arts attractions. They all have great deals for residents and visitors alike. Use our handy Picks and Previews guide to help decide.

Summer's abundance is all around us, and so is the Berkshire's annual bounty of music, theatre and dance choices. Here's another of our detailed guides to help you choose.

Recently Dick Alcombright who opposes the incumbent, John Barrett, met with us to discuss his platform as candidate for Mayor of North Adams. We particulaly focused on the presence of Mass MoCA, MCLA, and an emerging community of artists as a matrix for arts as an economic engine to drive a depressed and recovering city.

July is a great time to be in the Berkshires with dozens of must-see events taking place as we approach the height of the season. Making the right choices is challenging. Winnow them down using our capsule descriptions and handy links. There's no easier way to compare, check and choose than this handy guide. Lots of pictures, too.

When Mass MoCA opened a decade ago artists migrated to North Adams attracted by large, cheap loft spaces. For the second season that growing arts community is trying to revitalize the business district through a city wide project known as DownStreet. Artists hope that their commitment and sweat equity will start to pay off.

Summer Begins with an amazing array of performing arts events to choose from. Both Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow kick off their busy schedules while the main stages of the Berkshire's four resident professional theatre companies all kick into high gear. Our capsule descriptions and handy links will guide you through the dense array of superb cultural resources. In season world renowned artists perform in the Berkshires.

The Artist A.E. Gallatin collected and organized the Museum of Living Art at New York University. When the museum closed in 1943 Gallatin donated a number of works to the Berkshire Museum. They form the core of this exhibition focused on American Abstract Art.

June is bustin' out all over, and our resident performing arts organizations are pulling out all the stops as the season approaches. Once again we provide our handy guide to upcoming Berkshire events.