THE ARTFUL MIND
Monthly Berkshire Artzine Since 1994
September 2012
KRISTEN VAN GINHOVEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEE EVERETT
ISSUU.COM
read the artzine on line now!
Photography: Jane Feldman www.janefeldman.com janefeldmanphoto@gmail.com
stephen filmus
still-life paintings In the Berkshires
the lenox Gallery of fine Art
69 Church st., lenox, mA 413-637-2276 On Martha’s Vineyard
the Granary Gallery
636 Old County Rd., W.tisbury, mA 508-693-0455
www.stephenfilmus.com 413-528-1253 studio - by appointment “Market Day”, 24” x 30”, Oil
ART QUILTS THE BECKET ARTS CENTER and the MULLEN HOUSE EDUCATION CENTER presents...
Lauren Horowitz, Starfish, quilt
Art In Quilted Form
Juried Show of Fiber Artists 7 Brooker Hill Road, Becket, MA 413-623-6635 for gallery hours
Vibeke Wilder, Blue Moon, quilt
Lauren Horowitz: Works of Art in Fabric and Thread 12 Brooker Hill Road, Becket, MA 413-623-2100 for gallery hours
ARTIST RECEPTION Friday September 7, 5 - 7pm
Jean Marklin, Grief, quilt
Through Sunday September 23, 2012
Fern Leslie, Why Not, quilt
The ArTful Mind September 2012 •1
SepTeMBer 2012 CAlendAr in and Around the Berkshires
museums & galleries
The lenox Gallery of fine Art 69 Church st, lenox, mA • 413-637-1253 two floors of fine art and sculpture by known artists from the Berkshires and beyond.
510 Warren Street Gallery hudson, nY • 518-822-0510 september artist featured Jeannine schoeffer. Opening sat. september 1, 3 - 6pm. October featured artist doris simon, “shining moments”, opening reception Oct 6, 3 -6pm
The little Gallery @ deb Koffman’s Artspace 137A front street, housatonic, mA • 413-274-1212 / www.debkoffman.com “fight or flight”, an exhibit featuring new paintings by Andrew Zdziarski. Reception: saturday, september 8, 3-6 pm. Open saturdays 2-4 pm (or by appt)through september 29th.
Art en indiustrie 420 park st, housatonic, mA, 2nd fl. • 413-353-0037 Reclaimed: Reused: Repurposed furniture & furnishings from found Objects
The Sterling and francine Clark Art institute 225 south st, Williamstown, mA • 413-458-2303 Clark Remix, salon style installation, with two new interactive programs: uCurate, and uexplore, on view til 2013
Berkshire Art Gallery 80 Railroad st, Gt Barrington, mA • 528-2690 www.berkshireartgallery.com 19th and early 20th Century American & european art and sculpture, contemporary artists
music / theatre / film
don Muller Gallery 40 main st, northampton, mA • 586-1119 Beautiful American crafts, jewelry, glass and more front Street Gallery front st., housatonic, mA • 413-274-6607 / 413-528-9546, or cell at 413429-7141 housatonic Gallery for students and artists. featuring watercolors by Kate Knapp (saturday and sunday 12-5pm or by appointment)
eXhiBiTiOn WilliAM BACZeK fine ArTS William Baczek fine Arts, in northampton, Massachusetts is pleased to announce the opening of the 2012 Annual landscape exhibition. The show will be on display from Wednesday, September 5 until Saturday, October 2, 2012. The public is invited to an opening reception with the artists on Saturday, September 8 from five to seven p.m.The gallery is located at 36 Main St. in downtown northampton, Massachusetts and is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 – 5, Thursday, friday and Saturday from 10 – 8 and Sunday from 12 –5. www.wbfinearts.com
Gallery 51: Janet Cooper mClA, main st, north Adams, mA Janet Cooper continues to be intrigued with the ‘reuse’ of materials and the detritus of the discarded.this exhibit will run september 27-October 21 with a reception on thursday, september 27 from 6-9 p.m. (Gallery hours: 10-6 daily.)
Good purpose Gallery 40 main street, lee, mA. • 413- 394-5045 www.goodpurpose.org michael mcmanmon: "spectrum perspectives": an inside look at art through the eyes of an individual diagnosed on the autism spectrum. this exhibit will take place sept ember 21 October 29 with an opening reception of "spectrum perspectives" on september 21 at 6 pm. (Gallery summer hours are daily from 10am-6pm.) hudson Valley Arts Center 337 Warren st, hudson, nY • 800-456-0507 Regional and nationally-known artisans. Classes.
John davis Gallery 362 1/2 Warren st., hudson, new York 518-828-5907 www.johndavisgallery.com / art@johndavisgallery.com (sculpture, painting, collage and installation).
lauren Clark fine Art 402 park st, housatonic, mA • 274-1432 www.laurenClarkfineArt.comlauren (Business hours are thursday-mon, 11-5:30 and sunday, 12-4)
Marguerite Bride Studio www.margebride.com seasons At hancock shaker Village is featuring the works of marguerite Bride and other well-known regional artists in the poultry house in a painting exhibit entitled “seasons at han2 • september 2012
the ARtful mind
Bruce Ackerson, Two Blushing Boys, 2012, oil on panel, 24 x 24"2012
cock shaker Village”. it will run from August 31 – October 28. Custom house and Business portraits, “local Color”, watercolor scenes of the Berkshires, new england and tuscany. Original watercolors and fine Art Reproductions. 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)
Art Quilts in Becket Becket Arts Center and mullen house education Center in Becket.7 Brooker hill Road and the mullen house at 12 Brooker hill Road, across the street (corner Rte. 8). • 413-623-6635 A quilt festival will take place in from friday, september 7 to sunday, september 23. Coordinating Opening Receptions will be held on friday, september 7, 5-7 pm. The harrison Gallery 39 spring street, Williamstown, mA stanley Bielen, september 1 – september 30, Opening Reception with Artist saturday, september 1, from 5-7pm
The Oxbow Gallery 275 pleasant st, northampton, mA • www.oxbowgallery.com Augusta savage Gallery at the university of massachusetts Amherst presents an art exhibition by painter lorna Ritz entitled, “falling into the night sky.” the exhibition is from september 10 through 28, 2012 with an Opening Reception on september 10, 5-7pm. (m, t 107 pm W-f 1-5 pm)
Bard College at Simon’s rock Gt Barrington, mA south Berkshire Concert: Baroque masters:sat, sept 22, 7:30 pm, mcConnell Auditorium. Baroque masters: Wieland Kiujken, viola da gamba; eva legêne, recorder; Arthur haas, harpsichord.
Music & More meeting house, Route 57, new marlborough • 413-229-2785. Aug. 25. “A Celebration of music, dance and the spoken Word," featuring a re-imagining of stravinsky’s l’histoire du soldat (A soldier's tale). sept. 1: Bach’s musical Offering and Other music from the Court of frederick the Great. postconcert reception at the meeting house Gallery. tickets online or at the door, $20/$25. see schedule on line for complete events.
The legendary Music inn reunion 2012 the Guthrie Center, housatonic, mA • 413-528-1955 A limited number of tickets for are available and can be ordered by calling . the cost is $25 and includes light fare. Additional food, beer, wine, and memorabilia will be available for purchase Shakespeare & Co. 70 Kimble st, lenox, mA • shakespeare.org satchmo at the Waldorf, thru sept 16.
Tannery pond Concert Series new lebanon, nY, www.tannerypondconcerts.org sept 22 at 6pm, the david finckel and Wu han: Beethoven, Brahms, debussy and shostakovich.
The eGG Center for performing Arts in Albany, nY empire state plaza • 518-473-1845 Grammy Award-winning irish Group ClAnnAd launches first north American tour in eighteen Years. tuesday, september 25 – 7:30pm.
The Mount lenox, mA • berkshirewordfest.org Berkshire Wordfest 2012: nationally Acclaimed Authors to Appear sept 14-16; photographer Annie leibovitz and Vogue Celebrate Wharton and the mount september 2012 issue.
workshops and events
Berkshire Arts festival ski Butternut, Rte 23, Gt Barrington, mA • 845-355-2400 sept 28, 29, 30 at shakespeare & Co., lenox, mA. 200 Artists in a ll mediums, plus workshops, demos, music, wine, entertainment & food
Berkshire Botanical Garden Rtes102 & 183, stockbridge, mA • 413-298-3926 “Garden on fire”, Gimme shelter: Architects design for shade; Open now, Garden time: Objects employing the sun,
Cassandra Sohn fine Art Gallery 6 elm street, 1B-C; stockbridge, mA; 413-298-1025; info@sohnfineart.com; www.sohnfineart.com nARRAtiVe in plACe instructor: Cassandra sohn, sunday, september 23, 1:00 - 6:00 & sunday, september 30, 2:00 - 9:30, $235 includes entrance fees plus dinner and a slideshow of student's work sunday night at Bascom lodge. Chesterwood is located at Williamville Rd, in stockbridge, mA. iS183 Art School of the Berkshires 13 Willard hill Rd., stockbridge, mA • 413-298-5252 Register for a wide selection of art classes for fall 2012.
paradise City Arts festival northampton at the 3 County fairgrounds, Route 9 at i-91 exit 19 • 800-511-9725 October 6, 7 & 8.
deadline for October issue is September 10, 2012
ArTfulMind@YAhOO.COM
The Old MeZZO
WAM WOrld preMiere
tickets are now on sale for WAm theatre’s World premiere production of the Old mezzo by Berkshire-based playwright susan dworkin. the production runs October 1228 at the Berkshire museum. in keeping with WAm’s double philanthropic mission, the beneficiary for the production will be Berkshire-based shout Out loud productions, a nonprofit helmed by Jeanet ingalls that takes action to address sexual trafficking. shout Out loud will receive up to 25% of the box office proceeds. performances will take place friday, October 12 @ 8pm (preview); saturday, October 13 @ 8pm (Opening performance); sunday, October 14 @ 5pm*; friday, October 19 @ 8pm; saturday, October 20 @ 8pm; sunday, October 21 @ 5pm*; friday, October 26 @ 8pm; saturday, October 27 @ 8pm; sunday, October 28 @ 5pm. *performance followed by a talkback. tickets are $25 adults, $15 students + groups of 10 or more, $20 adults/ $12 students + groups (preview price for friday, October 12 8pm performance). WAM at the Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA. Purchase by calling 1-800-838-3006 or online at www.WAmtheatre.com
JeAnnine sChOeffeR, CROpped/enlARGed, tulips
510 WARREN STREET GALLERY
JEANNINE R. SCHOEFFER
An exhibition of oil paintings by Jeannine Schoeffer titled “Flowers” will be featured In September at 510 Warren Street Gallery. The opening reception will be 3-6 pm on Saturday, September 1. Mrs. Schoeffer loves to capture the beauty in nature, especially of flowers in a garden, the wild, or a vase. Bright colors combinations and patterns are irresistible wherever the setting may be. Painting mostly in oils, Jeannine finds endless sources of inspiration in the Berkshires. In addition to Mrs. Schoeffer, exhibiting artists include: Will Clark, Diana Felber, Joan Giummo, Iska Kenney, Kate Knapp, John Lipkowitz, Nina Lipkowitz, Eleanor Lord, Hannah Mandel, Steve Porcella, Peggy Reeves, Doris Simon, Joel Mark Furniture, and Mill River Studio Antique Prints & Posters. 510 Warren Street Gallery, 510 Warren Street, Hudson, New York. Gallery Hours: Fridays and Saturdays from noon until 6 P.M., and Sundays from noon until 5 P.M. For information please call 518-822-0510 or 413-528-9456. www.510warrenstgallery.com
the ARtful mind september 2012 •3
BAG
4 • september 2012
the ARtful mind
BeRKshiRe ARt GAlleRY
JOhn AxtOn, eVeninG shORes, O/C, 12 x 12, BORn1945, AmeRiCAn
8 rAilrOAd STreeT, GreAT BArrinGTOn, MA • 413-528-2690 Open sAtuRdAY And sundAY nOOn tO 5pm, And/OR BY AppOintment WWW.BerKShireArTGAllerY.COM
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the ARtful mind september 2012 •5
The ArTful Mind artzine september2012
“Dedicated to Mojo and all the bow-wow fur faces in our life”
510 WArren STreeT GAllerY
dORis simOn
Cover: Kristen van Ginhoven, director and Actor Photography by Lee Everett ..... 12
Kristen van Ginhoven... Actor, director, Theatre educator and Co-founder of WAM Theatre Harryet Candee..... 10 notes from A novice Gardener...Getting ready Ruth Heuberger .....15 Architecture & Arcadia home - (3) Stephen Dietemann...... 17
planet Waves AuGuST Eric Francis...... 18 feng Shui Elisa Cashiola..... 19
Simply Sasha Sasha Seymour...... 19
Contributing Writers and Monthly Columnists Elisa Cashiola, Stephen Gerard Dietemann, Eric Francis, Scott Harrington, Todd Mack, Nanci Race, Sasha Seymour, Ruth Heuberger Photographers Lee Everett, Jane Feldman, Julie McCarthy Sabine Vollmer von Falken Publisher Harryet Candee
Copy Editor
Marguerite Bride
Advertising and Graphic Design Harryet Candee
Box 985, Great Barrington, MA 01230
artfulmind@yahoo.com 413-528-5628 deadline for the October :: September 10, 2012
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 unforseeable 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 the intention of enhancing communication and sharing positive creativity in all aspects of our lives
Our Art...Our Way
6 • september 2012 the ARtful mind
dOriS SiMOn in OCTOBer
Abstract paintings on aluminum by doris simon, October 5 through 28, 2012. Artist's reception is saturday, October 6th, 3-6pm. doris simon is an abstract artist who has been experimenting with aluminum as her canvas for the past year. it started, by accident, with a visit to a surplus metal yard. from that first attempt, her work evolved in a completely new direction and her new works are all on aluminum. these abstract paintings have a special luminosity that comes from the multiple layers of metallic paint and organic shapes on the shiny surfaces. the resulting work has an Asian feel and the show is aptly named: "shining moments" 510 memBeRs inClude: Will ClARK diAnA felBeR JOAn GiummO isKA KenneY KAte KnApp JOhn lipKOWitZ ninA lipKOWitZ eleAnOR lORd hAnnAh mAndel peGGY ReeVes JeAnnine sChOeffeR dORis simOn museum QuAlitY fuRnituRe BY JOel mARK A ntiQue pRints & pOsteRs fROm mill RiVeR studiO
510 Warren St, Hudson, NY, 518-822-0510. www.510warrenstreetgallery.com. Hours: Friday and Saturday 12-6pm, Monday 12-5 and by appointment.
