Transcript
Page 1: The Artful Mind artzine. June 2015

ACTORJayne Atkinson PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANE FELDMAN

JUNE 2015 MONTHLY BERKSHIRE ARTZINE THE SOURCE FOR PROMOTING ART SINCE 1994

THE ARTFUL MIND

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JANE [email protected]

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JENNIFER PAZIENZA

Summer Skies Oil on Canvas 96 x 144 in

[email protected] http://jenniferpazienza.com/

Saint Francis Gallery1370 Pleasant Street, Route 102, Lee, MA (next to the fire dept.)

413. 717.5199 Open Friday - Monday 10 - 5pm www.saintfrancisgallery.com

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the Artful Gallery of Marilyn kalish Interview Harryet Candee

Photos: Leah Sati... 15

Planet Waves JUne 2015Eric Francis.....19

simply sasha recipe for JUneSasha Seymour...19

Contributing Writers, Proofreading, Monthly Columnists

Eunice Agar, Richard Britell, Eric Francis, Kris Galli,Sasha Seymour, Amy Tanner

Photographers Edward Acker, Lee Everett, Jane Feldman Sabine von Falken, Leah Sati, Alison Wedd

Publisher Harryet Candee

Copy Editor Marguerite Bride

Advertising and Graphic Design Harryet Candee

Mailing Address: Box 985, Great Barrington, MA 01230

[email protected] 854 4400

ALL MAteriAL due the 10th of the month prior to publication

FYI: ©Copyright laws in effect throughout The Artful Mind for logo & all graph-ics including text material. Copyright laws for photographers and writersthroughout The Artful Mind. Permission to reprint is required in all instances. Inany case the issue does not appear on the stands as planned due to unforeseeablecircumstances beyond our control, advertisers will be compensated on a one toone basis. Disclaimer rights available upon request. Serving the Art communitywith the intention of enhancing communication and sharing positive creativity inall aspects of our lives. We at The Artful Mind are not responsible for any copy-rights of the artists, we only interview them about the art they create.

JUne 2015

tHe ArtfUL MinDArtzine

A canvas is blank only until you set your eyes upon it.

JAyne AtkinsOn ACTORTHE BERKSHIRES

Embracing the Sacred Calling of Acting & Motherhood

INTERVIEW BY JENNIFER BROWDYPHOTOGRAPHS BY

JANE FELDMAN ...10

tHe MUsiC stOreWhat better way to celebrate spring’s departure than to gift

yourself and those you love with MUSIC!The Music Store’s Fifteenth Year in business in Great Bar-

rington has proven many things! We enjoy helping the commu-nity, near and far to make music which has been an enjoyableand productive enterprise for us. And we look forward to con-tinuing this mission into the second half of our second decade.We offer wonderful musical instruments and accessories at com-petitive pricing.

We have a good time serving our community, her musiciansand music lovers. Come see some of the fun . . .

Composite Acoustic guitars (the forever guitar!) and theirpeerless travel guitar, the Cargo, a favorite of our own Dr. Easy,David Reed, made of carbon graphite and impervious to mostchanges of temperature and humidity. You can see it often inhis hands in performance locally and abroad.

Guild Guitars - Light, powerful, affordable.TERRIFIC UKULELES! 50+ DIFFERENT models: So-

prano, Concert, Tenor and Baritone, acoustic and acoustic/elec-tric, six string, resonator, the Maccaferri-like Makala WatermanUke (made all of plastic for easy portability almost anywhere!)and the remarkable U-Bass! You might even hear Dr. Easy playa banuke!

How about a Cordoba Cuatro? Or a Kala Tenor Guitar?Experience Steel Singing Drums (tongue drums with

panache!!) Or a West African Djembe with a SMASHING carry bag?

Or another Dr. Easy favorite, the Klong Yaw!Try Takamine for a guitar to suit almost any budget (Lim-

ited Editions and GREAT SALES, too)! Dr. Easy can tell youabout his.

ALVAREZ GUITARS - Celebrating their 50th year withBEAUTIFULLimited Editions!

Breedlove - beautiful, American, sustainable. And so manymore brands and types, including Luthier Handmade Instru-ments from $150-$5000 . . . .

Ever heard of Dr. Easy’s Drunk Bay Cigar Boxes?Acoustic/electric cigar box guitars, exquisitely made, whichbring the past into the present with a delightful punch, acousti-cally AND plugged in!

Harmonicas, in (almost) every key (try a Suzuki Hammond‘Mouth Organ’).

Picks (exotic, too!), strings (!!), sticks and reeds.Violins, Mandolins, Dulcimers, Banjos, and Banjo Ukes!Handmade and international percussion instruments!Dreamy Native American and locally made bamboo and

wooden flutes and walking stick flutes!And there is more to delight the eyes, intrigue the ears and

bring warm joy to the heart!We remain your neighborhood music store, where advice and

help are free and music is the universal language. Working withlocal luthiers and repairmen we offer stringed and band instru-ment repair. And we just may have something you haven’t seenbefore (have you heard the Electric Cigar Box Guitars?). Wematch (or BEAT) many on-line prices for the merchandise thatwe sell, and do so IN PERSON, for the most part cheerfully(though we reserve the right to glower a little when asked if wecan ‘do better’ on the price of a pick!)!

Come and see us soon and help us celebrate our 15th year!!!Your patronage helps the community and makes it a more tune-ful and happy place! Cheers!

The Music Store, located at 87 Railroad Street in Great Bar-rington, is open Wednesdays through Saturdays and by appoint-ment. Call us at 413-528-2460, or visit us on line atwww.themusicstoreplus.com Happy playing in the musicalBerkshire SUMMER!

Artist Jennifer PAzienzA

Jennifer Pazienza’s paintings, writes Curator Tom Smart,“trace a deeply meditative process. They are formed from herintention to interpret her experience of the landscape around herhome and studio on and to probe her place within it. While herpaintings reflect solutions to painterly problems she sets herselfin her artistic practice, they are also responses to the poetry ofplace and an inner landscape.” The diptych Summer Skies, a 96in. x 144 in. oil painting from her series Landscape, Love &Longing is one such painting and is part of a group exhibitionat the Saint Francis Gallery in South Lee, MA this summer.About it Smart writes, “Working through the landscapes Jenniferexplores her own myths and histories, the intuitive process, andan emotional connection to the world around her that is directand intense; subjective and expressive; painterly, ephemeral yetprofoundly human. In her hands and through her art, paradoxesand opposites are synthesized, and reimagined in new forms. Inthe new congruency that is her art, the land becomes more thanthe particular objective. It is a gloss through which reality is re-newed and the eternal might be glimpsed.”

Jennifer Pazienza’s work is held in Public and CorporateCollections in the Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotiaand in numerous private collections throughout the US, Canadaand Italy.

Website: http://jenniferpazienza.com/ Email: [email protected]

Magical Realism, Group Show @ the St. Francis Gallery,South Lee, MA. (Next to the Fire Station) 3 July - 4 August withan artist reception Saturday 11 July, 3-6pm. 413.717.5199

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tHe ArtfUL MinD JUne 2015 •3

visual art510 WArren street GALLeryHUDSON, NY • 518-822-0510 / 510WARRENSTREETGALLERY.COM"June Invitational 2015" recent work by DIANE FIRTELL,SHELLEY MARKS, SUSAN LEROY MERILL, HONEY SHARP, May 29 - June 21.

BerksHire MUseUM39 SOUTH ST., PITTSFIELD, MA • 413-443-7171HU RENYI, Immortal Present: Art and East Asia. Representedby Brill Gallery, North Adams, MA. Thru Sept, 2015.

CAtALICHTENSTEIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield, MA • 413 528-5485“I AM A Part of Art” celebration of CATA’s visual artists andwriters. Reception July 9, 5pm.

eUniCe AGArPresentation of Painting - 146 Barrington Fair - l988 by EuniceAgar to the Town of Great Barrington, Selectmen's Meeting, June8, 7pm.

frOnt street GALLery129 FRONT ST., HOUSATONIC, MA • 413-274-6607 / 413-528-9546, OR CELL AT 413-429-7141Housatonic Gallery for students and artists. Featuring watercolorsby Kate Knapp (Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment)

GALLery At r&f exHiBit84 TEN BROECK AVE, KINGSTON, NY • 800-206-8088Encaustic/Form II Works by Susan Spencer Crowe.May 2-July 24, 2015.

