Glenora Richards  is a miniaturist who painted a sizzling miniature portrait of Edna St. Vincent Millay, which was adapted into a postage stamp.  At Steepletop (Millay’s home in the Berkshires), beginning June 16th you can view  an exhibit which explores the art of this amazing, 100- year old woman.  The exhibit will run through September, and will include some special materials from the Postal Service Archives in addition to the original painting, and recordings of Millay reading her own work.  At Brook Farm Inn in Lenox, we had the pleasure of hosting a reading of Millay’s work by Peter Bergman, Executive Director of the Millay Society.  We can’t wait to see the exhibit.

Peter Bergman reading Millay at Brook Farm Inn

At Brook Farm Inn, we’re always interested in literary links to the original Brook Farm, for which the inn was named.  Brook Farm was a utopian farm experiment — the original hippie commune, perhaps — that was founded by the Transcendentalists in the 1840’s.   Hawthorne, Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and other famous intellectuals of the era were involved.  Nathaniel Hawthorne immortalized the farm in The Blithedale Romance, a fictionalized account .  (You’ll find a copy in each of our guest rooms.) The photo shows how the site looks today, in what is now West Roxbury.

This summer, The Mount is presenting a series of literary lectures, Mondays at 4 PM.  They all sound fascinating.  The one that connects most to Brook Farm is the lecture  about Eden’s Outcasts, a dual biography of Louisa May Alcott and her father, Bronson Alcott.  Although not involved with Brook Farm, they were part of the Transcendentalist community, and their lives were fascinating.   We recommend the book, and the lecture!

The public is invited to see and hear Peter Bergman, Director of the Edna St. Vincent Millay Society, this Saturday, 3:00 at Brook Farm Inn.  This celebration of the poet’s life and work, “The Four Seasons of Edna St. Vincent Millay,” will benefit the Millay Society’s restoration of Steepletop, the poet’s home in the Berkshires.  Peter Bergman is not to be missed!  Reservations for seats are recommended at 800-285-7638 (POET).  Link here for more information. www.brookfarm.com/poetry.html

Since no trip to the Berkshires is complete without visits to the Clark and Tanglewood, Brook Farm Inn in Lenox Massachusetts is glad to announce that the two venues have paired to offer the perfect package of art and music. For only $45 (a 25% savings) you can purchase two Clark admissions and two Tanglewood lawn tickets. Clark admission tickets are valid June 7 through September 7; Tanglewood lawn tickets are valid for all BSO and Boston Pops concerts (excludes Popular Artist Series).

 You may purchase ticket packages in any quantity – and it is easy, one stop shopping. Visit clarkart.edu or tanglewood.org or phone the Clark’s box office at 413 458 0524. 

 This summer the Clark presents Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence, an exhibition exploring the early abstract work of iconic American painter Georgia O’Keeffe and the great modernist painter Arthur Dove. O’Keeffe has long been the subject of fascination by critics and art lovers alike, and this exhibition (exclusive to the Clark) adds a new chapter to the ongoing interest in her work. Through the Seasons: Japanese Art in Nature will be presented in Stone Hill Center. Both exhibitions open on June 7.

 Also at the Clark are free summer band concerts on Tuesday evenings in July. In August you can enjoy a series of chamber music concerts on Tuesday evenings; purchase  your tickets early as the series sold out last summer. A robust schedule of lectures, films, and events completes an exciting summer at the Clark.

Way the Heck Off-Broadway Theater Co.

Presents

at

Colonial Theater

Bonnie Gable as Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein on Friday, May 8 at 7:00pm

Amy Judd as Fanny Kemble: Unyielding Spirit Saturday, May 9 at 8:00pm

Barbara Sims in The Life of Emily Dickenson Sunday, May 10 at 2:00pm

The Colonial Theater is in Pittsfield a short drive from Brook Farm Inn.  Ticckets are $20 for adults, $15 for students/seniors.  Call 413 997 4444

We were delighted to be mentioned in this past Sunday’s Boston Globe, in Jan Gardner’s “Shelf Life” column.  See http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2009/04/26/a_fighting_chance/

We’ve long been fans of Ms. Gardner’s column, where she mentions book picks and literary events that you otherwise might not know about.  She has mentioned the poetry event, “The Four Seasons of Edna St. Vincent Millay,” which will take place at 3:00 on Saturday, May 16th, at Brook Farm Inn in Lenox Massachusetts.  For more information, go to www.brookfarm.com.

BEETHOVEN AND SHOSTAKOVICH TRIOSADAM NEIMAN, piano 
STEFAN MILENKOVICH, violin

YEHUDA HANANI, cello

“Beethoven supports the ancient conception of art, providing catharsis, while Shostakovich challenges it, providing a mirror to a reign of terror,” says Hanani. “Beethoven aims for a triumph of the spirit, while Shostakovich bears witness to the destruction of the spirit. One piece ends with a tremendous affirmation, the other fades with a disturbing question mark and no resolution in sight. These are two utterly different visions of life, history, human existence.”

Close Encounters continues its tradition of commentary before the performance and of inviting the entire audience to a reception to meet the artists immediately following the performance at the “Afterglow.” 

Tickets at $35 and $10 for students are available at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center box office, 413.528.0100, or at www.mahaiwe.org; and through Close Encounters With Music at 800-843-0778 or at www.cewm.org .

This weekend is going to be warm and sunny in the Berkshires, and there’s lots to do.  Here are some theater performances, all of which are just minutes from Brook Farm Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts:

“Moonchildren” at Simon’s Rock College, Great Barrington, 413-644-4235

“Doubt” at Barrington Stage Co.’s Stage 2, Pittsfield, 413-443-9279

“A Tennessee Williams Menagerie,” Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge.  Presented by Aglet Theatre Co., 860-435-6928.