Mass MoCA Winter-Spring Season Starts Saturday

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
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This statue will be on display at Mass. MoCA in Izhar Patkin's exhibit, 'The Wandering Veil,' which opens Saturday, Dec. 7.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art's winter-into-spring season is approaching with gallery openings, discounted performance tickets, family programs and a documentary series.
 
The season starts at Mass MoCA with the opening of Izhar Patkin's exhibit, "The Wandering Veil," on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the reception scheduled for Jan. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m.
 
Communications Director Jodi Joseph announced the early-bird ticket special. Up until Dec. 31, tickets to any performance are 25 percent off.
 
Many performances are lined up for the season as well, including Phish co-founder and bassist Mike Gordon, set to play with his touring band on April 5 at the Hunter Center.
 
"For those of you who don't know who the band Phish is... is there anyone who doesn't know who Phish is?" asked Managing Director of Performing Arts Sue Killam.
 
"They're sort of a cultural icon right now, I feel like they replaced the [Grateful] Dead as the jam band audience experience."
 
Tickets for Gordon's show will be available Dec. 13.
 
Laura Thompson, the director of Kidspace and education, said Free Day will return on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be ongoing art projects, activities and performances throughout the day.
 
"This should be a really fun day, we have lots of plans in store for that," Thompson said.
 
Children from around the county will get a chance to visit with their schools, thanks to a $148,050 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
 
"This season we have a lot of education programs, you'll be seeing a lot of schoolchildren coming through," Thompson said.
 
And when the children aren't in school, Kidspace will host children events, such as December Break for Art.
 
Thompson said the museum will also host adult-oriented programs, such as artist talks and Date Night.
 
Killum said Club B-10 will show documentaries each month throughout the winter-spring season, starting with "20 Feet From Stardom" on Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Gallery openings:
  • Izhar Patkin: The Wandering Veil — Dec. 7; Opening reception — Jan. 8.
  • Darren Waterson: Uncertain Beauty — March 8; Opening reception — March 29.
  • Dying of the Light — March 29
Live music:
  • Body/Head:Kim Gordon & Bill Nace, Dec. 15, Hunter Center
  • Brushy One String, Jan. 11, Club B-10
  • The Stepkids, Jan. 25, Club B-10
  • Mike Gordon, April 5, Hunter Center
  • Burning Spear, Feb. 15, Hunter Center
  • BETTY, March 22, Club B-10
  • Banda Magda, April 12, Club B-10
Theater: 
  • The Interview: A Play by Guillaume Leblon, Feb. 27, Club B-10
  • Andrew Dawson: The Russian Doctor. Anton Chekhov's Journey to Sakhali, May 9, Hunter Center
Documentaries (All at Club-10): 
  • "20 Feet From Stardom" — Jan. 30
  • "When I Walk" — Feb. 20
  • "Linsanity" — March 13
  • "The Light in Her Eyes" — April 10
 
For tickets and more information, visit the Mass MoCA website.

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond. 
 
According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond. 
 
The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million. 
 
"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.
 
The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
 
The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.
 
The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here
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