Lectures and Workshop to Focus on Historic Paints and Finishes

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Pittsfield - On May 1 and 2, from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm, Hancock Shaker Village presents The Forum: Coloring the Past, a two-day symposium on the use of historic paints and finishes. Five leading specialists in architectural paint analysis and conservation will discuss the Shakers' use of paint, as well as research being done on Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest and Gustav Stickley's Craftsman Farms. Speakers on Saturday are: Susan L. Buck, Christine Thomson, Travis C. McDonald, and Sheryl Hack. Christopher Ohrstrom and Christine Thomson demonstrate historic paint-making techniques on Sunday. Hancock Shaker Villager Curator of Collections Christian Goodwillie will lead special tours of locations within the Village where historic finishes survive. Pre-registration is required for all programs at a cost of: $60 for Saturday only, $40 for Sunday only, or $100 for both days. Lunch and refreshments are included in registration; to register, contact Hancock Shaker Village at (413)443-0188 or (800)817-1137. The Forum is sponsored by Shaker Workshops, makers of fine Shaker furniture and accessories. Susan L. Buck, Ph.D., is a Conservator and Paint Analyst, Instructor at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Art Conservation Program. Analytical techniques used for the analysis of fine arts materials have been applied to selected samples of 19th century Shaker architectural coatings, furniture finishes, and paints from Spirit Drawings and maps to identify paint and varnish coatings and to assess Shaker painting practices. In her lecture, How Shaker Furniture, Spirit Drawings, Maps and Architectural Paints Compare to Traditional Nineteenth-century Painting Practices, Buck will compare the results of this broad analysis to examples of paint and varnish coatings on comparable objects and buildings from New England and the mid-Atlantic states. She will also discuss the issue of "original finishes" as it relates to Shaker painting and cleaning practices, and will present examples of intact Shaker finishes using cross-section paint samples to demonstrate how to interpret aged coating histories. Christine Thomson, Conservator for Robert Mussey Associates, presents Adventures in Recreating Historic Paints and Varnishes: Case Histories. This presentation will show how material analysis techniques used by art conservators today can be applied to historic interiors to gain a more accurate period interpretation of paints and varnishes. Three projects will be highlighted: the discovery and subsequent recreation of a verdigris glaze at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts, the recreation of tinted varnishes at Gustav Stickley's Craftsman Farms in Parsippanny, New Jersey, and the recreation of a decorative finish on a table made in the late 19th century by Herter Brothers. Travis C. McDonald, Director of Architectural Restoration, Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest presents It's Great to Have the Answer -- But What is the Question? All too often architectural investigators find micro answers that have not been anticipated by the macro questions. Trace materials and evidence can be overlooked if time is not given to question them. In this lecture, McDonald uses the investigation and restoration of Thomas Jefferson's villa retreat to provide examples of this critical analytical process. Sheryl Hack, Director of Collections and Programs for Canterbury Shaker Village, presents The Restoration and Interpretation of Painted Finishes at Canterbury Shaker Village. Under her direction, a number of buildings at Canterbury Shaker Village have been carefully restored to their original interior and exterior paint schemes. This work was carried out based on meticulous research into the architectural finishes found throughout the site. The information gleaned from this research presents a uniquely thorough insight into the entire history of the Shakers' use of paint at Canterbury. Ms. Hack will describe the findings and discuss how they influenced the restoration of certain buildings. She will also explore the issue of choosing the most appropriate period of finish to interpret when confronted with the range of finishes used over the lifetime of a building. On Sunday, Christopher Ohrstrom of Adelphia Paper Hangings presents Methods and Materials in Traditional Paint Making. Using traditional tools and materials, Mr. Ohrstrom will demonstrate making linseed oil-based paint, distemper and tinted glazes. Mr. Ohrstrom will also show several techniques including use of a muller and slaband hand crank paint mill for making linseed oil paints. Additionally, he will make traditional hide-glue bound distemper similar to that which he applied at Monticello. He will be accompanied by Christine Thompson in a demonstration of making traditional resin bound paints and glazes. Ohrstrom is a leading expert on the recreation of historic paints and has done so for several significant historic properties such as Monticello, Mount Vernon, Nathaniel Russell House, Kenmore and The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. In addition Christine Thomson will give a demonstration on making period nineteenth-century varnishes including shellac varnish, oil-modified resin varnish, and a variety of pigmented varnishes. Hancock Shaker Village is located on Route 20 just west of the junctions of Routes 20 and 41 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. For more information, or directions, visit www.hancockshakervillage.org or phone (800)817-1137.
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Friends of Great Barrington Libraries Holiday Book Sale

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries invite the community to shop their annual Holiday Good-as-New Book Sale, happening now through the end of the year at the Mason Library, 231 Main Street. 
 
With hundreds of curated gently used books to choose from—fiction, nonfiction, children's favorites, gift-quality selections, cookbooks, and more—it's the perfect local stop for holiday gifting.
 
This year's sale is an addition to the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Stroll on this Saturday, Dec. 13, 3–8 PM. Visitors can swing by the Mason Library for early parking, browse the sale until 3:00 PM, then meet Pete the Cat on the front lawn before heading downtown for the Stroll's shopping, music, and festive eats.
 
Can't make the Holiday Stroll? The book sale is open during regular Mason Library hours throughout December.
 
Proceeds support free library programming and events for all ages.
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