WCMA Berkshires Satellite Reef Project

Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) and Williams College Gaudino Fund invite the community to take part in the Berkshires Satellite Reef Project.

 

The next public Coral Crochet workshop will be held on Friday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Berkshire Art Center at the Brothership Building at 141 North St. in Pittsfield.

The Berkshires Satellite Reef, a Gaudino Creative Residencies initiative, is part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef, a participatory art project that responds to climate change through the creation of crocheted coral reef sculptures. Conceived by artists Christine and Margaret Wertheim in collaboration with the Institute for Figuring, the project invites individuals of all ages and skill levels to contribute to a community-sourced coral reef installation. The completed reef will be presented at Williams College in the ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance as an immersive exhibition in the spring of 2026. 

The Berkshires Satellite Reef will be hosting monthly workshops throughout the year at the Williams College campus and in locations throughout Berkshire County. No experience is necessary; crochet kits and instructions will be provided, and instructors will be on hand for small-group guidance.

Additionally, weekly drop-in Coral Crochet Circles will be held at Williams College and in partner locations throughout the Berkshires. Summer Crochet Circles are currently scheduled for Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Milne Public Library. 

Community members are invited to contribute crocheted coral reef pieces by dropping them off at one of several locations in Williamstown: the Milne Public Library, WCMA, or the ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance, Department of Theatre. Coral pieces may also be mailed to Amy Holzapfel, Professor of Theatre, Williams College, 1000 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267.

The Berkshires Satellite Reef project also encourages participation through donation of crochet hooks, yarn, or yarn remnants. Drop-off bins will be located at several sites on the Williams College campus, including the ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance (in Centerstage Lobby), WCMA (Lobby), and the Class of 1966 Environmental Center (Entryway). Additional drop-off sites include the Milne Public Library and the Berkshire Art Center’s brothership building in Pittsfield. 

 

For more information on the Berkshires Satellite Reef, contact Amy Holazapfel at ash2@williams.edu or visit https://gaudino.williams.edu/berkshires-satellite-reef/.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Williamstown Finance Committee Finalizes Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The tax bill of a median-priced single family home will go up by 8.45 percent in the year that begins July 1 under a spending plan approved by the Finance Committee on Wednesday night.
 
After more than a month of going through all proposed spending by the town and public schools and searching for places to trim the budget and adjust revenue estimates, the Fin Comm voted to send a series of fiscal articles to the May 19 annual town meeting for approval.
 
The panel also discussed how to appeal to town meeting members to reverse what Fin Comm members long have described as an anti-growth sentiment in town that keeps the tax base from expanding.
 
New growth in the tax base is generated by new construction or improvements to property that raise its value. A lack of new growth (the town projects 15 percent less revenue from new growth in fiscal year 2027 than it had in FY26) means that increased spending falls more heavily on current taxpayers.
 
The two largest spending articles on the draft warrant for the May meeting are the appropriations for general government spending and the assessment from the Mount Greylock Regional School District.
 
The former, which includes the Department of Public Works, the Williamstown Police and town hall staffing, is up by just 2.5 percent from the current fiscal year to FY27 — from $10.6 million to $10.9 million.
 
The latter, which pays for Williamstown Elementary School and the town's share of the middle-high school, is up 13.7 percent, from $14.8 million to $16.8 million.
 
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories