2008 Williamstown - May

Volume 3, Issue 1 Complimentary May, 2008

W i l l i a m s t o w n , M a s s . — W i l l i a m s College Museum of Art (WCMA) presents Julie Mehretu: City Sitings, which opened April 19. This exhibition brings together 12 of the art-ist’s monumental paint-ings inspired by com-munity, history, and the built environment. Mehretu’s compel-ling canvases re-envi-sion urban experience and rewrite narratives of exclusion, reconcil-ing divergent histories through her expansive, dynamic compositions.

Mehretu’s work evokes highly person-

alized, yet distinctly universal themes that draw on her experi-ences as a citizen of the world and of the city. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, raised in Michigan and now a resident of New York City, she employs a dynamic visual vocabulary that combines maps, urban grids, and architectural renderings to articulate complex social and geopolitical struc-tures. The immense proportions, organic layering, and careful detail convey the complexities of the urban environment. Mehretu queries what impact an individu-al can have, and what one person contributes to the construction of a larger narrative. The inter-play between the individual and larger community finds form in the compositional structure of

The Clark Art InstituteBy Telly Halkias

During this “slow” time of spring, look no further than the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute for interesting activi-ties in a family-oriented environment.

The beauty of the place is that you don’t even need a schedule or calendar – just walk in on any given day. Its Williamstown location makes it an easy reach from Vermont, the Berkshires, and the New York hills towns.

There is much going on at the Clark. Such as the May 4 free harpsichord recital of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, just to name one of many. There are always events on tap. There is some

Williams College Museum of Art Presents:

Julie Mehretu: City SitingsApril 19–July 27, 2008

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The Impressionist Gallery at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown.Photo Courtesy of the Clark Art Institute

Julie Mehretu Grey Space (distractor), 2006ink and acrylic on canvas. Collection of Nicolas Rohatyn and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, NY. Courtesy The Project. Photo by Erma Estwick Copyright 2007 Julie Mehretu

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2 The Village Beautiful A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication

A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication

Telly Halkias, contributing writer

Jen Hathaway, page design

Yankee News Guide20 Cleveland Avenue

Dalton, MA 01226413-684-1373

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Renee Tassone, General Manager

Mehretu’s canvases: one must experience them both up close and from a distance to activate the dynamics of local empow-erment within a more sweeping story.

Organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts in collaboration with Julie Mehretu, City Sitings also features an enhanced gal-lery guide, with discussions of each work. The exhibition has been curated by Rebecca Hart a Williams graduate from the Class of 1976. Ms. Hart is associate curator of contemporary art at the Detroit Institute of Fine Arts.

Support for this exhibition has been provided through gen-erous grants from the Joyce Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.About the Artist

Julie Mehretu was born to an Ethiopian father and American mother in Addis Ababa, the capitol city of Ethiopia. Her fam-ily emigrated when her father accepted a professorship in Michigan. Mehretu studied at Michigan’s Kalamazoo College (B.A., 1992) and Cheik Anta Diop University, in Dakar, Senegal. She received an M.F.A. with honors from Rhode Island School of Design (1997). She participates in numerous international biennials and exhibitions; individuals and museums collect her work. She receives international recognition for her work and, in 2005, became a MacArthur Fellow.

The Williams College Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the museum is wheelchair accessible. Contact: Suzanne A. Silitch, Director of Public Relations and External Affairs, 413.597.3178.

Julie Mehretu: City Sitingscontinued from page 1

kind of free performance or public lecture almost every week-end. A recent example that packed the house was curator Cody Hartley’s talk on the Frederic Remington exhibition, which is still running through May 4.

Another Clark offering is the Looking at Lunchtime talk series, which occurs on the second Thursday of every month, and where a house expert mingles with the lunchtime crowd to examine one work of art, normally from the museum’s per-manent collection.

That collection itself is world class, and to have it here in our backyards is priceless. There are also family events, such as the special program for Mother’s Day, and a film series, which is always well worth dropping in on. Also, additional offerings include further educational programs for non-members and field trips for members.

Don’t be bored this spring. Give the Clark a try. It’s not just there for tourists; it’s there for all of us.

The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute is located at 225 South St. in Williamstown. For more info on spring pro-grams at the Clark, call 413-458-2303, or visit www.clarkart.edu

Telly Halkias is a freelance writer and editor. E-mail: [email protected].

The Clark Art Institutecontinued from page 1

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A Hersam Acorn Newspapers publication The Village Beautiful 3

By Mary Ann White

In speaking with Bob Maxwell, vice president of marketing for Greylock Federal Credit Union I learned a lot of what a credit union actually is and what it does for its members.

The biggest difference between a credit union and a bank, he explained, is that a credit union is 100% wholly owned by its members, where banks are public companies owned by its stockholders. Credit unions are also not-for-profit, meaning they can offer better services at better prices and the Board of Directors are all volunteers, unlike a bank. The Board of Directors governs all the big decisions that are made. “We have a great Board, who work well together,” Bob said.

He went on to explain that Greylock Federal Credit Union started back in 1935 servicing GE employees, but

soon expanded to include employees of Crane and General Dynamics. At present the credit union services are offered to anyone who lives or works in Berkshire County. There are now 12 branches and the virtual branch online 24/7.

“We are continuing to grow rapidly, but not at the cost of good service,” Bob said. He added that Greylock continues to set records even with the housing crunch, and they work dili-gently to keep the trust that has been built with its members.

The Williamstown Branch located at 455 Main St. opened on February 13, 2005 and has been well received by the public. “We have more than doubled in membership since open-ing, said Branch Manager Mark Solak. He said that they are also doing very well in new mortgages. He added that the building was renovated when they

took it over, and he is still receiving comments on what a nice job was done in keeping the initial architec-tural structure intact.

The branch has worked with the Chamber of Commerce on several projects including sponsoring events like “The Holiday Walk”. They have also sponsored a Bicycle Safety Day in the parking lot on a Saturday that was put on by the police department and some also some seminars.

Bob said that Deborah Kushnet has recently joined the staff in Williamstown, as a mortgage under-writer who is “helping get people into their dream homes.”

The Williamstown branch has its lobby open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, from 8:30 -12:30. The drive-up is open from 8:30-5, Monday-Friday and 8:30-12:30 on Saturdays.

Greylock Federal Credit Union –100% wholly owned by its members

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New York, NY – Artistic Director Nicholas Martin today announced the remainder of the programming for Williamstown Theatre Festival’s (WTF) 54th Season.

The season will begin with a production of Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy on the Nikos Stage running June 11-22, 2008. Directing this Durang classic in which the lines between doctor and patient are hilariously blurred will be for-mer WTF Boris Sagal Directing Fellow Alex Timbers, artistic director of the acclaimed Les Freres Corbusier theatre com-pany. The cast will include Kate Burton and the production will also be seen at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY from July 8-27.

Also new to the WTF schedule is the world-premiere of Broke-ology by recent Julliard graduate Nathan Jackson which will run July 9-20 on the Nikos Stage. In this moving drama, two brothers caring for their ailing father face the dilemma of following their dreams or honoring the unspoken promise of familial loyalty. Directing will be Thomas Kail, currently rep-resented on Broadway with In the Heights.

Completing the 2008 Nikos Stage season will be the world-premiere production of Not Waving by playwright and televi-sion writer Ellen Melaver, running August 6-17. In this heart-warming play about the universal human need to be loved, three couples are drawn to a public beach with a troubled history. Directing is former WTF Boris Sagal and Bill Foeller Directing Fellow Carolyn Cantor, currently represented Off-Broadway with Something You Did.

The previously announced Harriet Jacobs will not be pre-sented this summer.

Full casting and creative teams for the 2008 WTF Season will be announced at a later date.

Williamstown Theatre Festival 2008 Season SummaryMain Stage:

SHE LOVES ME Book by Joe Masteroff, Music by Jerry Bock June 28-July 12

THREE SISTERS by Anton Chekhov July 16-27

A FLEA IN HER EAR by David Ives July 30-August 10

HOME by David Storey August 13-24

Nikos Stage:BEYOND THERAPY

by Christopher Durang June 11-22THE ATHEIST

by Ronan Noone June 25-July 6BROKE-OLOGY

by Nathan Jackson July 9-20THE UNDERSTUDY

by Theresa Rebeck July 23-August 3NOT WAVING

by Ellen Melaver August 6-17

Williamstown Theatre Festival Announces Remainder of 2008 Season

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Through July 6: Framing Colonial Albany highlights the findings of a year-long conservation project exploring itinerant painter Thomas McIlworth, his painting Jeremias Van Rensselaer, and its elaborate frame. In addition to showcasing the conservation efforts, the Lenett project uncovers curious simi-larities with the frame belonging to a Thomas Gainsborough work, and the international connection of a Scottish artist painting members of a promi-nent Dutch family on British canvas in colonial America. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303.