GOOd purpOSe GAllerY miChAel mCmAnmOn, puRple WAteR
SpeCTruM perSpeCTiVeS
the Good purpose Gallery presents “spectrum perspectives”: an inside look at art through the eyes of an individual diagnosed on the autism spectrum. this exhibit will take place september 21 - October 29 with an opening reception of “spectrum perspectives” on september 21 at 6 pm. michael mcmanmon’s artistic perspective is naturally different as he is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of mild autism. he was a featured artist in the book “Artism” and in 2011 opened a visual and performing art center, the Good purpose Gallery and spectrum playhouse, aimed at developing the talents of students with Asperger’s syndrome. Varied in medium and expression, michael brings attention to unusual detail in pen and ink realism and watercolor landscapes; his acrylic paintings and glass shard sculpture are joyful abstractions. the Good purpose Gallery thanks michael mcmanmon for not only showing his work in our amazing gallery space, but for donating 100% all proceeds of all sales to the College internship program, a post-secondary program preparing young adults with Autism, Asperger’s and other learning differences for independence. Good Purpose Gallery - 40 Main Street, Lee, MA. Visit www.goodpurpose.org for more information.
Oliver!
will live in our hearts and souls for a lifetime.
Kudos to all those who participated in the 7th Annual BTG Children’s Theatre Production!!
directed by Travis G. Daly music direction by Carlton Maaia choreography by Kathy Jo Grover With scenic design by Gennie Neuman, costumes by Alyssa Bracken and Keating Helfrich and lighting by Nathan Cottrell
You are all the greatest! -harryet Candee
The MuSiC STOre
As the Berkshires anticipates its Autumnsymphony, we at the music store celebrate the summer season’s coda at the end of the Railroad street extension in Great Barrington. We continue to offer some extraordinary and unusual neW instruments this year: for travelers, the incomparable Composite Acoustic Cargo guitar: made of 100% carbon graphite, in one piece, this pint sized guitar offers full-sized acoustic sound and professional grade electronics for the perfect gigging and traveling instrument in an almost indestructible body - aptly called the forever Guitar! And for the performer, try some of its bigger cousins . . . . for Guitarists seeking unique handmade premium instruments, the music store offers guitars by American luthier dana Bourgeois and introducing steel and classical guitars by irish luthier John Beckett. for instrumentalists in search of the unusual, the music store offers the unique dr. easy’s sonic Boxes - cigar box guitars made from recycled ingredients and vintage cigar boxes, the serenity Bamboo flutes - cane and walking stick flutes which are handmade in stockbridge, fluke and flea ukuleles - handmade in sheffield, Catania thumb pianos, Gourd pianos, fishtix and Catspaws - handmade in pennsylvania, and a host of other varied and exciting instruments for musicians of all ages and abilities. Acclaimed as one of the area’s best music stores, the music store specializes in fine, folk and unusual musical instruments, accessories, supplies and music motif gifts. music lovers and professional and amateur musicians alike will find an exciting array of both new and used name-brand and hand-made instruments, extraordinary folk instruments and one of the northeast’s finest selections of strings and reeds. professional musicians seeking the finest or unusual strings or accessories are welcome to call in advance. We will make every effort to satisfy the need! music store customers enjoy fine luthier handmade classical and steel string guitars as well as guitars from other fine lines including Alvarez, Avalon, Breedlove, Composite Acoustic, fender, loar, luna, Rainsong, Recording King and takamine. Acoustic and electric guitars from entry to professional level instruments are available. famous named guitars and basses join less-well-known brands which appeal to those seeking high quality but are on tight budgets, providing any guitarist a tempting cornucopia of playing possibilities. new and used student orchestral and band instruments are available, including violins from $159 to $3000. An extensive array of international strings and reeds provides choices for the newest student to the symphonic performer. Children’s instruments, as well as a fine line of international percussion including middle eastern and handmade African instruments along with many choices of industry standard drum heads, stands, and sticks, as well as tuners, forks and metronomes can be found as well. All new instruments are backed by the music store’s lifetime warranty which provides free set-up and adjustments on any new instrument sold. for repair and restoration and maintenance of fine stringed instruments - guitars, banjos, mandolins and the like - the music store’s repair shop offers expert luthiery at reasonable prices on instruments of all levels, as well as authorized repairs on lowden and takamine guitars. A proud server of the community for over eleven years, the music store’s warm and friendly staff are available for help in tuning, stringing or instrument repair. help in choosing tuners, capos, mutes shoulder rests and strings is as happily given as help in selecting instruments themselves. Our mission is to support and encourage our musical community, so consultation and advice are always free. for capos to kazoos, guiros to congas, rainsticks to rosin, bows to bodhrans, mandolins to microphones, reeds to rods, strats to stands, local artist’s Cds and harmonicas to picture frames and music motif ornaments, instruments and more, the music store is the place to be. The Music Store, 87 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 to 6, and on Sundays from 12 to 5. Call 413-528-2460 or email us at musicstr@bcn.net
BerKShire ArTS feSTiVAl sue sAVAGe
ShAKeSpeAre & COMpAnY
Oh Artist, dear Artist, Wherefore Art thou to Be found now? Just when our summer series of arts festivals comes to an end, another new arts festival will soon arrive as the colors of the leaves announce a new season and the newest edition of the Berkshires Arts festival. to be sure, when it comes to art there is always room for more. Once more Richard Rothbard, the producer of the Berkshires Arts festivals, has found yet another platform where artists can showcase their work: “i have always had a vision about the day that i would bring my arts festival to the campus of shakespeare & Co in lenox. for me, it is a most wonderful venue, located just a short walk from downtown and at a time when the autumn foliage brings out the leaf peepers in droves. We will be putting up a big tent in the large field behind the founders theater and 100 artists, many of whom will be showing for the first time in the Berkshires. Yes even more fabulous work from America’s finest artists and artisans. the new show will also be a fundraiser for shakespeare & Co.” in keeping with the tradition of art supporting the arts, a portion of the admission price will go directly to the programs and services of s&Co. there will be a lot going on, so be sure to visit the website for full details. in addition to all of the art, there will be an outstanding menu, an open bar and live music from the lucky five & vocalist Ryan hollander. the lucky five is a hard-swinging oldschool jazz quintet, featuring musicians from a handful of popular outfits between new York City and the Berkshires. the band brings verve, high energy, and an unpredictable impulse to the tradition of jazz from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, grooving deeply, and keeping feet moving on the dance floor. the lucky five is currently in the process of recording their debut record. if you’re looking to spend an afternoon out where you can relax and enjoy a vibrant and passionate performance, then you will be pleased with Ryan hollander and the solo acoustic experience that he provides. Ryan is a dedicated musician, a genuine character, and an experienced performer. Come out to the Berkshire Arts festival and enjoy an afternoon of captivating music that you will not soon forget. Show Hours: Friday, Sept. 28, 2pm-7pm *Special Preview (details to be found on website). Saturday: Sept. 29, 10am-6pm. Sunday: Sept. 30, 10am-5pm. Berkshire Art Festivals www.AmericanArtMarketing.com; showpage: www.berkshiresartsfestivallenox.com Shakespeare & Co - 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA 01240, 413-637-3353.
ArT QuilTS in BeCKeT ViBeKe WildeR, AlmOst dAisies
A quilt festival will take place in north Becket Village from friday, september 7 to sunday, september 23. Coordinating Opening Receptions will be held on friday, september 5-7 pm at the Becket Arts Center and mullen house education Center in Becket. the Becket Arts Center presents a juried exhibit showcasing works of fiber artists who experiment with surface design techniques using quilting in new ways. “this exciting display will feature art quilts created using special effects combining fabrics and mixed media art. Also, across the street at the mullen house education Center, there will be a solo exhibit entitled Art Quilts: Works of Art in fabric and thread. this exhibit will highlight the award winning fiber art work of lauren horowitz. Also on display will be items from the collections of the Becket historical Commission and the Washington historical society in the first floor gallery of the Arts Center and archival material from the permanent collection of Becket land trust historic Quarry museum at the mullen house. . The Becket Arts Center, 7 Brooker Hill Road and the Mullen House at 12 Brooker Hill Road, across the street (corner Rte. 8). 413-623-6635.
the ARtful mind septemBeR 2012 • 7
SABine phOTO ArT
the Artful mind showcases sabine’s work since 1994, the very beginning of the monthly Berkshire Artzine. still young at 20 something, sabine's studio has become a brand for contemporary, unobtrusive, relaxed photography in the european style. did you have a “sabine” experience, yet? A master of the subtleties of lighting and the nuance of background, her eye for detail provides imagery to be treasured for a lifetime. Assignments are tailored to meet her client’s needs- a remembrance for a special occasion or a logo image to create an authentic professional online presence. it is to no surprise that she is a sought-after wedding photographer, as well. photo Art and Book signing by appointment “WOOdlAnd stYle” and “ shell ChiC “, published by storey publishing, author marlene h. marshall, all photography by sabine can be purchased from your near by book stores. signed fine art prints are directly available through her studio. For more info please contact Sabine Vollmer von Falken Photography Studio www.sabinephotoart.com, info@sabinephotoart.com tel. 413 298 4933. Sabine is a member of The American Society of Media Photographers asmp. The International Center of Photography ICP and the Wedding Photojournalist Association, WPJA.
