The artful mind

THE ARTFUL MIND SEPTEMBER 2014 MONTHLY BERKSHIRE ARTZINE

THE SOURCE FOR PROMOTING ART SINCE 1994

The Art Experience

RENAISSANCE ARTS CENTER, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA

Photographed by Jane Feldman

1 • SEPTEMBER 2014 THE ARTFUL MIND

THE ARTFUL MIND ARTZINE SEPTEMBER 2014

“The difference between good teachers and great teachers is that great teachers have mastered the art of teaching people things they didn't know they needed to learn.”

Nick and Patricia Navarino Renaissance Arts Center

Cover Photo by Jane Feldman

Students on cover: Jackson Morse, Adrienne Frank, Gabi Kellogh and Tensaye Schulze The Art Experience Renaissance Arts Center Harryet Candee...10 Otis The Wolf (Part III) Richard Britell...15 Simply Sasha ...15

Painter Ann Scott... Eunice Agar ...16 Planet Waves for SEPTEMBER Eric Francis.....18

Contributing Writers and Monthly Columnists Eunice Agar, Richard Britell, Eric Francis Sasha Seymour, Amy Tanner Photographers Cassandra Sohn, Jane Feldman Sabine Vollmer von Falken Publisher Harryet Candee

Copy Editor Marguerite Bride

Advertising and Graphic Design Harryet Candee

THE MUSIC STORE

marking the beginning of its fifteenth year serving Berkshire County and beyond, the music Store, celebrates the coming autumn with sales and lovely merchandise for musicians and music lovers of all ages and abilities.

Locally owned and operated, the music Store prides itself on an eclectic mix of the familiar and the unusual - a fine array of Guitars, new and used, from famous makers including alvarez, avalon, Breedlove, Composite acoustics, Dean, Luna, recording King and takamine. Local and master-luthier built guitars, and folk instruments are also featured, including the incomparable Dr. easy’s Sonic Boxes Cigar Box guitars, an extensive array (as many as 55 different models) of acoustic and acoustic-electric ukuleles including resonator, Banjo ukes and the amazing u-BaSS. the Stockbridge-made Serenity Bamboo Flutes, Walking Stick Flutes and Canes are available, as are high Spirits american Flutes, and Catania Folk instruments’ Kalimbas, Gourd Pianos, Fish Stix and Cats’ Paws. rhythm rings, foot tambourines, an extensive collection of hand percussion and West african drums, not to mention 25+ violins, basses and an unmatched selection of harmonicas, strings, reeds, sticks, a dazzling array of guitar picks, tuners, metronomes, sticks, straps and other necessary accessories are available for your perusal. repairs are also available. a new association with the Berkshire Band instrument Co. makes band instrument repair available for the first time. Guitar repair and maintenance continues. and, as always, advice is always free.

Come visit our Close-out Corner, for particularly great deals. this is not your big box music store, though we match or beat many super-seller and on-line prices. Come in and see what makes us special! We look forward to your visit!!

The Music Store, 87 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, Mass; 413-528-2460. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.

BEFORE PHOTOSHOP Jean Germain, Lenox ChurCh Gate

JEAN GERMAIN FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER

no matter the subject - people, nature, architecture or events, this photographer brings an imaginative perspective to her art. a retrospective exhibition of Jean Germain’s 35 mm film photography will be in the Knox Gallery at the monterey Library September 26 through october 25. opening reception will be held on Saturday, September 27, from 6 – 7:30 pm. the show highlights a wide range of photographs taken by Germain using a variety of manual techniques and pushing film beyond normal tolerances to create uncommon images. She employs special filters, Polaroid transfers, timed night exposures, multiple images and other ways to manipulate the photographs without using Photoshop.

While living in new York City, Germain spent hours in museums fascinated by renowned impressionist and abstract painters. She describes, “how the legendary painters dealt with light, shadow, soft focus and even grainy images, led to much of my photographic style. those influences are reflected in how i see through my lens, often blurring the line between reality and fantasy.” using filters and an assortment of 35mm film Germain experiments with her camera producing images that are sometimes dramatic, ethereal, or conceptual. also in this show are Jean Germain’s celebrated photographs of legendary jazz musicians which have been selected from her book, Jazz From Row Six. using filters on her camera and highspeed film, Germain was able to capture the energy of the performances even when she could only use existing stage lighting. the book won a 2014 Paris Book Festival award which is now added to the list of other awards it has earned. “i am not opposed to technology like Photoshop,” Germain explains, “i just continue to be intrigued by what can be created using actual film.”

Knox Gallery at Monterey Library, 452 Main Road, Monterey, Massachusetts; 413-528-3795. Gallery hours: Monday 7 pm – 9 pm; Tuesday 9 am – 12:30 pm; Wednesday 2 pm – 5 pm; Thursday 4 pm – 6 pm; Friday 4 pm – 8 pm; Saturday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm & 7 pm – 9 pm.

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Box 985, Great Barrington, MA 01230 artfulmind@yahoo.com

http://issuu.com/theartfulmindartzine/docs

413 854 4400 ALL MATERIAL due the 10th of the month prior to publication 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.

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Coming this fall for both Performing Arts Program students as well as experienced dancers from the Community, a Choreographers’ Workshop Series taught by guest artists including Dawn Lane, Laurie Freedman, and Susan Copich. This class offers dancers an opportunity to investigate their own movement vocabulary while developing skills inherent to crafting dance into solo and group form. Improvisational and collaborative skills will be honed and choreographic ideas and impulses explored – all essential components in the practice of making dance.

Berkshire Pulse 420 Park Street, Housatonic MA 413.274.6624

Sell your ART! artfulmind @yahoo.com great rates and perks!

CALL NOW!

museums & galleries

Calendar of events

510 WARREN STREET GALLERY hudson, nY • 518-822-0510 nina Lipkowitz, Poppies & Pixels, month of october, reception oct 11, 3-6pm

AKIN LIBRARY AND MUSEUMS 378 old Quaker hill road, Pawling, nY • 845-855-5099 4th annual art exhibit "meeting Past" at the akin Library and museums. 80 Contemporary artists find resonance between their work and historic artifacts - curated by Bibiana huang matheis opening reception: September 14, 1-5pm. exhibit: Sept 19 - octr 19. hours: Friday, Sat and Suny: 1-4pm Fri, 6-8pm includes music ART ON MAIN, THE GALLERY AT BARNBROOK REALTY 271 main Street, Great Barrington, ma "Flora after Frost: Photograghs by marc Goldstein", Sept 5 - oct 31. opening reception: Friday, September 5, 5-7 pm

BACKYARD HEIRLOOMS 525 South main St, Gt Barrington, ma • 413 528-3095 architectural Sculpture for the home and garden. Featuring custom birdhouses, tree houses, kid scapes & natural functional art DEB KOFFMAN ART SPACE Front St., housatonic, ma Sept 3–30 featured artist tina Sotis. reception Sept 6, 3:30 – 6:30

ECLIPSE MILL GALLERY 243 union St., north adams, ma "independent explorations: 7 Select artists + 1" from September 13th to october 5th FRONT STREET GALLERY 129 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) FRIENDS OF CLERMONT 87 Clermont ave, Germantown, nY Sept 7- oct 13: Clermont's imagined histories. Photographs, Paintings, and Sculptures by robert hite. reception Sun, Sept 7, 4pm-7pm GUIDO’S FRESH MARKETPLACE 1020 South St., Pittsfield, ma Featured artist Scott harrington. reception Sept. 9, 5-7pm.

GOOD PURPOSE GALLERY 40 main St., Lee, ma Student show

HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON 46 Bridge Street northampton, ma • www.historic-northampton.org Sept: "a Year in arcadia," exhibition of paintings by Jeffrey Gatrall depicting the arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary during the twelve months of the year. Sept12 - oct 5. reception Fri Sept 12, 5-8pm (arts night out) Public talk: Sat, Sept 20, 2pm

JANET COOPER www.janetcooperdesigns.com Through Sept 19: Columbia Council on the arts show, 209 Warren St, hudson, nY; Sept 5 - Oct 16: Janet’s Bricolage assemblage dresses, Fine Craft Show at the albany Center Gallery, 39 Columbia St, albany, nY; Aug 30 thru Sept: the emporium, antique & art Center, 319 main St., Gt. Barrington, ma ; also fabric sculpture “Waiting for Judah” on display, Sept 27-nov 8, Barrett art Gallery, Poughkeepie, nY

KNOX GALLERY at MONTEREY LIBRARY Jean Germain, Photographer: “Before Photoshop” a retrospective exhibition of 35mm film photography using a range of special ef-

fects to create uncommon images. opening reception Saturday, September 27.Show runs Sept 26–october 25 (mon 7pm–9 pm, tues 9am– 12:30 pm, Wed 2pm–5 pm, thurs 4pm–6 pm, Fri 4pm–8 pm, Sat 9:30am–12:30pm & 7pm–9pm LAUREN CLARK FINE ART 25 railroad Street, Great Barrington, ma • 413-528-0432 / www.LaurenClarkFineart.com; Lauren@LaurenClarkFineart.com MARGUERITE BRIDE nuarts Studios, Studio #9, 311 north St., Pittsfield, ma margebride-paintings.com • 413-841-1659 original Watercolors, house portraits, commissions, lessons

THE MORRISON GALLERY 208 old Barn road near the inters. rts 7 & 341 in Kent, Ct. • 860-927-4501 / wm@morrisongallery.com / www.morrisongallery.com

NO. SIX DEPOT ROASTERY AND CAFÉ 6 Depot Street in West Stockbridge, ma “art in the making”, exhibit by Sarah horne, Sept 1 - 3o. artist reception Sept 5, 5:30 - 7pm. Delta Blues Concert with Don mcGrory and Jeff neumann, 8-10pm.

NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM rte 183, Stockbridge, ma .8 413-298-4100 american masters: rockwell and hopper, thru September

PRATTSVILLE ART CENTER & RESIDENCY 14562 main Street, Prattsville nY aug 23 – Sept 28 “homeland” an exhibition celebrating the reopening of the Prattsville art Center and residency SAMUEL DORSKY MUSEUM OF ART State university of new York at new Paltz 1 hawk Drive, new Paltz, nY • 845-257-3844 hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm Dick Polich: transforming metal into art. Curated by Daniel Belasco. morgan anderson Gallery, howard Greenberg Family Gallery, and Corridor, august 27 - December 14, 2014 SANFORD SMITH FINE ART 13 railroad Street, Great Barrington ma • 413-528-6777 exhibit of new paintings by Karen LeSage, august 8 - September 14. rec. Sat, aug 9, 4-6pm. (11 – 6, Fri.& Sat. til 7)

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) SIENNA GALLERY 80 main St, Lenox, ma Daniel Kruger, “angle of incidence”, thru aug 28

SOHN FINE ART GALLERY 69 Church Street, Lenox, ma and 6 elm Street, Stockbridge • 413-551-7353 / info@sohnfineart.com / www.sohnfineart.com exhibiting selected works by artists the Gallery represents.

ST. FRANCIS GALLERY rt 102, South Lee, ma (2 mi. east from the red Lion inn) “about Face” Sept 12 - oct 19, reception Sept 20, 3-6pm

THE OXBOW GALLERY 273 Pleasant St., northampton, ma oxbowgallery.org • 413-586-6300 (thur-Sun 12-5) Painters arnold Skolnick and marjorie Portnow thru Sept 28

music/theatre

BARRINGTON STAGE CO. Box office: 58 union Street, Pittsfield • 413-236-8888 / barringtonstageco.org

HUDOST AND ELIZABETH & THE CATAPULT'S BERKSHIRE RETURN CONCERT Whitney Center, Pittsfield, ma.

Sat, oct 11 at 7:30pm

HUDSON RIVER HARVET CONCERTS ancram, nY • fournationsinc@aol.com September 13, 3:30 “the hunt”, music for three hunting horns. evocations of the hunt by Leclair, Boccherini, Schobert, Fasch and Scarlatti. a 19th century barn surrounded by fields and foxes PROCTORS 432 State St, albany, nY • 518-346-6204 “Cassandra” the musicalopens Sept 13

SALLY-JANE HEIT’S 2ND ANNUAL VAUDEVILLE EXTRAVAGANZA 2 Van Deusenville rd, housatonic, ma a Benefit for the Guthrie Center: Sept 27, 7pm

events

20th annuaL PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL www.paradisecityarts.com / 800-511-9725 october 11, 12 and 13 at the three County Fairgrounds in northampton, ma. one of america’s top-ranked shows of fine crafts, paintings and sculpture, Paradise City features 275 outstanding artists in four buildings, sensational cuisine, live music, creative activities, demonstrations and an outdoor sculpture garden.

SRUTI BERKSHIRE YOGA CENTER 33 railroad St, Great Barrington, ma autumnal equinox Celebration: Cacao Circle & Kirtan, Sept 20, 6pm–9pm

workshops

NYS WRITERS INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES FALL 2014 COMMUNITY WRITING WORKSHOPS Fiction master Class offered by Lydia Davis and memoir Workshop offered by Jo Page. the memoir Workshop is intended for writers interested in crafting longer or shorter works or memoir, using readings and participants' individual work to explore and develop the subtleties that make a memoir a compelling story as well as a re-collection of actual events. the workshop will be held on seven Wednesday evenings from october 8 through november 19 at the university at albany's uptown campus.Both workshops are offered free of charge for no credit. admission to either workshop is based on the submission of writing samples. Complete information on the workshops and submission guidelines may be obtained by calling the institute at 518-442-5620 or by visiting the institute's website at:http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/webpages4/programpages/workshop.html

SABINE VOLLMER VON FALKEN PhotoGraPhiC WorKShoPS • 413-298-4933 www.sabinephotoart.com, info@sabinephotoart.com View Light with a Critical eye - explore the beautiful light of the Berkshires by taking a weekend photography workshop. Dates:

august 23 & 24, 2014

THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY: CREATING YOUR BRAVE NEW STORY an autumn weekend retreat in the Berkshires, oct 10-12. Contact amber Chand at: amberchand.com or hypnocoachny.com Send in your calendar submissions by 10th of the month prior to publication ...

see us on ISSUU.COM

THE ARTFUL MIND SEPTEMBER 2014 •3

JANET COOPER

BRICOLAGE ART 1998-2005 AUGUST 30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER

THE EMPORIUM ANTIQUE & ART CENTER 319 MAIN ST., GT. BARRINGTON, MA

SEPTEMBER 5 - OCTOBER 16 Janet will be showing two Bricolage Assemblage dresses from this period as part of The Fine Craft Show ALBANY CENTER GALLERY 39 COLUMBIA STREET, ALBANY, NEW YORK

Grier Horner, Face 4 Sections

www.janetcooperdesigns.com

About Face September 12 - October 19, 2014 Reception September 20 • 3 - 6pm

Saint Francis Gallery

1370 Pleasant street. route 102

LEE. MA

(next to fire dept.)

complete schedule: www.saintfrancisgallery.com 413.717. 5199 open fri-mon 11-5:30pm

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the artFuL minD

Karen

LeSage

new work

August 8 - September 14 Reception: Saturday, August 9 4:00-6:00 Sanford Smith Fine Art 13 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, MA 413.528.6777 Open 7 Days

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PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVALS BraCeLet BY roSenFeLD

this Columbus Day Weekend, Paradise City celebrates its 20th anniversary right where it began at the three County Fairgrounds in northampton. When Founding Directors Linda and Geoff Post first walked the historic, but admittedly rustic, fairgrounds in 1994, they puzzled over the pieces that would come to be known as the Paradise City arts Festival. it took a giant leap of faith to picture the arena, a cavernous horse barn, transformed into an elegant venue to showcase museum-quality craft and fine art. twenty years later, Paradise City fills four buildings, a permanently landscaped outdoor Sculpture Garden and Courtyard and a 12,000 square foot Festival Dining tent and Soundstage. this milestone year, the Paradise City arts Festival will again display a carefully curated selection of fine ceramics, art glass, painting, decorative fiber, furniture, jewelry, metal, mixed media, photography, large-scale sculpture, wearable art and wood. once hosting only 160 artists, the Festival now accommodates 275 exhibitors, who will show their work during the peak of new england’s fall foliage season. the Festival Dining tent provides mouthwatering food prepared by some of northampton’s finest chefs. Local restaurants serve up exotic curries, pad thai, wood-fired pizza, fresh lobster rolls, pulled pork sliders, dim sum, locavore burgers, overstuffed burritos, mango lassi, warm apple crisp and homemade ice cream. on the Soundstage, local bands perform throughout: the o-tones on Saturday; roger Salloom on Sunday; and the art Steele Blues Band on Columbus Day. a special themed exhibition, “Face to Face: From Portraits to Selfies, the art and Craft of making Faces”, will explore inventive portraits from selected exhibitors in a range of media from jewelry to ceramics to painting. the Festival’s Silent art auction features hundreds of beautiful and valuable pieces donated by the exhibiting artists, and 100% of the proceeds benefit WGBY Public television for Western new england.

At Northampton’s Three County Fairgrounds, 54 Old Ferry Road off Rt. 9. From the Mass Pike, take exit 4 to I-91 North to exit 19. For complete show and travel information as well as discount admission coupons, visit www.paradisecityarts.com or call 800-511-9725.

BACKYARD HEIRLOOMS aLLen timmonS

Backyard heirlooms is just what the name implies...original, one of a kind, museum quality architectural replicas of clients homes, business or historical structures, that are primarily designed as center pieces for their gardens. although, most of the work never makes it outside, they are built for the elements and to withstand the test of time. “they are not models, but, true structures in every detail.”

Backyard heirlooms, also, designs and builds custom, one of a kind, birdhouses and bird feeder replicas, as well as treehouses and kidscapes for clients properties and estates.

With over 50 years passionately invested into his craft, allen timmons has become one of the most refined artists in his medium anywhere in america. all his work is collectable, signed and dated. although allen began his craft at the age of 6, in 1964, it wasn’t until the birth of he and his wife, nancy’s daughter, emilie Jewel, in 1992, in no. Conway, nh, that Backyard heirlooms was established. overflowing with inspiration and a new found purpose in life, allen set out to make a name for himself. in 1993 he became the first and only state juried member in his medium, in the League of nh Craftsman’s 65 year history. he has been featured in the Boston Globe, Country Living and nh home magazines, and the Craft Digest. his work has been shown at the nassau County museum of art, the Boston and Worcester Flower Shows and the 2000 Philadelphia Flower Show. his work has appeared in several shops in new York City, Boston’s newbury St. as well as many high end galleries and shops throughout new england. after a 14 year hiatus from his work, allen has returned with a greater passion than ever. You can meet allen, in person, along with his wife, nancy and their lovely daughter, emilie Jewel, at Backyard heirlooms new gallery in Great Barrington.

Backyard Heirlooms - 525 So Main St, Great Barrington – open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 5 or by calling 413-528 3095 for an appointment.

Jane FeLDman PhotoGraPhY JANEFELDMAN.COM

JaneFeLDmanPhoto@GmaiL.Com

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NINA LIPKOWITZ raKu tuLiPS BY nina LiPKoWitz

510 WARREN ST. GALLERY

nina Lipkowitz will be the featured artist at 510 Warren Street Gallery in hudson, nY for the month of october with her exhibit of watercolor and iPad paintings entitled “Poppies & Pixels”. opening reception is october 11, 3 to 6pm. nina’s art always explodes with unrestrained line, movement, and luminous color in whatever medium she is working. She is a peripatetic artist: a sculptor, a potter, and now a painter. She is never content to work in only one medium; her curiosity and energy keep her exploring and expanding the boundaries of what it means to have an artistic relationship with the world around her. “i’ve been working with pen, ink and watercolor for the last seven or eight years. in the summer i paint flowers, grown for my paintings in my Berkshire garden. about three years ago, after reading about David hockney’s experiments with making art on different, new, high tech devices, i bought an iPad. With its back-lit screen and a drawing app, i have the ability to draw and paint in any location at any time, day or night. With no additional materials or supplies, i have painted and drawn on an 18-hour non-stop airplane flight, while listening to live music outdoors on a beautiful night at tanglewood and on many early mornings while watching the sun rise. i create these “paintings” in light with the touch of my index finger, using the iPad as combination of endless sheets of drawing paper painted with infinite marks, brushes and colors. after painting, they are upsized on my computer and transformed into exquisite limited edition archival pigment prints.” nina’s work is inspired by a variety of artists: Paul Klee for his humor and playfulness, matisse for his line, color and patterns, Kandinsky for his musicality, elsworth Kelly for his colorfield paintings and elegant black and white line drawings, Picasso for his voracious appetite for creativity, Calder for his runaway lines, miro for being miro and many, many more.

Nina Lipkowitz – contact through Ninalipkowitz.com. See her work at 510 Warren St. Gallery, Hudson, NY. Also read recent featured article at: http://issuu.com/theartfulmindartzine/docs/the_artful_mind._may_issue__nina_20.

IS 183 Art School’s Fall Classes

Back to School! Register Today for One of IS183 Art School’s Fall Classes, Workshops or After-School programs

Students who want to make the most of their cameras (film or digital) will enjoy Working With Light, offered on September 13thand 14th at Citizens’ Hall in Stockbridge. the experienced instructor, photographer Karen halverson, will teach students to “write using light.” on the weekend of September 20th and 21st, at the Little red Schoolhouse in Williamstown, fiction writers will learn to create complex, realistic characters with Bringing a Character to Life -taught by author and teacher emily Banner.Students who want to explore a subject in more depth can take a class: iS183 offers a variety of classes for adults adult classes are open to anyone 15 and older – and children. With Intro to Jewelry, running from September 22nd – October 27th at Citizens’ Hall, beginning students will explore cutting, hammering, drilling, stamping and shaping metal into pieces to create jewelry. Guided by instructor James Kennedy, an artist and jewelry maker with over twenty years of experience, students will learn to create their own jewelry in this five week course. Wednesday Sorokin, an experienced painter and teacher, will lead students through an exploration of color in making Colors Sing. offered at the Little red Schoolhouse from October 2nd – November 6th students will use their choice of paint to learn how to choose and mix colors to represent light, shadow and space and to convey emotions. Kids are not left out – classes and workshops for young artists are scheduled throughout the fall. Coming up on tuesdays, October 14th through November 25th from 4 to 5:30 at Citizens’ Hall, pre-K through 1st grade students will get an introduction to woodworking with hammer, Glue, Build and grades 2 to 5 will take over the ceramics studio in Ceramics Exploratorium. 413-298-5252 www.is183.org

a room FuLL oF hatS: a CoLLeCtion oF maSoniC hatS From the earLY 1900'S With FaBriC FromCheriSheD CLotheS From mY CLoSet aLonG With FLea marKet DreSSeS.

JANET COOPER

in 2008 nadine monem in ContemPorarY textiLeS, the fabric of fine art, black dog publishing wrote: “Janet Cooper’s work is a visual riot of feminine signifiers.

Taking up the narrative of the domestic, Cooper creates careful studies of women’s work, sewing, crocheting, knitting and quilting. Cooper’s work reads like an encyclopedia elaborating the characteristics of female life, including everything from discarded dolls to sewing implements and scraps of disused clothing and paper culled from flea markets and rubbish bins.

Cooper’s fascination with a shared female history runs a consistent theme through her varied bricolage works, often choosing to stitch, quilt, knit or crochet the ephemera she finds into something like a story of what it means to be feminine. .... It is this sentiment that underlines Cooper’s fascination with a cultural past common to the female realm. In bringing the accoutrements of women’s work out of the seams and into view, positioning them as intrinsically valuable and beautiful, Cooper elaborates on the value and beauty of what is often thought of as mundane domestic labour.”

Janet’s work is included in many books including the art of mankind by mary Schoeser, artists Wefts by marina Giordano, 500 art Quilts (Lark Books) and the soon to be published in october 2014, “textile art around the World” ellen Bakker, editor, the netherlands. through September 19 Janet is part of the Columbia County Council on the arts show - a body of work - at 209 Warren Street, hudson.

From September 5 to october 16 Janet will be showing two Bricolage assemblage dresses from this period as part of the Fine Craft Show at the albany Center Gallery, 39 Columbia Street, albany, new York. www.albanycentergallery.org Janet has her fabric sculpture “Waiting for Judah” accepted into neW DireCtionS’14 29th annual national Contemporry art exhibition, September 27 - november 8, 2014 at Barrett art Gallery, Poughkeepsie, new York.

Janet’s website is: www.janetcooperdesigns.com

NO. SIX DEPOT GALLERY art WorK BY Sarah horne

SARAH HORNE

“art in the maKinG”, an exhibit by Sarah horne will be on display at no. Six Depot Gallery September 1-30. on Friday, September 5, there will be an artist reception 5:30-7:00pm, Delta Blues Concert with Don mcGrory and Jeff neumann from 8-10pm; dinner, wine, beer, desserts available 5:30pm-close.

Berkshire painter, Sarah horne, will be returning to no. Six Depot Gallery after a sold-out show last fall. this show will be featuring large-format abstractions that invite a “re-looking” at what is made when creating art. Large drip canvases ask where the drop cloth ends and the painting begins. Drywall, once the plasterboard from a studio, is layered with splattered paint, swoopy charcoal lines and bits of used plastic. Local photomontage images take cues from familiar, worn street images. together the works ask: Where is “finished”? after the artist reception, we invite you to stay to hear memphis Delta and Country Blues with Don mcGrory on guitar and vocals, and Jeff neumann on Blues harp. Don will be telling stories (mostly true), about coming of age in the early 1960’s in memphis, how he found the Blues, and how the Blues found him. it should be a special evening.

We will be serving a special dinner of salads, ribs, roast chicken, fresh harvest bounty and whatnot, with wine, beer, coffees and desserts. You are welcome to enjoy in the café or in the gallery while listening to music.

No. Six Depot Gallery is located in historic train station in West Stockbridge, adjoining No. Six Depot Roastery & Café, serving house-roasted coffee, breakfast and lunch and hosting Friday night events. www.sixdepot.com.

AMY TANNER THE BIRTH OF A VIRGIN

“When i started down the road of writing a novel, i wanted it to be pure enjoyment. For me, the writer, and for whomever read it. actually, i wanted it to be impossible to put down, a brain candy, an intellectual sugar high that created a vast, limitless addiction. to more. turned out that my original plan of churning this literary confection out in six months took more like six years. never mind that. it was worth every minute. “ here’s what Kirkus reviews has to say about it: “What do immortal presences, a hardened war correspondent, a fugitive head of state and a masseuse have to do with one another? maybe nothing, maybe everything...Despite the novel’s increasingly outré events, tanner keeps her characters firmly rooted, treating them as real people with real thoughts and motivations. as a result, the central characters emerge as complex, believable entities, no matter how odd things get around them, which makes every bit of both humor and pathos earned. tonally, tanner’s debut follows in the footsteps of terry Pratchett’s warmly sympathetic humanism...[she] does an admirable job of juggling characters, events and emotions, fitting them into a satisfyingly screwed-up story with crack timing and solid footing.”

Welcome to my world.

Amy Tanner - visit www.amytanner.net for news & other unlikely stories. the Virgin of hopeless Causes is available at Amazon.com.

artist

Eleanor Lord

One of many at...

Eleanor Lord

photographed by Jane Feldman

510 Warren Street, huDSon, nY

WWW.510WARRENSTREETGALLERY.COM

518-822-0510

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PAINTING CLASSES

KATE KNAPP THIS FALL FRONT STREET GALLERY WITH

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.

Front Street Gallery – Front Street, Housatonic, MA. Gallery open by appointment or chance. 413-528-9546 or 413-429-7141 (cell).

KAREN LESAGE SANFORD SMITH FINE ART

Sanford Smith Fine art will host an exhibit of new paintings

by Karen LeSage, august 8 through September 14. a reception will be held on Saturday, august 9 from 4:00-6:00. her show in 2013 sold out.

Gallery director Laura reid comments on the wide appeal of LeSage’s work: “her glowing canvases reflect the terrain of our region but offer something universal as well. they are wildly well-received. We are excited to be part of that. She has been our number-one selling artist for the last four years.” the new exhibit continues LeSage’s tradition of large, atmospheric, minimal landscapes in vivid, luminous colors. of them she says, “this work explores the territory between landscape painting and minimalist color-field painting. the Berkshire mountains continually inspire. they provide color displays that change by the season, the day, the hour.”

LeSage was born in eastern Connecticut and studied at massachusetts College of art in Boston. She lived and worked in new York for over a decade then moved to the hills of Litchfield, Ct to raise her son. She has since become a noted artist with a growing national following.

When asked about the success of her Sanford Smith shows, LeSage said: “their clientele loves the same region that i do.” then adds with a smile, “it doesn’t hurt that the gallery is open 7 days a week.”

Some preview paintings are currently at the gallery to view on request.

Sanford Smith Fine Art, 13 Railroad Street, Great Barrington MA, 413-528-6777; open daily 11 – 6, Fri.& Sat. until 7.

Marc Goldstein, Inflorescence in Black #2

“Flora After Frost” Marc Goldstein Photography

September 5 - October 31, 2014 Reception: Friday, September 5, 5-7 pm

Art On Main 8• SePtemBer 2014 the artFuL minD

The Gallery at Barnbrook Realty 271 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA www.artonmain.blogspot.com

reCent art WorKS BY miChaeL mCmanmon; CiP StuDentS – Katrina anD eLLen PartiCiPate in "art on the Go" CLaSS at the GaLLerY

GOOD PURPOSE GALLERY

CiP Berkshire’s Visual and Performing arts Program offers small group classes aimed at training and educating students for a range of opportunities in creative arts fields. Students build upon the basics such as art and theater history and portfolios to more technical classes such as stage design, costuming, and independent studies. Students can also pursue internships and jobs in a related field, gaining employment skills and experience and building their portfolios and resumes. in addition, students will receive career-based classes, supporting their internships and jobs.

Visual arts component is very important part of educational program at CiP that helps young adults on autism spectrum and with learning differences to overcome some roadblocks on the way to independent living via self-confidence, improved social communication and integration within the community. many people with autism have an extraordinary ability to think visually - “in pictures”. many can turn that ability to good use in processing memories, recording images and visual information, and expressing ideas through drawing or other artistic media. art is a form of expression that requires little or no verbal interaction which can open doors to communication. throughout the year, students enrolled in studio art classes were encouraged to find their artistic voice as they experimented with various art mediums. For example, students learned to combine acrylic paints with oil pastels, and watercolors with colored pencils. in addition, experimentation with different painting techniques was encouraged. results were unique to each individual student. much of this body of work was inspired by still life arrangements in the studio. Some artwork was made plein-air from many field trips taken to beautifully scenic places in the Berkshires. ilene and her students went to Jacob’s Pillow, the Berkshire Botanical Gardens and the grounds of the norman rockwell museum for creative inspiration. monoprinting was newly introduced, with exciting results. Some of the monoprints were hand-colored by the student after the initial single color printing process, adding another dimension to the work. imagination and innovation abound. this exhibit also included the works from the digital photography class taught by Joanne murphy. Future classes at CiP will involve collaboration with technology, photography, and traditional art-making techniques. the exhibit will run through September 30. Please visit and support our young artists.

Good Purpose Gallery, 40 Main Street in Lee, Massachusetts. Gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 9am-3pm.

For more information, visit www.goodpurpose.org.

CHICAGO ALBUMEN WORKS

COLLINS/EDITIONS formerly BERKSHIRE DIGITAL

after seven years of working for artists and photographers as Berkshire Digital, we have changed our name to collins|editions. We are a fine art reproduction service that offers the highest quality digital photography & reproduction of paintings as well as Giclée printing on archival papers and canvas with sizes up to 42” x 90”. artists & photographers use us to create limited editions of their images. Private collectors and galleries use us to document their collections.

Whether the reproduction needs are for archiving, printing, books, magazines, postcards or internet use, BD adheres to very strict color controls along with delivering stunning detail by using either a large format camera with a Better Light™ digital scanning back for making giclee prints as well as the best DSLr cameras for publication & internet uses. in addition to the photography and printing services, collins|editions also offers graphic design, enabling clients to create show announcements, post cards and brochures. the website, www.Collinseditions.com has a complete overview, lots of information and pricing. the owner, Fred Collins, has been a commercial photographer for over 30 years having had studios in Boston and Stamford. he offers 20 years of experience with Photoshop™ enabling retouching, restoration and enhancement. the studio is located in mt Washington but dropoff and Pu can be arranged at other locations.

Collins|editions studio, 220 East St, Mt Washington, Massachusetts; 413-644-9663, www.Collinseditions.com

Since the invention of photography in the 1830’s, photographs have served a vital purpose in preserving memories, conveying information, and moving viewers with their beauty and imagery. at Chicago albumen Works, we are trusted experts in the photographic processes of the past and present, and are leaders in preserving and digitizing photographs, manuscripts, and two-dimensional art for future generations. among the specialized services that we provide are scanning and photographing works of art to produce digital files, digitally restoring damaged or deteriorated photographs, rehousing collections in archival storage materials, and digital printing using archival inks and papers. in addition to these services, we are also experts in handmade nineteenth century or “alternative” processes including albumen and platinum/palladium printing.

Since 1976, we have provided photography, exhibition printing, and preservation services for institutions with rigorous standards including the metropolitan museum of art, moma, Guggenheim, Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian institution. We have also provided services for many local institutions including the Berkshire athenaeum, Jacob’s Pillow, Berkshire historical Society, and the norman rockwell museum. allow us to bring our many years of experience to your project or collection.

Founded in Chicago, our studio has been located in housatonic’s monument mills for 32 years. Pick-up and dropoff within 150 miles is frequently available. members of the american institute for Conservation – Photographic materials Group, Berkshire Creative, and the Society for imaging Science and technology.

Chicago Albumen Works studio, 174 Front Street, Housatonic, MA; 413-274-6901, Monday thru Friday by appointment. www.albumenworks.com

SABINE PHOTO ART

Sabine Vollmer von Falken, a published and collected photographer, has a number of specialties. one of these is her collaboration and focus on commercial and editorial portraiture with professionals to provide them with a project portfolio.

Sabine’s talent lies in both choosing the location and working with the subtleties of lighting. her eye for the “yes moment” results in timeless imagery. She has the talent to bring introspection to the art of life style photography. She is the interviewer, catalyst and image-maker.

Photographic workshops are scheduled for September: VieW LiGht With a CritiCaL eYe - Dates: September 27, 28. Sabine’s eye for detail provides students with everlasting creative tools. explore the beautiful Berkshires by taking a weekend photography workshop. in this workshop participants learn how natural light can create drama or lyrical images. Designed for serious learners who are interested in improving their artistic eye. all participants are asked to bring a digital SLr camera. the hope is to concentrate on the artistic and critical eye.

Sabine is a member of the american Society of media Photographers asmp. the international Center of Photography iCP,and the Wedding Photojournalist association, WPJa. Fine art Prints are directly available through Sabine’s studio.

For more detailed info please contact Sabine Vollmer von Falken Photography Studio at www.sabinephotoart.com, info@sabinephotoart.com; 413-298-4933. Her INSIDE and OUT studio is located in Stockbridge, MA.

the artFuL minD SePtemBer 2014 • 9

the Art experience

Teacher Daniel O’Dell, (left) Patricia Navarino (next) with students Photo: Jane Feldman

opportunities for learning visual and performing arts at Renaissance Arts Center in the Berkshires

Harryet Candee: The Berkshires is filled with a strong venue in visual and performing arts for learning and appreciation.

Now I have a chance to introduce the school that you have taken so much pride and energy into creating to our culturally rich and gorgeous Berkshire community.

Being one of the visual art teachers in the Renaissance Arts Center team over the past year, I want to share in this opportunity to talk with you, Pat, on how everyone can participate in one of life’s greatest adventures — learning how to be a creator and totally being able to submerge oneself in a great art experience with guidance and knowledge of professional teachers— like yourself, Pat. I know you have been busy working on the fall schedule for children and adults. What visual and performing arts classes are you excited about?

Patricia Navarino: the renaissance arts Center is a school for visual and performing arts offering classes and workshops in painting, collage, drawing, sculpture, photography, theater, creative writing, ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, voice, yoga and more. i am especially excited about our new dance program and the new Saturday photography course because these courses are really helping to form a renaissance family.

We have scheduled the Photography course on Saturday mornings when our Foundations in Dance and Ballet classes are being offered. the children go upstairs to the dance studio with Kristine Waterman while other students become involved in their Photography class taught by michael Lavin Flower. at the same time, children ages five through seven years old, are learning to paint with me, and, the older children are taking a pre-portfolio class with instructor Karen Dolmanisth.

Many adults find it difficult to start a new path exploring the arts. Some people are intimidated, while others may be just too busy… What would you tell someone to encourage them to take a class, or two?

Patricia: i always offer adults the opportunity to sit in on a class so they become familiar and comfortable. i additionally inform adults that the skills they need to meet with success are taught to them in a clear, step-by-step fashion so they learn the tools they need to achieve artistic satisfaction. as an example, i may ask an adult to think about the letter "Y" and then see that letter in a tree.

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the artFuL minD

it simplifies the process and brings artists to a comfortable space to begin and move on. Learning art is fun and full of creative and critical thinking. i find that once a student begins at Renaissance, they will continue their creative journey with us.

Through your years, living in another state and working with the Board of Education and private institutions in the arts, what have you carried over to your school here as far as methods, theories and styles that are specific to your mission statement and yet, are also unique? And by the way, can you tell us about your journey that lead you to creating a school here in Great Barrington?

Patricia: my journey to the Berkshires began many years ago when, as a young, single mother of three children, i began teaching art in the millburn township school system in new Jersey. i taught art in the public school and tutored after school, house to house. i made the decision to hire a wonderful woman, Beatrice, to help with the children. after a few years i rented a studio and began to teach my signature one-on-one teaching method. i met with college admissions directors, became certified to teach advanced Placement Studio art, and founded the renaissance art School in new Jersey, which is open and operational today. i was then transferred to millburn high School. the key to success for me was a continued education. i gradu-

Learning how to critique art in a positive way starts with these young children having a discussion about their 3D collage plates for printing

Kristine Waterman with young dancers

Photo: Michael Lavin Flower

ated with my masters of Science in Leadership and Supervision from Bank Street College and Parsons in 2001 (i was one of nine selected in the nation) and became the art supervisor for grades kindergarten to twelfth grade. So you see, all my curriculum and teaching strategies that are applied today at renaissance arts Center in Great Barrington, and our mission statement of helping people of all ages to reach their highest creative potential, began years ago. at raC, (renaissance arts Center) the staff teaches disciplinedbased education, a program that incorporates art history, art criticism, art critique, and studio, including, for example "backward" design, which is where a student learns to begin with the end in mind. i have also created an assessment for teaching and learning styles that exceeds the national standards for our students to flourish.

space is warm and inviting--so much so, that children will often ask to stay longer, which makes us feel good. i schedule a monthly staff meeting to set goals and to continuously listen to the needs and ideas of the outstanding staff at raC, this includes discussing the workspaces. i believe that leadership should inspire a strong team approach, meeting the needs of staff whenever possible. Katherine ayars now teaches adult Creative Writing in our renaissance Gallery, while ballet, piano, and theater courses are in the large dance studio, upstairs. the raS art Supply Store has tenaciously maintained it's beau-

What do you think is important about your school that people should know about?

Patricia: harryet, to me, it is the combination of our mission and the act of building community. after all, isn't that what the arts are all about? the arts break down boundaries and creates communities. our mission is to help people to reach their highest creative potential which builds self-esteem, self-confidence, empowerment, and grows our inhouse renaissance arts Center Community.

As you enter the building from the front, on your left, is now the gallery space. It has good lighting and appealing open space. How is the Renaissance Art Gallery doing these days?

Patricia: the renaissance Gallery is growing rapidly thanks to the efforts of michael L. Flower, Director of the renaissance Gallery. he has created an organizational structure comprised of a six-week rotating schedule of student artwork and faculty work. the student printmaking unit that you taught, harryet, has been displayed in this space, as well as the art work of renaissance instructors, Karen Dolmanisth, collages by John K. Lawson, and currently, the painterly photography images of michael Lavin Flower.

Outside of the art school, you and your husband, Nick, enjoy a wonderful social life filled with loving family and friends. It must be difficult to keep the school separated from home life! Have you ever found yourself engaged in a conversation at an event or some social gathering, where you had a wonderful chat and unintentionally, (but successfully) brought in a new student to your school?

Patricia: this happens all of the time! We are fortunate that so many people are aware of our school and of the work that we do. they continuously ask us for information and then end up registering for a class or one-on-one lessons. the arts are in my family, so the subject often comes up in conversation; my Daughter, rebecca, owns the renaissance art School in millburn, new Jersey. She has recently opened the renaissance arts Center for Visual arts and music in Sparta, new Jersey, and my son, matthew, is looking to open a similar school in Philadelphia, Pa.

I love the workspace available to the children and teachers. You did a fantastic job planning out the layout. And I understand, it changes depending on the needs of a particular student or program. What new changes have you made to make the space even better?

Patricia: i am enjoying your questions and insight, harryet. i too love our new space! our

tiful space, however, we moved the cabinets out of the store to the Photography Lab to create better space for the students, cameras, computers and printers–and it works! the students and staff are very comfortable.

Anna Rawson, woodcut, printmaking class with Harryet

...And people can always find information about the monthly exhibits on your website and in The Artful Mind artzine... Pat, I am interesting in knowing, as the school grows, how have your goals and challenges changed?

Patricia: our school has grown tremendously in just one year! as our excitement for growth spirals, so do our goals and challenges. remember, i was that ‘working mother’, who needed outstanding afterschool childcare in order to work and because of that, our latest endeavor at renaissance is a quality afterschool program with an academic center to assist with homework and tutoring services. my husband, nick, is a former middle-school principal, and he carefully designed an amazing afterschool program he will be co-directing.

Continued on next page...

the artFuL minD SePtemBer 2014 • 11

Renaissance Arts Center

Maya’s artwork reflects the study of still-life and design

Calder mobiles class with Harryet. A fun week working with wire, tools and mixed media

students received P.e. credit. i am now creating all of that, and more! initiating a dance program into our center is a dream come true. We are pleased to announce our new dance instructors: ruslan Sprague, olivia Wilber and Kristine Waterman.

How would you like the schools in the area to work with you, Pat? Patricia: We encourage and look forward to the creation of partnerships with the local public and private schools in our area. each year, raC sponsors "an evening of the arts" to Wesley has completed his Mayan habitat using materials found in nature. celebrate the artistic endeavors of our The habitat on far right of photo belongs to Maya. community youth and their teachers.

We also learned about primitive dwellings and how to use a glue gun. Harryet was the instructor. the owners of the Barrington Brewery, Gary and andrew, generously donated space at Crissey Farm so we were able to meantime, i am learning how to seek financial assistance and showcase dance from our school and Berkshire School, theater federal aid to help our children acquire the necessary computers, from monument mountain and mount everett, visual arts from cameras, transportation, books, and supplies that they need.

Berkshire Country Day, Berkshire hills, Berkshire Southern regional, and the rudolph Steiner School. many people attended Talk a little about the performing arts program offered. It’s our last event and their donations enabled raC to give scholarships great that you have inter-disciplinary arts going on. to graduating seniors. i have also orchestrated teacher ProfesPatricia: i am excited about our visual and performing arts school sional training for the art teachers of the Berkshires. because it offers the community a unique experience of an interthere is always so much i want to do—i wake up in the morndisciplinary program all under one roof. ings with yet another idea! as the Visual and Performing arts Supervisor in new Jersey, i had the opportunity to create programs for students and teachers, I think it’s great that art teachers in the Berkshires have ansuch as in mathematics and art, science and art, a vertical advanced other school to look into for teaching. We do not lack in art edplacement curriculum K-12, an a.P. Studio art course for grades ucation around here! Have you learned much from your 10 and 11 with a college link in grade 12 and dance courses where teachers?

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Patricia: all of the staff have been carefully chosen because of the work they do with children and adults. Just for example: Dana ehninger, also a muralist, teaches the students how to use positive and negative space in order to create an amazing, large, sculptural piece. John K. Lawson can take an image, make a graph of it, then transfer the image onto canvas. John also teaches collage-making.

John Lawson is a fine teacher and great artist. I loved the piano-as-art he collaged that was on display in the gallery last year. It was still playable as well! Pat, do you find that most of your students come to RAC because they want to develop already existing talent in the arts?

Patricia: many students want to expand their interest or pursue a new artistic area. our experience has taught us that the arts affect behavioral and learning outcomes. research indicates the arts help develop the brain, coordinate sports performance, increase reading and math skills and self-esteem. Success breeds Success!

Have you thought about having an additional arts program catered to children and adults with disabilities?

Patricia: inclusion is the key word at renaissance arts Center. as educators, we are trained in all areas of teaching and learning. We welcome everyone! i have also met with the good people at Community access to the arts (Cata) to discuss a possible future partnership.

All schools have challenges they must face and find creative solutions to make things work better. What are you focused on at RAC that is a challenge but that you feel positive about?

Patricia: We are learning more about the creation of a nonprofit segment for our school in order to bring in more students. We want to be able to offer renaissance arts Center quality programs to as many children and adults as possible.

Nick Navarino sits in on a discussion about the completed mural the children have created as a group.

Instructor Karen Dolmanisth teaches adult drawing class Photo: Jane Feldman

How do you decide on the workshops and programs you offer?

Patricia: When a teacher applies for a position at renaissance arts Center, we request they submit a lesson plan and give us a description of what they may wish to teach, When they become a member of the arts team, we work together to create the perfect class or workshop. additionally, we reach out to our wonderful community and ask them what classes they would like to see occur at raC.

What are you thankful for, Pat? You have a bounty, I know! In terms of the school, and in terms of your life in the Berkshires – how does your hope grow?

Patricia: harryet, i am so glad that you have asked me to share. i have lived my life by giving gratitude every day and have lived by the principles of the writing of max ehrman, in the Desiderata. more than that, i give thanks for my husband nick and our family, as they are amazing. raS, our Cockapoo, and our wonderful mascot! i want to thank you for selecting the renaissance arts Center, School for Performing and Visual arts for inclusion in the September issue of the artful mind. Your publication informs our Berkshire residents and visitors of the educational and artistic richness we, as a community offer.

You continue to build bonds and links between working artists, writers, dancers, museums, galleries to name a few, and people of all ages.

Thank you Pat!

Michael Lavin Flower with student working on the Mac

Photo: Michael Lavin Flower

Nurturing creative minds... rennaissanceartscenter.org the artFuL minD SePtemBer 2014 • 13

MARGUERITE BRIDE marGuerite BriDe, CLoCK toWer in Winter

HOUSE PORTRAITS

this is the a great time to work with watercolor artist marguerite Bride in designing your custom house portrait…especially if you would like to use the image on your holiday cards. think it’s complicated? it’s actually easier than you might imagine and such a rewarding and fun experience. Visit Bride’s website to see more than 100 local and regional homes she has painted, ranging from tiny bungalows to Victorian mansions… in all seasons and all perspectives. a gift of art is a thoughtful, creative and cherished gift. But often it is hard to pick out a painting for another. Consider giving a gift certificate for a custom painting…which is like giving two in one…the painting itself and the very enjoyable journey the recipient takes with the artist in helping plan it.

But it doesn’t have to be a house… it could be a painting of a favorite scene, your condo building (as pictured above), your old barn, your business, school, college, just about anything. a lovely personalized gift certificate along with information about the painting, the artist, and the process creates a special and memorable gift for holiday, retirement, going away, wedding… .any occasion.

But don’t forget…. it is a wonderful gift for yourself too.

Be in touch with the artist and begin the journey…you’ll be glad you did.

Marguerite Bride, NUarts Studios, 311 North Street, Pittsfield, Studio #9, by appointment. Call 413-442-7718, or 413841-1659 (cell); website: margebride-paintings.com, email: margebride@aol.com

14 • SePtemBer 2014 the artFuL minD

ART ON MAIN

marC GoLDStein, miLKWeeD #2, PhotoGraPh

FLORA AFTER FROST PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARC GOLDSTEIN

this show, Flora after Frost, examines the somewhat neglected formal beauty of plant life as full bloom wanes and seeds ready for their next cycle. the photographs will be on view until october 31. thus, the images in the gallery will correspond to the seasonal changes occurring outside. the opening reception is on Friday, September 5 from 5 to 7 pm.

Goldstein himself confesses that he was (and is) a bit surprised by his sudden interest in the subject of the weathered forms of late fall. having been an active photographer throughout his many trips to exotic destinations where landscapes are seductive and photography something of a mission, the Flora after Frost images began as nothing more than the unexpected results of testing a new camera. “after fall foliage has passed,” he explained, “there’s not that much out there to aim a lens at except for seed pods and dried flower heads. So, that’s what i shot. Fortunately, their muted colors, their lines and textures made every moment spent in snow and freezing rain well worth the trouble.” author, retired professor, department chair at massachusetts College of Liberal arts, Goldstein found within the narrow rage of his subject what turns out to be a visually rich and rewarding world. this is a world where photography can invite contemplation of the profundity of nature, its natural cycles of growth and decay reminding us of our own transience.

Art On Main The Gallery at Barnbrook Realty is located at 271 Main St., Gt. Barrington, MA.

ST. FRANCIS GALLERY Jim SinGeLiS, Portrait

ABOUT FACE

Let’s “face it”, the value of art is its ability to generate creative conversation. the work of art itself is the vehicle or stimulus for this dialogue ; unique in that it offers more good questions than simple answers and as a result also refreshing reactions of surprise and discovery. “about Face”, St. Francis Gallery’s latest show, beginning September 12 and continuing till october 19, pays homage to and explores the face and its creative expression. it wanders in its ability to communicate, not bound by language, and filled with unspeakable nuance. each of the creations in this show is a mirror into our own mind and our ability to see into one another, often in secret places that cannot be described. Come and enjoy this wonderful collection of great art by some very special people in your own community and meet them at our opening reception of this exhibit on Saturday September 20 from 3-6pm. the artists in this show have managed to capture in their own unique way that unrehearsed response and subtle language of the face. they expose the truth rising to the surface on a landscape that is more dear and more clear to us than any other. these talented artists, each with their unique ability, allow us to wander in a face. they bring us close to one another and those important conversations. the truth exposed is reflected with simplicity and not forced upon us. their works reflect an inner privacy, a holiness. it is through the art they create that brings you closer to the “great mystery” which is often hidden by talk, claims and beliefs. to quote a well-known bard, “today make no claim…dream of what is here in the light upon the face…and learn that you are more than what you make of yourself.”

St. Francis Gallery - Rt 102, South Lee just 2 miles east from the Red Lion Inn, open from 11am to 5pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Otis The Wolf Part iii

by Richard Britell

there was a wolf-like rather grayish old man who now took a suspicious sort of interest in the Boy’s companion and began to ask awkward questions about him. this elderly man was a wellknown veterinarian, or what we today would call a veterinarian, and like the Boy’s father the blacksmith, he was a very important member of the community. no one much liked this old man but it was not entirely his fault. he was almost never able to cure any animal diseases or ailments but instead had a remark for dying animals that he used on many occasions. if the animal happened to be at death’s door, he would rub his chin thoughtfully and say, “She needs to spend some time at a spa; the best place is that wellknown sulphur springs in southern albania.” this lame attempt at humor was never appreciated by anyone. it was this old veterinarian who now took a special interest in otis when the boy stopped at his establishment to pick up a number of studded goat collars and a hurdy-gurdy crank handle that had rusted beyond recognition. there was no mrs. Veterinarian, she had died forty years ago, although the vet still mentioned her often saying, “i don't know when she will be back from the sulphur springs.” the old man called otis over and began to pet him in an absent-minded way as he explained to the Boy exactly what he wanted done to the hurdy-gurdy handle. otis by this time had become acclimated to being often petted and stroked and although he had not come to like it, he could put up with it without complaint.

in the same way that the Boy could not look at a horseshoe without noticing the wear pattern, so the vet could not handle an animal without engaging in a kind of clinical examination. he noticed the temperature of otis’ nose, the amount of oil in his fur, the sharpness of his nails, and the texture of the pads of his paws. he did all of this without thinking about it in any way, all the while talking about the hurdy-gurdy handle.

But while he spoke of the problem of the rust on the handle and how the set screw was all screwed up and he had to resort to a hammer and a crowbar to get it off the instrument, all the while curious questions were arising in the back of his mind, questions like, “What the Devil sort of a dog is this anyway, i’ve never seen the like.”

Finally he stopped talking to the Boy and turned his attention entirely to otis. he took his muzzle in one hand and with his thumb pulled otis’ lip up and began to examine his teeth. after this he took his upper and lower jaws, one in each hand, and pried his mouth open and had a look at all his teeth. that old vet, examining otis’ mouth had no idea how close he was to a sudden instantaneous visit to the sulphur springs of Southern albania. it was all otis could do to restrain his instinct to put a sudden end to the dental examination and the vet’s life in one sudden motion. meanwhile, as the vet sat there looking into death's teeth-filled door this is what he was thinking. “this is a most remarkable and interesting dog, and for a start he would be a perfect addition to my farm as a guard at night, and also i suspect he would probably fetch a good amount at the county fair come may. the question is, how to separate the Boy from the dog with the least possible expense and difficulty.” then he had an inspiration; an idea he knew was a complete falsehood, and yet, in actual fact was so close to the truth that it was terribly convincing. he suggested that the dog, according to his observations, was actually a wolf, or, if not a complete wolf was the product of the mating of a village dog with a wild animal. his intent was to sow fear of the dog into the heart of the Boy and so he gave him this little warning as if he was only concerned for safety, and was speaking in a professional capacity.

“Your dog,” he said, “is a very remarkable creature, but i am afraid he is also a very dangerous one. he obviously has a good percentage of wolf blood in his veins. this means that if you should accidentally cut yourself, or happen into a situation where a chicken is being butchered, your beautiful dog will have his instincts triggered, and turn into a killer.” assuming the dog belonged to the Boy he offered to take the dangerous animal off his hands. he suggested the dog be left with him for the time being, and at the same time told the Boy to talk to his parents about it. he was willing to take care of the problem

at no charge. as he said all of this he reached into the boy’s bag and began extracting one of the studded goat collars. it was his attention to chain up otis right then and there. otis only had an indistinct notion of what the conversation was about. he had been acting the spy for a few months and so, like a tourist in a foreign country he was only familiar with a few of the most often used words and phrases. But when the old vet took a firm hold of the fur of his neck in preparation of putting a collar on him he understood instantly that something was going wrong, but he was smart enough to get out of the situation without having to giving away his identity. otis leaped away from the vet and then ran to a spot out in the yard and pretended to be engaged in attacking a mouse he had discovered. What tame housedog can resist the temptation to run around in circles chasing a mouse or a mole? this ruse deceived the vet and the Boy also, and the imaginary mouse managed to doge away from otis in mouse like zigzag patterns across the lawn and into the woods. once in the woods the mouse vanished, and so did otis. the Boy went into the woods as if to retrieve his dog for the vet, but he had no intention of returning that afternoon, and if it were possible, ever again. otis was out of danger for the moment, but what possible way could the Boy avoid the problem of the curious vet? Well, it didn't matter because things were going to go from bad to worse, and then end in disaster.

Some time later the Boy found otis and the two of them continued on their way. they were in the middle of a wood bounded by local roads on all sides, an area crisscrossed by many paths and well known to both of them. then, unexpectedly they came across some company on the path, directly ahead of them were two wolves, very well know to otis since they were his brothers. these hungry wild animals would have presented a terrible danger to the Boy, if he had been alone, but he was hardly alone. a few minutes later those two wolves lay dead in the path. the Boy understood that his dog was a wolf, and the wolf knew, for all intents and purposes, that he had become a dog belonging to a boy. this was the second problematic situation arising for otis and the Boy but we were not about to find out what the third difficulty was, and what constituted the disaster they were about to experience because Jemima interrupted the Duck at this point in the story with some critical and inquisitive questions. ~ Richard Britell

Simply Sasha

by Sasha Seymour

Mr. Rogers' Peanut Butter Delights!

I love Mr. Rogers! He was a big part of my childhood, as I'm sure he was part of many of your lives as well. Since this Artful Mind issue is dedicated to the Art Experience, I thought this recipe would be fitting. And fun! I found this on the Mr. Rogers website, and I had to try it! As a youngster, my lunch box always had a peanut butter sandwich inside. These peanut butter delights would have been a welcome alternative! Enjoy it!

Ingredients: ~ 1 cup of peanut butter ~ 3/4 cup dry milk ~ 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts ~ 1 cup of raisins ~ 1 Tbsp honey ~ 1/2 cup of crushed graham crackers

1. Combine peanut butter with honey and mix in dry milk 2. Add chopped nuts and raisins, form into balls and roll in graham cracker crumbs 3. You're done! It's that easy!

the artFuL minD SePtemBer 2014 • 15

Painter ANN SCOTT ann Scott, First Leaves, 18 x 24”, oil on Board

by Eunice Agar

When she was twelve years old, ann Scott had a vivid dream of a beautiful lake surrounded by trees. the intense blue-green color made such an impact that her immediate reaction was to try to make a painting though she had never had any experience with painting. the dream launched Scott on the path of art making. that early experience probably accounts for the fact that her work is based primarily on memory and imagination, though occasionally she does paint small studies from nature. the variety and complexity of forms and colors in nature is so extraordinary that they provide an endless resource for artists. Scott creates abstracted patterns from sections of foliage with color enhanced from nature or she may make a spare, calligraphic painting of a section of a bush in winter with subtle shadows rendered by letting watercolor wash run diagonally down the paper, urged along by a hair drier. the style of that piece and others relates closely to Chinese or Japanese prints. She has done paintings of water along the massachusetts shore from her many years in Boston and those have been especially popular with collectors, but on land she does more close-ups than vistas. that distinction is an important one in describing the sensibility of an artist. the application of paint and her brush strokes show a finely tuned sense of the textures, the inner structures of the natural world. her subject matter is rich and varied, including images from her extensive travels in this country and europe, still lifes and flowers. her primary medium is oil. She also works in watercolor and acrylic.

Scott received her first instruction from a nun who, much to her surprise, was painting watercolors in the parochial high school she attended in rochester, nY. then a friend of her father's saw one of her paintings and offered to buy it. he paid her ten dollars. that was her first sale.

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Before Scott's birth in 1948, her mother returned briefly to rochester, nY from Canada so that ann would be assured of a uS citizenship. then, she claims, she grew up “surrounded by wolves and bears (but not raised by them) in Campbellford, ontario. however, since my mother wasn't terribly fond of all that untamed wildlife or out houses, we all moved back to her civilized hometown of rochester, nY.” During the years of Scott's marriage which ended when she was twenty nine, she studied painting, held jobs, and ran a business teaching art from her home in Schaghticoke, nY. in 1979 she was accepted into a special degree program at the College of Saint rose in albany which gave students credit for life experiences. She also studied art at SunY albany and earned a degree in l982 from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, nY. in her late thirties she moved to Boston where she lived for many years. She worked at the museum of Fine art and in corporate law, painted and exhibited, and traveled extensively in this country and europe on the proceeds from the sales of her paintings. a residency at the american academy in rome was a high point in her career. at one time she was exhibiting in over four galleries in this country and Canada, though in recent years some of them have gone out of business because of the economy.

Besides painting Scott has been in tV pilots and had a role in a movie called Everybody Wants to be an Italian. She also had a brief career as a sea shanty singer and street performer, but says that stage fright drove her back to the studio. recently, when her job was eliminated because of technology and the cost of living in a special building of artists' studios was going to be raised significantly because of renovations, she decided it was time to leave Boston. She researched many places, considering locations as far afield as

ann Scott, Pines, 50 x 40”, oil on Canvas

southern France and the Southwest, and finally chose the north Berkshires. moving less than a year ago, she found an ideal small house with rooms all on one floor and space to paint on the top of hill in adams. it couldn't be a better place for an artist. adams is built on low rolling hills that rise up from the route 7 corridor. From any angle, there is a rich graphic array formed by rooftops from above, houses climbing the hills from below, trees, bushes, streets, and backyards. Directly across from her house, on the opposite side of route 7, the sheer mass of mount Greylock, the highest point in massachusetts, looms straight up. it is so close and so massive that it feels as if one could reach across and touch it. the potential subjects for an artist are endless. Scott also likes the ambiance of her neighborhood, the friendliness of the people. they remind her of the milieu in which she grew up. in less than a year, Scott is beginning to establish connections in the area. She is represented by the Lyman-eyer Gallery in Provincetown and is an exhibiting member of the Provincetown art association museum and the Salmagundi Club in new York. She has received grants from the rochester arts Council, the new York State Council on the arts and the massachusetts Cultural Council. in addition to the american academy in rome she has had residencies at Pouch Cove, newfoundland and in the Dune Shacks at the Cape Cod national Seashore.

Readers may see additional examples of Ann Scott's work at her website:

www. annscottpaintings.com

ART FOR KIDS in the Berkshires

Flying Cloud Institute ut

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Flying Cloud Institute recently concluded the 30th summer of art and science programming. What started as a ceramics program for six local kids a couple mornings a week at the home of Flying Cloud’s founder, Jane Burke, has grown into the Smart (Science meets art) program. this multi-disciplinary program offers a doorway into Stem - Science technology engineering and math - for creative children by connecting these fields with the arts. Students meet and work with professional artists and scientists on innovative projects. this combined approach has now caught on as a national movement called Steam. FCi Smart has grown to serve almost 100 children each summer and thousands more in area public schools each year.

This summer at Smart Summer Program participants explored ceramics, environmental science, horticulture, architecture, silk-screening, painting, sculpture, robotics, music and dance in unique ways. aurel de St. andre led the children in making a mural out of moss. With environmental scientist Dale abrams, they collected different species of moss, learning about their life cycle and needs for growth. With aurel, each student drew an image to recreate with the various moss species. they affixed the moss to a 30 foot long rock in the woods using a special nutrient-rich glue made out of common grocery store items.

Collette

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With sculptor ann Jon and scientist Jane Burke, students made mobiles. they explored the art and mathematics of balance by weighing pieces and measuring the distance needed from the fulcrum to achieve balance. Children were encouraged to discover the formula for making non-symmetrical items come into balance. this physics/art experience will be offered in the public schools.

With ceramicist and chemist Jane Burke students explored the science of ceramics through making clay from scratch to get a desired color, recycling old clay, and making their own glazes. Smashing rejected dry clay, turning it to mud with water and then drying it to be usable clay is a favorite with the younger children. the idea that materials science is a valuable tool for artists is an often-used theme in Smart. When doing art children also are motivated to practice perseverance which is needed to gain technical skills for more challenging sculptures and wheel work.

Pre-design thinking and consideration of positive and negative space were key to printmaking projects with harryet Candee and molly de St. andre. With harryet’s group of students had to learn to work properly with sharp tools and understand the grain of wood to carve their woodblocks for printmaking. they used subjects collected

ovell, ntha T

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clay

from nature as their inspiration.

Flying Cloud has graduates who have gone on to become specialists in blending art and science. two alumni brought their special blend of science and art back to Flying Cloud this summer. Lindsey Berkowitz led the students in a unique robotics and dance activity which involved learning and practicing different dance styles, choreographing a dance, and building and programming robots to dance and react to stimuli. meghan orbeck interwove her passion for sustainable gardening with art as she led the children in a mosaic of activities awakening their senses, wonder and creativity.

Ideas developed this summer will be included in Flying Cloud’s SMArt programming in local schools through classroom residencies and afterschool offerings.

Flying Cloud - information about winter and spring vacation programs and all activities are at the website at flyingcloudinstitute.org

NATURE BASED EARLY EDUCATION

***NYSOCFS licensed program for children age 6 weeks to 6 years Located on 9 beautiful acres in New Lebanon, NY***

Contact: Michaelann Murphy MsEd ~ 518-410-1137 thegardenchildcare555@gmail.com or www.thegardenchildcare.com

the artFuL minD SePtemBer 2014 • 17

Planet Waves TAURUS (April 19-May 20)

how risky are ideas? For many people they are terrifying; notice how distinctly unpopular thinking is. notice society's tendency to censor, to control, and to spy on what people say. But does that really mean ideas are actually risky? Well, they can be, in the sense that they are the precursor to progress. i suggest you take all the risks you can muster when it comes to thinking for yourself. to do that, you might need to tune in to the ways you were conditioned not to think for yourself, which includes everything from unquestioned prejudices to going along with the crowd to believing something is true because a parent or partner says it's true. and herein lies the trap -- the fear that if you dare to be original, or to question consensus reality, you will be cast out of the tribe. that's about the last thing you have to worry about now; you are more likely to be considered in a position of leadership, specifically because you possess and use your capacity to think, and to think creatively. here is a formula you can try, which can turn problems into solutions: Catch yourself every time you go into safe/narrow/prejudiced mode. Pause right then, and prompt yourself to question. Step over the nonexistent barrier and consciously allow your thoughts to unfold.

GEMINI (May 20-June 21)

Sex is communication. Whatever else it may seem to be -- recreation, reproduction, creativity, commerce -- on the deepest level, it's an exchange of feelings, energy, contact and words, all inherently communicative. When there's any kind of breakdown around sex, from antipathy or cheating to violent assault, you can count that as a failure of communication. When you notice one of those, the first thing to do is to get the conversation going. the semantic origins of the word communicate are "to share, divide out; impart, inform; join, unite, participate in," literally "to make common." that's the thing to reach for. this concept could be the basis for an entire course on sex education, suitable for adults or children. think of it -- common ground as the basis for relationship. What a radical notion. You are being drawn into that common ground right now, and it may seem on the surface to be about some form of romance

Eric Francis

September 2014

or partnership. that would be true if the world were rated PG-13, but it's not. Biology runs things on our particular planet, and that topic usually gets an xxx rating. now, there aren't usually many words spoken in those awesome little 10-minute features, and it's up to you to bring some form of a dialog to the table. not the bedroom; that's not the best place to talk. the kitchen table is much better.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) When people say the word 'commitment' they usually mean 'control'. this is not always true; in the most functional situations, commitment obviates the need for control. But in its shadow form, there is usually an expectation that someone is going to give up their power to someone else. i suggest you keep an eye on this, in whatever direction the energy may flow. make sure your primary commitment is to yourself, and make sure that you're open with yourself about how you feel about any given situation. identify your needs without guilt, hesitation or resentment, then set about getting them met one by one. honesty with everyone is central to this process, which always begins as responsiveness to your inner dialog. now, you might notice how much of that involves the attempt at self-control -- and you might notice that there are forces at work in your psyche that are saying it's time to cut loose. this may especially be true around your work or profession. You seem tired of being hemmed in, and ready to accomplish something much greater than you ever have in the past. You do not need to revolt or reinvent your life. i suggest you do what you know works well, always with an original flare, and the revolution will come to you.