Through August 17: During the first decades of the 20th century, photog-raphers in Europe and America were engaged in a heated debate over the status of photography. A group united to assert their belief that photography should be considered an art form rather than merely a means of visual docu-mentation. Representing this notion, Pictorial Vision: American and European Photography, features 15 photographs dating from the 1880s to the 1920s drawn from the collections of the Clark and the Troob Family Foundation. Among the artists represented are Peter Henry Emerson, Eduard Steichen, Alvin Langdon Coburn, George Seeley, and Pierre Dubreuil. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303.

May 1: Contemporary photographer and scholar Larry McNeil, recently hon-ored with a 2007 Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art, produces work about favored American myths, what happens at the intersection of cul-tures, and how different people perceive a shared history. Through a discussion of his art, McNeil offers further context for considering the legacy of Frederic Remington. Free, held at 7 pm. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 3, 10, 17, 31, June 7, 14: Drawing the human figure is the most fundamental of all art techniques and often the most rewarding. Whether you need to refresh your skills or have never drawn the human figure from obser-vation of a live model, this class will

open your eyes to the possibilities of figure drawing. Intended for all levels of skill, students will also explore work in the Clark. Basic supplies provided. For beginner and intermediate levels. Register by calling Northern Berkshire Creative Arts at 413-663-8338 or online at www.nbcreativearts.org. Held 10 am to 12 pm. $95 for NBCA and Clark members; $120 for non-members. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 4: Victor Hill, harpsichordist, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his series “Griffin Hall Concerts at Williams College” with a complete performance of the “Goldberg Variations” by J. S. Bach. This work, the culmination of Bach’s harpsichord compositions, was also the program with which he inau-gurated the series in 1968. Free, held at 3 pm. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 5: Linda Nochlin, a preeminent scholar of nineteenth and twentieth century art and one of the most impor-tant and influential voices for feminist scholarship in the history of art, will talk about her life, career, and research in conversation with Michael Holly, Director of the Research and Academic Program, and Aruna d’Souza, Clark Fellow in Spring 2008, and a student of Nochlin. A Clark Conversation with Linda Nochlin will be held at 5:30 pm. Free. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 7: The Judith M. Lenett Memorial Lecture, “Framing Colonial

Albany,” by Katherine Alcauskas, M.A. ‘08, will take place at the Clark at 5:30 pm. Alcauskas’s research focused on an eighteenth century portrait of a member of the Van Rensselaers, one of Albany’s founding families. An exhibit featur-ing the portrait by itinerant painter Thomas McIlworth is on view through July 6. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 8: Spend a half-hour with a Clark curator and feed your hunger for art. Join the Center for Education in the Visual Arts director Michael Cassin for a look at J. M. W. Turner’s Rockets and Blue Lights. Talks, held at 12:30 pm, are free. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 10: Bring a painting, print, sculpture, piece of silver, or other art object to the Clark library. Spend a morning working with librarians, cura-tors, and conservators to learn how to

MAY EVENTS AT THE CLARK

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Did You Know? (MS) - You can think green when shop-

ping. One of the easiest ways to help the environment while shopping is to buy items in the largest size your household will use. For example, instead of buying individual servings of cereal or yogurt, think about buying larger boxes or con-tainers. Small sizes of items typically use more packaging for each ounce of prod-uct than larger sizes. Smaller sizes may also be more expensive when compared side-by-side to the total net weight or quantity of larger packages. So shopping in bulk can actually save money and the environment, to boot.