musiC inn CROWd, 1976 (left) muddY WAteRs At musiC inn.1976 phOtOs BY lee eVeRett/fine line multimediA
The leGendArY
MuSiC inn
2012 reuniOn
Chances are pretty good that if you utter these two words – “music inn” – within earshot of anyone deemed as part of the counterculture of the mid-20th century, ears will perk up. post it, pin it, or tweet it and, well… you’ll suddenly find yourself immersed in a community of folks around the world eager to chime in with recollections of stories, memories, photos, and long saved keepsakes of one of the most memorable times of their lives. this is the motivation behind the music inn Reunion that will take place at another legendary local music venue, The Guthrie Center on Sunday, September 23, 2012. that kind of pop up community is exactly what happened when a music inn facebook page was created in 2010 by lee everett, on staff at music inn in the 1970’s. lee and other staff, crew, friends, and fans began a passionate conversation, sharing stories, photos, and dreams of somehow recapturing the magic they experienced at the music inn in stockbridge, mA. the page soon became 510 WArren STreeT, hudSOn, nY plastered with conversation, photos, 518-822-0510 memorabilia, recollections and reconnecWWW.510WARRenstReetGAlleRY.COm tions. the power of the internet revealed fri, SAT 12-6pM, SundAY - MOndAY 12-5 And BY AppT. a broad and passionate community of people ready to re-engage with one another over their experiences at music inn. in the summer of 2010 david Rothstein hosted a music inn Reunion at his current rustic venue, Race Brook lodge in sheffield, mA. Over 125 people, many of them clad in well-worn vintage music inn, Riot Alley, and toad hall t-shirts, gathered to reconnect, socialize, browse a gallery of memorabilia that included photographs, posters, original signs, and to share stories, dance to the music of shenandoah, who reunited just for the occasion, and to watch a screening of “music inn – the documentary”. the event sold out weeks in advance and was a huge success, raising funds for development and maintenance of a music October featured Artist inn Archives Website, which can be found Reception Sunday October 6 • 3-6pm at www.musicinn.org. lynnette najimy of Beansprout productions and lee 510 memBeRs inClude: Will ClARK diAnA felBeR JOAn GiummO everett of fine line multimedia worked isKA KenneY KAte KnApp JOhn lipKOWitZ ninA lipKOWitZ eleAnOR lORd hAnnAh mAndel peGGY ReeVes JeAnnine sChOeffeR dORis simOn with Rothstein and a long list of contribmuseum QuAlitY fuRnituRe BY JOel mARK utors to design and publish the website.
dOriS SiMOn
“Shining Moments”
AntiQue pRints & pOsteRs fROm mill RiVeR studiO
8 • september 2012 the ARtful mind
since its launch, which is rich with content, including history, photo collections, memorabilia, live concert recordings, video productions, books, etc., the community has expanded and the content has become broader and deeper. the website’s content has largely been provided by people around the world who are enthusiastic about contributing to a real and lasting archive of the legendary music inn. Archivists, historians, and students have used the website a resource and share current published studies and articles relating to the rich history of the music inn. founded in 1950 by philip and stephanie Barber and in turn owned by don soviero during the 1960s, and in 1970 taken over by partners Olga and Robert Weiss and david Rothstein, the music inn hosted concerts, programs, workshops, and other events to some of the countries most renowned music legends… before they became legends. to name just a few - louis Armstrong, dizzy Gillespie, duke ellington, pete seeger, Woody Guthrie, Jon Baez, Billie holiday, mahalia Jackson, miles davis and thelonious monk. herbie hancock, Chick Corea, dave Brubeck, Jimmy Cliff, Bob marley and muddy Waters. the Kinks, the Byrds. Bruce springsteen, Bonnie Raitt and Van morrison all performed on the music inn stages over its 30 year run. much has been written over the years on the history and many lives of music inn. Ben Barenholtz has produced a documentary film that illustrates decades of American music history that took place at music inn. References and links to these pieces and more information can be found at www.musicinn.org. On sunday september 23, the music inn Reunion 2012 will be held at the Guthrie Center. this collaboration is not by coincidence, as Woody Guthrie played the very first concert at the music inn in 1950. 2012 is the Centennial of Woody Guthrie’s birth. Arlo Guthrie played the first concert at music inn’s reopening in 1970. proceeds from this event will benefit the Guthrie Center and the development and continuation of the music inn Archives. Arlo Guthrie opened the Guthrie Center as a place to bring together individuals for spiritual service, as well as cultural and educational exchange in 1991. the trinity Church where the song “the Alice’s Restaurant massacree” began and where the movie “Alice’s Restaurant” was filmed continues to service the local and international community. the Guthrie center also hosts the troubadour series from may to October. Music Inn Reunion 2012 - A limited number of tickets for are available and can be ordered by calling The Guthrie Center at 413-528-1955. The cost is $25 and includes light fare. Additional food, beer, wine, and memorabilia will be available for purchase.
MArGueriTe Bride mARGueRite BRide, JimsOm BeAns, W/C
SeASOnS AT hAnCOCK ShAKer VillAGe
hancock shaker Village is featuring the works of 4 wellknown regional artists in the poultry house in a painting exhibit entitled “seasons at hancock shaker Village”. it will run from August 31 – October 28 the artists featured in this show include marguerite Bride (watercolors and collographs), scott taylor (acrylics), ivor parry (oils and mixed media) and michael Cohen (oil and gouche). the works on display have all been inspired by a wide variety of the village scenes and impressionss and interpreted by each of the artists in their own specific style and medium. in keeping with the education theme of the village, the artists will be present for “Return and learn”, on saturday, september 8 in which each artist will speak about their work. marguerite Bride paints the Berkshires and has completed more than 130 watercolors of local scenes. she also is well known for her custom house portraits. presented in this show, besides 10 watercolors, will be 3 small collograph prints which have never been displayed. Bride lives in pittsfield and has a studio on north street. michael Cohen is a landscape and portrait painter, a graduate of the school of Visual Arts in new York and A BA from Queens College. While many of micheal’s paintings are landscapes, they all have to do with the passage and moments in time. michael Cohen lives in new lebanon, nY. ivor parry graduated from the pratts institute in Brooklyn, nY and worked as an Art director in nYC for various advertising agencies. ivor feels that his paintings and drawings are about ideas that he finds visually interesting and the subject matter comes from the most part from his imagination that mixes with the surreal. ivor parry lives in hinsdale mA. scott taylor is a Golden Acrylic painter who uses his color palette as a signature for his work. his work has been shown over the last fifteen years in the Berkshire and the northeast. scott taylor is from pittsfield and has a studio space uptown. “Return and learn” Artist talks on september 8 at 2 pm are free and open to the public. the exhibit is open during regular museum hours through October 28th and is included with Village admission; artists also have a limited number of passes available for those viewing the show only. Marguerite Bride, 311 North Street, Pittsfield, Studio #5. Open for First Fridays Artswalks, and by appointment. Call 413-442-7718, or 413-841-1659 (cell); website: www.margebride.com email: margebride@aol.com
STephen filMuS
stephen filmus, mARKet dAY, 24” x 30”, Oil
TAnnerY pOnd COnCerTS
todd palmer, clarinet, who has become a favorite and a ‘regular’ at tannery pond will perform on september 1. A visit to the farmer’s market provides fresh produce, a this summer he is bringing something new to the series. he social meeting place and the morning’s exercise as these commissioned the theater work, Orpeheus and euridice by valued objects are walked back up the hill. Ricky ian Gordon which was presented by Great performers A series of new still-life paintings by artist stephen filmus at lincoln Center in 2005. will be on view this season at the lenox Gallery of fine todd will be portraying, on the clarinet, the role of OrArt. in addition to the lenox Gallery, filmus is now reprepheus, and elizabeth futral, one of the world’s major colsented by the Granary Gallery on martha’s Vineyard. oratura sopranos, will be singing the role of euridice. stephen filmus has lived and worked in the Berkshires of Ran dank, winner of the Young Concert Artists internamassachusetts for many years where he has established his tional Auditions in 2008-9, is an extraordinary pianist and reputation and following. his work is in numerous colleche will be the ‘orchestra.’ mr. dank will also be playing tions and he has exhibited widely including david findlay schubert’s piano sonata in A minor. WQxR has selected Jr. fine Art in new York and the Berkshire museum and this concert as a ‘must see’ of the season. the norman Rockwell museum. On september 22nd, david finckel and Wu han have refilmus paints landscapes and still-lifes that reflect his placed the Brentano string Quartet for our final concert. artistic sensibilities, but also works on commissions for they are great favorites of tannery pond and we are thrilled those who want paintings of a specific scene or a still-life they will return playing a program of Beethoven, Brahms, composition. he develops an artwork that satisfies the indebussy and shostakovich. (nOte: 6pm concert) tegrity of his style while creating an image that his clients Tannery Pond Concerts - www.tannerypondconcerts.org envision. or 888-820-1696 Stephen Filmus’ work can be seen at the Lenox Gallery of Fine Art, 69 Church Street, Lenox, MA 413-6372276 and at the Granary Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard.www.granarygallery.com His work can also be seen at his studio in Great Barrington by appointment A Group Exhibition at 413-528-1253. View the new website www.stephenfilmus.com and sign up in North Adams, MA for the email newsletter. Receive studio news and events including invitations to openings and be the first to see September 27 - October 21, 2012 Stephen Filmus’ newest artwork.
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Die Formmeister:
the Masters of the Form MCLA Gallery 21
Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 27, 2012 6 - 9pm This Exhibit is part of DownStreet Art
downtown.org
the ARtful mind septemBeR 2012 •9
Kristen van Ginhoven A c t o r, D i r e c t o r and Theatre Educator
Co-Founder
of WAM Theatre photography by Lee Everett
harryet Candee: Kristen, the Berkshires is an ideal place to live and work. i am so glad you are here. Art really thrives in these foothills! You are the co-founder and Artistic director of WAM Theater, along side of leigh Strimbeck. W A M stands for Women’s Action Movement, although people have been coming up with other meanings for it, such as: Whimsical Art Movement, Where Art Mesmerizes, and even Work + Activism=Metamorphosis - to name a few. The work of WAM Theatre is turning into so much more than the meaning of the acronym. now that you are here in the Berkshires, and plowing your way through many theater projects, i was wondering how you you found your way here to these foothills of Massachusetts?
Kristen van Ginhoven: thank you! the short version of how i got here is: i’m a Canadian who was working in Belgium as a theatre arts educator at the international school of Brussels when i met and fell in love with a British Computer scientist. he was offered a job as a professor/Research scientist at a university in upstate nY and i was offered a fellowship for graduate studies at emerson College in Boston so the Berkshires seemed ‘halfway’. that was 2008. it was supposed to be temporary, but, as happens to so many people who move here, we both fell in love with the Berkshires, so we applied for and were granted green cards, we purchased a home we adore in lee last summer and now we consider the Berkshires home. 10 • september 2012 the ARtful mind
What has fulfilled your focus as an artist here so far? Kristen: in terms of fulfillment, we both find the Berkshires extremely fulfilling on so many levels. here’s what i always say to people who ask me why i love living here: ‘i can wake up in the morning and go for a hike on the Appalachian trail. then, i can eat dinner at a restaurant with a world-class chef and after that, go see an international dance company. i come home and go to sleep in my quiet country home and can wake up and do it all over again with different outdoor activities and different cultural offerings’. nick, my husband, and i love all the cultural events a city offers but prefer to live in a country setting. in the Berkshires, you get both. for me, an artist and a nature lover, it’s the perfect fit.
do you find you are getting a lot of attention as an actor and director? is that mainly because of being with WAM Theatre? Kristen: When i still lived in Belgium, where i was for four years, and knew i was moving here i emailed my photo and resume to all the companies in the Berkshires. Julie Boyd at Barrington stage emailed me back and we set up a meeting when i arrived and she offered me the chance to work as assistant director for two summers, on ‘sleuth’ and ‘Absurd person singular’, both with director Jesse Berger. that opportunity made all the difference with getting initially involved with the Berkshire theatre community. i am very thankful to Julie for answering that email! she and Barrington stage have continued to be very supportive of WAm theatre,
making it possible for us to perform twice on their second stage, now the mark st. Germain stage, and always being very supportive in terms of helping us with anything they can. Yes, co-founding WAm theatre in 2009 has made a huge impact in terms of building relationships with the Berkshire creative community. i co-founded WAm theatre because i read a book, ‘half the sky: turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’ by nicholas Kristof and sheryl Wudunn, and was driven to do something for women and girls. Because theatre is what i do, theatre is what i chose to use to take action, but a lovely offshoot is that it has created these opportunities to meet and collaborate with the incredible professional theatre company that exists here in the Berkshires and in the Capital Region of nY, where leigh strimbeck, a theatre colleague who co-founded WAm theatre with me, lives.
Okay, back track a minute, Kristen…. Tell me about your professional background, and how you found your love for acting? Kristen: i grew up near montreal, Quebec, in an area similar to the Berkshires called the laurentians, about an hour north of montreal. i went to a very small high school, there were only 8 people in my graduating class. But, i was lucky to have a tenth grade english teacher who decided to put on a musical, ‘Ducktails and Bobbysox’. i was cast in that and had an incredible time. that experience, plus school trips to see ‘Cats’ and ‘Les Miserables’ in montreal and i was hooked. i remember being so entranced by ‘Les Miserables’ that i did not want to leave the theatre! When it came time to choose what to do in college i realized the most fun i’d had was doing that play in high school so i auditioned for a theatre program at dawson College in montreal and was accepted into their acting program. But, like some other young people living out of the house for the first time, my focus was not really on my acting training for those first few years so when i graduated from that program, i went to dalhousie university in halifax, nova scotia and it was at dalhousie that i really fell in love with the world of theatre and the craft of acting, particularly classical theatre, physical theatre and devised works. After dalhousie i was lucky enough to work in nova scotia for several
years as a professional actor, joining the Canadian Actor’s equity Association and eventually moving to toronto, where i did various regional theatre jobs. A highlight was being part of the World premiere of Jason sherman’s ‘An Acre of time’ at the acclaimed tarragon theatre in toronto with ‘slings and Arrows’ creator and actor susan Coyne. eventually the life of just being an actor became too challenging for me to sustain and i got my teaching degree from Queen’s university, with the intention of being a substitute drama teacher to help pay the rent. But, Queen’s university hosts an international recruiting fair each year, and out of interest, i decided to attend. my whole life changed with that choice. the international school of Brussels offered me a job as a middle and high school drama teacher, which gave me the chance to live in another country for a few years and be able to do theatre every day. so, i swallowed my fear about jumping into the unknown and accepted the job. it was one of the best things i ever did, as it led to my love for teaching and directing, got me involved with istA, a wonderful international theatre association that i still freelance for, and i met my husband. After four years i realized that, while i truly loved teaching, i was not a life long drama teacher. i am a professional theatre artist who enjoys teaching. i missed the professional life and i wanted to gain more directing skill, so when nick was offered the job in upstate nY, it seemed a great opportunity for me to pursue that. i received the presidential fellowship to attend the mA in theatre education program at emerson College in Boston and we moved to the Berkshires. is Shakespearian acting studies crucial for actors in order to have a successful career? Kristen: i wouldn’t say it’s crucial but being able to work with classical text provides a depth and facility with language that can only help any actor. the ability to articulate that language, to become a vessel for classical text, to support the words/thoughts with your voice, body and breath-gaining those skills helps an actor with any other kind of text.
returning back to WAM, how was the connection like a ringing bell in your ear to make WAM Theatre work for you? i know there must be a personal interest you have in your heart and soul to help get WAM up and running. Kristen: in the spring of 2009 i read an article in a magazine about a book about to come out, ‘half the sky: turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’ by nicholas Kristof and sheryl Wudunn. i immediately put an advance order on the book and couldn’t wait to read it. i was living in the states, but didn’t yet have my green card so couldn’t work here and was experiencing some difficulty creating opportunity for myself. Reading that book was a massive turning point for me, personally and professionally. i’d always been affected by women’s issues but because i didn’t feel like i could possibly make a difference, i just didn’t do anything. like many other people who have read the book, it filled me with inspiration, hope and optimism and made me want to take action. i truly feel like i read the book at the right time in my life. i put it down and just knew immediately that i wanted to use theatre to benefit women and girls. i didn’t just want to write a check, i wanted to find a way to raise funds to create work for theatre artists, in particular women theatre artists who are still incredibly under-represented in the theatre, plus i wanted to donate funds from our events to organizations who were out there, on the front lines, dealing with the women’s issues laid out in the book; sexual trafficking and forced prostitution, gender violence, including mass rape and honor killings, maternal mortality and lack of girls education. the book is a call to action to join the movement to emancipate women, ergo WAm (Women’s Action movement) was born. i called up a like-minded colleague, leigh strimbeck, asked if she wanted to co-found the company with me and she said yes. that was the fall of 2009. What has proved amazing to us is that while we had concerns about our model being sustainable, given that we donate up to 25% of our box office proceeds from our main events to our beneficiaries, it seems that double philanthropic part of our work is what makes us unique and so far, successful. Our audience and supporters are interested in helping both gender parity in the theatre and global women’s issues so by supporting WAm theatre, they get to do both. it’s a win-win. Because of their support we have produced four main events over the past two years, provided paid work to nearly thirty theatre professionals, mostly locally-based and over 80% female, plus we have donated nearly $5000 to our four beneficiaries so far; Women for Women international, the Women’s fund of Western massachusetts, edna’s hospital in somaliland and the Berkshire united Ways’ teen pregnancy prevention initiative. the proudest day of each production other than opening night is when we make our gift presentation to our beneficiary. We look forward to doing it again in October to shout Out loud productions, the Berkshire based non-profit helmed by artist Jeanet ingalls who are tak-
KriSTen WiTh ACTreSS eileen SChuYler plAYinG “AlYSSA” in THE OLD MEZZO
ing action to address sexually trafficking. they are the beneficiary for our October World premiere production of susan dworkin’s ‘the Old mezzo’. it is WAm’s first World premiere and our first play by a local playwright. it will be presented October 12-28 at the Berkshire museum. tickets are on sale so feel free to go to our website and book a ticket.
What else is on your plate theater related for you that is presently going on? Tell me about it. Kristen: my theatre life is very full at the moment. it’s certainly not always the case, so i’m feeling very grateful and am enjoying every second of it! WAm theatre is the constant work in my life and i also have an active freelance career. i began the year by working at the stratford shakespeare festival in stratford, Ontario for four months. stratford is north America’s largest repertory theatre company, with a budget of nearly $60 million dollars, an audience of over 500,000 every year and for a Canadian theatre artist, a rite of passage. i assistant directed 42nd Street, directed by Gary Griffin (Broadway’s The Color Purple), and was also part of the michael langham Workshop for Classical direction. it is a program initiated three years ago by des macAnuff, stratford’s Artistic director and a tony Award winner for ‘The Who’s Tommy’. he also recently directed ‘Jesus Chris Superstar’ on Broadway and was the original director of Jersey Boys. the langham workshop is geared to mid career Canadian directors whom stratford believes are the next generation of Canadian leaders in the theatre. i feel very honoured to be a participant in the program. this summer has been full of fundraising, auditioning and preparing for WAm theatre’s fall production of ‘The Old Mezzo’ and then, i return to stratford in August for three weeks to be part of a director’s Workshop project. in september i begin rehearsals for ‘The Old Mezzo’, which i’ll be directing. in november i head to singapore and thailand for some work with istA, and in december i begin rehearsals for ‘The Cabbage Patch’ at the majestic theatre in springfield, which i’m directing. i turned 40 in may so let’s hope the rest of my 40’s are this great! Continued next page....
the ARtful mind september 2012 • 11
KriSTen van GinhOVen
i came into directing from being an actor so felt that working with actors came pretty naturally to me. then, as a teacher, i developed the skill of leading and facilitating work in a room. But, knowing how to work with designers, what vocabulary to use, how to read a groundplan, articulate my thoughts clearly, that took a lot of work and effort and is ongoing. Overall, being able to see the big picture and know how to speak to every person involved in a production is a real skill and one that i am only beginning to develop. i am an eternal student, so i always feel like there is a million books i want to read, a million interviews i want to look up, tons of research i want to or people by which i want to be mentored. Being able to assist directors i admire, like Gary Griffin in stratford or Jesse Berger at Barrington stage, or ed hall at the huntington theatre and melia Bensussen at Actor’s shakespeare project, both in Boston, has been invaluable. that, and just being in the room and doing it has been my greatest training as a director.
Can you tell me a little about the in-works on your own style and techniques for acting? how do you become real to an audience in your own way? Kristen: it’s all about action for me-what my character is trying to do to the other people/persons in the scene. that leads to lots of action verbs and ways to physicalize my tactics in order to overcome any obstacle in my character’s way and achieve my objective of whatever i’m trying to do to them. i am most interested as an audience member when i see a character trying to do something to another character. my training at dalhousie was based on working with text in physical ways and my first professional jobs were working with classical text doing outdoor theatre, which requires lots of physicality. that all worked together to form my aesthetic.
susAn dWORKin, plAYWRiGht Of THE OLD MEzzO And KRisten VAn GinhOVen phOtO: lee eVeRett
There are many theater groups popping up in the Berkshires at this time. Seems like a hot, renewed location for actors and directors, emerging and already established. do you think that it is an open call for new talent to get involved in? is it an easy thing to do? What would you suggest for acting students to do to get their foot in the door? Kristen: You said it- Get the foot in the door. that’s the advice. Be in the room. Get yourself into a professional rehearsal room and take it all in. it’s the best way to learn and see what it’s all about. Being in the room teaches professional etiquette as well as creates the opportunity to see professional actors at work. the Berkshires has an incredible creative community. i have found it very, very welcoming and am continually grateful for the collaborative spirit among all the companies. the four largest theatre companies in the Berkshires are continually as supportive of WAm theatre as they can be and the comraderie and collaborative spirit among the other companies makes a huge difference for all of us. more theatre equals more audience and impact so, while i found it difficult as a producer in the beginning getting the word out about WAm theatre auditions and events, the more i’ve gotten to know artistic directors, directors, actors, designers, stage managers and technicians, the easier it has been to get the word out. One thing that has made a huge difference in getting to know the creative community is producing the 24hr Berkshire/Capital Region theatre project. We’ve done it two years in a row now; in 2011 we did it in troy, nY and this year, in April, we did it at shakespeare & Company. WAm theatre co-produces it with the mob & Bucket improvisational theatre in the Capital Region. Both years sold out and both years included over 50 theatre professionals from both
12 • september 2012 the ARtful mind
regions. it has proved to be an incredible event for both audience and participants and next year proctors theatre in schenectady, nY will be hosting it on may 18. in 2014 we hope to be back at shakespeare & Company, maybe even in the tina packer theatre!
What do you find the most challenging, personally, about acting? About directing? do you combine the two to lean on each other for best results? do they overlap? Kristen: in acting it’s the rejection and financial instability. it is sometimes hard to believe in yourself when there is so much rejection plus it’s hard financially when each year is different with jobs. in my twenties, i ended up doing more work that was not acting to pay the bills so decided to expand my skills in order to work more in the theatre. in directing, it’s the fear and doubt about whether i’m doing a good job with the play. luckily, more experience and tons of pre-production research and continual reading and learning about directing helps deal with that one. sometimes, as a director, i find it challenging to have what feels like the weight of the whole production on my head, but trusting in my choices in casting and the design team help a lot to mitigate that stress. how does one go from acting into directing? iS there a whole new criteria to study up on? Kristen: One feeds the other. As an actor, it’s a treat to only have to worry about one character and concentrate on your role within the larger production. As a director, it’s a great reminder about how hard actors are working and what to keep in mind about when things click during the rehearsal period. i did study more to gain directing skill and am very glad i did. my greatest learning curve was working with designers.
You know the expression, "hitting the Sweet Spot"? We use that in the sport of tennis. Where for you in acting would you hit the sweet spot? Kristen: it’s a feeling in the theatre when i know every single person in the audience is engaged and invested in the story. i get goosebumps and i see people sitting forward in their seats. it’s generally a combination of that specific audience with that specific play on that specific night. Although i don’t play tennis, i assume it’s the same reason-combination of training + technique + being on your game that day + luck.
When a director is planning how he will execute a play does he search for outside reference material, maybe from the same play done by others? Kristen: i can only speak for my own technique, which is evolving and is an amalgam of what i’ve learned from experience, from directors i’ve assisted, from research i’ve done, studies i’ve undertaken and what i’ve enjoyed about directors as an actor. my goal is to honour the playwright’s intention and to tell the story in a way that is exciting and enjoyable for the audience. i begin by reading the play multiple times in a quiet space, trying to identify the arc of the story, the main idea, the important events, the style and anything else that might stick out to me from reading the whole play. i move onto the research phase where i find out as much as i can about the playwright, the play, the content and anything else that i am led to through my research. i try to create a one page document that encapsulates the main aspects of the play-for example-what is this play about in one sentence, one word? What’s the story of this play in one sentence? What are quotes and images that inspire me, from the play or from my research? What are the action imperatives of the play-the things that have to happen in the play that the creative team has to find a way to make possible? What are the events in the play-big and small? What are the influences informing my concept/vision? plus any other thoughts that are in my imagination about the play. i go from there to script analysis, (based on Katie mitchell’s method from the book ‘the director’s Craft’); breaking down the script into sections and giving each section a title that incor-
porates an action verb that relates to every character in that scene. for example, in ‘the Old mezzo’, here is how i have broken it down: page 1-4: Arriving for the exercise page 4-9: Beginning the exercise page 9-13: showing Off the muse page 13-19: feeling the divinity of singing page 20-31: dealing with the changes of the new government page 31-35: descending to new lows page 36-40: Confessing the discretions page 41-44: Rejecting friendship page 44-45: Assuming the powers of the muse i move on to character analysis; determining the character’s objective in each scene and assigning initial action verbs to explore in rehearsal. i write those in the script so i have somewhere to begin in rehearsal. A book i use alot for that is ‘Actions: the Actor’s thesauras’ by marina Caldone and maggie lloyd-Williams. i do that for every single character in the play, from the main character to the smallest supporting role. By then i am beginning to see the play unfold in my imagination and the casting and work with the creative team begins, which completes the cycle of creating our unique interpretation of the play. if you were to review this past year in the theater world, what can you say you have seen that is innovative and exciting? That goes for audience and the theater members. Kristen: One production that jumps to mind, even though it was more than a year ago, was punchdrunk’s ‘Sleep No More’ at ARt in Boston. it was one of the top five theatrical experiences of my life. Very exciting and engaging. the audience was included in the action-we were all running around an old school following characters around, wearing a mask and having different experiences, then all meeting up at the bar at the end to share our journeys through the world of that show. i am very interested in diane paulus and her work with engaging audiences. We also always love what we see at Jacob’s pillow and i always watch their shows wondering how i can incorporate what i’m seeing into the theatre. for example seeing Bill t Jones’ ‘Story/Time’ gave me lots of ideas. i see lots of stuff i find innovative and exciting, here in the Berkshires and around the world. most recently i saw ‘The Madwoman of Chaillot’, directed by Chris Rohmann using promenade theatre and i found that very innovative.
if another local theater group asked you to be a part of a new project, would you easily consider to do that? Would it conflict with WAM? Kristen: if they are lucky, people in the theatre are always involved in more than one project. i remember sitting next to Gary Griffin at stratford and he had four scripts on his desk, in order of when he was directing them, each with lists of what he had to prepare for each one. the other day i did some WAm administration in the morning, some pre-directing work for my stratford directing project, had a meeting with susan dworkin, the playwright for ‘The Old Mezzo’, then a phone call to negotiate rates for a directing gig i may do in the spring and finished my day with some preliminary research on ‘The Cabbage Patch’. Bliss! i would love to work with the other companies in the Berkshires, either as a freelance artist or in a collaborative project with WAm. i am a total homebody so if i can work where i live, that would be paradise. most of the directors, and many of the actors, hired by the largest Berkshire theatre companies are not necessary local, but i hope the path i’m currently on means i will work as a director or actor at those companies. i look forward to that.
When personal time comes along for you, and you happen to be able to sit by your pool and pick up a book, what
would you read? Kristen: probably a detective novel, like nero Wolfe, or a fiction book set in another country. i have to be careful when i start reading a book though because if i love it, i can’t put it down and i just keep reading until it’s done! most recently i read Secret Daughter by shilpi somaya Gowda and The Best Laid Plans by terry fallis.
all the other things i had little knowledge of before starting WAm. in terms of me personally as an artist, my husband, nick, is a huge source of support. i’m lucky that my family was always supportive of my choice to be an artist and nick is the same. he is continually encouraging and always available to help. he is a lighting designer in addition to being a computer scientist, plus he was WAm’s founding president of the Board, so in addition to being helpful in terms of personal support, he has been hugely instrumental in getting WAm going. he believes in me even on the days that i don’t. that makes all the difference.
how do you divide your professional time with your personal time? Kristen: taking care of myself means i do better work professionally so it’s a priority. i make sure i have enough time to work out, hang out with nick and friends, and just be home relaxing. even during the busy times while i’m heavy into rehearsals i always make time to work out and have some time for myself and with nick. there are also times where i’m working out of town, so i try to keep that routine as best i can and it always happens that when i’m back, i don’t want to leave the house for days as i’m so glad to be back in it!
KRisten BY heR pOOlside phOtO: lee eVeRett
Kristen, how do you project your life to be within the next three to five years? how would you like to see your community take a part in your growth as an artist? Kristen: i hope the next three to five years are more of the same! i love where we live, i love the work WAm is doing and i love the freelance opportunities i’m getting so i hope it’s just more of the same. i hope the community continues to support the work WAm is doing, by attending our performances and joining our donor community. it would be wonderful to make more of an impact in terms of providing higher paid employment for local theatre artists so that’s a goal. Getting a call from Julie Boyd, Jenny Gersten, Kate maguire or tony simotes would be nice too, especially if it was to direct a play by a female playwright.
As for challenges with your art, do you depend solely on what you put out, or, do you rely on others to help meet some of those challenges as well? Kristen: in terms of WAm theatre, it would not exist were it not for an incredibly amount of help from tons of people. While i am the Artistic director and the engine behind it, there are a plethora of people who help us in a myriad of ways to make it all possible; from leigh to the engaged Board of directors to the various people we contract to help us to the dedicated volunteers who are ushers at our events to the helpful leaders in the community who offer their services as mentors to me in areas like marketing, development, accounting and
What are your interests and do you get to do things with your husband as much as you would like? Kristen: my biggest interests are theatre and the outdoors and thankfully nick also loves both. We like doing outdoor activities together, like cycling, hiking or canoeing. We love camping and never do it as much as we wish we did, but we always enjoy it when we do. We are also huge surfers of the internet, so we can often be found on our laptops on the couch both surfing various things and sharing interesting finds with each other. my secret pleasure is people.com. We are also total foodies and i’m lucky because nick loves to cook, so i’ve become a superb sous chef. i also love to travel and through doing my freelance work with istA, the international schools theatre Association, i usually get to travel at least once a year. i began working for them in 2005 and the istA festivals are always a highlight of my year. i get to go somewhere interesting in the world, work with international theatre artists and international students and over the course of four days, devise a theatre piece around the theme of the festival, which is always hosted by an international school. it’s always full of adrenalin and a complete blast. i always say that working with istA is like being in a ‘Yes, And’ Worldeveryone says yes to ideas, is super collaborative, and delighted to be part of the experience, including me! if i asked you a question you would say is too personal to answer, on the topic of being an ArTiST, would there be one such as that? Can you generalize what that touchy area might be? Other artists may feel the same, and be inclined to connect and agree or disagree, or find you to be great! like, what do you think actors/directors never like to talk about? Kristen: that’s a hard one….there are a few things that comes to mind and i suppose they are interconnected in the end. One is the idea of ‘being successful’ and what that means for artists. We all have to find our own definition of it but there can still be the idea that unless you have worked at ‘x’, you haven’t succeeded. Or, maybe you did work at ‘x’, but then they never asked you back and that can be hard to deal with, especially because its usually difficult to have an open conversation about why you were never asked back. i have a better handle on that since being a director and producer and being on the other side of the audition table. it made me really understand how many factors go into hiring actors and how Continued on next page...
the ARtful mind september 2012 • 13
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Al sAldRini, theAtRe mAnAGeR Of lenOx hs, is AlsO seen On And
COVeR phOtOGRAph
eileen sChuYleR, KRisten diReCtinG
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often an actor can be hugely talented, but is not the right person for that particular part in that particular production. A second thing is as a Canadian i never really knew how much influence new York City has over ‘validity’ in the united states and in the Berkshires. there seems to be a real sense that if it doesn’t come from nYC or go to nYC, it isn’t actually ‘successful’. that’s an interesting one that i’m still trying to figure out. last, there is the conversation i have all the time with nick, which is about the value of theatre in the larger world. i happen to have fallen in love with theatre and want to do that with my life and because it’s theatre, there is very little chance that i will ever earn as much money as he does because he happened to fall in love with computer science, which has a higher monetary value in terms of what you paid in exchange for the work you do. ultimately, i feel quite stubborn about wanting to live in the country, work in the theatre and get paid for it, so it’s just about making that happen in a way that feels successful for me. so far, so good.
This field of being in acting can be pretty wear and tear on the psyche… Much rejection happens for all. how do you personally work through a dissapointment? What is the rationalization you go through? has it had its toll on you yet? Kristen: i am in a healthy relationship. i have a supportive family. i am educated. i have all the material goods i need; like a roof over my head, enough food to eat and transportation. in this country, i am lucky enough to have health insurance and as a woman, i’m lucky enough to be able to work and be an equal partner. plus, i am one of the lucky few that has found what their passionate about in life and doing it has provided me the opportunity to live in other countries, travel the world and meet and work with extraordinary people. On the bad days i just need to remind myself of that. it can certainly take its toll but developing resilience, taking initiative and creating opportunity helps a lot.
The Artful Mind series on performance artists gladly includes you, Kristen. i would just like to know, how do you get a huge audience to see a WAM performance? And keep them coming to see more? Kristen: that is an ongoing effort! i didn’t know anyone at
14 • september2012 the ARtful mind
the beginning so it was a lot of outreach through social media and press releases. thankfully, the press has been very supportive and WAm has received lots of nice features in the local press, including this amazing cover feature with the Artful mind! now we continue to do all that plus build relationships with our audience by getting to know them at the events, staying in touch with them through direct mail and email. We also hope the quality of our work ends up creating word of mouth and that inspires other people to give us a try and come to our events. there is a lot of interest in women’s issues and theatre in the Berkshires so as we cross both areas, which has also really helped in growing our audiences. do you find it comfortable when you meet up with someone who is physically and mentally similar to you? does it clash when they are also competing along side of you? Maybe that has never happened. Kristen: What an interesting question! Yes, i do find it comfortable to meet someone who is like-minded. my nature is to be collaborative rather than competitive. i like being competitive against myself, to reach my goals and potential, but i try not to let the unhealthy aspects of competiveness take over.
What makes life in the Berkshires healthy, easy and blissful? When you can take a real breather. Kristen: it’s beauty and the fact that i can enjoy it so thoroughly. i look out the windows of our home and see nature. i love that. there are also lots of like-minded people who live here and we have a wonderful circle of friends who make our life here enjoyable. i look forward to growing that circle as we live here longer. it’s easy for us to do the things we love and eat the food we love; the ethos in the Berkshires suits us. plus it’s only two hours to Boston and three hours to new York City. if you ran out of professional work, left with no jobs or anything, and you had to go out and find a way to make money, what would you then consider doing? Kristen: if nick and i were ready for a change or something came up and we had to change our lives, i could go to a recruiting fair and get a job teaching drama somewhere in the world. it’s a wonderful feeling to know that it is possible to
be part of the world of international education. i also used to be a fitness leader for the YmCA and i loved doing that. it would be a great motivator to stay fit! to be honest, though, i would still be invested in the work WAm theatre is doing in terms of gender parity in the theatre and global women’s issues. so i’d try to find a way to remain involved with that. i can only hope that if that day ever comes the skills i have in theatre and in creating opportunity would serve me well.
from all the time and love you have put into the theater, can you give us a few lines from something you’ve come to treasure? Kristen: here is one quote and one fable that i carry with me: i have a post-it note on my bedside lamp. it’s from ‘Stroke of Insight’ by dr. Jill Bolte taylor and it reads ‘i am in charge of how i choose to perceive my experiences’. it can be hard for me sometimes to see the positive in life so this quote helps immensely. in ‘half the sky’, Kristof and Wudunn share the starfish fable: ...i have had lots of people make a difference in my life by creating an opportunity for me. i hope WAm theatre will do the same. A man goes out on the beach and sees that it is covered with starfish that have washed up on the tide. A little boy is walking along, picking them up and throwing them back into the water. “What are you doing, son?” the man asks. “You see how many starfish there are? You’ll never make a difference.” The boy paused thoughtfully, and picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean. “It sure made a difference to that one,” He said. Thank you, Kristen. info@wamtheatre.com kristen@wamtheatre.com e
Notes from A Novice Gardener
Getting Ready Ruth Heuberger
An ‘informal’ road- eliminated first thing- ran right by the cottage that we purchased in the dead of winter. the property, though well under an acre- who could deal with more!?- had promise: natural shelter, gentle inclines, mountain laurel, and overgrown privet in the back. Out front, behind old railroad ties, a giant hosta, some desultory bushes and majestic old trees. some were soon to topple after a rough storm and others taken down for safety, eventually to be replaced by a far greater number of saplings- but that was in the future. And don’t disparage leggy bushes so quickly. the first June as residents of our home, the rhododendron bushes awed us with masses of exquisite shell-pink blossoms within blossoms. perhaps they would need transplanting and ‘prudent’ pruning down the road? Without a doubt! And in springtime, swarms of bees were attracted to the tiny white, fragrant flowers of the overgrown and dense privets. early on, we cheerfully came home from our trip to a plant nursery with our first purchase, a deep-rose tree peony which lived to delight us for many years. But, to our chagrin, if it could have would have said: Quit pruning while you’re ahead! i soon learned, too, that‌ If berries red give you a jolly / a single bush of holly’s folly!
europe; all immigrants. dandelions were brought over for nourishment by some of the earliest ÊmigrÊs. perhaps, too, henry Viii’s courtiers let it be known that chewing daisies was good for his majesty’s frequent upset stomachs (served him right!) so those non-native plants might have been stashed on shipboard, as well. lilies came by way of the northern mediterranean. Carnations? from the near east. it’s hard to imagine depriving birds of seeds from the great, gawky sunflowers that hail from Central and south America. And what would our gardens be without lilacs, originally from China and iran? Roses and tulips originated in iran and turkey, chrysanthemums and peonies in Japan and China. A fascinating documentary showed that China is a botanist’s paradise; it has almost every known flower in the world, growing wild, no less. And the oldest tree of all, superb in three seasons, the Ginkgo, is from Japan via ancient China. Of course in their native habitat we enjoy pine, fir, spruce, laurel, nut and fruit trees, redwood, ash, elm and red maple‌ and i’m wild about primrose, lobelia, aster, snapdragon, Virginia bluebells, columbine, solomon’s seal, forget-me-nots, crocuses, Johnny-jump-ups, black-eyed susan, poppies‌ a sampling of our wildflowers. Are they all native? i was surprised to learn that some of these, too, are not native but domesticated. in nature-speak that means they’ve long been naturalized and well integrated. i’ll leave their cultivation to the experts. One early spring, lured by the beautiful image on the packet, i scattered seeds of wildflowers on a cleared spot. they bloomed prolifically- to tease, it seemed. the next year there were none. so most often it seems Wildflowers choose the time and place unlike their tamer kin / and can’t be coaxed to grow in spots that we have picked for them / just like those happy persons sure of their own place on earth / they’ll choose the moment right for them, and bloom for all their worth!
Once i took realistic measure of my learning curve, i was determined to offer up a peaceable garden: it would evolve little by little and be as natural as possible; be friendly to critters and insects; have as little grass as i could get away with in new england; be gradually introduced to flowers and plants, shrubs and trees at home in this climate, and meld into the contours of the site. i’d learn what the region would sustain. And of great importance, be low maintenance- nothing showy or formal; i i volunteered time at the Botanical Gardens, and didn’t want to be enslaved by it. Just a few reasonable requirements. my goal seemed unattainable for a couple of years, but with enforced patience and gains and losses, it generally worked. mother nature is overwhelmingly generous, always happy to fill in gaps with with lots of Placement Designer eager volunteers. But, foreign or domestic domineering and invasive weeds, vines, and shrubs, Specializing in the Art of Feng Shui and Color like school yard bullies, will be actively discouraged. As for native only, forget it. some rooting about of assorted facts in materia plantae and Elisacashiola@gmail.com on the WeB brought to light that the majority of the cultivated flowers, shrubs and even some 413.717.5559 (text only - deaf) trees that we’ve all grown to love have come www.elisacashiola.com primarily from Asia, as well as north and south Africa, Central and south America, mexico and
eagerly gleaned tips from the experience of other amateurs who had thriving gardens: if you walk up Castle street in Great Barrington, look up to the rise on the right, one house beyond the stately colonnaded house at the bottom that Chp formerly inhabited. You will see an amazing curved dry-stone wall and terrace built almost single-handedly by laurel t., an exceptional artist of multiple disciplines. the garden she created there is beautiful, too, as if born to the site.(And the mural in the Children’s Room of the mason library in Great Barrington was painted by her, as well- freehand, with no sketch to refer to; i asked.) i had the good fortune to meet her and found she lived nearby. she was generous and encouraging, though casual with her suggestions and advice. Regretfully, she has since moved far away, to an area more affordable for her purse. Other happy gardeners gladly shared their bounty with us and eventually i could do the same. now on to the garden, there’s work to be done. Armed with shovel, spade, the best of intentions and all the rest ( including long baths to peruse the small print in gorgeous garden catalogs) i constantly remind myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day. %
Elisa Cashiola
the ARtful mind september 2012 • 15
fine line MulTiMediA
sheRYl CROW At tAnGleWOOd 2009, lee eVeRett
fine line multimedia was established in 1970 by lee everett in lenox, massachusetts. After studying Advertising design and Visual Communications at pratt institute and working in advertising in new York for years, he began a full service multimedia studio in the Berkshires specializing in the performing and Visual Arts and other Business and industry. With photography, graphic design, advertising, marketing, audio/video production, website and social network creation and administration together under one roof, fine line can satisfy the artistic communications and promotional needs of a wide range of clients. look at some examples from our portfolios of work on this site and use the contact information below for more information, to see more samples, photographs or video reels, for professional and client references or for a free project consultation. Call to set up an appointment. Fine Line Multimedia, 66 Church Street, Lenox, MA. everett@berkshire.rr.com, www.finelinelenox.com fax 413-637-9900; phone 413-637-2020.
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For Men, Women and Kids
16 •september 2012 the ARtful mind
peTer AlVAreZ SAlOn
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WhOle perSOn MOVeMenT ShArOn True shAROn tRue On pilAtes AppARAtus
make the most of the Body You have—starting now! Regular exercise is an essential component of optimal health and functioning. Conscious exercise with sharon true, owner of Wholeperson movement, takes exercise to a whole new level. in the personalized one-on-one workouts she creates in her pilates studio she guides her clients to become masters of their own body movement. they learn to become conscious of the inner experience and process of doing an exercise, as well as of its precise outer form. Conscious exercise workouts stretch and strengthen muscles, promote concentration, reduce stress, and deepen understanding of the body. Who needs Conscious exercise? people who want to make the most of the body they have. this would include individuals who currently enjoy active lifestyles, such as performers, athletes, gardeners, and those who love all the outdoor activities that the Berkshires has to offer, and who want to maintain or expand on their physical fitness through a challenging pilates workout. it also includes individuals who are confronted with impediments to their enjoyment of movement, such as injury or chronic pain, stiffness, difficulties with balance and coordination, or lack of body confidence. sharon true welcomes the opportunity to find a way to help your body function at its best, no matter what age or condition it is in now. true is a registered somatic movement therapist, certified laban movement analyst, and a certified pilates instructor. she has been teaching pilates-based workouts for over 15 years, first at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires and then in her own fully-equipped pilates studio in Great Barrington. these years of teaching, together with her commitment to continuing her own education, give clients the benefit of a vast array of experience to effectively address their goals and concerns. she is an expert partner and guide in the discovery of an exercise program that works and is a pleasure to do. Call now to start making the most of the body you have with a Conscious exercise workout with sharon true. Sharon True sharontrue@roadrunner.com, or phone 413-5282465, 9am - 9pm.
California dreaming
there are times when optimism is difficult and we are currently living in such times. it is impossible to watch the news or read the paper without sensing the fact that the events of the world are reflecting dramatically distorted policy and thinking. increasingly ideology and fear rule, creating a world of enemies, a sense of deepening isolation, and a resort to force -- or the threat of force -- not as last resort but as initial response. ironically, while Americans dread the reemergence of an old pestilence, smallpox, an equally antiquated, selfrighteous nationalism and a mindless neo-colonialism have again reared their ugly heads, threatening horrors at least as horrendous as any virus or bacteria could hope to inflict upon us. the center, it would seem, truly cannot hold. But one need not look only at the headlines to be concerned. While the images of our latest foray into the third world are dramatic, many back page articles are equally frightening. Going through my newspaper cut-out files i found an article from the new York times of february 3, 2003, entitled, “north of Beijing, California dreams Come true”, by elisabeth Rosenthal. the article describes the development of western style homes in China, “replicas of southern California homes, designed by southern California architects, with model homes decorated by los Angeles interior designers.” styles range from ‘french country estate to spanish stucco castles’. the homes start at $500,000.00; many are much more expensive. needless to say given the pervasive poverty in China (yes, even now: most Chinese are ‘dirt’ poor) they are all nestled in ‘gated communities’. Amusingly, the article notes that ‘shacks’ for cooking have been constructed just outside the brand new California-style open kitchens since the California kitchens are not particularly suited to Chinese cooking; hopefully the tV dinner will not be far behind and remedy this problem. Adding to the surreal nature of the whole thing is the fact that these gated communities (typical name for these developments: Watermarklongbeach) are located nowhere near a large city like los Angeles, but instead surrounded by villages and fields. At
Architecture & Arcadia Stephen Gerard dietemann
least los Angele’s suburbs have los Angeles. Okay, i admit it is an easy target. my biases -- i have long admired traditional Chinese architecture and long been disturbed by the pseudo-historical revival styles of American suburban houses – make such developments in China (or anywhere else in the world for that matter) an especially tempting target to ridicule. But these houses prompt far more serious concerns, concerns that present a direct challenge to each of us as well. first, such houses are dramatic breaks with traditional Chinese building and design. the abandoned, unworkable kitchens are a symptom of this disconnect, eerily reminiscent of le Corbusier’s housing in Chandigar, india. But such a cultural disconnect can have far more dangerous implications, as was evident during the rise of Khomeini in iran where western art and culture had been forced down the throats of a culture -- like China incidentally -- far older than our own and with a exceedingly beautiful aesthetic of its own. As was the case with iran before the revolution, things may look good from the outside but below the surface resentment grows, as we learned so painfully in iran. second, economically a further gulf is accentuated between those who can afford such houses and those who cannot -- the distance between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ grows precariously worldwide. no imbalance can be sustained for long and the remedy, as history has so often chronicled, is usually not pretty. it is not by chance that these homes are developed within gated communities. the average Chinese earns less than six thousand dollars a year - a bit less than would be required to purchase such a house.
third, such development is ecologically unsustainable. there simply is not enough earth to allow the majority of the world’s population to live anywhere near this level of material luxury. such western style developments require huge amounts of materials and energy, materials and energy that is simply not available. the ‘ecological footprint’ of each resident in such a development, if multiplied by the number of people on the earth, requires the resources of several earths. We have but one. so this is the challenge to each of us: are we willing to simplify our lifestyles, our material requirements, our endless splurging of energy, so that all the people on the planet might have a sustainable standard of living we would not want ourselves or our children to live below? this is not simply a question of altruism or a challenge to the popular view of us as a ‘good’ people, but a matter of our own survival. if the answer is ‘no’, then what we have done – and are still doing -- in iraq and Afghanistan is only the beginning of a state of war that will stretch far into the future. it will be a ugly, brutish business and regardless of what we are told, it will not be kept at a safe distance from the ‘homeland’. %
the ARtful mind septemBeR 2012 • 17
Planet Waves September 2012 September begins with the Sun in Virgo and ends with the Sun in Libra. Along the way we should have relatively clear sailing; astrology during the prior eight months of the year has been all kinds of turbulent. Yet we have some artificial weather in the vicinity -- particularly the political nominating conventions and the presidential campaigns heating up, which may be the scenes of police clashing with protesters and a revival of the Occupy movement. Speaking of civics, this is your early reminder to register to vote. The Pisces Full Moon is Aug. 31. The Virgo New Moon is Sept. 15, and there is an unusually powerful Full Moon in Aries on Sept. 29. That is the event to watch for - remember to check PlanetWaves.net for details.
Aries (March 20-April 19)
You may notice your sex drive coming back -- or coming on strong, if it hasn't gone anywhere. either way, i suggest you stay in contact with whatever process you went through earlier this year, which in part involved some unusual healing experience, and which in part involved changing how you think. You learned something about yourself, something that may have presented you with a real challenge, and it involved the intersection of where your sexuality meets your mental and physical health. the emphasis has been on the well-being side of the equation; it's now shifting in the direction of being more erotically adventurous. i suggest you review what you learned -- and keep it in mind as you experience the adventure of the next four or five weeks.
Taurus
(April 19-May 20) if you eliminate what is not true, you will be likelier to focus on what is true. the first thing to remember is that there's a difference. the second thing to remember is that that difference exists whether or not you like it; though i think you're far more likely to value and appreciate what is authentic once you have acknowledged its existence. for the next few weeks you're likely to experience something approaching actual self-esteem, which is a rare psychological condition. i suggest you make a conscious effort to remember how this feels. much of what you learn through the rest of this year and into 2013 is focused on this theme. there is no taking it for granted if you want to live a grounded, sane and content life.
Gemini (May 20-June 21)
there's a question about doing relationships 'right' versus doing them well. let's consider the three Cs of relating: communication, compassion and commitment. Of the three, commitment is the least meaningful, and it happens the most easily on its own when other things are in balance. We could even skip commitment altogether and add in its place something rarely considered a value in relationships: creativity. that authentic synergy between people, what feels to some like mental chemistry and to others like a certain ease around erotic subject matter, is the tangible experience of creativity. that's to say, all erotic experience is procreative, even if babies are not made. the question is what you create, or rather, what you want to create -- and being realistic
about whether the chemistry of any given situation can support that.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22) You're accessing a deeper level of feelings, whether they emerge from within you, or you consciously reach down into yourself to access them. this will start slowly and then reach a peak toward the end of the month. Remember that any fool can be intense. it takes a mature person to guide intensity into something beautiful and useful. if you can do that, you will access a deeper level of your potential, which will serve as an invitation to much deeper pleasures to come. maturity involves making choices; those choices are best guided by priorities that are in turn guided by your values. this is a fancy way of saying do what is right for you. however, since most people find that impossible, i thought i would break it down into a few steps.
leo
(July 22-Aug. 23) You appear to be making your mind up about a relationship or partnership. the question seems to involve how you can have greater independence and not sacrifice your need for bonding and contact with others. it's one thing to contemplate this kind of thing in theory; it's another to have experiences that demonstrate what's possible -- and it seems that's what's brewing in the not-so-distant future. in fact what you're about to do might not have a vague shred of a hope as a concept, though it may turn out that it works very well in practice -- once you believe it's possible, and that will come through experience. it's as if you're stretching your potential into a new dimension you didn't know existed; that, and people around you are more open-minded than you think.
Virgo
(Aug. 23-Sep. 22) Virgo is famous for being self-critical, though you may be wondering whether that translates into any form of self-improvement. if it won't, you lack empathy. the way to teach yourself that is through empathy for others. this is the theme of your relationships for the foreseeable future (by that i mean through the end of the decade), and the sooner you figure that out, the happier you will be. Consider what it would be like to be in the position of everyone you encounter, particularly people who are different than you. As you persist in this experiment, you may notice that you have more in common with more people than you realized. if you live from that spot, you will develop a deeper level of empathy -- for others and for yourself.
libra
(Sep. 22-Oct. 23) the sun is about to enter your sign, which is the beginning of your solar year -- and the next four seasons promise to be one of the more extraordinary times in your life. You will discover the ways in which you fit into the larger scheme of existence, and you'll see how many of the decisions you've made leave you free to do just that. that larger scheme is a work in progress right now, so i would remind you that you don't have to 'be settled' or 'know what you're doing with the rest of your life' in order to increase your participation in what you discover is most meaningful to you. in fact, feeling slightly CLASS SCHEDULE unsettled, and a bit daunted by your own possibilities, would be a much more adventurous, and pracMon-Fri 8:30 - 9;45am - Uma tical, way to greet your new year. M-W-F 10:00 - 11:15am - Uma Tues. 6:00 - 7:15pm - Uma
Thurs. 6:00 - 7:15pm ... Jenna O’Brien Sat. 10:00 - 11:15am ... Jenna O’Brien
413.528.YOGA (9642) www.528yoga.com 274 Main Street, Great Barrington located in back of main st., adjacent to the triplex theater
18 • September 2012 The ArTful Mind
CLASS FEES ...
$15.00 per Class $120.00 for a 10 class card (good for 8 weeks)
$75.00 month unlimited (Uma only)
Owner - Uma McNeill
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 22) this month and next, energy begins to collect in your sign. mars has just arrived, which will be followed by the north node, saturn and then the sun. these planets are conspiring to push you to a new level. this is not an extension of the metaphor of the frog in the pot of water that's gradually being heated up. Because mars is the first planet to make a move, the temperature is going to rise quickly,
by Eric Francis
and will be joined by different shades of energy: the north node's intensely soulful quality; saturn's focus on commitment and structure; and the sun's gift of self-expression. stay perky, keep busy with meaningful priorities and make sure you pay attention as you acquire each of these new tools. they are yours to work with. Rise to the occasion.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec. 22) i suggest you spend some time among friends and at social gatherings this month (though you usually don't need someone to tell you this). With planets and a series of eclipses heading into scorpio -- the most mysterious angle of your solar chart -- you're likely to be more introspective than usual. this, in turn, may transform into a necessary obsession; you may become more curious about your inner workings than ever. As you take this journey, very few people will be able to accompany you, and you won't know who they are until they actually show up. ultimately in truth, this is something you will do on your own, though for the next month or so, it's as if you have one foot in each world -- inner and outer. that will make for some interesting contrast.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)
september 2012 is the last full month of saturn in libra. i suggest you do a review project, on the topic of responsibility, leadership and your reputation. let's go back in time to Oct. 29, 2009 -- when saturn first touched the shores of what's called your 10th solar house -- the one that addresses themes of authority in every form. Where were you then? how did you feel about who you are, and what you do? did you have the self-respect to command the respect of others? i suggest you track what you've learned since that day, and take full ownership of it. i know there were ups and downs; that is life, though everyone knows that humans tend to learn more from struggle than from achievement. make sure you learn from both.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
You're likely to be getting one message after the next to get your professional house in order. You have a logical side, though you tend to be driven by your emotions rather than by your gift for strategy when it comes to your career. With mars occupying that angle of your chart now, pathos and passion are in more abundant supply than cool, calm logic. think of this as contrast. how does the pathos/passion approach work to advance your most important goals? does it even help you figure out what they are? that would be helpful. in October, the sky shifts to much more focused issues of exactly how you're going to do what you want to do, assuming you've made up your mind what that is. the truth is that you already know; it's time to stop hesitating.
pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20) Whenever activity shifts to the water signs, that's a good thing for pisces. mars has just arrived in scorpio, adding some fire to the angle of your chart that blends mysticism, sex and your highest vision for yourself (truly a pisces thing). more planets and points are on the way, as part of a journey that will last two years. these transits will put you into contact with a dimension of yourself that you often feel, though just as often have to express vicariously through some other activity. there are not many philosophers you can find who will tell you that your sexuality is a direct path to understanding who you really are, though i'm not alone in saying this -- and from the look of your charts, you won't be alone either. ~read eric francis daily at planetWaves.net
fenG Shui
placement design Tips –Keeping it Simple!
if you have an old chair or sofa, upcycle it with an expensive fabric you love to enhance your wealth area!
These tips were written by me through my Twitter account page – follow me at @elisacashiola– I have compiled a list to help you get inspired by whatever attracts your attention that perhaps needs TLC in your home! As always, you can find more information and tips on the subject of placement design at my website, www.elisacashiola.com Drop a line sometime to say hello and enjoy the tweets!
pineapples represent hospitality and was once considered a wealth symbol. place this symbol in your guest bedroom or guest bathroom. Computers are related to the career area – no surprise there since we locate our computers/laptops in the middle front part of desks. do you need to clear out old work files, upgrade it, or install new programs to boost your career?
for the home and yard in general:
Your basement represents your past, or your youth. take steps to clean it out, to let go of the past, and to move forward with ease. Which room in your house is your least favorite? tend to it, for it holds the most potential to change your life in positive ways. Check your knobs and handles. Are any of them old, rusty, or outdated? Replace them with a sparkling new one!
trees or a tree line can be a “natural” fence, providing you with privacy and healthy boundaries if you don’t like fences. Get rid of stuff from under your bed and keep it open and clear! You will sleep better.
Best to fill your home with things you lOVe. do not settle for things that make you say, eh i like it, or it’s cheap so i got it. Cleaning is the other half of placement design. mondays are a great day to schedule maid visits to start the week off on a fresh new note! Work on your “stuff” now so that you’re happier when you’re older, whether that’s tomorrow or 20 years from now.
Elisa Cashiola
make sure your mailbox gets tlC if it needs new paint, a cleaning, straightening out, etc. it often gets overlooked, especially in rural areas. Areas to focus on in the home:
honor your mother and grandmother by adding a picture of them together in the love/relationship area. Great female energy!
family furniture/gifts are hardest to get rid of if you don’t love it because of guilt, obligation, or burden. if you can’t repaint or reupholster it to your preference, then give it away or donate it. Your home should be filled with what you love.
focus on your self-knowledge area if you have trouble stepping outside of your comfort zone. What are you afraid of? look within. Relationships feeling unstable/shaky? Add the earth element in forms of pottery or ceramic vase for grounding in your love/relationship area.
