July 2013 the artful mind for issuu com

THE ARTFUL MIND JULY 2013

Monthly Berkshire Artzine

Since 1994

PHOTOGRAPHER GREG GORMAN Cover shot by Andreas Bitesnich

Read The Artful Mind on-line issuu.com

The ArTful Mind July 2013 •1

2 • July 2013

The ArTful Mind

The ArTful Mind June 2013 •3

4 • July 2013

The ArTful Mind

The ArTful Mind July 2013 •5

The ArTful Mind

artzine

July 2013

“Positive affirmations only!”

The MuSiC STOre

Photographer Greg Gorman Photography by Andreas Bitesnitch Cover design by Cassandra Sohn Page 12 diana felber/ Artist and Gardener ... 11 Photographer Greg Gorman ...12

About the Music: Aston Magna Music festivals Artistic Director Daniel Stepner ...14 lift ev’ry Voice festival Roberta McCulloch-Dews ...15

Susan M. Story / Pastel landscapes Eunice Agar ...17 heather fisch / Performance Artist ... 19 Planet Waves July Eric Francis.....22 Simply Sasha Sasha Seymour...... 23

Architecture & Arcadia Stephen Dietemann..... 23 Contributing Writers and Monthly Columnists Eunice Agar, Richard Britell Stephen Gerard Dietemann Eric Francis, Sasha Seymour

Photographers Stephen Donaldson, Lee Everett, Jane Feldman, Sabine Vollmer von Falken, Cassandra Sohn Publisher Harryet Candee

Copy Editor

Marguerite Bride

Proofreader Amy Tanner

Advertising and Graphic Design Harryet Candee

Box 985, Great Barrington, MA 01230 artfulmind@yahoo.com issuu.com/theartfulmindartzine 413-528-5628 All submissions for August due :: July 17, 2013 (email or call)

FYI: ©Copyright laws in effect throughout The Artful Mind for logo & all graphics including text material. Copyright laws for photographers and writers throughout The Artful Mind. Permission to reprint is required in all instances.

In any case the issue does not appear on the stands as planned due to unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, advertisers will be compensated on a one to one basis.

Disclaimer rights available upon request. Serving the Art community with the intention of enhancing communication and sharing positive creativity in all aspects of our lives.

6 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind

The Music Store offers music lovers and musicians of all ages and abilities a myriad of musical instruments, accessories and gifts that will help them join in the chorus of Berkshire living.

Acclaimed as one of the area’s best music stores, The Music Store specializes in fine, folk and unusual musical instruments, accessories, supplies and music motif gifts. Music lovers and professional and amateur musicians alike will find an exciting array of both new and used name-brand and hand-made instruments, extraordinary folk instruments and one of the northeast's finest selections of strings and reeds.

Music Store customers enjoy fine luthier handmade classical guitars, the peerless irish Avalon steel string guitars, Breedlove , the Baden Pantheon uSA guitars, as well as guitars from other fine lines including Alvarez, Avalon, composite Acoustic, fender, Prestige, dBZ, luna, recording King and Takamine.

Acoustic and electric guitars from entry to professional level instruments are available. famous names including consignment guitars and basses join less-well known brands which appeal to those seeking high quality but are on tight budgets, providing any guitarist a tempting cornucopia of playing possibilities. unusual instruments are also available, including the locally hand-made Sonic Boxes, lovely and unique cigar Box Guitars and diddly-Bows, by our very own dr. easy. come in and meet him! we also carry the Sheffield-made and internationally adored fluke and flea ukeleles and the peerless and lovely Stockbridge-made Serenity bamboo and walking stick flutes. new and used student orchestral and band instruments are available, including violins from $159 to $3000. An extensive array of international strings and reeds provides choices for the newest student to the symphonic performer. children's instruments, as well as a fine line of international percussion including middle eastern and hand made African instruments along with many choices of industry standard drum heads, stands, and sticks, as well as tuners, forks and metronomes can be found as well.

All new instruments are backed by The Music Store's lifetime warranty which provides free set-up and adjustments on any new instrument sold. And of course expert luthieryat excellent prices, as well as authorized repairs on lowden and Takamine guitars, is provided by Sean Barry for those whose stringed instruments need repair, Those in search of the perfect present for music lovers will find a treasure trove of gift favorites such as bumper stickers (“driver Singing,” “Go home and Practice,” Tune it or die” and more), tee shirts, caps, scarves, miniature musical instruments and instrument magnets, music motif mugs, socks, totes and ties.

Small bronze and metal musician statues and cuddly ‘Music lover’ stuffed animals, lapel pins and earrings add additional possibilities to gift giving customers.

A proud server of the community for over eleven years, The Music Store's warm and friendly staff are available for help in tuning, stringing or instrument repair. help in choosing tuners, capos, mutes shoulder rests and strings is as happily given as help in selecting instruments themselves. Since our mission is to support and encourage our musical community, consultation and advice are always free. Professional musicians seeking the finest or unusual strings or accessories are welcome to call in advance. we will make every effort to satisfy the need!

For capos to kazoos, guiros to congas, rainsticks to rosin, bows to bodhrans, mandolins to microphones, reeds to rods, Strats to stands, local artist's CDs and harmonicas to picture frames and music motif ornaments, instruments and more, The Music Store is the place to be. For a magical, musical experience, visit The Music Store at 87 Railroad Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 to 6, and on Sundays from 12 to 5. Call 413-528-2460 or visit our website, themusicstoreplus.com. We at The Music Store wish you peace and harmony throughout 2013 and beyond.

ST. frAnCiS GAllery Bruce MAcdOnAld

it is the creative vision of others that allows us to see…often for the first time. what we experience from that vision paradoxically also seems ageless and familiar at the same time. Art is that gift, a reminder of what we have allowed our senses to be blind to. it feeds the spirit and creates an understanding that eludes our ability to explain but we have heard it in poetic prose and music. it expands our “minds eye”, lies at the periphery of our beliefs and often at the edge of chaos itself. Once experienced, this new way of “seeing” includes more than we ever expected before.

Art, unlike many other belief systems is expected to question and challenge itself repeatedly. it is there to create doubt, surprise, confusion, a reversal of expectations an uneasy state of not knowing, even irrational. it exposes our flawed sense of what we call reality and it is the reminder of what liberates us all from our rigid blinds and makes us feel emotional.

So it is only fitting that for the 4th of July and beyond, St. francis Gallery will celebrate with our local artists this process of liberation and freedom, necessary in our lives to continue to grow and change. freedom of expression is why rigid systems shut out or censor the artist for fear that ideas and beliefs will be challenged. we applaud our artists who continue to expose us to this creative process through their work. Visiting the Gallery is a chance to enjoy and support these local works proving that what we seek exists in the Berkshire area and is created by those who live here as well. for the month of July and into August this show will introduce you to several of our newer talents along with additional work from artists we have represented in the past. we hope you will join us.

St. Francis Gallery, 1370 Pleasant St., Rt. 102, South Lee, next to the Post Office and Fire Dept. Gallery hours are Friday through Monday 11 am to 5 pm. Call or email for appointments at other times. 413-717-5199. St.francisgallery102@gmail.com.

JAne feldMAn

PhOTOGrAPhY www.JAnefeldMAn.cOM

JAnefeldMAnPhOTO@GMAil.cOM

CALENDAR OF ARTFUL EVENTS

museums & galleries

510 WArren STreeT GAllery hudson, nY • 518-822-0510 OVerflOwinG cOlOr: new wOrK July 5 – 29th.

Opening reception will be on July 7, from 2-5:00pm.

AlliuM reSTAurAnT And GAllerY 42 railroad St, Gt Barrington, MA • 413-528-2118 / opentable.com Allium will feature the selected works from Berkshire-based artist Sean riley beginning Tuesday, May 21. riley will be showing a new body of work that includes paintings on panel as well as dyed-paper collages. These colorful works evoke certain qualities of fabric and use patterns that fold in upon themselves in origami-like fashions that give rise to a tension between flat and three-dimensional space.

A.P.e GAllery northampton, MA • 413-529-1895 Site-Specific installation by Gina Siepel, July 2 - 27; Artist reception on Arts night Out, friday July 12, 5-8pm

BASCOM lOdGe visit bascomlodge.net Berkshire landmark at the summit of Mount Greylock offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging accommodations, seven days a week through October 20.

BerkShire ArT GAllery 80 railroad St, Gt Barrington, MA • 528-2690 www.berkshireartgallery.com 19th and early 20th century American & european art and sculpture, contemporary artists

CATA COMMuniTy ACCeSS TO The ArTS Great Barrington, MA• www.communityaccesstothearts.org. “i Am a Part of Art” Annual Art Show & Poetry reading in celebration of cATA’s 20th Anniversary this year. The opening reception takes place on Thurs, July 25th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the crane room. The exhibit will be on view through August 30 The Berkshire Museum is located in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, at 39 South St., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. for more information, visit www.berkshiremuseum.org or call 413-443-7171. frOnT STreeT GAllery front St., housatonic, MA • 413-274-6607 / 413-528-9546, or cell at 413-429-7141 housatonic Gallery for students and artists. featuring watercolors by Kate Knapp (Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment)

GAllery 25 311 north Street, Pittsfield, Studio #9 • 413-442-7718, or 413841-1659 • margebride-paintings.com/ margebride@aol.com Solo exhibit of watercolors by Marguerite Bride entitled “Passports during the entire month of August; an opening reception will be held on friday, August 2 from 5-8 pm. (by appointment only)

GOOd PurPOSe GAllery 40 Main Street, lee, MA / www.goodpurpose.org earth & Atmosphere, a duo exhibit featuring the works of david Bryce and william Mccarthy can be seen at the Good Purpose Gallery, June 1 – July 15. A solo exhibit showcasing John K. lawson’s recent and previous works of art will be on display July 19 until Sep 2. There will be an artist's reception on July 22 from 6-8pm.

JOhn dAViS GAllery warren St, hudson, nY • 518-828-5907 craig Olson, Angels and demons at Play, June 20 - July 14

lAuren ClArk fine ArT 402 Park St, housatonic, MA • 274-1432 www.laurenclarkfineArt.comlauren “core Samples from earth to the cosmos”, new work by Julio Granda, July 13 through August 11. reception for the artist, July 13, 4-7pm. neuMAnn fine ArT 65 cold water St., hillsdale, nY • www.neumannfineart.com Opening July 6th and running through September 2nd will feature two painters, Ken Young and Jeffrey l. neumann

nOrMAn rOCkWell MuSeuM 9 route 183, Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-4100 Snow white and The Seven dwarfs: The creation of a classic.

Thru Oct 27

ArT On MAin The GAllery AT BArnBrOOk reAlTy 271 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA. • ruth Kolbert’s studio 413-229-0380 / rkolbert 4778@gmail.com exhibit by ruth Kolbert, "friends, Artists and Special Places: new Paintings” from June 29 to August 29. A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday, July 13 from 5 to 7 pm.

OxBOW GAllery 275 Pleasant Street, northampton, MA • 413-586-6300 www.oxbowgallery.org Marlene rye: "Motion" : landscape paintings created in conjunction w/dance performances.A public dance performance at 7pm of the Opening, Saturday July 13th, 5-8 pm, dates of show are July 4th - July 28th. richard Schultz:cezanne's Apples; July 4 to Aug. 4, 2013. Back room:Small Sculpture Opening: July 12 5-8 pm (Thurs- Sunday, 12 to 5pm) SAnfOrd SMiTh fine ArT 13 railrd St, Gt. Barrington, MA robert watkins, new work

SChAnTz GAllerieS 3 elm St, Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-3044 www.schantzgalleries.com.