GOOD PUrPOse GALLery40 MAIN ST., LEE, MA • 413-394-5045 www.goodpurpose.orgArtist Michael Fabrizio and Mary EllenDevanny, June 4 - 29. Reception June 5, 5-7pm.

HOUsAtOniC VALLey Art LeAGUe79 BRIDGE ST., IN GREAT BARRINGTON, MA• www.hvart.org Opening July 1, reception July 3, the Annual Members Show willstart the summer off with over 100 works on display. The HVALprestigious Juried Show follows beginning on July 22. The JuriedShow reception and award ceremonies will be held on July 24.Mid-August will see the Artist’s Choice Show August 17-LaborDay with the opening reception August 21

LAUren CLArk fine Art25 RAILROAD STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA• 413-528-0432 / www.LaurenClarkFineArt.com; [email protected] from SPAZI, July 11-Aug 2, reception Sat. July 11, 4-7pm

MArGUerite BriDeNUARTS STUDIOS, STUDIO #9, 311 NORTH ST., PITTSFIELD, MAMARGEBRIDE-PAINTINGS.COM • 413-841-1659Original Watercolors, house portraits, commissions, lessons.Silent auction at the Welles Gallery, Lenox Library; July 3, 4, and5 – Berkshires Arts Festival at Butternut Mountain in Great Bar-rington

MeetinG HOUse GALLery RT. 57, NEW MARLBOROUGH, MA (NEAR THE OLD INN ON THE GREEN)NEW MARLBOROUGH 18th SEASON ARTISTS SHOW: FineLines: A Juried Show of Drawings, June 20 through July 12 &Juried by Jacob Fossum; Idols and Icons: a multimedia themeshow, runs July 25 -August 23; The New Marlborough ArtistsShow runs August 29 - October 4. Hours: Fridays, Saturdays &Sundays 11-4:00pm

MOrrisOn GALLery8 OLD BARN RD., KENT, CT • 860-927-4501Don Gummer on Broadway, NYC, thru October 2015

sCHAntz GALLeries3 ELM ST, STOCKBRIDGE, MA • 413-298-3044schantzgalleries.com A destination for those seeking premier artists working in glass.

sCOtt tAyLOrSTATIONERY FACTORY, 63 FLANSBURG AVE. DALTON MA. • 413-443-4660Scotttaylorpaintings.com / [email protected] “Into the Woods”on view.

tHe eMPOriUM319 MAIN ST, GT BARRINGTON, MA • 413-528-1660www.EmporiumGB.comAmy Cohen Banker, featured artist for the month.

tHe HOtCHkiss LiBrAry10 UPPER MAIN ST, SHARON, CT • 860-5041 www.karenlesage.comSolo exhibit of new work by artist Karen LeSage from July 1through August 31. A reception will be held on Saturday, July 11from 4-6:00pm

st. frAnCis GALLeryRTE. 102, SOUTH LEE, JUST 2 MI FROM THE RED LION INN“The Naked Truth” exhibition with artist Paul Solovay June 12 -June 29. Reception June 13, 4-7pm; Opening July 3: “The Magicof Realism”. Hours: Friday thru Monday 10-5pm

WenDy rABinOWitz:LiVinG tHreADs JUDAiCATHE WELLES GALLERY OF THE LENOX LIBRARY18 MAIN STREET,LENOX,MAJudaic Weaving/Mixed-Media Artworks. Exhibit July 17-Aug 13YAHI OR: LET THERE BE LIGHT Reception: Thursday, July23, 3-5 pm

eventsBerksHires Arts festiVALSKI BUTTERNUT, RTE 23, GT. BARRINGTON, MA • 854-355-2400200 jury selected artists & designers. Fri July 3, 10-6pm, Sat July4, 10-6pm, Sun July 5, 10-5pm

music/theatreAstOn MAGnA MUsiC festiVALDANIEL ARTS CENTER, BARD COLLEGE AT SIMON’S ROCKGT. BARRINGTON, MA • 888-492-1283 / ASTONMAGNA.ORGSaturday, June 20, “Monteverdi’s Warring Lovers,” operaticmadrigals sung by soprano Dominique Labelle, and tenors FrankKelley and William Hite

MAHAiWe PerfOrMinG Arts Cneter14 CASTLE ST., GT. BARRINGTON, MA • 413-528-0100Paul Taylor Dance Company, July 9-July 12, 8pm , Pink Martini,Monday, July 13 at 8pm, Don McLean, Saturday, August 8, 8pm

workshops/classesBerksHire festiVAL Of WOMen WritersBERKSHIREWOMENWRITERS.ORG / [email protected] Butterfly Effect: Be the Change. Live the Change. Love theChange. July 20 – 24, The Mount, Lenox.

sABine VOn fALkenPHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS • 413-298-4933 www.sabinephotoart.com, [email protected] one on one workshops, scheduled throughout thewinter months: BEHIND THE CAMERA - Sabine’s eye for detailprovides the students with everlasting creative tools. Explore thebeauty of patterns, textures, layers, depth of detail in the real. Par-ticipants learn how natural light can create dramatic or lyrical im-ages. Designed for the serious learner who is interested inimproving her/his skills. The hope is to concentrate on the artisticand critical eye. You are asked to bring a digital SLR camera. thruSept 21, 2015

Send in Calendar listings no later than the 10th of the [email protected]

in print and also online at

issUU.COM

ARTFUL CALENDAR JUNE 2015

norman rockwell Museum, rte 183, stockbridge, MA • 413-298-4100"We the Peoples: norman rockwell’s United nations" to Open June 29 at United nations Visitor Center in new york City. norman rockwell Museum commemorates

70th Anniversary of United nations through exhibition of rockwell’s Humanitarian Works

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EUNICE AGAR

146 Barrington Fair, 1988, oil on linen, 24 x 36, 2015

Painting commissioned by the artist’s supporters fordonation to the Town of Great Barrington

UNVEILING, June 8, 7 PM

Selectmen’s Meeting, Town Hall

AMY COHEN BANKER

It is my pleasure to exhibit new small works at the emporium, Main street, Great Barrington,Mass.

June 1-30, 2015 Amycohenbanker.com

Amy Cohen Banker resident and artist Massachusetts and New York City.

FRONT ST. GALLERYhOuSATONic, mA 01236

presentsrecent WorK

Patti allessue arkans

Joan burkhardnancy ghitmanroberta haasMaron Jansen

barbara lafereleanor lord

Marybeth MerrittJeannine schoeffer

doris simon

may 30 - june 28, 2015opening reception

saturday, june 6 • 3 - 6 pm

gallery hours sat. & sun 12-5 PMor by aPPointMent

gallery 413-274-6607 • hoMe 413-528-9546eMail [email protected]

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ARTIST eLeAnOr LOrD

510 WARREN STREET, HUDSON, NY WWW.510WArrenstreetGALLery.COM

518-822-0510

complete schedule: www.saintfrancisgallery.com413.717. 5199 open fri-mon 10-5 pm

Saint Francis Gallery1370 Pleasant street. route 102 LEE. MA (next to fire dept.)

A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION OF TRUTH AND DARE (WITH THE HELP OF BARBIE & KEN) BY PAUL SOLOVAY

JUNE 12 - 29THARTIST’S RECEPTION JUNE 13 4PM - 7PM

the hotchkiss library of sharon, ctPresents

k a r e n l e s a g e

high July, 44” x 56” oil on canvas, 2015.

neW PaintingsJuly 1 - august 31

reception: saturday, July 11 4:00-6:00

the hotchkiss library, 10 upper Main street, sharon, ct. open 7 days. 860.364.5014 www.hotchkisslib.org

www.karenlesage.com Gallery suppports creative humanitarian work in Kenya

lauren clark fine art25 railroad St., great Barrington, ma

413. 528. [email protected] www.laurenclarkfineart.com

Six From SpaziCynthia AtwoodRichard Britell

Reggie MadisonGeoffrey Moss

Gabrielle SenzaJoe Wheaton

JuLy 11 through auguSt 2reCeption For the artiStS

Saturday, July 11 • 4-7 pm

Lauren CLark Fine artPRESENTS

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Artists can color the sky red because they know it’s blue. Those of us who aren’t artists must colorthings the way they really are or people might

think we’re stupid.

