Williams College Museum of Art presents Max Beckmann’s ‘Jahrmarkt’

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WILLIAMSTOWN — Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) will present a new exhibition that forms an interdisciplinary dialogue around a suite of prints by German artist Max Beckmann. Labeltalk 2004: Max Beckmann’s ‘Jahrmarkt’ will exhibit one of Beckmann’s most compelling graphic works, Jahrmarkt (Annual Fair), which was created in 1921 and employs a carnival theme as a means for exploring the human condition. Five Williams College professors, representing five academic departments, will write texts exploring Jahrmarkt from the perspective of their disciplines. The exhibition, which is the sixth in the popular Labeltalk series, will be on view from March 6 to June 20, 2004. “Labeltalk is based on the premise that a work of art can have multiple meanings, depending on the perspective of the viewer,” says Director Linda Shearer. “Jahrmarkt, an important recent acquisition, is an especially rich catalyst for interdisciplinary exploration and we hope it will encourage viewers to find their own, additional meanings.” Jahrmarkt will be interpreted by five Williams College professors through the lens of their particular disciplines: Annemarie Bean, Assistant Professor of Theatre; Steven B. Gerrard, Professor of Philosophy; Mark Haxthausen, Faison-Pierson-Stoddard Professor of Art History and Director, Graduate Program in the History of Art; Thomas A. Kohut, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty; and Gail M. Newman, Professor of German and Lissack Professor for Social Responsibility and Personal Ethics. Through their eyes, the viewer will consider the historical, art historical, and social context of Beckmann’s portfolio. About the artist Max Beckmann (1884-1950) is one of the central figures of twentieth-century German art. A painter and printmaker, Beckmann’s best-known work examines the tumultuous political and social landscape of pre-World War II Germany and its impact on the human condition. His emotionally charged compositions are filled with dark outlines and distorted, angular forms that reveal a dark and disturbing world. Although Beckmann frequently explored bleak themes such as the brutality and suffering of humans, the alienation of the individual, and the perception of the world as a tragicomic stage, he nonetheless had deeply-held philosophical beliefs about individual salvation that he hoped his work would convey. When Beckmann returned home from World War I, where he served as a medical corpsman, he was deeply traumatized from having witnessed the large-scale carnage that characterized that war. In the years that followed, his war experiences filtered much of his artistic production, and he concentrated considerable energy on printmaking. It was during this period that Beckmann produced Jahrmarkt, a portfolio of ten rich drypoints that exemplify his use of the carnival as a means of probing the human condition. The suite begins with a self-portrait, where Beckmann poses as a circus barker beckoning viewers to the spectacle, and is followed by tightrope walkers, a tall man, musicians, and other circus entertainers. History of Labeltalk The Labeltalk series began in 1995 as an experiment in the interdisciplinary interpretation of art. Based on the premise that a work of art can have multiple meanings, depending on the perspective of the viewer, Labeltalk examines some of those meanings through the viewpoints of Williams College faculty members. The series was initiated with the support of a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which was awarded to enhance the teaching role of the museum on the Williams College campus. The enthusiastic response to the first Labeltalk exhibition, from both the campus and local communities, led the museum to make Labeltalk an ongoing interdisciplinary exploration of art. Labeltalk 2004: Max Beckmann’s ‘Jahrmarkt’ is the sixth exhibition in the series. Labeltalk 2004: Max Beckmann’s ‘Jahrmarkt’ was organized by Stefanie Spray Jandl, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Associate Curator for Academic Programs. A free brochure, which illustrates all ten images in the portfolio, will accompany the exhibition. The Williams College Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the museum is wheelchair accessible. Contact: Suzanne Augugliaro, Public Relations Coordinator 413.597.3178; WCMA@williams.edu ; www.wcma.org .
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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