WTF and the Clark Collaborate to Bring Art to Life

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Roger Rees worked with Danielle Steinmann, Erica Lipez and Stephen Sanders to organize "The Unknown Monet Revealed," a dramatic reading of the painter's letters.
WILLIAMSTOWN - As part of a collaboration of two powerhouse arts organizations, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute hosted nearly 150 people for "The Unknown Monet Revealed" on Monday night. The Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Artistic Director Roger Rees joined actor and violinist Erica Lipez and the Clark’s assistant curator of education Danielle Steinmann for a dramatic reading of painter Claude Monet’s personal letters, written between 1864 and 1926. “We really just wanted to explore Monet’s reasons for creating art,” said Stephen Sanders, the assistant to the creative director and general manager at WTF. One of the most recognizable painters of the 19th and 20th centuries, Monet is considered one of the founder’s of impressionism, an artistic movement that centered on representing movement and light in artwork. The “Unknown Monet: Pastels and Drawings,” the Clark’s summer exhibition, displays more than 80 pieces of Monet’s work and challenges traditional ideas about the painter and his methods. Rees gave life to Monet’s letters, which chronicled the journey of a man plagued by financial woes and struggling with acceptance both in his personal and professional lives. Using Monet’s own words, Rees revealed a truly emotional man who loved passionately, despaired deeply and wrote dramatically. Most famous for his tranquil paintings of nature scenes, Monet lived a tumultuous yet full life, dedicated to artistic pursuits until his last days. “These are real letters by a real man,” said Rees after the performance. “He lived a rather poignant life and it’s truly moving to read his letters.” Collaborating for the third summer, WTF and the Clark aim to place art in context in a unique form, allowing viewers to create new connections and looking at art in a new way. “The educational value of an event like this is priceless,” said Steinmann, who framed the reading of the letters by providing biographical information about the painter. “What we try to do at the Clark is to understand the human experience and allow people to get to know artists as humans.” “Going into the gallery and seeing a piece of art, I wonder ‘What motivates artists to create it?’ After a reading like this, you can go and see the human element in the painting,” said Sanders. "The Unknown Monet" will be on display at the Clark through Sept. 16. The Clark is at 225 South St. The galleries are open daily from 10 to 5, and closed Mondays September through June. Admission is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and under, members, and students with valid ID. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu Jen Thomas may be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, Ext. 23.
Share
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Rumbolt Law Wins Cal Ripken Minors Title

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Asher Garbatini Sunday went 2-for-2 with a double at the plate and threw two shutout innings on the mound to lead Rumbolt Law to a 6-3 win over North Adams Police Department in the championship game of the Berkshire County Cal Ripken minors division tournament.
 
NAPD rallied from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 before Rumbolt rallied for three runs in bottom of the fourth inning to put the game out of reach.
 
Andre Carasone made the three-run lead stand up, pitching out of a second-and-third jam in the fifth and leaving the bases loaded in the sixth to secure the win.
 
Offensively, every player on Rumbolt reached base and six of its 12 players scored a run.
 
Rumbolt coach John Carasone said his team grew tremendously over the last half year.
 
"We had a really bad fall ball season," he said. "This team could not win. And then we came back here in the spring, and we couldn't lose.
 
"Andre [Carasone] and Asher [Garbatini] worked their tails off in the off-season, in particular. They came back to pitch really well."
 
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories

Community News
image description

Q&A: Williamstown to Celebrate Dane's Career at Thursday Party

Community News
A & E
image description

Theater Review: 'Driving Miss Daisy' Is a 'Wondrous' Production

A & E
Community News
image description

Mohican People Honored with Display in South Williamstown

Community News
Community News
image description

Companion Corner: Lucy at Second Chance Animal Shelter

Community News
Business
image description

Williamstown Yarn Store Bringing the Hobby Closer to Home

Business
Community News
image description

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St....

Community News
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?