~Jules Feiffer

Thanks to the ever-expanding, enterprising efforts of musi-cologists, instrument builders and adventuresome musicians, theworld of “early music” gets wider, deeper and earlier with eachpassing year, despite its supposed chronological limits. Moreand more musicians are experimenting with historically appro-priate instruments, thanks to pioneering programs at conserva-tories, colleges and museums. Craftsmen are using historicalmodels to build excellent copies of wind, string and percussioninstruments, even as they are restoring some the best older in-struments, refitting them for longevity while revealing their orig-inal sonic character. Scholars are discovering long-lost music inlibraries, churches, and private collections, and making themeasily available to musicians online, and thus to enthusiastic au-diences worldwide. Collected editions of better-known musicare giving us all a sense of the truly awesome scope of com-posers like J. S. Bach, his son C.P.E. Bach, Monteverdi, Rameau,Marais, Vivaldi, Purcell and many others.

Bach’s greatness is underlined and better appreciated whenwe hear his contemporaries’ music alongside the master’s. Mon-teverdi’s very modern take on love, war and realpolitick - nowso easily available for listening - is proving revelatory, helpingus to better understand the very historically conscious and self-conscious 17th century. Monteverdi illuminates what haschanged with time passing, and more importantly, what hasn’t.His music keeps us from being chronologically provincial, fromthinking we have necessarily progressed in our perceptions andsensitivities through the centuries. We are indeed the benefici-aries of what came before us, and never has the past been soavailable than to us. But its too-easy access too often renders usblasé. Our sense of recent technological advances blinds us tothe sophistication of human thought and ingenuity of the past.

Hearing great music is one way to counter our indifferenceand lack of historical perspective. For me it has offered a win-dow into mythology, religion (Christianity, Islam and earlierPagan thought, as well as my own inherited Judaism), notionsof ceremony and the eternal human aspects of wonder, love andsadness.

Each summer it is my goal of the Aston Magna Music Festivalto present a wide range of music from the late Renaissancethrough the early romantic eras. Our mission involves period in-struments and vocal styles, but that supposed delimitation hasproved to be an inspiring expander of thought and discovery.This was a golden age of my instrument, the violin (its music aswell as its physical development). But it was an equally fertiletime for singers, wind and keyboard players. As more and moreof the past’s music comes to light, our perceptions become richerand more suggestive of a possible future.

The labels that we give to past epochs (“Baroque,” “Rococo,”“Classical,” “Romantic”) help us parse our historical percep-tions. But just as today’s music is a jumble of popular and com-plex styles, music of the past was a spaghetti-tangle of styles,usages and purposes. Music that has survived persevered for var-ious reasons: demand for repeated performance, publicity, pub-lication, etc. More telling, though, are those mysterious,unquantifiable musical qualities – say, of Monteverdi’s Orfeo,Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Brahms’s Lullaby, Barber’sAdagio — which catch our ear and emotions, and speak to ourcollective consciousness.

Aston Magna’s opening weekend, June 18-20, features musicof Monteverdi, including madrigals for two tenors, the affectingLamento della ninfa (with soprano Dominique Labelle), and thedramatic setting of Tasso’s Combattimento di Tancredi eClorinda – an early study in Middle Eastern culture clash, setamidst the 11th Century Crusades. Our Saturday afternoon pro-gram precedes the Boston Early Music Festival’s MonteverdiVespers and Orfeo concerts, all in Great Barrington.

Our second weekend, June 25-27, is made up of characterpieces for viola da gamba and continuo (here the theorbo) byMarin Marais, and dance movements graced by two dancers andnarrator illuminating the steps, costumes and implied mores ofLouis XIV’s world.

The penultimate weekend, July 2-4, features Schubert’s won-derful Octet for strings, clarinet, bassoon and horn; plus an oboequintet by Boccherini, and Mozart’s arrangements of MagicFlute arias for instrumental duos.

Our season finale, July16-18, features Vivaldi’s The FourSeasons - four dazzling violin concertos inspired by Vivaldi’sown sonnets, and presented this summer with four different vi-olin soloists, plus a recitation of those sonnets, and projectionsof pertinent artwork. This program begins with a Bach cantataand a lament by one of Bach’s own favorite uncles.

Please join us in our forward-looking perusal of the past.Daniel Stepner is Artistic Director of the Aston Magna Music

Festival, which runs from June 18-July 18: Thursdays at Slos-berg Auditorium, Brandeis University; Fridays at Olin Hall,Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson; Saturdays in Great Bar-rington MA at Daniel Arts Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock,and The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Information: www.astonmagna.org

AstOn MAGnA MUsiC festiVAL 43RD SEASON

A most wonderful placeto meet, eat and drink!

R T E 2 0 , N E W L E B A N O N , N Y

Phot

o: Ja

ne f

eldm

an

frOnt st. GALLeryreCent WOrk through June 28 featuring eleven stu-dents. Opening June 6, 3 - 6pm. Come join us!

Pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors…..abstract and repre-sentational…..landscapes, still lifes and portraits….a unique va-riety of painting technique and styles….you will be transportedto another world and see things in a way you never have be-fore…. join us and experience something different.

Painting classes continue on Monday and Wednesday morn-ings 10-1:30pm at the studio and Thursday mornings out in thefield. These classes are open to all...come to one or come againif it works for you. All levels and materials welcome.

Classes at Front Street are for those wishing to learn, thosewho just want to be involved in the pure enjoyment of art, and/orthose who have some experience under their belt.

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

Kate Knapp’s paintings are also on display at 510 Warren St.Gallery in Hudson, NY. Please stop by to see all the many worksof art by exceptional artists.

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

ART WORK BY KATE KNAPP

SOPRANO, DOMINIqUE LABELLE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, DANIEL STEPNER

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GOOD PUrPOse GALLery Spring into Summer with The Good Purpose Gallery. The Good Purpose Gallery makes a SPLASH with the mag-

nificent art of Michael Fabrizio and Mary Ellen Devanny. Thisstunning abstract show will be exhibited in the Gallery fromJune 4 until June 29.

Michael Fabrizio’s paintings are “despite their abstract nature,representative of the dialog we all have with living, of the con-tact between us and our world. They are an art made of manymoments of observations of life, long and short, sweet and sting-ing. They are a collection of impressions, messages from livingand thoughts from the heart. They represent expressions and im-pressions of my reaction, wonder and interaction with myworld”.

Mary Ellen Devanny’s “motivation to live through her artwas derived based on her own environment with strong influ-ence from every person who created something. She particu-larly follows and remains influenced by the abstractExpressionists of the 40’s and 50’s for theircourage to break a traditional mold and “follow”.She thrives on the work of artists who breakthrough any mold of tradition and has courage tobe different.”

SPLASH opens on June 4 with a reception onFriday June 5 from 5-7pm. All are invited for LiveMusic, Refreshments and h’orderves. Good Purpose Gallery - 40 Main Street, Lee MA,Gallery hours: 9:00 am to 3:00pm [email protected], 413-394-5045.

neW MArLBOrOUGHArtists sHOW

MeetinG HOUse GALLeryThis summer the Meeting House Gallery celebrates its 18th

season of showcasing regional art. Located on Rt. 57 in NewMarlborough near the Old Inn on the Green, the gallery willpresent the work of over fifty artists in three exciting exhibi-tions.

Fine Lines: A Juried Show of Drawings, June 20 throughJuly 12 is the Gallery’s first show devoted exclusively to draw-ing. Participating are many returning artists as well as artistswho are showing in the Gallery for the first time. Juried byJacob Fossum, artist and drawing instructor of Bard College atSimon’s Rock, this show features both traditional and nontra-ditional mediums.

Idols and Icons, a multimedia theme show, runs July25through August 23. Some of the thirty artists taking up the chal-lenge of this theme in mediums that range from wood , and fab-ric through paint and photography are: Ann Getsinger, JoanGriswold, Pat Hogan, Maria Gay, Elmer Orobio, Anthony Nord-off, Barbara Mulholland, Lucinda Tavernise and Lee Backer.

The New Marlborough Artists Show runs August 29 throughOctober 4. This is a showcase for a limited number of talentedlocal artists to show a larger number of works. Chosen this yearare: Abbe Steinglass, Jennifer Ellwood, Holly McNeely, BrianMikesell, James Singelis, Timothy Sleeper, Walter Simons andHope Schreiber. Gallery open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 - 4:00.

kAren LesAGeHOtCHkiss LiBrAry

The Hotchkiss Library in Sharon, CT will host a solo exhibitof new work by artist Karen LeSage from July 1 through August31. A reception will be held on Saturday, July 11 from 4:00-6:00.

The new exhibit continues LeSage’s tradition of large, at-mospheric, minimal landscapes in luminous colors. Of themshe says, “This work explores the territory between landscapepainting and minimalist color-field painting. The BerkshireMountains continually inspire. They provide color displays thatchange by the season, the day, the hour.”

LeSage was formerly represented by Sanford Smith Fine Arton Railroad Street in Great Barrington, where she was their top-selling artist for the past four years. The gallery closed in De-cember 2014. “I am extremely grateful to Jill Bokor and LauraReid for introducing my work to countless collectors who lovethe same region I do.”

LeSage was born in eastern Connecticut and studied at Mas-sachusetts College of Art in Boston. She lived and worked inNew York for over a decade before moving to the hills of Litch-field, CT. Her sold-out shows and regional recognition havesince evolved into a growing following throughout the US andCanada.

The Hotchkiss Library, 10 Upper Main Street, Sharon, CT.860-364-5041. Open 7 days. Call or check website for hours.hotchkisslib.org Artist’s website: www.karenlesage.com

ANTHONY NORDOFF

MARY ELLEN DEVANNY

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sAint frAnCis GALLeryPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGINATION

Opening in June will be a collection of refreshing and imag-inative photographic work that is bound to stimulate conversa-tion and interest.

Central to the gallery is “The Naked Truth” a simple but am-bitious series created by Paul Solovay. Provocative social com-mentary and relevant questions are artfully delivered withnostalgia and wit. It is a series of narratives and memoriesrecorded in a way to generate conversation and surprise; afterall they are just Barbie, Ken and their friends whom we allknow. All of these photographs and work he has previously dis-played in the gallery are masterfully executed and of high qual-ity demonstrating his skills as a photographer, his eye, hisimagination and in this series his sense of humor. Listening toPaul as he describes these photographs it is easy to feel the joyand the creative energy involved in bringing them to life. Peoplewho have seen his previous works in the gallery can still re-member his ability to capture light, movement and the joy ofpeople in celebration to its fullest. Because of this beautiful skillPaul’s previous work will be featured in the Berkshire GatewayJazz Festival at the Lee Congregational Church throughout theconcert hall this June as well. This is especially fitting becausethey visually capture the sound of the music that dances in hiswork and captures the essence of the soul of jazz itself.

Echoing the same creative process will be work by otherlocal photographers and artists also on display in the gallery.The works of all of the gallery artists contain an energy that canbest be described as beautifully intoxicating and yet so variedin their execution.

All of the work will be on display from June 12 thru June 29with a reception for the Solovay exhibit June 13 from 4-7pm.

Opening July 3 will be The Magic of Realism—beautifullyexecuted works that echo the talents of old masters but also con-tain a mesmerizing mystery within each painting that will keepyou exploring each one.

Please come and enjoy…The gallery is open Friday thruMonday from 10am to 5pm …with profits supporting the artsand creative humanitarian work in Kenya as well.

St. Francis Gallery - Rte. 102, South Lee just 2 miles eastfrom the Red Lion Inn. Gallery hours: Friday thru Monday 10-5pm.

LeADersHiP institUte TEEN GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN

BERKSHIRE FESTIVAL OFWOMEN WRITERS THIS SUMMER

This July, girls and young women ages 13 – 18 will have achance to create community, write from the heart, speak theirtruths and step into their potential as a leaders on the issues theycare about at a new writing-intensive leadership institute led byfounding Festival director Jennifer Browdy, Ph.D., and collegesenior Grace Rossman.  

The program, called “The Butterfly Effect,” will give girlsthe tools, strategies and confidence they need to step into lead-ership roles as they pursue their interests and passions. It willbe held at The Mount in Lenox July 20 - 24 from 1 - 5 p.m.

“We’re invoking the image of the butterfly both as a symbolof transformation, and because of the saying that the wind fromone butterfly’s wings can change the world,” says Dr. Browdy,a professor of literature, writing and media studies at Bard Col-lege at Simon’s Rock. “Our aim is to awaken teen girls andyoung women to the power of their own voices, both writtenand spoken, and to give them techniques they can take out intothe world to make a difference on issues they care about. Andto have fun doing it, too!” 

The weeklong summer program will be a springboard fornew monthly Leadership Circles for teen girls and youngwomen, to be held under the Festival banner at different loca-tions in the county during the 2015-2016 school year. The Fes-tival will also be inaugurating a new Berkshire Festival ofWomen Writers Teen Advisory Council in the coming year, tohelp plan events by and for girls and young women.

The program cost is $500; some full and partial scholarshipsavailable.  

Applications, due by June 21, 2015, available at Berkshirewomenwriters.org 

HOUsAtOniC VALLeyArt LeAGUe

SUMMER SHOWS IN GT. BARRINGTONThe HVAL, one of the largest and oldest regional art leagues

in the Berkshires, will host three major art shows this summerin the old Searles school gym, at 79 Bridge St., in GreatBarrington. After many years in Sheffield at Dewey Hall,the gym, across the street from the Co-op Market, willbe the backdrop for this season’s shows thanks to the gen-erosity of Jane Iredale, who donated the use of the space.

Opening on July 1, with the reception on July 3, theAnnual Members Show, will start the summer off, withover 100 works on display.

The HVAL prestigious Juried Show follows beginningon July 22. This show will feature both HVAL memberand non-member artists in the area whose submissionshave passed the scrutiny of the show’s judges. The JuriedShow reception and award ceremonies will be held onJuly 24.

Mid-August will see the Artist’s Choice Show – anunlimited series of individual selections by the artiststhemselves, and will run from August 17 through LaborDay with the opening reception on August 21.

The Gallery exhibition and sale has no entrance fee,the space is handicap accessible and families are encour-aged to come and visit the shows. Everyone is invited tomeet the artists and join in for some refreshments at theopening receptions. Opening hours are Sun. – Thurs.,11am until 5pm, Fri. & Sat., 11am until 7pm.

Besides putting on exhibitions, the Housatonic ValleyArt League sponsors workshops, demonstrations and lec-tures for it’s members, offers grants to art programs inarea high schools, and is a strong promoter for the cre-ation and appreciation of visual arts.

Housatonic Valley Art League - for more informationabout the League, visit their web site: www.hvart.org, orFacebook page:www.facebook.com/HousatonicValleyArtLeague

HANS HEUBERGER, SENTINEL

NINA RITSON, BEHIND THE BARN, ETCHING

ROBERT HOUGHTON

PAUL SOLOVOY, PHOTOGRAPH

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THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2015 • 9

sABine PHOtO ArtPhotographic one on one workshops, scheduled throughout

the Spring and Summer months:BeHinD tHe CAMerAMay 1-september 21, 2015

Sabine’s eye for detail provides the students with everlastingcreative tools. Explore the beauty of patterns, textures, layers,depth of detail in the real. Participants learn how natural lightcan create dramatic or lyrical images. Designed for the seriouslearner who is interested in improving her/his skills. The hopeis to concentrate on the artistic and critical eye. You are askedto bring a digital SLR camera.

A published and collected fine art photographer, she has anumber of specialties. One of these is a focus on commercialand editorial portraiture, collaborating with professionals to pro-vide their publishers / labels with an image portfolio. Sabine’stalent lies in both choosing the location and working with thesubtleties of lighting. Her eye for the “Yes Moment” results intimeless imagery. She has the talent to bring introspection to theart of life style photography. She is the interviewer, catalyst andimage-maker. Her INSIDE and OUT studio is located in Stock-bridge, MA.

Signed books: “WOODLAND STYLE” and “ SHELLCHIC “, M. H. Marshall, published by Storey, all photographyby sabine. She is a member of ASMP, The International Centerof Photography ICP, and the Wedding Photojournalist Associa-tion, WPJA.

Sabine Vollmer von Falken - For more detailed infoplease contact Sabine Vollmer von Falken Photography [email protected] tel. 413-298-4933.

MArGUerite BriDeBERKSHIRE SCENES IN WATERCOLOR

Marguerite Bride will be displaying a wide assortment ofBerkshire-themed original paintings and fine art limited editionreproductions at the Berkshires Arts Festival July 3, 4, 5 on But-ternut Mountain in Great Barrington. This is Bride’s first timeever exhibiting in this popular outdoor/indoor art and fine craftshow. This is a juried show, with over 185 exhibitors; more in-formation can be found at their website www.berkshireartsfes-tival.com.

Bride will also be exhibiting some of her works at the Berk-shire Gateway Jazz Weekend on Saturday June 20. This art showis just part of the festivities, and more information about all con-certs and exhibits can be found at their website: www.berkshire-gatewayjazz.com.

Can’t get to the shows? Fine art reproductions and note cardsof her Berkshire images and others at Red Lion Inn Gift Shop(Stockbridge), