S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
DESTINATION: BERKSHIRES, WHERE ART MEETS NATURE
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his is the summer for planning, doing, staying an extra day, playing more, dreaming big, exhaling—or burning the candle at both ends. The Berkshires, culturally scintillating and beyond beautiful—in every season—is all about living life to its fullest. For centuries, artists and art lovers have looked to this region for inspiration, solitude, and sheer enjoyment. Its museums, galleries, and co-ops push the boundaries of contemporary art, and whether it’s your first trip or your millionth, the potential for artistic adventures in the Berkshires is limitless.
Harold Grinspoon, Everest, at The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home.
The Williams College Museum of Art— Williamstown, MA The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), located on the beautiful Williams College campus, creates and inspires exceptional opportunities for students, faculty, and the public to have meaningful experiences with art. On view through July 14 is Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation, which visualizes what freedom looks like for Black Americans today and the legacy of the Civil War today and beyond. Highlighting the perspectives of contemporary Black artists, Emancipation features commissioned and recent works by Sadie Barnette, Alfred Conteh, Maya Freelon, Hugh Hayden, Letitia Huckaby, Jeffrey Meris, and Sable Elyse Smith. The seven installations span sculpture, photography, and paper and textile fabrications. Also on view is Cracking the Cosmic Code: Nu-
merology in Medieval Art, a new installation of medieval art from WCMA’s collection. The idea that numbers emanate sacred significance, and connect the past with the future, is prehistoric and global. This exhibition aims to elucidate medieval relationships among numbers, events, and artworks. WCMA’s medieval and Renaissance artworks from the 5th to 17th centuries reveal numerical patterns as they relate to architecture, literature, gender and timekeeping. Admission is always free.
Clark Art Institute—Williamstown, MA An unparallel place to enjoy art and nature, the Clark Art Institute’s intimacy and beauty provide a unique visitor experience. Home to a renowned permanent collection of paintings,
works on paper, sculpture, decorative arts, and early photography, the Clark’s holdings are especially rich in French Impressionist, Early Modern, and American paintings. The 140-acre campus includes scenic meadows and more than five miles of walking trails, providing a memorable setting of natural beauty. Summer exhibitions include Kathia St. Hilaire: Invisible Empires, on view May 11, featuring new and recent works that combine printmaking, painting, collage and weaving by Haitian-American artist Kathia St. Hilaire. Opening June 15, the Clark presents the first monographic exhibition of Caribbean-born artist Guillame Lethière, whose remarkable story has been all but lost to history. Guillaume Lethière, organized in partnership with the Musée du Louvre, celebrates
WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART FEBRUARY 16–JULY 14, 2024
15 Lawrence Hall Drive | Williamstown, Massachusetts | artmuseum.williams.edu Free Admission | Catalogue Available
John Quincy Adams Ward, The Freedman, 1863
May/June 2024 | Art New England 55