find answers to your questions about the work: what is it? who is the artist? how was it made? how do I care for it? Registration is required; space is limited. For information or to register, call 413-458-0532 or email [email protected]. Please identify your work of art when you register. Held 9:30 am to 12 pm. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 11: The Walden Chamber Players will present a pro-gram of new music from the Berkshires at 3 pm. A pre-concert talk will begin at 2 pm. For ticket information, contact Walden Chamber Players at 866-393-2927. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 11: On Mother’s Day all mothers who are accompanied by a child (of any age) will be treated to a free beverage from the Clark café. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 16: World-famous, large-canvas artist and mas-ter of fast-paced painting Rob Surette will present his “Be Somebody!” performance designed to inspire children to use their talents to make the world a better place. Watch as Surette completes 9 huge works of art from start to finish. Sponsored by the Williamstown Elementary School PTO. Held at 7 pm. Space is limited.Tickets are $10/child, $15/adult. Purchase tick-ets at the main office of the Williamstown Elementary School during school hours. For more information call 413-458-5707. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 18: Peter Lawson-Johnston, a member of the Guggenheim family’s fifth generation, will discuss his mem-oir Growing Up Guggenheim. As the board president who oversaw the transformation of the renowned museum from a local New York institution to a global art venture, Lawson-Johnston’s personal memoir includes intimate portraits of the five people principally responsible for the entire Guggenheim art legacy. Following the lecture, Lawson-Johnston will be available to sign copies of his book. Free, held at 3 pm. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

May 24: The Clark/Mellon Workshop in Contemporary African Art examines the art historical scholarship, publica-tions, exhibitions, and cultural institutions shaping the rep-resentation of contemporary African art. The public program will focus on lively conversation and debate between partici-pants about artists, exhibitions, biennials, curatorial practices, and research in Contemporary African art. Free, begins at 9 am. The Clark, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. www.clarkart.edu, 413-458-2303

MAY EVENTS AT THE CLARK continued from page 5

General Info:The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA 01267 413-458-2303, www.clarkart.edu

Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pmOpen daily, 10 am to 5 pm, in July and AugustOpen Memorial Day, Monday, May 26

Admission: Free - November 1 through May 31$12.50 - June 1 through October 31Always free for children 18 and under, members, students with valid ID

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By Telly Halkias

If ever there was a small arts gem in our midst, it has to be the one hidden away on the Williams College campus. First established in 1926 as an avenue for students to appre-ciate art in order to properly study it, the Williams College Museum of Art has slowly evolved into a top-notch dis-player of public art, all while still meeting its considerable educational mission.

This mission brings student curators like Rebecca Shaykin and Layla Bermeo, both grad-uate students in Williams’ art history program, in contact with leading authorities such as Nancy Mowll Mathews, a curator at the museum and lecturer at the College, to pro-duce first class exhibitions such as the recently opened Model American Men, a com-prehensive look at several art forms portraying imag-es of men influenced by the Progressive era in American history.

The museum is a friendly

place, and its staff welcomes the public to view these considerable efforts of

both modern and classic art. Its galleries are well laid out, and the thematic vari-

ance while moving from one to the other showcases not only the educational work occuring under its roof, but also an impressive perma-nent collection.

Part of these assets are what allow WCMA to run an ongoing exhibition entitled The Matter of Theology, a show that brings together selections from the museum’s collection with theological questions that cause art to be seen from another vantage point.

Stop into the WCMA this spring and take in this Berkshires nugget. It’s well worth it.

The Williams College Museum of Art is located on campus at 15 Lawrence Hall Drive in Williamstown. For more info on its spring pro-grams call 413-597-2429 or visit www.wcma.org.

Telly Halkias is a freelance writer and editor. E-mail: [email protected]. Williams College Museum of Art’s 1954 Gallery

Photo by Arthur Evans

Williams College Museum of Art

By Mary Ann White

Mike Uryniak, owner of the 600 Main St. Agway said the Williamstown store was located at the end of Cole Avenue until 1992 when the stores were franchised out. Mike, a former employee of 20 years purchased it at that time and moved it to the Main Street location where business has flourished.

The busiest time of the year is happening now, with the months of April, May, and June when lawn and garden sup-plies are going out the door as fast as they come in. Now is the time when everyone is getting out enjoying the good weather and putting their flowerbeds in and starting early vegetables. Also sold are bird feeders, birdseed, and animal feed, which are sold all year round. Surprisingly, I found out that the largest selling item is wood pellets, which Mike

says falls into a category by itself. Pellets dominate the sales after the Fourth of July holiday with folks getting in their winter supply.

The Main Street store carries about 4,000 SKU’s while the Agway.com website carries many more that people can check out online. Prices are available by calling the store. Each location owner chooses from the Agway product line the ones that they feel are suitable for their market. There are now approximately 460 private dealers in 11 states throughout the Northeast.

Mike said that he employs 5-6 people who are very knowledgeable about the products offered and willing to help customers find the right ones for their needs. The store is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 6, Saturday from 9-5 and Sunday from 10-4.

Agway –Brands you trust. People you know.

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