"Monuments In Peril: Venice" Round-Table Discussion

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - “Monuments in Peril: Venice,” a round-table discussion at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute on Thursday, April 16, at 7 pm, will bring together experts of various fields to discuss the current challenges facing the great city of Venice. Admission is free.

Rising waters endanger Venice’s art and architecture, and the city’s dwindling number of residents. Among the topics covered will be the preservation of Venice’s public art; specific examples of art restoration; the paradox that “saving” the city may actually be hastening its transformation into something other than—and perhaps ultimately unrecognizable—as Venice; the efforts of the Save Venice organization; and Moses, the project of constructing 78 floodgates at the entrances to Venice’s lagoon to keep out high water.

The panel of experts will feature Fabio Carrera, an urban information scientist and director of the Venice Project Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Frederick Ilchman, the Mrs. Russell W. Baker Assistant Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and board member of Save Venice; Eugene J. Johnson, architectural historian and professor of art at Williams College; and Ralph Lieberman, specialist in Renaissance architecture, instructor of architectural history at Rhode Island School of Design, and documentary photographer.

The “Monuments in Peril” series will span time and the globe to examine the world's most important monuments and the struggles they face.

The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (daily in July and August). Admission is free November 1 through May 31. Admission June 1 through October 31 is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and younger, members, and students with valid ID. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit clarkart.edu.
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Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.
 
But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.
 
"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."
 
"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.
 
Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.
 
The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.
 
Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.
 
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