WILLIAMSTOWN - Modern artists from Chagall to Crumb are the subject of a free film series at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute this fall. Sweeping the 20th century from beginning to end, "Documenting Modern Artists: More Portraits in Film" includes two heroes of modernism and two antiheroes of postmodernism. Films will be shown at 4 and 7:30 p.m. on select Fridays beginning Sept. 28.
First in the series is "The Mystery of Picasso" (1956, 75 minutes, rated PG, French, with subtitles) on Sept. 28. Henri-Georges Clouzot brings to this portrait of the fabled painter the same drive and dynamism that fueled his classic thrillers. It's a bullfight! It's an act of love! It's a bravura performance! It's Pablo painting.
Oct. 5 will feature "Homage to Chagall" (1977, 88 minutes, not rated). Harry Rasky brings a more traditional approach to a film portrait of the artist and his work. Both Chagall's life and work are admirable, demonstrating "The Colours of Love," as the subtitle suggests.
In "Crumb" (1994, 119 minutes, rated R) on Oct. 19, Terry Zwigoff digs deep into the psyche of Robert Crumb, the underground cartoonist and obsessive draftsman, and elicits startling testimony from his brothers, wives, and other family, along the border between madness and genius, with equal attention to both sides.
Concluding the series is "How to Draw a Bunny" (2002, 90 minutes, rated R) on Oct. 26. John W. Walter explores that same border in this inquest into the life and death of Ray Johnson, a denizen of the downtown New York scene who retreats to Long Island and obsession, with many major contemporary artists testifying to his importance.
Upcoming cinematic events at the Clark include: a lecture on Greta Garbo and a screening of Queen Christina on October 20 and the series "In Amorous Fashion: Films of Fragonard's France" on select Saturday afternoons starting Nov. 17.
The Clark is at 225 South St. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 5. Admission through Oct. 31 is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and under, members, and students with valid ID. AFor more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant
Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building.
"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu.
A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building.
White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.
He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns.
Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot.
A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more