A destination for those seeking premier artists working in glass.

(11 - 5 daily) ST. frAnCiS GAllery 1370 Pleasant St, rte 102, lee, MA • 413-717-5199 “Freedom of Expression”, June 28 - August 12. reception: July 6, 3-6pm. closed weekend of August 17; PrinT and PASTe: Aug 23-Sept 30, reception: Aug 31, 3-6pm; cOlOr and line, Oct 4 - nov 18, reception: Oct 12, 3-6pm. inSPirATiOn of the SPiriT, nov 22 - Jan 6, reception dec 7, 3-6pm

The hArriSOn GAllery 39 Spring Street, williamstown, MA remembering henry Geldzahler: Stephen hannock, Tom Slaughter, ray charles white, Scott Kilgour. Aug: Jane BloodgoodAbrams and hideaki Miyamura, Petria Mitchell uniVerSiTy ArT MuSeuM Albany, nY / www.albany.edu/museum Summer exhibitions at the university Art Museum feature Sculpture, drawing, and Video.william lamson: A certain Slant of light / Michelle Segre: Antecedents of the Astra hamster, June 27 through September 14

music/theatre/film

BerkShire TheATre GrOuP The colonial Theatre, 111 Souith St.,Pittsfield, MA Oklahoma! 8pm; Previews July 1-July 5, Opens July 6 8pm; Thru July 20

ClOSe enCOunTerS WiTh MuSiC The ClArk nOW 225 South Street - williamstown, MA • 413-458-2303 July 14, 6pm:white nights: rachmaninoff, Prokofiev,

Tchaikovsky, Vassily Primakov, piano; Yehuda hanani, cello.

JACOBS PillOW dAnCe - Ted ShAWn TheATre 358 George carter road - Becket, MA • 413-243-9919 July 10 - 14: companhia urbana de danca: 2 and 8pm

MASS MoCA 1040 Mass MocA way - north Adams, MA • 413-662-2111 July 11: learn how the experience of Kidspace exhibiting artist roger Shimomura in a world war ii Japanese-American internment camp influenced his pop-art style imagery. The work and themes of this nationally recognized, prolific artist will make for a lively discussion.

TAnGleWOOd 297 west St, lenox, MA July 13, 4pm: Saturday morning rehearsal: Bernstein, west Side Story The uniCOrn TheATer 6 east Street - Stockbridge, MA • 413-298-5576 July 13-27: extremeties

TAnnery POnd COnCerTS new lebanon, nY • 888-820-1696 www.tannerypondconcerts.org / info@tannerypondconcerts.org July 27: 8pm: Miro String Quartet; Aug 17, 8pm: Vassily Primakov, piano; natalia lavrova, piano; Sept 7, 8pm: Parnas Piano Trio; Sept 21: Brentano String Quartet

festivals / events

BerkShireS ArTS feSTiVAl AT SKi BuTTernuT 380 State road (rt23), Great Barrington www.berkshiresartsfestival July 4-6 and July 12-14, hours 10am-6pm. Over 200 unique exhibitors will display an extraordinary selection of handmade works in ceramics, painting, jewelry, glass, furniture, wood, metal, mixed media, sculpture, wearable and decorative fiber, and photography. The festival appeals to casual weekend shoppers and sophisticated art collectors alike. creative works together with the simple pleasures of a day spent out-of-doors at this family-friendly event.Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $5, 3-day weekend Pass $13. children under 10 free. free parking.

OTiS ArTS feSTiVAl farmington river elementary School, 555 no. Main road (rte. 8), Otis • 413 269-4674 The Sixth Annual Otis Arts festival, on Saturday, July 27, from 9am - 3pm. free admission, indoors. Artisans and craftspeople with ceramics, fiber, water and oil paintings, photography, jewelry and many more. Graham and Barbara dean, "Songs of the Berkshires and Beyond," Knox Trail inn, ea. Otis (269-4400), Saturday, July 13, 7:30pm, free. Buffet available from 6pm.

Provided by Otis cultural council.nutshell Playhouse, family concert, Sunday, July 28, 11 am, Knox Trail inn (269-4400).

Original music, clownerie, and puppets, for the whole family.

Provided by a grant from Otis cultural council. for August: "Spicy Summer celebration," with Trio candela, 3-piece latin band (www.tamarackhollow.com), Knox Trail inn, ea. Otis (2694400), Saturday, August 3. latin food available from 6-7:30 pm and music from 7:45pm - 9:30 pm. iMAGeS CineMA williamstown, MA • www.imagescinema.org OuTdOOr SuMMer MOVieS fOr eVerYOne! films will start at sundown, usually between 8 and 8:30pm, on Morgan lawn, at the top of Spring Street. Attendance is free, and concessions will be available for purchase. The rain location is images cinema, 50 Spring Street, williamstown, MA.Sunday, July 14: GhOSTBuSTerS; Sunday, July 21: The MuSic MAn; Sunday, July 28: The incrediBleS Send in your calendar submissions by July 10th for the August issue of The Artful Mind artzine!

H

The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 7

lAuren ClArk fine ArT JuliO GrAnde

JuliO GrAndA

lauren clark fine Art presents “core Samples from earth to the cosmos”, new work by Julio Granda, July 13 through August 11. reception for the artist, July 13, 4-7pm.

Artist Statement: These “totems” are vertical dreamscapes meant to carry the viewer from the deepest depths of Mother earth to the highest highs of father Sky and into the possible realms beyond.

This series started on a simple premise triggered by my seascapes from cape cod, which are predominantly horizontal in nature. Quite naturally, since the core of most of my problem solving challenges as an artist has involved issues surrounding horizontal and vertical lines, i began to wonder what would happen if i created a VerTicAl seascape, a narrow band that ran from sand to sky? how thin could it be? how high in the sky could i go? To the stars? To other planets? To visual experience beyond imagining? And how deep would it sink? from the water’s surface to seabed? To ocean trench? down through countless stratato the core of the earth?

These musings were fueled by a trip to Australia and my face-to-face encounters with Aboriginal art and it’s beautiful, dreamlike quality, as if the artist were floating above the landscape and leisurely recording it’s beauty. from this was a short step to our own dream worlds with their illogical juxtaposition of people and events, their wild shifts in time and place, the abrupt breaks in continuity, all of which seemed normal, natural, and perfectly acceptable in this episodic, dream-walk world. like the worlds of the Aborigines or the world of our dreams, these images are intended to be felt and savored rather than explored logically or through the eyes of the seemingly real world.

Lauren Clark Fine Art, 402 Park Street, Housatonic, MA. For more information call 413-274-1432 or visit the website laurenclarkfineArt.com

8• July 2013 The ArTful Mind

neuMAnn fine ArT cASuAl OBSerVer BY Ken YOunG

The POwer Of PlAce

This two-man exhibition opening July 6th and running through September 2nd will feature two painters, Ken Young and Jeffrey l. neumann, with different styles but a commonality in depicting scenes which evoke a strong sense of place.

Both painters have been working in oils since their high school days in the early 1970’s and both painters share a fascination with rendering the textures and light and shadow found in nature and in our built environment. The Power of Place opening reception is Saturday July 6th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Ken Young, who was born in charleston, South carolina and grew up in hudson, new York, will be showing a series of street scenes of hudson painted between 2010 and 2013. Although he was extremely familiar with the small upstate new York city, it was not until fairly recently that he was inspired to paint his hometown by a moment of seeing warren Street through his rain soaked windshield. This led to his deep exploration of the urban landscape with the series of paintings featured in this show. “i see beauty everywhere. even in what some might consider commonplace and ordinary. Oftentimes it is fleeting and momentary. i take great pleasure in capturing and preserving it with brushes and paint so that i ... and others can know that amidst the suffering and uncertainty there is goodness, peace and harmony” says Young, reflecting on his spiritual approach to art.

Jeffrey l. neumann will be exhibiting some new work and some older pieces in his ongoing pursuit of the rapidly disappearing commercial landscape of the 20th century. neumann states that “My work is partly about preservation of an American vernacular landscape. i am painting vestiges of the American dream, but i am interested in the dual nature of our American experience.

Both artists present a uniquely personal vision which invites the viewer to experience and appreciate a particular time and place though the artist’s eyes.

Neumann Fine Art, 65 Cold Water Street, Hillsdale, NY. Gallery hours are Thursday - Sunday 11 - 4. For more information visit www.neumannfineart.com, Tel: 413-246-5776.

richArd fOYe, ewer, wiTh A BrOnZe luSTer, 13” TAll

12Th AnnuAl

BerkShireS ArTS feSTiVAl July 4-5 and July 12-14

The 12th Annual Berkshires Arts festival will once again grace the lawns and air-conditioned pavilions of Ski Butternut in Great Barrington for two weekends, July 4-6 and July 12-14. The muchanticipated annual festival will offer fine arts and crafts to a diverse audience along with ongoing art and craft workshops, demonstrations, talks, activities for children, a dining tent, and live musical and theatrical performances throughout both weekends. More than 8,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s festival.

Over 200 unique exhibitors will display an extraordinary selection of handmade works in ceramics, painting, jewelry, glass, furniture, wood, metal, mixed media, sculpture, wearable and decorative fiber, and photography. The festival appeals to casual weekend shoppers and sophisticated art collectors alike. creative works together with the simple pleasures of a day spent out-ofdoors at this family-friendly event.

“This festival represents the best of established and emerging artists from across the country and from the Berkshires,” said richard rothbard of American Art Marketing in Slate hill, nY. richard and his wife, Joanna, are the Artistic directors and organizers of the festival. “There is something for everyone in every price range – from the latest in fashion and jewelry design, handcrafted furniture and ceramics to the most exquisite and highly collectable original works of art. we personally select our exhibitors with care and with an eye for excellence in design and craftsmanship.” exclusive to the second weekend will be the new “Artists of the Berkshires” exhibition, showcasing local artists and their current work. featured Berkshires artists will include david Bryce, Stephen donaldson, Barbara doncaster, david eddy, Janet McKinstry, cindy walsh, Joyce weeks, and larry Zingale, among many others.

The festival will feature ongoing art and crafts demonstrations throughout, including raku pottery firing demonstrations with richard foye of South newfane, VT. festival dining Tent, live music by The lucky five and ryan hollander, hoola hoop fun with Alotta hoopla, theater performances and children’s activities will enhance both festival weekends.

Berkshires Arts Festival at Ski Butternut, 380 State Road (Rt23), Great Barrington. July 4-6 and July 12-14, Hours 10am6pm. Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students $5, 3-day Weekend Pass $13. Children under 10 free. Free parking. For more information, call 845-355-2400 or visit www.berkshiresartsfestival.com

ArTS eT induSTrie

BirdS, BuGS & BOTAnY™ it was the Age of discovery & the era of enlightenment. exploration around the world in the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries fueled a fascination with Botany, natural history & flora. emissaries fanned out across the globe gathering specimens of exotic flowers & fauna to be catalogued by preeminent naturalists & bound into grand volumes. for these great books brilliant illustrations were drawn & carved into copper plates, hand-printed & individually colored by some of the most excellent artists of all time.

