Mass MOCA

The Wilco Solid Sound Festival is set for June 24 to 26 at Mass MoCA. Tanglewood launches its season the following Fourth of July weekend with three dates for perennial favorite James Taylor. In a surprise move Tanglewood has announced a prequel to the Taylor weekend. It will present the vintage soul group Earth Wind and Fire on Saturday, June 25, while Wilco will rock in North Adams. What gives?

After months of hints and rumors it is now official. The Wilco Solid Sound Festival returns to Mass MoCA in North Adams June 24 to 26. There are many changes and improvements. Unlike last year patrons may now opt for single day tickets which are cheaper than a weekend pass. But there are a limited number of one day tickets so if that's your preference plan to act swiftly.

The success of the 25-year-long installation of work by Sol Lewitt at Mass MoCA has created interest for similar projects. The museum has more former factory buildings to develop. But also a now finite amount of space that will entail careful decisions. It has been speculated that a project to display a number of works by the German artist, Anselm Kiefer, is being considered. We attended the final day of his exhibition at New York's Gagosian Gallery.

Mass MoCA can be such a tease. They have been so coy about admitting that the Wilco inspired Solid Sound Festival will return this year in June. It's still not official but mark your calendar for June 24 to 26. Better start making travel plans and hotel reservations asap. North Adams is sure to be swamped with Wilco fans.

MASS MoCA announces a major $3 million gift from the estate of Irene Hunter. This gift also leverages an anonymous $1 million challenge grant and the resulting $4 million total marks the completion of MASS MoCA's Permanence campaign which raised over $36.4 million since its launch in 2007. The Permanence Campaign had three goals: To create an endowment to provide financial stability for MASS MoCA's future and to build and endow a "museum within a museum" dedicated to Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing Retrospective, and to support operations during the campaign period.

Twenty one years ago Tom Krens pitched the idea of transforming the abandoned 17 acre Sprague Electric campus into Mass MoCA. That development cast a long shadow on the political careers of State Representative, Dan Bosley, and North Adams Mayor, John Barrett. Last night, at MoCA, Bosley celebrated a birthday and retirement after 24 years. Barrett, now out of office after 26 years, dropped by. As did a who's who of politicians including former Governor Jane Swift. On Monday Mass MoCA has "a major funding announcement ."

For 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.

It has become a lively North Adams tradition that the season of the Eclipse Mill Gallery, at 243 Union Street along Route 2, ends with a special holiday store. There are extended hours that are convenient for shopping with a more personal touch. The Eclipse also offers other shopping options with River Hill Pottery, Brill Gallery, and G.S. Askins used books.

After and absence of more than a year we experienced dramatic changes when visiting Boston's contemporary art galleries. Once dominant Newbury Street is a shadow of its former self marked by more closings. In the past year Nina Nielsen retired and Judy Rotenberg closed. We found the venerable Howard Yeserski Gallery relocated to the thriving South End. In a process that has taken years there is now a complete paradigm shift.

There 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.

In certain aspects of its collection, Old Kingdom Egypt and Asiatic Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is a world class museum. With the creation of the Art of the Americas wing the museum hopes to rank second to none among American museums. But, as the Bard would say, "What's in a name?" A closer look reveals formidable depth and glaring gaps in the attempt to cover 3,000 years of art on two continents.

Now 91, Marge Champion drove over from Stockbridge to attend a matinee screening of the documentary film, Keep Dancing, that features her with Donald Saddler. She was an original board member of Williamstown Theatre Festival as well as Jacob's Pillow. It was delightful. Which was not the case that evening at Mass MoCA when the Vincent Price cult classic was accompanied by a live rock score by Marco Benevento. The music obliterated rather than enhanced the film.

Steve Lawson, the artistic director of the Williamstown Film Festival has created a remarkable program for its 12th season. In addition to a program of shorts and three feature films the highlight of the first of two weekends was a packed house at Mass MoCA for a tribute to Billy Wilder with a dialogue between actor Alec Baldwin and Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne.

Over the past 30 years the Los Angeles based Sonny and Gloria Kamm have acquired 10,000 tea pots. Currently, they are seeking a museum partner to house their collection. The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield appears to be a finalist. To house the Kamm's Tea Pot Museum the plan would be to acquire a church property in the heart of the city.

In 1969, while a sophomore at Williams College Steve Lawson worked that summer for the then young Williamstown Theatre Festival. From a base in Williamstown he divides his time in New York and LA keeping up on theatre and film. He is the Executive Director of the Williamstown Film Festival which will have its 12th season from October 15 through 24. Over two weekends the festival will screen 33 films.

Photographer Leonard Nimoy, whose exhibition Secret Selves is on display through January 2, 2011, at MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) will offer insight into his creative and technical process during a talk at the museum on Thursday, October 21, at 5 PM. Nimoy strives to reveal his subjects' other half in Secret Selves. Shot in nearby Northampton, Massachusetts, in 2007, the series is exhibited for the first time at MASS MoCA.

David Cole created an American Flag for the courtyard of Mass MoCA using cranes and enormous ersatz knitting needles. The artist was associated with Boston's Judy Rotenberg Gallery which closed recently. The director of the gallery Kristen Dodge is launching her New York Gallery with an exhibition of his work.

With 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.

The 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.

A 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.

During 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.

Ralph 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.

When not collecting social security, or hanging out at the senior center shooting pool Crosby, Stills and Nash are out on tour. They brought their dino rock to Tanglwood last night to a sedate, not sedated, audience. Nice way to end a summer in the Shed.

Next summer there are plans for Sidewalk Sam and an army of volunteers to create the world's largest sidewalk painting in the parking lot of Mass MoCA. To give the folks in North Adams a hint of the immensity of that project, and to assist with fund raising, during the Down Town celebration Sam and his wife Tina were on hand to help create an enormous Matisse on Holden Street. Everyone involved had a blast.

Picasso Looks at Degas is among the best exhibitions currently on view in American museums. It remains at the Clark Art Institute until September 12. This is its only American venue before it travels to Barcelona.