Mojo’s Meat Cake
Simply Sasha
don’t add blues and grays to your relationship area – it only invites coldness and turbulent emotions. Go for earth tones instead for stability. random tweets to enjoy:
every morning is a chance to turn over a new leaf.
follow through with an idea that comes to you, or someone else somewhere will come up with literally the same idea. trust that voice. famous quotes:
Creativity is intelligence having fun -Albert Einstein
You mean to say that after all we have learned here, the first step to feng shui is more housework?! -Anonymous Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking - H. Jackson Browne
by Sasha Seymour
Our amazing dog Mojo turned 13 years old on June 27th. It was an absolute feat for him to be with us for that long, and I wanted to celebrate his life in style! I researched recipes for dogs and their humans, and I came across this meat cake (it is basically a meatloaf formed and baked in a cake pan). It can be decorated with American cheese (only use mild cheese!), or however you wish. Your dog will be so happy and you will be too singing your dog that Happy Birthday song! It is such fun to share a meal with your dog, and the experience will warm your soul. Enjoy! Peace, Love and Mojo!!! p.s. Always talk to your vet about new additions to your dogs diet, as each animal differs in their needs. Remember that a little bit goes a long way to bring joy to your pet. mojo’s meat Cake
1 cup rice, cooked 3 large potatoes, mashed 1 cup grated carrots 2 lbs ground beef 2 eggs 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 1 cup regular rolled oats A sprinkle of American cheese
1. preheat oven to 4oo, and grease a cake pan. 2. in a large bowl, combine 1/2 of the potatoes, carrots, beef, and eggs. 3. mix well, and add oil, rolled oats and cooked rice. 4. place mixture in prepared pan, and “frost” with remaining mashed potatoes and sprinkle with American cheese (again, only a mild cheese!) 5. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the surface sets. Cool on rack for about 15 minutes, or until the cake is no longer hot. 6. light a candle and sing!
the ARtful mind septemBeR - already!?! 2012 • 19
mary davidson Represented by
The lenOX GAllerY Of fine ArT 69 ChuRCh stReet, lenOx, mA 413-637-2276
Open year Round www.davidsondesigncompany.net Studio appointment: 413. 528. 6945 South Egremont, MA
510 WARRen st., hudsOn, nY 518-822-0510 www.510warrenstreetgallery.com
septemBeR FEATuRED ARtist
JeAnnine SChOeffer Reception for Artist: Saturday, September 1, 2012 3:00 - 6:00 PM
510 Members include: Will ClARK diAnA felBeR JOAn GiummO isKA KenneY KAte KnApp JOhn lipKOWitZ ninA lipKOWitZ eleAnOR lORd hAnnAh mAndel peGGY ReeVes dORis simOn museum QuAlitY fuRnituRe BY JOel mARK AntiQue pRints & pOsteRs fROm mill RiVeR studiO
20 •september 2012 the ARtful mind
friday and Saturday 12-6, Sunday & Mon 12-5, or by appointment
JAneT COOper, pAinTed And STiTChed dreSSeS
JAneT COOper
Janet Cooper continues to be intrigued with the ‘reuse’ of materials and the detritus of the discarded. inspired now by fabrics and needlework crafts, Janet uses second hand clothing and textiles as well as her closet rejects as canvases. her work is most aptly described as “bricolage.” in the Berkshires in the 90’s Janet was known for her jewelry and artifacts, constructed of vintage bottle caps and tin cans. she designed those artifacts with a sense of humor and an affinity for color, and in much the same way, she turned to fabric twelve years ago. in the series fabric scrolls she began to combine vintage fabrics with the overflow of collectibles from her part time vocation as an antique dealer. she went on to create a series, Assemblage Quilts, weaving americana textiles with flea market bric-a-brac. Quilt ladies and party dresses followed. Again she used the needlework of ‘unfinished women’s work’, memorabilia and flea market finds as the texture, embellishment, and visual interest of these works. in 2008 Janet, still celebrating her cache of second hand and ethnic fabrics, experimented with using her own stitches as a tool of expression in such pieces as healing slip, Coat of Anger, my mantra and hold me tight. When the slowness and precision of stitchery proved a bit frustrating and unsatisfying, Janet turned to ink and water colors to communicate her thoughts and ideas about form, language, expression and life experiences. last fall Janet was invited to exhibit at the Cheongju Biennale in south Korea. this fall at Gallery 51, in north Adams as part of the group exhibit, die formmeister - the masters of the Exhibit: form, Janet will be exhibiting works from the series painted dresses and Judah as well as her latest Chair Art. Janet Cooper’s work is included in many books including the ARt of mankind by mary schoeser, Artist Wefts by marina Giordano, and Contemporary textiles (Black dog publishing) 500 Art Quilts (lark Books) and the fine Art of the tin Can by Bobby hansson. MCLA’s Gallery 51, Main Street, North Adams, MA Gallery Hours: 10-6 daily.
Spectrum Perspectives Artist: Michael McManmon
September 21 - October 29 Opening on Friday, September 21 at 6pm
JAneT COOper, pleASe Be SeATed, ChAirS WiTh fABriC And STiTCheS
413-394-5045 www.goodpurpose.org Open everyday 9am - 5pm
Good Purpose Gallery 40 Main St, Suite 1 Lee, MA 01238 the ARtful mind september 2012 • 21
JeAnnine R. sChOeffeR, tulips
510 WARREN STREET GALLERY JEANNINE R. SCHOEFFER
An exhibition of oil paintings by Jeannine Schoeffer titled “Flowers” will be featured In September at 510 Warren Street Gallery. The opening reception will be 3-6 pm on Saturday, September 1. Mrs. Schoeffer loves to capture the beauty in nature, especially of flowers in a garden, the wild, or a vase. Bright colors combinations and patterns are irresistible wherever the setting may be. Painting mostly in oils, Jeannine finds endless sources of inspiration in the Berkshires. In addition to Mrs. Schoeffer, exhibiting artists include: Will Clark, Diana Felber, Joan Giummo, Iska Kenney, Kate Knapp, John Lipkowitz, Nina Lipkowitz, Eleanor Lord, Hannah Mandel, Steve Porcella, Peggy Reeves, Doris Simon, Joel Mark Furniture, and Mill River Studio Antique Prints & Posters. 510 Warren Street Gallery, 510 Warren Street, Hudson, New York. Gallery Hours: Fridays and Saturdays from noon until 6 P.M., and Sundays from noon until 5 P.M. For information please call 518-822-0510 or 413-528-9456. www.510warrenstgallery.com.
22 • september 2012 the ARtful mind
frOnT STreeT GAllerY KAte KnApp, tRApeZe ARtist, hOusAtOniC, mA, 30 x 30”
July 7-sept 3: the Circus is in town! Watercolors studies of the local summer circuses….lions elephants horses… come one come all come see the circus!!! Opening to be announced. 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….please come join us and experience something different. for those seeking collectable, great art, front st. Gallery is where you should head next. A huge selection of art work, all reasonably priced. Who said art was not affordable? easy to make an appointment to see for yourself. Classes at front street for those wishing to learn and those who just want to be involved in the pure enjoyment of art and who have some experience under their belt. perfect for those seeking fresh insight into watercolors, and other mediums. Kate Knapp has been teaching for many years, and 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 is excellent. peak in to see! 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 Hours: Saturday & Sunday, open at 12 pm or by appointment or chance. 413-274-6607.
AndReA GeeR, "sCulptuRAl neCKpieCe And ARmWARmeRs”, KnitWeAR
pArAdiSe CiTY ArTS feSTiVAl
COluMBuS dAY WeeKend
the Hartford Courant called it “a mecca for Art lovers”, The Boston Globe declared it “Wild and Wonderful” and AmericanStyle named it the #3 Art and Craft show in America in 2012. the paradise City Arts festival in northampton marks its 18th year as new england’s premier showcase for fine and functional art, with a breadth of exhibitors and activities that will keep you enthralled and entertained all weekend long! it’s also American Craft Week, which brings together organizations from all fifty states in recognition of the countless ways handmade objects enrich our daily lives and contribute to our national aesthetic and economy. paradise City is proud to be an official sponsor of American Craft Week. meet 275 of the nation’s very best craftsmen and artists showing their newest work. Join in the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of American studio Glass with spectacular glassblowing demonstrations by master glass artist philip Jacobs. dine on sensational cuisine by northampton’s best chefs under the festival dining tent. tap your feet to a different band every day while you take a culinary trip around the world. Catch the excitement of live performances by nationally and regionally acclaimed musicians like Charles neville and Viva Quetzal. Bid on hundreds of beautiful items donated by paradise City artists in the silent Art Auction to benefit WGBY, public television for Western new england. no wonder Boston Magazine declares, “the paradise City Arts festival has a vibrant soul that many similar exhibitions reach for but never attain... a unique visual arts institution!” October 6, 7 & 8, in Northampton at the 3 County Fairgrounds, Route 9 at I-91 Exit 19. For complete show and travel information, visit www.paradisecityarts.com or call 800-511-9725.
“My best and happiest moments are on stage. It is there I feel completely natural and am myself.” -Natalia Makarova
JOhn AxtOn, eVeninG shORes, O/C, 12 x 12, BORn1945, AmeRiCAn
BerKShire ArT GAllerY
the Berkshire Art Gallery has on view paintings by noted santa fe - based artist John Axton. Axton, born in 1945, came relatively late to a career as a professional artist in 1976 when he quit his commercial art job and eventually moved to santa fe. inspired by the landscape and culture of new mexico, his paintings have visual elegance and a mystical, almost haunting quality. Axton is known for winning compositions, technical virtuosity, acute understanding of light and color, and a creative imagination that produces paintings with multiple visual and emotional points of appeal. An essential element in Axton’s art is his incorporation of windows, doors and other openings in his often architecturally inspired compositions. doors and windows are universal symbols for the link or portal between worlds – the known and the unknown, the inner and outer, the manifest and the imagined. Kenosha Window, painted in a minimalist style, is a classic example. in evening shores, painted in the 1990s after Axton visited Cape Cod, the horizon draws the viewer into the canvas to contemplate the fusion of one’s imagination and reality, what Axton describes as “the magic” of a viewer’s response to his work. to Axton, an oceanic image has more intensity and greater dimension than the landlocked bodies of water where he lives and works. A case in point is evening shores. Axton’s group shows include the Albright-Knox museum, denver Art museum and museum of the southwest, among others. solo exhibitions include galleries in new York City, santa fe and other major cities across the southwest. his paintings are in the permanent collections of the Arkansas Art Center, Colorado springs fine Arts Center, the museum of new mexico, the pratt institute museum, etc. Always known throughout his career as an artist not reluctant to explore jarringly different styles of painting, Axton’s imagery today reflects an abiding interest in abstract expressionism and the radiant colors of mark Rothko. Berkshire Art Gallery, 80 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, MA. Gallery hours: noon to 5PM, Saturdays and Sundays, or by appointment or chance. Parking for customers is available in front of the Gallery. For information, call Jack Wood 413-528-2690 or www.berkshireartgallery.com.
MArY dAVidSOn
mARY dAVidsOn, fROm the shOe seRies
try walking a mile in mary davidson’s shoes and you may discover why she paints whimsical acrylic portraits of footwear never designed to touch the ground. mary davidson is a Berkshire native who left the area to go to collage, become a designer, run a fashion business, and eventually return as a fine artist. After honing her skills as a designer of clothing, mary made the leap from wearable art to wondrous art. intensive study with painters like Gloria Arnold, Jim schantz, pat hogan, don Andrews AWs, and Judi Betts AWs, helped mary synthesize all she had learned and loved onto the paper and/or canvas. she found it was the Berkshires, not the fashion-conscious cities, which inspired her stylish shoe art. even as a child, growing up around Berkshire barns and cows, mary had an interior landscape teaming with imaginative, intricate design, which led her to experiment in many mediums. But mary’s quirky thinking, love of repetition and pattern-onpattern, all blossomed into a vision that is hers, alone. davidson has been juried into shows locally and regionally. A few of her painting’s can be seen at the lenox Gallery of fine Art, 69 Church street, lenox, mA. she is a member of the housatonic Valley Art league here in the Berkshires and also a juried member of the Cambridge Art Association, in Cambridge, mA. Keith and Mary Davidson, Studio: South Egremont, MA. Call 1-413-5286945 for an appointment; www.davidsondesigncompany.net
the ARtful mind september 2012 • 23
FRONT STREET GALLERY through s e p t e m be r 9
K ate Knapp Watercolor studies of local summer circuses
Painting classes are held Mon, Wed, & Thurs.
Kate Knapp
All welcome!
413-274-6607 413-429-7141 (cell) 413-528-9546 Gallery Hours: Sat. and Sun 12-5 or by appointment FRONT STREET, downwtown HOUSATONIC, MA
24 • september 2012 the ARtful mind