These magnificent original prints will be the focus of Art et industrie’s spring exhibition at the Great Barrington Train Station, entitled BirdS, BuGS & BOTAnY™. featured will be selected works from some of the greatest Botanical illustrators of the Golden Age of Botany, including early hand-colored flower engravings by Sydenham edwards for curtis’s Botanical Magazine from the 1780’s forward, Stipple-engravings By Pierre J.f. Turpin for chaumeton’s 1815 flore Medicale, rare contemporaneous examples by ‘The raphael of flowers’ Pierre-Joseph redoutĂŠ, spectacular handcolored orchids by John nugent fitch for robert warner’s 1882 The Orchid Album, lavish lithographs from van houtte’s mid-19th c. flore des Serres and others.

Also featured will be select original J.J. Audubon hand-colored bird-prints from his 1840 Octavo edition of The Birds of America together with full-size re-creations of the original havell engravings from the rare Amsterdam edition, as well as wonderful works from Shaw & nodder’s 1790-1814 naturalist’s Miscellany, stunning engravings of shells, incredible early renderings of butterflies, moths, bees & spiders.

All these & many more will be presented together with a selection of fine reproductions on Greeting Cards, Giclees & scarves at our newest location next to the Farmer’s Market at the Old Great Barrington Train Station. Watch this space at the Old Great Barrington Train Station for our Spring, 2013 Opening.

SABine PhOTO ArT

A master of the subtleties of lighting and the nuance of background, sabine’s eye for detail provides imagery to be treasured for a lifetime.

Assignments are tailored to meet her client’s needs- a remembrance for a special occasion or a logo image to create an authentic professional online presence. it is to no surprise that she is a sought-after published documentary and editorial photographer with the talent of both: interviewer, provoker and imagemaker.

The Artful Mind has showcased sabine’s work since 1994, the very beginning of the monthly Berkshire Artzine. Still young at 20 something, sabine’s studio has become a brand for contemporary, unobtrusive, relaxed photography in the european style.  did you have a “sabine� experience? it might be just the time for you to book your first sitting.

Photographic workshops are scheduled for this summer: View liGhT wiTh A criTicAl eYe Explore the beautiful light of the Berkshires by taking a weekend photography workshop. In this workshop participants learn how natural light can create drama. Designed for serious learners who are interested in improving their artistic eye. All participants are asked to bring a digital SLR camera. Event dates: July 13 and 14, 2013.

Photo Art and Book Signing by appointment “wOOdlAnd STYle� and “Shell chic�, published by Storey Publishing, author Marlene H. Marshall, all photography by sabine can be purchased from your nearby book stores.

Signed fine art prints are directly available through sabine’s studio.

Sabine is a member of The American Society of Media Photographers asmp. The International Center of Photography ICP and the Wedding Photojournalist Association, WPJA. For more info please contact Sabine Vollmer von Falken Photography Studio www.sabinephotoart.com, info@sabinephotoart.com, tel. 413-298-4933.

frinGe feSTiVAl PerfOrMAnce Of MOMenT Of iMPAcT

This summer, emerging artists from across the united States will discover a vibrant home as part of the 9th Annual Berkshire fringe taking place July 15-August 5 at the daniel Arts center in Great Barrington. dozens of performers and ensembles spanning the disciplines of theater, dance, music and rock opera will participate in the action packed three week festival presenting over 50 performances, free concerts and Pick Your Own Price opening nights.

A vital testing ground for the development of new performance, the Berkshire fringe is a beacon of creative risk and innovation that remains dedicated to engaging the next generation of artists and audiences. Through high quality programming and low-ticket prices, The Berkshire fringe creates a dynamic festival community that sparks cultural dialog and is accessible to everyone.

2013 festival highlights include: The lunar Stratagem’s vaudeville inspired farce Dead Letter Office (a prelude to Bartleby the Scrivener), The Ape Woman, a living room rock opera about sideshow sensation Julia Pastrana, FUFU & OREOS, an entirely improvised one woman show about a young nigerian-American woman, Mahalla, new movement theater play about deliverance from egypt & The Arab Spring, Moment of Impact, a physical theater piece integrating aerial performance and The Other Mozart, about the life of Amadeus’ lesser known sister, nannerl.

For tickets, information and a full schedule of events, visit www.berkshirefringe.org, e-mail info@berkshirefringe.org or call 413-320-4175.

The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 9

MArGueriTe Bride MArGueriTe Bride, MOnTePulciAnO ArcheS

PASSPOrTS

Gallery 25 will be featuring a solo exhibit of watercolors by Marguerite Bride entitled “Passports during the entire month of August; an opening reception will be held on friday, August 2 from 5-8 pm.

Passports is a nostalgic watercolor journey through many of the artist’s favorite places away from the Berkshires, most requiring a passport. According to Bride, “As much as i would love to, there is never enough time to paint on site when traveling, but i am never without my camera. And when i am creating drawings and paintings from my reference photos, i sometimes feel like i am traveling back there all over again…it’s like getting two trips for the price of one.”

The paintings in this exhibit consist of many from two different trips to italy, Montreal, Paris, ireland, and england. in addition there will be a selection of fine art reproductions and note cards of scenes from other distant locales as well.

Gallery 25 is located at 25 union Street, Pittsfield, across the street from Barrington Stage. hours are 12 noon - 5 pm Thursday - Saturday or by appointment with the artist. The gallery is usually open one hour before Barrington Stage performances during the summer for light refreshments before the show; often the artist will be present.

Marguerite Bride, NUarts Studios, 311 North Street, Pittsfield, Studio #9, by appointment only. Call 413-442-7718, or 413-841-1659 (cell); website: margebride-paintings.com, email: margebride@aol.com

kAren J. AndreWS inner ViSiOn STudiO

inner Vision Studio is back in business. doors will re-open on Sat, June 29, 1-5 pm and will be open a total of 5 weekends throughout the summer. Visitors are always welcome to call ahead to arrange a private studio visit. i am a watercolor painter and a photographer, and each medium enhances my ability to see what’s in front of me.

Sometimes i combine them in unusual ways. i try to express the magic of the visual world, those moments of opening into the spirit underlying what is seen.

“Your photographs made everyday things magical. Thank you for sharing the “real world” as seen through the lens of your camera.” - D. H. it’s such a privilege having my own gallery space, as it allows me to interact with art lovers and art buyers first hand. i can talk about what inspired me to do a particular piece, or answer any questions about technique, approach or subject matter. The best thing is that i am free to make and exhibit whatever is currently exciting to me, be it watercolor paintings, landscape photographs or abstract drawing. i’m not limited by a gallery’s dictates. i exhibit original watercolors and drawings; photographs in all sizes (4”x6” to 3’ x 4’); and giclee prints. One of my specialties is helping people select a variety of work to decorate their second home, or to bring back a souvenir of the rich, Berkshire landscape.

“I’m amazed at your ability to capture, form, movement and emotion. I was absolutely stopped by your watercolors in order to allow a wave of emotions.” - J. M. i encourage you to come visit the gallery on your way to Tanglewood or whenever you are traveling through the Stockbridge area. My customers tell me that another advantage is that my prices are very affordable for the value they get. There is no gallery mark-up here.

Inner Vision Studio is located just one mile north of West Stockbridge village, taking Swamp Rd, left on Cone Hill, 2nd left on Furnace Rd. We’re also on the web: innerVision-Studio.com, or call ahead for a private studio visit: 413-232-4027

SuPPOrT The PhySiCAl WOrk Of MAkinG ArT ShArOn True

regular exercise is an essential component of optimal health and functioning. conscious exercise with Sharon True, owner of wholePerson Movement, takes exercise to a whole new level. in the personalized one-on-one workouts she creates in her Pilates studio she guides her clients to become masters of their own body movement. They learn to become conscious of the inner experience and process of doing an exercise, as well as of its precise outer form. conscious exercise workouts stretch and strengthen muscles, promote concentration, reduce stress, and deepen understanding of the body. who needs conscious exercise? Artists whose art-making process involves doing painful repetitive movements are one group of people who can benefit from True’s conscious exercise approach to Pilates workouts. for them, True teaches specific therapeutic exercises that promote comfort and healing, and coaches them in finding internal support and other strategies for reducing pain when creating in their art form.

More broadly, conscious exercise empowers people to make the most of the body they have. This includes individuals who currently enjoy active lifestyles, such as performers, athletes, gardeners, and those who love all the outdoor activities that the Berkshires has to offer, and who want to maintain or expand on their physical fitness through a challenging Pilates workout. it also includes individuals who are confronted with impediments to their enjoyment of movement, such as injury or chronic pain, stiffness, difficulties with balance and coordination, or lack of body confidence. Sharon True welcomes the opportunity to find a way to help your body function at its best, no matter what age or condition it is in now.

True is a registered somatic movement therapist, certified laban movement analyst, and a certified Pilates instructor. She has been teaching Pilates-based workouts for over 15 years, first at canyon ranch in the Berkshires and then in her own fullyequipped Pilates studio in Great Barrington. These years of teaching, together with her commitment to continuing her own education, give clients the benefit of a vast array of experience to effectively address their goals and concerns. She is an expert partner and guide in the discovery of an exercise program that works and is a pleasure to do.

Act now to make the most of the body you have with a Conscious Exercise workout. Contact Sharon True at sharontrue@roadrunner.com or phone 413-528-2465, 9am-9 pm.

Contact The Artful Mind if you want to share an artistic idea or plan.

Hesitate not...we will help get the word out! artfulmind@yahoo.com issuu.com Face Book and word of mouth!

10 • July 2013

The ArTful Mind

harryet Candee: diana, i have run into you at 510 Gallery in hudson, ny, and front St. Gallery in housatonic. i think you are very talented individual. Tell me about your adventures in the world of art!

Diana Felber: Art, movement and growing things have always played a guiding part in my life. i once created a personal mission statement: “i want to leave a wake of beauty behind me.” That seems a little grandiose now, but somehow that idea has moved my life. in Spring, the garden always takes precedence. it is so inspiring to watch the world green itself and sprout so many glorious colors and flowers. i am in heaven then, but also mourning each flower as it passes. The summer absolutely whizzes by. i am breathless at the speed of it.

And i love to paint. i have been doing watercolors for the past decade or so, partly because i love the magic of the colors moving around on the wet surface, and painting flowers has been fun. But it never seemed big enough for me. As an artist one must keep experimenting. And a question i always ask myself is: how do i get that surface to look like this or that?

A number of years ago i discovered Gerhard richter, the amazing painter. he can do anything he likes on canvas, from super realistic to these amazing large abstract works. i loved those abstract surfaces, looked hard, asked myself, “how does he do that?” and i thought i could see how. he moves a giant squeegee across the surface. i have since confirmed my guess, seeing a video of G.r. painting. So i got some window cleaners, palette knives , and began moving oil paint across the surface of my paper. it worked!

And what joy, and excitement these surfaces produced for me. Such fun. And now i feel like i am dancing with the paint. Just loving the colors and seeing what happens. Always a fun process. My upcoming show in hudson will be of these recent oil on paper works.

even teaching it at hahnemann Medical college. That was a wholly different life, where i supported myself before meeting Steve (my husband). i was not too unhappy at leaving that career, as much as it transformed my life back then. But that’s another story. Sometimes it seems like i was a completely different person––to have even received an assistant professorship! it feels so alien now. But movement and dance will always figure strongly in my life, and in my art as well.

Artist and Gardener

Where did you live before the Berkshires?

What were you doing?

