Weekend Outlook: Big Art, Green Trees
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Six months, 60 artists, a lifetime of work and one ribbon-cutting — the much-anticipated Sol LeWitt exhibition opens this Sunday at noon at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts.
The late artist was known for his architectural, geometric wall drawings that were planned out in detail so as to be created over and over again. The collaboration between Mass MoCA, Yale University Art Gallery and Williams College Museum of Art covers three floors with more than 100 drawings, ranging from LeWitt's earliest works to his latest.
More than five dozen artists have been at work over the past half-year painting the works from LeWitt's blueprints on nearly a mile of walls in Building 7.
This is the largest retrospective of LeWitt's works and is on temporary display for 25 years. Its opening has increased Mass MoCA's gallery space by 25 percent.
Mayor John Barrett III will cut the ribbon opening the new 27,000-square-foot gallery at noon Sunday; admission into the LeWitt display is free and open to the public. Don't be late!
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Gallery Closing
As the LeWitt exhibit opens, another homegrown gallery closes.
The North Adams Artists' Cooperative Gallery at 107 Main St. hosts its final exhibit of the year this weekend. The gallery has shown a wide range of works from local artists since opening as part of the Downstreet Art project earlier this summer. During its run, it also offered four limited exhibitions.
So, take some time out from Mass MoCA to see what's being produced locally; you might even stumble across a modern master in the making. The closing reception is Sunday from 4 to 7.
Trees Are Green
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The annual Festival of Trees at the Berkshire Museum kicks off Saturday and runs through Jan. 4 of next year.More than 200 Christmas trees have been decorated with an Earth-friendly theme using found, recyclable and sustainable materials. More than 400 businesses, groups and individuals volunteered their time and talents to create this environmentally conscious forest for the festival's 24th year.
Also on Saturday, Marian Raser's locally designed jewelry is back at the Berkshire Museum Shop for a special sale.
Admission to the museum is $10, $5 for children, and includes all galleries including the Festival of Trees.
The Skraelings Are Coming!
Artist Robert Smith and a band of inspired beings arrive from eastern end of the state to Zeitgeist Pittsfield on Saturday with art activities and exhibits. They will be displaying and helping participants create "skraelings," a Nordic word meaning "not of our tribe." Skraelings are totem polelike constructions incorporating basic materials and found objects to create "inspired beings and garden protectors."
Feel free to bring intriguing objects of wood, metal, plastic or other materials to use to create a skraeling.
Artmaking begins at 11 a.m., the exhibit at 4 at Zeitgeist Gallery, 648 North St. in Pittsfield. The events are free and open to the public.
A Little Storytelling
Chapters Bookstore is offering a Saturday morning storytelling geared toward ages 3 to 5 at 10:30. In the afternoon, there will be free jazz with the Miller, Duff and Amuso Jazz Trio. Light refreshments will be served. A holiday shopping book preview will be available Saturday.
Chapters Bookstore is at 78 North St. in Pittsfield.
And A Little Prince
Mill City Productions is producing the stage adaptation of "The Little Prince," directed by Liz Urban and featuring local residents Sam Cabot as the Little Prince and Edward Cating as the Aviator.
Performances will take place beginning Friday, Nov. 14 at the Mill City Theater in Western Gateway Heritage Park in North Adams. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children, students and seniors. Call 413-664-0161 for ticket reservations.
Sing, Sing, Sing
The first auditions for the annual Berkshire Idol competition will be held Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center. Modeled after the hugely popular television program, a gold ticket from the auditions gets you into the semi-finals. The winner will receive recording studio time and other goodies. Auditions are $20 with advance registration; $25 at the door. All proceeds go to local charities. To register or for more information, log on here.
And Little Trains
Western Gateway Heritage Park Visitors Center is exhibiting "Thinking Small - A History of Toy Trains" from Saturday through Jan. 4. Also, middle school students through adults are invited to help make origami decorations for the center's new annual "Holiday Origami Nature Tree." No experience necessary and the program begins at 2. Call 413-663-6312 for more information.
Snoopy: The Musical
St. John's Players are performing "Snoopy: The Musical," based on the Peanuts
charactors created by Charles Schultz. Performances begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday at St. John's Parish Hall on Summer Street in North Adams. Admission is $7 adults, $5 children and seniors. For more information, call 413-664-9656It's a Craft Fair
North Adams Elks Craft Show runs this weekend from 10 to 4 on Saturday and 9 to 2 on Sunday at 100 Eagle St. More than 60 tables are expected to be filled this year, making it one of the largest in Northern Berkshire.
Anime Time
Clark Art Institute continues its "Anime for Grown-ups: The Art of Japanese Animation" film series on Saturday with a screening of "Grave of the Fireflies" (1988, 88 min., PG-13) at 1 p.m. (Japanese with subtitles) and 3 p.m. (dubbed American version.) Admission is free; the museum is at 225 South St. in Williamstown. For more information: 413-458-2303 or clarkart.edu.
Vermont History
The Solomon Wright Public Library in Pownal, Vt., is hosting an "Objects from Pownal" event on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.
The Pownal Historical Society is inviting residents and others to bring objects — old photos, letters, something you dug up in the yard, a father's pipe — from Pownal's past and discuss them. You don't have to have an object — you can just come and join the conversation. Admission is free; call 802-823-0198 for more information.
WGBY Book Fair
Barnes & Noble in Pittsfield is hosting a WGBY Book Fair this weekend, featuring
appearances by children's authors, best-selling authors and PBS Kids characters, as well as music and readings. Among the notable appearances Saturday will be Curious George at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; a talk and signing by Erica Verrillo ("Elissa's Quest") at 11 a.m.; by children's book illustrator Jane Dyer at 3 p.m., and by Dean Crawford ("Shark") at 5. for a full list of events for both Saturday and Sunday, go to wgby.org/bookfair. Barnes & Noble Booksellers is in Berkshire Crossings on Route 9 in Pittsfield.