LEO (July 22-Aug. 23) though the Sun has moved onto Virgo, he has very courteously left Jupiter in Leo for the next 11 months. Going back years, there have hardly been any slow-moving planets visiting your sign (Saturn was the most recent one, and that was between 2005 and 2007). You now no longer need to feel like you must make something from nothing. You now have your own little solar system to play in, a planet 1,200 times the size of earth, with 67 confirmed natural satellites. Jupiter is opening up a profound source of knowledge for you, though rather than being some form of abstract information, i mean direct wisdom. the idea is not to learn this wisdom but rather to

become it. this may seem like a stretch for you, but this is the specialty of Jupiter -- to broaden your horizons, to widen your mind and to open up a field of potential that you never knew existed. But this is more than wide; there is depth and a concentrated flow of energy revealed by the aspect pattern that Jupiter is making. that is depth you can access, and energy that will flow directly to you. there is no skill you cannot learn or apply. there is no problem you cannot solve. it is essential that you remain open and as free from negative thought patterns as you can.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22)

at this time in your life, some of the most important soul-level work you can do involves sexual healing. this process has been in progress for about six years, since Pluto entered Capricorn, your solar 5th house. Pluto describes what one author famously called 'the evolutionary journey of the soul'. normally the 5th is the place we seek fun and pleasure, though you have Capricorn in this house, which can act as a reservoir of past conditioning. it can store up shame and guilt from past generations. and Pluto is now opening the barriers that contain those fossilized emotions, all in the interest of setting you free. as this happens, it's essential that you remain aware of what your body is feeling. You may be tempted to take the process to the mental or abstract level. You may be tempted to go to the astral or fantasy level. i suggest you stay grounded, as in bare feet on the ground. it's essential that you take risks, especially some that you're the most averse to. more significantly, it's time to go past the expectations of purity that you think others have of you. most of these are in your own mind, and they tend to create aversions to both risks and to pleasure. to open pathways to relating, creating and feeling good about yourself, this is where to invest.

LIBRA (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) Focus less on appearances and more on saying what you really mean. You might even consider forgetting appearances entirely and investing everything into speaking, and living, your truth. i normally would not cast this in such polarized terms, though these two concepts are often mutually exclusive. appearances are usually designed to conceal the truth. You have a choice to make, though it may not be so starkly clear now as it's likely to be around the time of your birthday. the decision involves not just whether you want to live with a veil thrown over your reality, and therefore isolated from others, but also why you would want to do so. You are more transparent than you think, and it would support your concept of integrity to be seen and known for who you are. this is for you, not for anyone else. one happy result will be you'll have more energy to invest in what you love the most dearly. Yet there is something deeper at play here, which is your need to have an open conduit of communication with others, one that is based on actual vulnerability. i recognize how scary this is, especially in our moment of social history when the climate is chilled to below freezing. others may think this works fine for them; you need warmth, contact and most of all, honesty.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)

New! Silver Floral design!

Known for their comfort, shock absorption and support

18 • SePtemBer 2014 the artFuL minD

it's possible to be motivated by both ideals and money, but don't confuse one for the other. it's possible to take profits gained through more conventional motives and invest them in what you consider socially relevant, though this usually requires a level of care and discipline that most people only ever dream about. You might ask what gets in the way of translating what you think of as materialistic into what you hold as spiritual -- that is, what values, or what conflicting desires. i suggest you check in with whether you hold back when it comes to your own stated commitment to make the world a better place. are you concerned that it's futile, or that it will take too long to make a difference? it may be true that you're doing everything in your power to stretch beyond your limits and make a positive contribution, but only you can know that for sure. Be aware that a deeper level of motivation is starting to wake up and make itself known. it's a kind of calling that can only be answered by taking action -not in the future, but right now. here is the catch: right

now has to last a long time, because only sustained action gets results. For that to happen, you really have to be in harmony with yourself and with your deepest motives.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 22)

all this energy you're feeling is not just coming from you. Some of it is; your brain and body are running hot. You definitely burn food into calories that fuel your nerves and muscles. Yet you're also tuning into other sources of power and strength, which you might think of as coming from beyond you, or from some aspect of yourself as yet unacknowledged or undiscovered. i suggest you leave that particular theme an open issue, and observe the ways in which you're inspired, motivated and guided to action. notice what forces conspire to assist you. observe whether plans you made long ago are gradually coming to fulfillment. this may have the effect of getting you to consider what you want in the future, not on the basis of whether you think it can be attained but rather whether you think it is the right thing for you. What's most exciting is how the concept of 'right for you' is merging with the notion of 'right for the world'. one thing our entire society struggles with is the problem of separate and competing interests. if a higher power or superior intelligence is helping guide and coordinate your life, one of the first places you'll be taken is where there's efficiency, and where your personal efforts support, and are supported by, the efforts of others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) Laced throughout the literature of spiritualism and occultism is the notion of religion as a kind of science. the idea holds that there's a true religion, or that if religion is practiced truly, there will actually be a result. this may not manifest for you so overtly, though it may show up as a devotion to purity, to sacrifice, or to the notion that faith must in some way make sense. You're a more organic person than this. Yes, i see the appeal of the idea, because the human psyche can be chaotic, and you are in an extended phase that often seems to carry the message grow or die. that is not neat or tidy, though i suggest you not succumb to the idea that your growth somehow depends upon your becoming a perfect person, or living your life perfectly. What you can have, and have plenty of, is faith in yourself. the beauty of faith is that it's not dependent upon any precursor; there is no test you must take in advance. it's just somewhere you allow your mind to go. You know you're there because you have less to worry about, rather than more. You know you're there when your intellect relaxes a bit and accurate information starts coming back to you. You know you're there when you feel more confident but you don't necessarily understand why.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

mother -- the enigma, the force of nature, the essential thing to leave behind. By leave behind, i mean various things, such as 'not allow to run your life' and 'resolve the issues that you inherited from her and her mother'. i also mean the role of mother, when that role is more or less finished, or when it's ready to transform. Yet here is what really needs to transform for our whole society -- the family as the authoritarian mini-state, borrowing from the words

of a great 20th century philosopher. if we want any scant possibility to live on some shared level ground with one another, or to explore any collective form of leadership, we must go beyond the model of absolute authority that is then internalized into perpetual inhibition and approval-seeking. Father plays a role in this, though in our generations that more often involves being absent or only partially present than it does the former 'father knows best' model of family. this can still manifest as the disembodied, nagging conscience -- what another philosopher called the superego. You need order in your life. anarchy will not suffice. But neither will the absolute rule of law, emotional or otherwise. the thing to remember is that personal autonomy requires maturity and an evolved sense of responsibility, though one that does not demand answering to someone else.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Set out to do your very best work this month -- that which you've always wanted or needed to do; that which you could not accomplish before; what you have considered improbable or impossible. a rare connection between Chiron in your sign and Jupiter in Leo (among other planets) is opening up a conduit that could grant what seems like miraculous powers of creativity and achievement. Yet because Chiron and Jupiter are the main players, and since this is astrology we're talking about, the process is not automatic. You must bring your intentions, your energy and your ideas. You must bring yourself to the work every day, and resume as soon as you can if you must skip a day or two. the effort factor is what will be reduced or made more efficient, and rewarded by a tangible sense of progress. Yet i suggest you not look back -- look forward and work steadily. Focus your goals one at a time, and keep your sense of perspective. By that i mean work with a meta-goal and notice how your individual projects relate to one another. there is a pattern that will start to emerge, and the pieces of the plan will begin to fit together. You may feel like you're bringing in knowledge or wisdom from somewhere else, and there's no harm acting as if that's true. ~ Read Eric Francis daily at PlanetWaves.net

"They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams. I painted my reality."

- Frida Kahlo

DISCOVERING YOUR LEGACY ruth henDerSon

the LaSt WiLL anD teStament aS a CreatiVe WritinG exPerienCe

this creative workshop supports people in reflecting on what they care about in their lives, how they want to live their lives going forward, and from this context, consider what they want to do with their resources after they're gone. We will use freewriting exercises to get to the heart of what we hold dear in our lives, so that we may make plans from an inner place of selfcare. (no writing experience necessary.) Caring for ourselves and our loved ones can be a fulfilling experience that releases energy and re-invigorates our lives in the here and now. “Through the community she fostered, Ruth took us beyond... she freed me from the limits of fear so I could be my big self.

This is threshold work...an opportunity of a lifetime.�

--owen, workshop participant

ruth henderson, Ph.D. is a writer and educator. She facilitates groups and works with individuals focusing on transformation through compassionate reflection. her doctorate in narrative studies informs her approach, which focuses on helping people value their experience through storytelling and the written word. ruth has also done extensive research on forgiveness, and has given workshops on the subject, internationally. her work has been supported by archbishop Desmond tutu and harvard Law School Dean martha minow. her decade-plus years of helping people forgive provides the backdrop for this reflective workshop on envisioning our legacies.

--Sat. Sept. 27th, 1 to 4 pm, in Great Barrington at the South Berkshire Friends Meeting 280 State Rd. Couples welcome.

For more info: rhh@bu.edu

FRONT STREET GALLERY

Kate Knapp, Radishes

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

BLOCK ISLAND PAINTINGS TRIP September 7 - 11 please inquire: 413-528-9546 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

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525 South main Street, Great BarrinGton, ma 413. 528. 3095

WWW.BaCKYarDheirLoomS.Com

anD FounD on

hourS: Sat. & Sun. 10 - 5Pm & BY aPPointment