Diana: we, our family, moved to the Berkshires in 1989 from Philadelphia, largely because i wanted the family to live in a healthy environment, where the values exhibited were not too materialistic. i had grown up in Great neck, nY, and had developed an abhorrence for ostentation and gross materialism. Also, my husband has had a long relationship with Kripalu. we had stayed in touch with that community from the late 70’s and had some friends there. we thought the transition would be easier on our two children because of it. we also developed a relationship with the Great Barrington rudolf Steiner School, where our children got much of their early education.

My art connection in Philadelphia was with the clay Studio, a fantastic place for anybody involved in the clay world, which i was growing into. when we settled into the Berkshires, i found my first studio in the building where iS183 now exists. it was the early days of that fine institution, and Sam Kasten was renting space for studios there. while working there in my studio, i would hear the teacher in the next room talking about drawing. i had never thought i could do anything on a flat surface, believing my hands had to be deep into a material, like clay. But i was “drawn in,” and lo and behold, i discovered i could actually make a flat piece of paper represent a three-dimensional object, or even a person. Magic! unbelievable to me!

did you study visual art formally? Tell me about your art education background.

Diana: i went to Bcc, where Mark Milloff was teaching, and became one of his several devotees. he was my formal training. i was devastated when he moved to riSd, where he clearly belonged. Such a loss for us, for me. At least i had about

Diana Felber

five years with him. for the past decade or so, i’ve been delighted to paint in the company of Kate Knapp’s Thursday morning group. we paint together, indoors, or out during the summers, and provide invaluable feedback to each other. it’s a very supportive and critical group, something every artist needs. i could not paint in total isolation, without bouncing ideas off of others, and visa versa.

What made you step fully into the art world, as opposed to, say, law or bookkeeping––those areas we tend to take seriously for making serious money!

Diana: i had been working in my husband’s office for a few years when his business was experiencing hard times. his business was often in a difficult place, so i had offered to help out. no sense in a salary going to someone else if it didn’t need to, so i pitched in. no art was happening then. i got depressed, and said i might as well toss all my clay work over the mountain (we lived on a mountain in richmond at the time) if i couldn’t continue doing anything to further my art. recognizing my desperation, my husband supported my decision to go back to making art. Thank goodness he has been able to support all of us financially in our creative endeavors since then. i am extremely fortunate, and grateful.

Back in Philadelphia i had been practicing dance Therapy,

People who live in the Berkshires have a deep-rooted connection to nature and its artful care. you mentioned earlier that you garden....how does that figure into your life?

Diana: i am a manic gardener, very passionate about creating a beautiful surrounding. About seven years after we moved into our current home, i decided to really “go for it,” push this garden as far as i could. what a tremendous pleasure it has turned out to be. So rewarding. After a few difficult years (illness, relationship issues, my parents going through their last years), i am again showing my garden through the Garden conservancy. This is a national organization that i was fortunate enough to be asked to join through their Open days program. They have to accept you, i.e., you have to have a good enough garden. i feel like i’m up there with the Big Boys in this area. Very gratifying.

you are having a show coming up at 510 Warren Street. What are the technicalities involved in deciding what to hang and where to hang it? What magic helps your show reflect your unique identity? d: each one of us at 510 warren St. Gallery gets a chance to be “front and center” for a month at a time. we get a set, specific area of wall to show off our work. The magic comes from the whole group setting up his or her section of wall, and how the entire gallery comes together. each month we put together a totally new show. Pretty amazing! when we’re “front and center,” we get to hang about double the amount of work from a “regular” month.

Tell me a little about your childhood.

Paint me a picture of you when you were small.

Diana: i am the oldest child of holocaust survivors. My parents were fortunately not in any camps, but they each lost many friends and family members during ww ii. in fact, i’m an immigrant. we didn’t come through ellis island, but there was definitely an adjustment to be made in moving to this country from england, where i was born. My folks were from Germany and latvia, and had met in london during the war. My mother, the last to survive, died in April of 2012. it may not be politically correct to say, but i feel so liberated and free now that they are gone. They were difficult for me, and their last few years were even more physically and emotionally draining.

What life saving lessons have you learned thus far that you would like to share?

Diana: life saving lessons, eh? well, i recently decided to resign from “head of the worry department.” i am sitting back and watching the show of my children being adults; a fascinating one. And i notice that i am no longer wondering about my “true purpose in life,” but am simply living, and loving the living. i feel a lot of gratitude for my life, especially after my recent bout with illness (hydrocephalus), due to a small brain tumor. life is rich and is offering me tremendous gifts, in energy, family and beauty. H The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 11

Ethan hawk, photographed by Greg Gorman

GreG GOrMAn PhOTOGrAPher Interview by Harryet Candee With an Intro by Cassandra Sohn

Greg Gorman is a true master photographer, most noted for his celebrity portraits and striking nudes. A well deserved recipient of many accolades, his most recent is the 2013 Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gorman’s exceptional career is currently being highlighted in a 40 year retrospective exhibition touring museums throughout Europe. I am incredibly fortunate that, through my Master Artist Series program, I have the opportunity to exhibit the retrospective at Sohn Fine Art Gallery and offer a presentation, book signing and workshops to the community.

During the course of his career, Greg has photographed some of the leading creative personalities of our time, including Andy Warhol, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Koons, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep; Greg's photographs document our peculiar 21st century obsession with celebrity. A master of lighting and composition, Greg's strength also lies in his ability to lead his subjects into revealing their true selves, creating new, enigmatic ways for us to view the person behind the characters we usually see. “For me a photograph is most successful when it doesn’t answer all the questions,” says Gorman, “and leaves something to the imagination.”

One of the most important photographers of our time, Greg has a distinct style which gives the viewer the rare opportunity to partake in the remarkable moments he shares with his subjects.

I experienced this first hand, as I modelled for Greg about 16 years ago. From the moment I met him, Greg was warm, charming and generous. In the late 90s he helped me start my modelling career in Los Angeles. In 2005, I switched to the other side of the

12 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind

camera and began my career as a photographer. When I opened my Gallery in 2011, he was one of the first artists I thought of for representation. As a mentor, friend, and brilliant photographer, Greg is someone I have always felt great admiration and respect for. While modelling for his photography workshops I learned about being behind the camera, and to this day I teach my own photography workshops based on his methods. I am thrilled to be hosting Greg in the Berkshires, giving residents and visitors alike the opportunity to meet him, learn from him, and to gain from a broad spectrum of intimate experience with this wonderfully talented man. —Cassandra Sohn harryet Candee: Still shooting for the stars? Who has been in front of your camera recently?

Greg Gorman: Yes, i am still shooting for the stars but to a much more limited degree. recently i shot Sir elton John.

i am amazed at the famous faces you have worked with. how did you decide how to shoot them: the background, lighting, costuming, etc.? The wide variety of photographs i’ve seen shows me you never stop being creative and inventive.

Greg: Basically, all my shoots are dictated by the purpose of the images being taken, be they for personal use, commercial use, endorsements, advertising campaigns, or magazine layouts. The background and concepts become defined relative to their application. lighting is obviously on an individual basis as i determine whether the lighting should be open or more dramatic; that is to say i decide what i want to play up in the highlights and keep from you in the shadows.

Lisa ann, Los angeles, 1988, photographed by Greg Gorman

Cassandra sohn, photographed by Greg Gorman

your poster photography is stunning. Can you tell me about a poster you did that was a challenge for you? i gather some are easier to create than others––what elements make the difference in each job you do?

Greg: Generally speaking, very few art directors ever have a concrete concept for the advertising art until the images themselves are created. Occasionally the images come from stand alone photography but also sometimes those images are incorporated with elements that are tied to the films themselves. Stand out campaigns such as those i created for disney and Paramount are often based on talented creatives within the studios themselves. A poster i photographed last year that stood out for me was the image i created for the 2012 Montreux Jazz festival. it was of a male nude in the sand dunes and obviously controversial by nature of the subject matter, as well as the interpretation for the festival itself, but at the same time very reflective of my work. i know you enjoy teaching workshops. you are offering one soon here in the Berkshires! i hope you have a great experience. do you have a previous relationship with this area? And how do you and Cassandra Sohn know each other?

Greg: This will actually be my first visit to the Berkshires. cassandra and i met many years ago in Santa fe, new Mexico where she modelled for many of my workshops. Teaching has become the primary focus at this stage of my life, and i very much look forward to spending time working with my classes amid the beautiful elements the Berkshires have to offer.

tonY BEntoVEr, Los angeles, 1988, photographed by Greg Gorman

JohnnY dEPP, photographed by Greg Gorman

antonio BandEras CoMP, Los angeles, 1994, photographed by Greg Gorman

What is your workshop going to be like for students here?

What do you expect them to achieve?

Greg: i am hoping to be able to teach students how to see light and communicate with the subject in order to execute a connected portrait--both in terms of formal portraits as well as figure studies.

your books are gorgeous, as are the men gracing their covers and pages. Tell me about in Their youth––how did you create it?

Greg: The books have been my opportunity to leave a visual legacy of my work. They also have given me a chance to review the work i have created over the years. in Their Youth was a collection of images that i felt few other photographers had. i had the chance to capture much of the young talent at the beginning of their careers before many had hit their mark. i thought this was an interesting concept for a book project-–being able to present images of these men before their public personas had been fully formed!

So it seems you prefer black and white photography as opposed to colour...

Greg: how did you guess? Black and white strips everything to the bare essentials, which presents for me a more confrontational and accurate image without the artifice or façade often associated with colour.

Tell me about the other interesting and beautiful book i leafed through at Cassandra’s gallery, called Just Between Us. Greg: Just Between Us was a personal photography project shot exclusively with a point-and-shoot camera. it documents a year in a relationship i had, during which we travelled and worked around the world, created without the help of any stylists or assistants. Pretty bare bones (no pun intended). My most personal oeuvre!

What kind of camera do you use for shooting close-ups?

Greg: i currently shoot with a canon 5d Mark iii with a 70200mm canon f4 lens. i also shoot with a hasselblad with a 40 mega pixel back and a 150mm lens.

Who has been lucky enough to take your photograph? is there a site with pictures of you?

Greg: My photos can be best seen on my websites, www.gormanphotography.com and www.gormanworkshops.com. ironically, i am not a big fan of having my own portrait taken, however, i have had great portraits shot by Andreas Bitesnich and Alexandra Pauli.

What are you still striving for, as far as your art is concerned? We never stop learning from life, and from our own mistakes.

Greg: i think you said it all in your last words. i am constantly learning from every photograph that i take, and even more so from the students i teach. i never feel i have taken the “perfect picture”--there is always room for improvement in all areas of the art!

Beauty is only skin deep. how do you take this into account when you shoot?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But for me, the beauty of a person comes out through their eyes as well, which are really, as the saying goes, a window to their soul. Being able to connect with a person, and being able to capture their essence is often what makes for the most beautiful of pictures.

Through your camera lens you’ve you’ve captured a slice of history and you’ve given us a personal, intimate glimpse into people’s lives. how do you feel about being able to do this?

What is your highest goal where your art is concerned?

Greg: The “slice of history” to which you are referring––this is nothing more than having been part of the natural process of a person’s life. Some native Americans never enjoy being pho-

tographed because they feel you are stealing a piece of their soul. in actuality, a photograph documents a life at a particular point in time, creating a kind of time capsule. regarding my art, i hope my photographs evoke some sort of emotional response, strike some inner chord within the viewer. is it easier for you to do nude shots as opposed to portraits?

