(North Adams, Massachusetts) Robert Wilson's critically acclaimed, monumental interpretation of the Passion of Christ, 14 Stations, will continue at MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) through summer 2003.
This extremely popular work combines architecture, sculpture, landscape design, sounds and light to create a participatory theater in the gallery. The installation was created by the theater director/artist on the occasion of the year 2000 Passionspiele (Passion Play) presented last year in Oberammergau, Germany. At MASS MoCA the work is installed in the 300 foot long Building 5 Gallery.
"14 Stations is a rich and nuanced installation that rewards multiple viewings, and prolonged interaction," commented Joseph Thompson, director of MASS MoCA. "In the last month, the work has received a burst of fresh attention from important critics, including Robert Burstein of The New Republic, which has in turn triggered a rush of visits and calls, often by frustrated patrons who have not yet had the opportunity to see the work in North Adams.
After discussions with Robert Wilson, we've decided to extend the exhibition through next summer. This will allow our audiences in the Northeast a bit of grace time to see the work, and will also give Robert's office more flexibility in locating a second venue for the work." The work includes 12 8' x 10' cottages, a 25' tall teepee, a 150' boardwalk, as well as dozens of sculptures and other elements.
Art critics have hailed 14 Stations as a masterpiece. Public radio WBUR said, "14 Stations succeeds beautifully - a series of nuanced phrases that are carefully, even delicately, arranged in a single powerful exclamation." The Dallas Morning News reviewed the work saying, "It is theater, environmental art, and a sound and light show in which conventional religious expectations are inverted and certainty is banished." The Boston Globe described 14 Stations as, "total theater, a wild ride of architecture, sound, light, sculpture, and choreography."
The 14 Stations refers to the moments of passion through which Christ passed on the way toward crucifixion. In the Middle Ages pilgrims performed ceremonial reenactments of the suffering of Christ and the saints to attain spiritual enlightenment. Routes were ritual walkways, and the act of pilgrimage strengthened the identification of the pilgrim-worshipper with the story. In 14 Stations, Wilson explores this rich source of art-historical and religious imagery, translating themes typically reserved for painting, stained glass, and sculptural relief into a complete environment.
Wilson was invited by the organizers of the Passion Play to create a large outdoor installation in conjunction with the play's 40th consecutive presentation - the event has been staged in Oberammergau every decade since 1634. In Germany the installation was sited in a grassy meadow.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
Samuel Currence served his country in the Air Force with distinction, professionalism and unparalleled humility from 1962 to 1985, retiring as a technical sergeant. click for more
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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