Greg: Absolutely not. Portraits are much easier. when shooting a figure study you must not only deal with the inner soul of the person being photographed without their security blanket, but also the style, shape, form, and balance of the image itself. do you believe in creating photographs that are timeless?

Greg: i pride myself in believing that my photography is timeless and to the best of my knowledge i have never been considered a hip or trendy photographer.

By working with minimalistic, monochromatic backgrounds in the majority of my classic images, i feel that helps avoid the issue of a time stamp in many ways. have you crossed the border and explored other forms of art? Perhaps writing poetry? Gourmet cooking? horticulture?....Painting?

Greg: Actually, i have written all the forwards for my books; i have always enjoyed cooking and am known for my crazy dinner parties. i’ve also branched into a new career, and have been making my own wine, GKG cellars, since 2006, with production increasing every year. if people wished to view your work in person, where would you direct them?

Greg: i am represented by the fahey/Klein Gallery in los Angeles.

H

The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 13

ABOuT The MuSic: ASTOn MAGnA MuSiC feSTiVAl

Daniel Stepner leading baroque orchestra

Daniel Stepner

The Aston Magna Music festival, June 13 - July 13, is in its 41st season. Artistic director, daniel Stepner, discusses the final two concert programs: Vocal fireworks: Shades of love lost (italian Madrigal), and Music from the library of Thomas Jefferson.

There is a treasure trove of secular a cappella vocal works – often called madrigals — from the early 16th through early 18th century, that needs hearing in today’s fractured and frantic world.

They may be full of dance rhythms, or haunting harmonic color, as they express joy, sadness, acceptance, rejection. This neglected genre often breaks the rather stiff compositional rules of renaissance music theory in its attempts to dramatize trials of the lovelorn protagonists in the texts carefully chosen by the composers. Those texts are sometimes pastoral and rather pastel in their affect, and occasionally evoke nature and its metaphors in the human sphere, but most often they are quite explicit, even explosive, explorations of unrequited love of one kind or another.

Though the lyrics often express the loneliness of the jilted lover – his/her anger, sadness, self-pity, and even hope-against-hope – they are most often sung by an ensemble of singers, and not a solitary vocalist. The psychological effect is striking: it implies that we all suffer the slings and arrows of love at some time during our lives. unlike some contemporary a cappella groups, in which backup singers highlight a soloist or two who sing the words, the 16th- and 17thcentury madrigal has all singers singing the texts, typically in overlapping, answering ways.

The harmonies range adventurously, always attempting to portray a poet’s state of mind in ways only music can. This experimental marriage of secular texts and music created a new form of intimate and private music, meant to be enjoyed by listener and performer alike. The madrigal was an important part of the humanist impulse we have dubbed the renaissance – away from the mental enslavement of the “Middle Ages” towards the modernity of the “enlightenment,” with its focus on human problems and their cathartic expression.

One of the madrigals i have programmed is in alternating verses, spoken respectively 14 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind

Photo: elizabeth Boriskin

by Artistic Director Daniel Stepner

by a rejected male lover and his spiteful former partner. The mood is angry; the intent is closure. Another is a sort of prayer of hope: that the lover will simply be noticed by the object of his love. Yet another simply sings the praises of the comely shepherd girl who charms all who meet her.

The madrigals i have chosen are by two italian masters: Giaches de wert (born in flanders but active in italy in the second half of the 16th century) and claudio Monteverdi, the great madrigalist and pioneer of opera, active in northern italy in the first half of the 17th century. Monteverdi’s wide-ranging output helped us define the beginning of what we now call the Baroque era in music.

A sonata for violoncello by the 16th-century Bolognese domenico Gabrielli serves as an instrumental interlude. *** American founding father Thomas Jefferson was an amateur violinist and keyboard player, and had an extensive music library,

collected over many years, especially during his years in Paris as the united States Ambassador to france. he catalogued the library himself and bequeathed it to his beloved university of Virginia.

Most of the music he collected was contemporary music of his day and from the generation before (music publishing was still in its early days). for our final program of the season, i have selected a small representative repertoire from his library, ranging from francesco Geminiani through wolfgang Mozart and carl Maria von weber. The program includes both instrumental and vocal music. noteworthy are two songs by Maria cosway, an italian-english composer Jefferson met in Paris during his tenure as ambassador to france, and with whom he developed a close relationship. he maintained a correspondence with her for many years after his return to the united States. One of his letters will be among a few readings that will be interspersed among the musical selections.

Also on the program are two songs by francis hopkinson, a Philadelphia jurist who was an avid amateur musician and composer, and also a co-signer of the declaration of independence. he claimed, not unreasonably, to be the first “native American” to compose music.

Other compositions in the President’s library reflect his varied and sophisticated tastes: songs by henry Purcell and Thomas Arne; keyboard pieces by the organ virtuoso claude Balbastre, who taught Jefferson’s daughters; and a keyboard sonata by the Sturm-und-drang Meister Johann Schobert.

Brandeis U. last summer, soloists are (L-R) Frank Kelley, Kristen Watson, and Lynn Torgove, with Daniel Stepner conducting Baroque orchestra Photo: elizabeth leslie

— daniel Stepner

The Aston Magna Music Festival concerts are performed at Slosberg Auditorium, Brandeis University, Thursdays at 8; Olin Hall, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, Fridays at 8; and Daniel Arts Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Saturdays at 6. Mr. Stepner offers pre-concert lectures on the programs an hour before curtain. Wine and cheese receptions are offered post-concert at Daniel Arts Center. www.astonmagna.org

afro-american Elders, 2011, Mahaiwe, Gt. Barrington

Evelyn halle

BASCOM lOdGe Mae Brown

shirley and don

lifT eV’ry VOiCe feSTiVAl

By Roberta McCulloch-Dews

On a July summer afternoon in 2011, African-American elders lined the sidewalk in front of the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington and huddled together waiting for the cue from veteran photographer Jane feldman.

The gathering of these Berkshire county women and men age 70 and older was a sight to be seen. They were being honored that day by the lift ev’ry Voice festival. Among them, countless years of rich experiences and stories.

But feldman took it one step further. “how does it feel to make history?” feldman asked. with arms raised high and wide smiles, they made their answers known to all, and with that feldman took an image that has since become a poignant image of the festival.

As lift ev’ry Voice returns to the Berkshires this summer for a second season of events, performances and gatherings through August, feldman’s images of that day will be included in a photo exhibition titled, “Portraits of Berkshire county elders,” from July 5 through July 29 at the lichtenstein center for the Arts at 28 renne Ave. in Pittsfield. in many ways, the purpose of the exhibition mirrors that of the festival, feldman said. “when i saw the elders together, there was such power. To see a community that almost had to live in the shadows in the Berkshires, it was profound,” said feldman, who also co-authored a book on the Jefferson-hemings descendants, “Jefferson’s children: The Story of One American family.”

The exhibit’s significance is further heightened with the recent passing of the rev. willard durant who was photographed that day and is a pivotal community leader in Pittsfield who was loved and respected by many in the Berkshires for his work and outreach.

CeleBrATeS 75Th AnniVerSAry

Bascom lodge officially opens for the season on June 1, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging accommodations, seven days a week through October 20. in celebration of its 75th anniversary this year, Bascom lodge, the iconic Berkshire landmark at the summit of Mount Greylock, has planned a series of special events and programs related to the rich history of the lodge, the mountain, the 1930s, and local history and folklore. under the management of the Bascom lodge Group, the restored and dramatically upgraded lodge has become a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike for mouth-watering meals with a focus on fresh, locally sourced foods and regional American cuisine, and comfortable overnight accommodations in a beautiful and unique location. The lodge has also rapidly become a highly desirable spot in the Berkshires for weddings, special events, and retreats.

Bascom lodge is the recipient of two Yankee Magazine editors choice awards: “Best Mountaintop lodging” (2012) and “Best Meal with a View” (2011).

For more information, please visit bascomlodge.net

Photographs by Jane Feldman

festival co-founder, Shirley edgerton, said this is precisely why lift ev’ry Voice, which kicked off on June 19, is an asset to the Berkshires.

“The festival is all about raising awareness of the rich AfricanAmerican history of the Berkshires and beyond,” said edgerton.

Major supporters of the festival include city of Pittsfield, housatonic heritage, Massachusetts cultural council, MclA, raising change, Thinklarge.org, williams college, and the women’s fund of western Massachusetts. “we want to make sure that we honor the people who have made a difference in our communities. i am glad lift ev’ry Voice had an opportunity to honor individuals such as the rev. durant,” edgerton said. “we have a special opportunity to share this history with a wide audience. we want people to not only enjoy themselves, but to also leave with a takeaway that raises their awareness.”

The festival’s opening is aligned with a historic milestone in African-American history. The kick-off was held on June 19, also known as “Juneteenth,” at Jacob’s Pillow in Stockbridge. This date commemorates June 19, 1865 when slaves in Galveston, Tx. learned of their freedom through the emancipation Proclamation – a decree that was made three years earlier.

The festivities at the Pillow included a guided tour of AfricanAmerican history at The Pillow – a site on the upper housatonic Valley African American heritage Trail – as well as a performance by the dance Theatre of harlem.

But while June featured several engaging events, the months of July and August will also be full of exciting events, said don Quinn Kelley, founding co-chair of the festival. for a complete list of times and events, please visit www.liftevryvoice.org The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 15

GOOd PurPOSe GAllery JOhn k. lAWSOn JOhn K. lAwSOn

A solo exhibit showcasing John K. lawson’s recent and previous works of art will be on display at Good Purpose Gallery in lee, July 19 until September 2. There will be an artist’s reception on July 22 from 6-8pm.

John K. lawson was born in Birmingham, england, in 1962 and raised mostly in the countryside until his family moved to South london when he was a young teenager. he first came to America on a student exchange program in engineering at louisiana State university in Baton rouge. There his artistic abilities were encouraged, and he returned to england two years later to concentrate on landscape painting. eventually, lawson was drawn back to the deep South, and soon became part of an underground art culture in new Orleans that included working in tattoo, T-shirt and mural designs long before these mediums became mainstream. lawson also became known for his unique drawing style and creations using discarded Mardi Gras beads. he covered mannequins, pianos, and drums with intricate bead work, including a fifty-three-footlong bar top at the notorious artists’ haven, the Audubon hotel.

Since hurricane Katrina, lawson divides his time between studios in new York city and Great Barrington.

Good Purpose Gallery, 40 Main Street, Lee, MA. Visit www.goodpurpose.org for more information. Gallery Hours: 8:30-4:30 Mon, Wed, Thurs; 9-5 Fri-Sat; 9-3 Sunday.

frOnT STreeT GAllery katE knaPP, rEd BowL with EGGPLants

KATe KnAPP

July begins a new show - recent Works by kate knapp, Opening July 13, 10 – 6pm.

Pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors…..abstract and representational…..landscapes, still lifes and portraits….a unique variety of painting technique and styles….you will be transported to another world and see things in a way you never have before…. join us and experience something different.

Painting classes continue on Monday and wednesday mornings 10-1:30pm at the studio and Thursday mornings out in the field. These classes are open to all...come to one or come again if it works for you. All levels and materials welcome. classes at front Street are for those wishing to learn, those who just want to be involved in the pure enjoyment of art, and/or those who have some experience under their belt.

A teacher for many years, Kate Knapp has a keen sense of each student’s artistic needs to take a step beyond. Perfect setting for setting up still lifes; lighting and space are excellent.

Kate Knapp’s paintings are also on display at 510 warren St. Gallery in hudson, nY. Please stop by to see all the many works of art by exceptional artists. coming soon to front Street Gallery – Front Street Gallery – Front Street, Housatonic, MA. Gallery open by appointment or chance. 413-528-9546 or 413-429-7141 (cell).

SHARON TRUE, M.A., C.M.A., R.S.M.T.

Somatic Movement Therapist and Certified Pilates and Pfilates TM (Pelvic Floor Pilates) Instructor

AlliuM

SeAn rileY

Allium will feature the selected works from Berkshire-based artist Sean Riley beginning Tuesday, May 21. Riley will be showing a new body of work that includes paintings on panel as well as dyed-paper collages. These colorful works evoke certain qualities of fabric and use patterns that fold in upon themselves in origami-like fashions that give rise to a tension between flat and three-dimensional space.

In his collage work, Riley soaks his paper in numerous baths of colored water, allowing the color to sink into the paper, adding a rich and tactile quality to the works. Using tape as a “resist” he is able to create patterns on the paper in much the same way that is done with traditional fabrics.

In 2009, Riley began creating memorial quilts using inherited clothing and found an affinity for fabric arts. Riley’s work with fabric has had a direct impact on his painting practice and has altered the way he creates marks and develops compositions.

Sean Riley lives and works in the northern Berkshires of western Massachusetts. He has studied painting at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (BFA 1999) and at the University of Pennsylvania (MFA 2004.) His work has been exhibited widely across the East Coast and he has received grants from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the Cultural Council of the Northern Berkshires. He has also been a resident at artist community Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, NY. Additional works by Sean Riley can be viewed at www.polaresolare.net.

Allium Restaurant + Bar - 42 Railroad Street, Great Barrington; serves dinner Thursday through Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m. The bar is open on Wednesday evenings for cocktails.

All major credit cards are accepted. For more information or reservations, call 413-528-2118 or visit opentable.com

Private, Conscious Exercise Workouts for all ages and abilities featuring fully-equipped Pilates studio in a quiet, country setting in Great Barrington

Classes at Kilpatrick Athletic Center (KAC) at Simon’s Rock College

Pilates Mat Class Beg/Int. Tuesdays 5-6:00 PM Pelvic Floor Fitness Class Beg/Int. Wednesdays 6-7:00 PM

sharontrue@roadrunner.com

16 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind YAY! TiMe TO SwiM!!!

Chooze to be different!

Styles for girls and boys

SuSAn M. STOry

PASTel lAndSCAPeS

by eunice Agar

SuSAn M. STOrY, Mile creeK

Although she occasionally does work on trips to the west coast and elsewhere, Susan M.Story's primary subjects for her luminous pastel paintings are within walking distance of her l827 home on the main street of the historic hamlet of rensselaerville, nY. located among the hill towns about forty minutes south of Albany and just north of the catskill range, it was once a manufacturing town producing felt and buckwheat. The back of the buckwheat mill across the street from her house appears in one of her paintings. from lake Myosotis in the hills above the town, Ten Mile creek spills over steep rocks forming a massive waterfall flowing into a deep ravine and on through the center of town. The approach to rensselaerville over several miles of open hills covered with farmland is a roller coaster ride of steep hills and sharp curves.

Ms. Story's pastels of rock formations, masses of trees silhouetted in landscapes, woods interiors, flower gardens, water falling over rocks, and landscape vistas all have simple compositionswith a strong sense of abstract design. She experiments with different materials - museum board, watercolor paper, and standard pastel paper- to achieve interesting variations in surface texture. Sometimes she does an underpainting in watercolor. The result is an unusual luminosity created by bits of broken color breaking through layers of soft pastel. her work has a subtle poetic quality that confirms her goal of expressing the many moods and emotions evoked by nature. describing her approach, she writes "i choose to work outside whenever possible so i can immerse myself in the sensual riches of nature. There are constantly new perspectives to be discovered. nature is always in flux, as is the light that plays upon it, so a vista never appears the same twice and i am continually provided with new inspiration. My goal is to capture the fleeting moment in my paintings in order to preserve the beauty and share it with others."

Ms Story grew up in Yonkers, nY. She comes from an ex-

SuSAn M. STOrY, wOOdlAnd SundAnce

tended family of artists and writers. her husband doug makes custom furniture and clocks, her daughter Sarah, a graduate of Pratt, is an industrial designer, and her father, Stanley Maltzman is a prominent artist. She says that as a child she was constantly drawing and painting with all kinds of materials. in the fourth grade she made and sold paper dolls which were probably a precursor to her interest in fashion. in l972 she graduated from Parson's School of design with a degree in fashion design and then worked in india for a number of seasons designing clothing

SuSAn M. STOrY, winTer Birch

for the uS and european markets. She also designed fabrics and embroidery patterns. her time and india provided the opportunity for she and her husband to travel in Japan, hong Kong Sri lanka, Bangkok, Taiwan, and europe.

By the late l980's Ms. Story began to focus on painting, and by the late 90's was seriously committed. She has worked in several media - drawing, watercolor, oil and monotype, but soft pastel is her primary focus. She studies carefully the work of other artists at exhibitions and the many art sites on facebook.

Although pastel is an old medium with outstanding precedents in the work of degas, redon and others, the sheer number of people working in the medium today is astonishing. The proliferation of magazines, web sites, organizations, and exhibits devoted to pastel confirm the numbers. exhibits attract hundreds of submissions so her participation in competitive shows and her awards are an achievement.

Ms. Story has amassed an extensive record of group and solo exhibitions, awards and professional affiliations. She is an elected member and exhibits with the Salmagundi club, Audubon Artists,Academic Artists Assn., and hudson Valley Art Assn., and she is an associate member and exhibits with the Pastel Society of America and Allied Artists and is active in local groups. She is on the board of Audubon Artists.. in August, Ms. Story will have a show in the Guggenheim gallery at the carey conference center in rensselaerville, and in September and October a two month show at the Agraforestry resource center in Acra, nY. in August l914 a solo show is planned for the Old country Store in chatham, nY. her work may be seen on her web site: wwwsusanmstory.com.

The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 17

TriO CAndelA SPicY SuMMer celeBrATiOn

Graham and Barbara dean, "Songs of the Berkshires and Beyond," Knox Trail inn, ea. Otis (269-4400), Saturday, July 13, 7:30pm, free. Buffet available from 6pm. Provided by Otis cultural council. nutshell Playhouse, family concert, Sunday, July 28, 11 am, Knox Trail inn (269-4400). Original music, clownerie, and puppets, for the whole family. Provided by a grant from Otis cultural council.

On Saturday, August 3 there will be a free concert sponsored

by Otis cultural council. “Trio candela”, a 3-piece latin American and caribbean band, with special guest musicians (www.tamarackhollow.com), will present a “Spicy Summer celebration” at Knox Trail inn, rte. 23, east Otis. latin food available 6-7:30 pm, music begins 7:45-9:30. call to reserve seating: 413 269-4400.

Trio candela performs folkloric latin music from cuba and the caribbean, Mexico, central & South America and original creations. The group features Juan Basillio-Sanchez from nicaragua/chatham, nY on rhythm guitar and vocals with musicians Aimee Gelinas on conga, vocals and percussion and daniel cohen on guitar. Guest performer lauren Mcdonald from Ghent, nY will join the trio on violin and keyboard.

Trio Candela has been performing since 2007 at venues such as the Colonial Theater and 3rd Thursdays in Pittfield, Festival Latino of the Berkshires, and the Becket Arts Center.

“The universe is real but you can’t see it. You have to imagine it. Once you imagine it you can be realisitc about reproducing it.”

-Alexander Calder

CATA

ArT On MAin ruTh KOlBerT

Art On Main, The Gallery at Barnbrook realty, will host an exhibit by ruth Kolbert entitled “friends, Artists and Special Places: new Paintings” from June 29 to August 29. A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday, July 13 from 5 to 7 pm.

Kolbert was born in czechoslovakia and studied with Oscar Kokoschka in Salzburg, Austria who was deeply rooted in expressionism and, in the uS with abstract painters nicolas carone and charles cajori both known for their exploration of color as well as strong movement in painting. Though her unique individual style is anchored in portraiture, the influence of these artists is evident in the energy and strong presence of her subjects on the canvas.

After a long career in publishing and graphic design with such notable companies as random house, crown, and as Art director at Scribner’s, Kolbert continued to paint but made the move to the Berkshires where she met other artists, musicians and writers. She chose to make these friends the subjects of her paintings inviting them to sit for her and has continued to do so for the last 23 years. Often these paintings are life-size or larger and reveal the relationship of her subjects to their environment which provides a wider context for deeper understanding of the people we are viewing.

The exhibit also includes portraits of Berkshire farm structures; a subject Kolbert has developed a close tie to as an active member of the Sheffield land Trust. Barns as well as the surrounding land and its conservation are vehicles for compositions that echo her desire to preserve the landscape in art and in life.

Art On Main is open during the regular business hours of Barnbrook realty in the heart of Great Barrington. check our blog for updates of shows; www.artonmain.blogspot.com.

Art ON Main, The Gallery at Barnbrook Realty, 271 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA. Ruth Kolbert can be reached at her studio 413-229-0380 or at rkolbert 4778@gmail.com

AnnuAl ArT ShOW and POeTry reAdinG

The Berkshire Museum is hosting community Access to the Arts’ “i Am a Part of Art” Annual Art Show & Poetry reading in celebration of cATA’s 20th Anniversary this year. The opening reception takes place on Thursday, July 25th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the crane room. The exhibit will be on view through August 30.

An award-winning non-profit based in Great Barrington, cATA nurtures and celebrates the creativity of over 500 people with disabilities in Berkshire county through shared experiences in the visual and performing arts. reflecting on its partnership with Berkshire Museum, cATA’s Program & Artistic director, dawn lane, said, “This year cATA’s work has been wonderfully crowded with special projects and community outreach. That our 20th program year culminates with our annual art show at the Berkshire Museum is a privilege. we are most appreciative of their support and sense of community, both for this anniversary exhibition and for the ongoing relationship between our organizations.”

The exhibit features over 100 works of art created in cATA’s many visual arts workshops throughout the year in settings such as Adult day health, Berkshire county Arc, Taconic and lee high Schools, Blue Q, and in cATA’s own studio in Great Barrington. Also included are paintings from cATA’s A.r.T. (Artistic realization Technologies) workshops. The A.r.T. method gives people with severe physical disabilities the opportunity to paint using a specially designed communication system and a trained tracker acting as the hands of the artist.

The poetry reading features a number of guest readers and poems from cATA’s new poetry anthology, “going for a flower.” in praise of “going for a flower,” roselle chartock wrote, “The most poignant of all are the poems which express humor and critical reflections on such intangibles as silence, trust, art, fears and hopes, and living with disabilities.” cATA history - dance therapist, Sandra newman, founded cATA in 1993 after collaborating with iS183 Art School of the Berkshires to offer a weaving workshop to a group of women with developmental disabilities from riverbrook residence.

Today, cATA employs 7 staff and 21 faculty artists part time, offering over 1000 arts workshops annually through 33 different health and human service organizations.

CATA - Community Access to the Arts, visit www.communityaccesstothearts.org. The Berkshire Museum is located in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, at 39 South St., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.berkshiremuseum.org or call 413-443-7171.

OTIS ARTS FESTIVAL

The Sixth Annual Otis Arts Festival, on Saturday,

July 27, from 9am - 3pm. FREE admission, indoors.

Artisans and craftspeople with ceramics, fiber, water and oil paintings, photography, jewelry and many more.

Farmington River Elementary School 18 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind

Anita Minery, resident of Otis, MA

555 No. Main Road (Rte. 8), Otis 413 269-4674

love to rave about?

Heather: i’ve recently met a couple of artists who are new to the area whom i’d love to specifically mention. Jim Jasper, photographer and visual artist, is fantastic, and i’m thrilled to be conceptualizing a future project in association with him and also with costumer George Veale Vi––the project previously mentioned about the Tarot. Also, i’ve recently become acquainted with ilan Bachrach, another really talented theater-type guy, who is launching a new theater festival in Great Barrington this summer called Mass live Arts. i get the sense that he will be bringing a lot of richness to our cultural world as well. So keep your ear to the ground.

Tell me, does an artist like you have a particular fashion style that makes you look unique? Where do you shop?

Heather: i love playing dress up. Sometimes when i’m working on a show, i have these amazing moments where i think: “This is my job? Playing dress up?” i typically spend just as much time getting dressed for social events as i spend at the event itself, and it’s not unusual when the dress-up session is more fun than the party! i love shiny fabrics, sequins and tropical prints. 98% of my clothing is scavenged from second hand stores. The other 2% is free from clothing swaps.

heATher fiSCh PerfOrMAnCe ArTiST

harryet Candee: What are you busy buzzing around the Berkshires with right now?

Heather Fisch: i’m just about to dive into an intensive rehearsal schedule for La Belle Epoque, which is a new three-man vaudeville show that stars myself and two colleagues of mine: Jonathan Talbott and evan (randall) levine. it premieres on August 10th at the Mahaiwe.

What is the show about?

Heather: it’s about these three vaudeville performers from the 1920’s. The story itself is older than the oldest profession in the world and the way we present it is wrapped up in a shiny package of slapstick comedy, fast live gypsy jazz music and sexy lipstick choreography….The three of us play lots of different characters throughout the show and we barely have time to change our costumes and do all of our instrument switches….the whole thing is like juggling too many balls in fast forward but the balls are wigs and the remote control is a clarinet. By that i mean, we each play about six different musical instruments during the show as well as doing tap dances, shadow puppetry, deep sea expeditions, etc....Jonathan and evan both are incredible musicians and Jonathan is composing most of the music for the show. he composed the music for Blue Venice last summer.

Tell me about your various careers.

Heather: well, i am a performance artist and this is how i figured that out: After college i got into farming and did the corn and udders thing for a while. That led me into the world of foodie food and cooking which culminated in my opening up a little tapasbar/speakeasy/live music venue called the down county Social club. it’s in the basement of the Stagecoach Tavern in Sheffield and still operates to this day, although i’m no longer spearheading that project. Anyhow, when i was running the club i started playing accordion and singing and i ended up collaborating with a bunch of different musicians who hung out there. Around that time i met some people i really clicked with and we created a raucous gypsy band called Bella’s Bartok. we played tons of shows and gathered a really enthusiastic following. i had a lot of fun during that time and may have drunk a bit too much alcohol. while i was playing in the band, i always envisioned us in elaborate costumes and floating around on sailing ships or riding horses, etc… and i realized that those visions were creating a drive in me that was stronger than anything i had ever felt before. i decided to take this feeling very seriously so as not to piss off the gods. The visions often entailed bright colors, feathers, deep emotions, captivated silences, and were always about translating the living and breathing essence of beauty….Music does that, but my mind was

going somewhere especially visual. At this point my work is facilitating these visions, which makes me a writer, director, producer and performer for live theater shows. These shows typically have a very heavy musical bent and also offer something deep from the others.

i am curious. What was your schooling like?

Heather: i went to Simon’s rock when i was 16, and studied music, dance, theater, visual art, and ecology––along with the fine teenage art of getting your mind blown. Simon’s rock was really great for me at that age. i met so many people who were really out there and smart and traveling the world, etc….My path was seriously altered by that experience and the whole world literally opened up for me after that. A couple of years out of college, i decided to enroll in a small physical theater academy in Barcelona called Teatro estudi Victor hernando where i focused my studies in mime, clown, acrobatics, dance, improv and dramaturgy all related to the pedagogical style of Jaques lecoq.

Where did you grow up? Was your childhood a happy one?

Heather: Thankfully, yes, i did have a happy childhood. My parents are both really amazing and supportive people. i feel really lucky to have them in my life and to have been born into their family. i grew up nearby in chatham, nY. how old are you and what is your birth sign? do you follow any astrology?

Heather: i just turned 28. My sun is in Taurus, moon in capricorn, and my leo is rising. Astrology is interesting to me and i’ve recently been researching the Tarot for a new show that i’m working on. i’ve been studying the academic and historical correlations between ancient mystic texts, number theories, astrology, the hebrew alphabet, dantean philosophy, and the various incarnations of the Tarot. it’s kind of blowing my mind. i love to geek out on this kind of stuff.

is there much opportunity for you to perform and produce your shows in the Berkshires?

Heather: Opportunities there are in plenty. And this is because of the disproportionately large population of artists and culture enthusiasts who live here. Our community is hungry to create, support, and be a part of the type of work that i’m doing, and that support has fueled the work that i have done up to this date and continues to fuel me as i move into the next level of my career.

Thanks Southern Berkshires people! You know who you are.

What circle of artists do you normally associate with? What are some popular events you have been part of that you would

What have been your greatest challenges?

Heather: honestly, my greatest challenges so far have been in the departments of money and love. isn’t that just how it goes, though? i am making decent headway in both departments, but i still have a long way to go. i was recently kvetching to my brother about how hard it was to figure out a business plan to support my artwork. he said, “There’s a manual for how to make a successful carwash business. it’s been done before. for you (dear sister) you’ve got to invent the way to make your engine work.” it’s a deep challenge, but a good one.

What do you have a passion for in terms of travel, work, or entertainment?

Heather: i hitch-hiked across canada at age 18 with my good friend Pooja, and have had a taste for that sweet open road ever since. when i was 19, i left for europe and came back here two and a half years later. during that long trip i learned to speak Spanish fluently, and learned a lot about trusting my gut and trusting the world. if i go too long without taking a nice long trip, i start to shrivel up and die a bit, so i do go adventuring whenever logistically possible.

Tell me about your future plans. What do you have on the burner?

Heather: well, for the past half year i’ve been working on a business plan that will help me keep doing my artistic theater work. i recently put together an advisory board of business professionals, lawyers, social media experts, financial advisors, zookeepers, etc., who are helping me figure out all of the details. They are a very adventurous group, and we’re pretty much inventing a new type of wheel. it’s very exciting.

So what’s the business plan?

Heather: well, The national Theater of Opera nouveau is the name of our production company, and right now we’re focusing on launching a completely new method of touring live theater shows which will harness the wonders of modern technology (the internet) and the immense power of people of various communities. There’s not much live theater touring around any more because it’s so expensive to produce. And for this reason, i feel inspired to create this new engine which will encourage the live performing arts to flourish again in this country. That’s about all i can say about it at this point because certain things are top secret and my lawyer has threatened to break my knees if i spill the beans too quick. i’ll be publicly announcing the whole mindblowing concept in a brief soapbox speech at the end of my new performance, la Belle epoque, at the Mahaiwe on August 10th.

What is your greatest dream?

Heather: we live in a new time, and my dream is for my generation to be strong and hold fast to the creation of a new world which is more locally focused, values the blood and sweat of people properly, and continues to generate creative solutions to the problems which have been handed to us by previous generations. we are already doing this. we just have to keep helping each other keep our vision straight. G The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 •19

FRONT STREET GALLERY

Kate Knapp, Still life with Table

July begins a new show - Recent Works by Kate Knapp, opening July 13, 10 – 6pm.

Painting Classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings 10 - 1pm at the Studio and Thursday mornings 10am - 1pm out in the field. Open to all.

413-274-6607 413-429-7141 (cell) 413-528-9546 Gallery Hours: Saturday and Sunday 12-5 or by appointment FRONT STREET, downtown HOUSATONIC, MA

20 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind

Lauren Clark Fine Art presents

“Core Samples from Earth to the Cosmos”

new work by

JuLiO GRANdA July 13 through August 11 Reception for the Artist:

Saturday, July 13, 4-7pm 402 Park street, housatonic,Ma 413-274-1432 LaurenClarkFineArt.com

dianE FELBER The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 •19

OVERFLOWING COLOR: NEW WORK “For this upcoming show, I have landed in an abstract world. It is very exciting and I am very excited.

A whole new direction. And so much fun!

Color is predominant, and movement too; my old friend, movement. I am inspired by the brilliance of Gerhard Richter, but making it my own.”

The show will be up July 5 – 29th.

Opening reception will be on July 7, from 2-5:00pm

510 Warren Street Gallery Hudson, NY • 518-822-0510

heA ArTful rTful M Mind ind JulY 21 TThe uly 2013 ••21

Planet Waves

We're now under the influence of all three water signs.

Jupiter ingressed Cancer on June 25, joining Saturn in Scorpio and Chiron and neptune in Pisces. Mercury is retrograde in Cancer. That began June 26 and ends July 20. if you're making plans or initiating a project, make sure you leave a few days' margin after the retrograde ends to allow Mercury to come back up to speed and focus your thoughts. The Cancer new Moon is July 8. Mars enters Cancer July 13. Venus enters Virgo July 21, and the Aquarius full Moon is July 22.

That's the same day that the Sun ingresses leo.

Aries (March 20-April 19)

You seem to be going back and forth on an issue that's calling for a firm decision. The more decisive you try to be, the more it seems like there are two irreconcilable sides of the story, each with its own seemingly valid point of view. The more you try to please everyone, the more obvious it becomes that you'll never be able to do that. i suggest you not burn yourself out doing this. You probably already know the reality of the situation, not from rationalizing or arguing one side of the case over the other, but because you simply know. what you're really waiting for is the courage to take action, whether that means declaring an end to something, or committing to it more fully.

Taurus (April 19-May 20)

it's time to set boundaries with your family, which really means organizing your life the way you want. i suggest you identify the center of your life: the element about which you're the most passionate, or the place where you most dependably tend the fires.

Then ask yourself how you feel when you imagine your family - be it parents, spouse, partner or children -- knowing that's the thing you care about so deeply. do you perceive support or reticence? do you feel better about yourself, or do questions come up? how you think that others feel about you is a good picture of how you feel about yourself. it's more complex than you may think, though you do seem determined to get to the heart of the matter.

Gemini (May 20-June 21)

July 2013

You're at the most important juncture of the year when it comes to sorting your financial priorities, and getting clear about how to be more financially successful. i suggest that the first thing you do is recognize your potential. Your earning capacity has expanded significantly in recent weeks, and you need to be clear about that so you can take advantage of it. Yet there's another ingredient that will help unlock your potential, which is sorting through everything you were taught about money as a child: whether it's a good or bad thing, whether you deserve any and for what activities, the impressions that adult relatives made on you, and so on. This may be ancient history but it's information that is useful and indeed essential to work with now.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Jupiter has returned to your sign for the first time in nearly 12 years, and i trust you've already started to notice some of the pressure coming off, and your world expanding just a bit. Jupiter is providing you with a kind of cushion that will create some open space around you and deflect random objects, and give you access to additional resources. now that you know this, i suggest you relax a little and see what happens. Try doing that cancerian thing and eat real food, take care of the plants and get enough sleep every night. There has been a frenetic quality to your life the past few months, as if you've been driven by some kind of invisible psychic force. Take some time and notice how much you've accomplished. That'll give you a clue of what's to come.

leo (July 22-Aug. 23)

Match your actions to your innermost thoughts. from our earliest days we are trained to split our personalities: to say one thing and do another; to feel a certain way and act against our feelings; to violate our intelligence or intuition; and many other examples.

One beautiful thing about the astrology of July is the close relationship between your deepest sentiments and your choices and actions. it would seem you have no interest in hypocrisy -- only in acting from your values with the utmost sincerity. This is the course of action that will feel the best because it's a reflection of who you actually are. All those options about choosing anything to the contrary are vastly overrated.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22)

You have no control over how you're perceived. You have some influence, but in truth, people believe what they believe and they often see based on their beliefs. Meanwhile, you're a person on a mission -- and from what i can tell, you're entirely sincere.

Part of taking up anything larger than yourself, or acting in ways that benefit others, can be the perception that you have some other motive. i could go over all the rationales behind this, but you probably know them. i suggest that you not let anyone's opinion of you, or their perceived opinion, influence your dedication. Persist for just a little while and soon enough the simple reality of the situation will be obvious to everyone.

libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) You tend to leave an impression on others that is more austere and conservative than you may think. There's a certain reserve around your sign, a reticence to reveal too much, and your astrology is illustrating just such an inner discussion now. You seem to have some compelling reasons to stay silent -- and some even more compelling reasons to reveal something specific about yourself. which is the correct impulse? well, which haven't you tried? what are your concerns about consequences?

Are they just fears, or are they realistic? One of the main qualifications for leadership is sincerity. were you to choose that path, what would you want to reveal? not be compelled to reveal out of some moral dictate, but want to reveal because you will feel better and stronger for doing so?

22 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind

by Eric Francis

Scorpio (Oct. 23-nov. 22) You may be spending too much time pleading your case or arguing for your cause than is necessary. That would include negotiation or studying various points of view. People in your life are more likely to do what's right based on the fact that it's actually so rather than based on any rationales that you may present to them. i would propose that if you accept and believe what you know to be true -- especially what you know to be true for you - that others will be much more inclined to do so. if you find yourself debating anything, ask yourself whether you really believe it, and what basis you have for doing so. Be bold about questioning yourself -- and about responding.

Sagittarius (nov. 22-dec. 22) You may find it easier to clear the hot air out of the room now that Jupiter is in cancer -- a sign that's cooler, more inwardly seeking and oriented on feelings. You've learned a lot about yourself with Jupiter moving through your opposite sign. its new placement is less about what is said and more about what is done.

People demonstrate their feelings, their caring, their sincerity through their actions. words can deceive easily and often do so; it's more difficult to deceive with actions. now you need to tell the difference, both in terms of what you do and what others do. let your actions and the actions of others do all the talking.

Capricorn (dec. 22-Jan. 20) it's been a long time since you were cut a break. You've been so driven and so restless in recent years, you might count it a miracle if anyone could keep up with you, or understand you, or feel the kinds of pressures and enforced changes that you've been going through on a fairly regular basis. Your relationships can now consciously provide a cushion of safety for you. Yet whether you see and feel this will depend largely on your emotional orientation. i suggest you relax a little. Give people the benefit of the doubt about whether they understand you or are capable of seeing your point of view. You don't need to push yourself or others so hard.

Get the feeling of being at home wherever you are, and you will feel like that a little more every day.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-feb. 19)

Yours is the sign of the water bearer, and that water has to come from someplace. Some of the sage descriptions of your sign encourage you to fill up your urn so that you have something to give to others when called upon to do so. Jupiter joining many other planets in the water signs is a reminder to pause, fill up and strengthen yourself. To do this, however, you will need to make a conscious choice to trust, and to question your many reasons not to trust. This time in your life only seems to be about the authority you have over your own life and to some extent your responsibility for others. it's about relaxing into an exchange, and having the faith to receive what you need when it's offered to you.

Pisces (feb. 19-March 20) it takes a lot to let go of control on this planet right now, whether it's actual control or the illusion thereof. You have compelling reasons to do that, most significantly your peace of mind. But in order for this to be sincere, you need to replace control with something else. The one-word description of that 'something else' is faith -- though that too may be challenging for you at times, and it's nothing that you can contrive. what i suggest you replace it with is an experiment in how far your creativity can get you. if you see a problem, a puzzle or a conflict, try having faith that your creativity can turn it to something positive for everyone, then give it a try. Your results will speak for themselves. ~read eric francis daily at PlanetWaves.net

A few Thoughts on Architecture and Columns about Architecture

i want to take a few moments – and this column – to summarize what my intentions are as an architect — you can think of this column as my ‘talking points’.

1. Today, form follows function and energy . American architect louis Sullivan coined the phrase, ‘form follows function’, and it remains fully in effect, but now we need to add energy to the equation. in the words of richard Albert (ram dass), we must ‘be here now’ and part of being here now includes an awareness of energy costs and sustainability. At school we were instructed that architects have an obligation to both their clients and to the community. in a global age, i interpret community to mean’ the world’.

2. i have made a point of comparing the way many houses — most notoriously ‘mcmansions’ — are designed with the far more thoughtful planning evident in both ship and airplane design and construction. This is because ship and airplane designers are acutely aware of the fact that every square / cubic foot needs to be moved and that movement requires energy / money (they are essentially equivalent). The ‘sea change’ (no pun intended) we are experiencing now is that energy must be seen as something that needs to be ‘moved’ in a similar way. if you conceive of a house as a ship or an airplane you approach the design of it quite differently: design and build only what you really need!

3. i hope it is clear from my columns that no extraordinary architecture is completed without an extraordinary client. An extraordinary client gets that way by becoming as self-aware as possible because that self-awareness will shape the design to reflect their unique life and, ultimately, what is built. i impress upon each client that the goal of this process is always to design ‘your own house’ and to do that it is axiomatic that you know who you are. finally, a vital component of this process is the architect’s ability to read the clients mind and to suggest possibilities that the client could not have imagined.

4. The architect must confront ‘confirmation bias’ directly; the tendency to recreate what is already known. The architect — like any artist — needs to, in the words of writer James Baldwin, ‘… disrupt the peace’. Or, in the immortal words of donald rumsfeld (who can ever forget him?), we need to reveal the ‘unknown unknowns’.

Simply Sasha

Architecture & Arcadia Stephen Gerard dietemann

5. i, as a visual artist, writer and musician, am also interested in the process of creative design and how architectural design is different from the creative process of the other arts i am familiar with. in general, i have discovered that the creating as an architect is most similar to the creative process of making music; it involves an idea tempered – and further developed — by other people simply to exist. Architecture is reflective of our culture primarily because so much money and so many ‘stakeholders’ (as regards music, think ‘other musicians’) are involved. These include building code officials, bankers, neighbors, regulatory committees, the clients, the architect and the contractors. By contrast, as a visual artist – and a writer of short stories — i typically developed an idea alone and then presented it to the world. it is also worth noting that to a greater extent than is the case with art, music and writing, we all live with the results of the architectural process. winston churchill noted, ‘we shape our cities and our cities shape us.” As frank lloyd wright once noted, doctors can bury their mistakes, architects can only plant ivy.

6. i was deeply influenced as an architect (and as a human being) by a year i lived in Brazil when i was a child. Brazil in the mid 1960’s was the opposite of the upstate new York region i had known until then. it opened my mind to color, attitudes, ideas, and ways of viewing building that i could not have otherwise have imagined at the time. But there was a dark side as well: poverty. invited by a Brazilian friend of our family (he worked for my parents as our gardener) to spend an evening with his family, i was shocked to see the conditions they all lived just a stone’s throw away from our affluent neighborhood in Sao Paulo. The entire family of four – and all their animals – lived in a one room shack with a dirt floor, and no interior water or power. This was my first view of profound poverty… and inequality. while still young, i understood that my family and i were far more privileged — and receiving far more resources — than these people were receiving. Building is about the allocation of resources and as such, there is always a political component at work.

7. The site is critical! As a child i was truly amused at a nearby house that had a front door floating about 15’ above the ground! even at twelve years old i wondered, what were they thinking? Of course, that was an extreme example of a total dis-

by Sasha Seymour

regard of the site, but it is no less silly (if less dangerous) than a front door facing a massive front lawn that is never used since everyone arrives by car to the side entry. frank lloyd wright once noted that difficult sites inspire interesting architecture. Or, if done thoughtlessly like the ‘watch-that-first-step’ house just mentioned, results in just plain silly (even dangerous!) architecture.

8. i can’t over emphasize how important the concept of ‘playful’ is in the design process. Another word for this is ‘serendipity’; the ‘happy accident’ or ‘pleasant surprise’ is a vital part of a successful design, particularly residential design. who really wants to live day after day in a humorless, predictable house?

Pablo Picasso’s once said that he wanted to only associate with people who are doing what they wanted to do as children. i interpret this as meaning that they kept the ‘wonder’ in their lives.

9. An architect must always strive to re-invent the components of the building. every window, door, trim piece, etc. must be envisioned anew with each new project if something unique is to emerge. This often means questioning the assumption about basic aspects of design. My favorite example of such a re-inventive question was architect frank Gehry wondering why walls and roofs must be considered separate and different parts of the building? why couldn’t they be the same? The result of this reexamination is, among many other brilliant architectural works, the magnificent Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain where walls and roof all blend seamlessly and poetically together.

Sadly, architects too often mistake expensive materials for good design instead of recognizing that good design must start with asking good questions and making as few assumptions as possible about what is to follow.

10. it is important to recognize that all good designers present a specific point of view and that not everyone will like it. Any artist who aims to please everyone will surely please no one, or simply create boredom and predictability. Architecture, particularly our homes, should be joyous, not boring or predictable. ~Stephen Gerard Dietemann, Architect AiA

roasted Veggie Vibe!

Get your grills on people, it’s July! I have deemed July to be the non-official month of the grill, filled with outdoor parties, poolside lounging and yummy, yummy food cooked outside! These vegetables sandwiches are a great alternative to meat and vegetable patties for something different to grill. This recipe serves 4, but you can double, triple, or even quadruple the amount of grilled vegetables and keep them in the fridge for later use on sandwiches or salads for the rest of the week!

How stellar is that? Peace and Love to you! ingredients: ~ 1/4 cup sour cream mixed with one Tbsp dijon mustard ~ 2 garlic cloves, minced ~ 1/2 tsp lemon juice ~ 2 zucchini, sliced ~ 2 portabella mushrooms, sliced ~ 1 eggplant, sliced

~ 1 Tbsp olive oil ~ pinch of salt ~ ciabatta loaf, sliced ~ feta cheese ~ 2 tomatoes, sliced ~ 2 cups arugula

1. Preheat grill on high 2. Mix sour cream, mustard, garlic, and lemon juice and set aside 3.Brush zucchini, mushrooms and eggplant with oil and sprinkle with salt 4. Grill turning once, about 3 minutes per side 5.Grill bread, cut sides down, for about 2 minutes 6. Spread each slice with sour cream mixture and cheese 7. Place grilled veges on bread, topped with arugula and tomatoes

Enjoy!

The ArTful Mind JulY 2013 • 23

22 • July 2013 The ArTful Mind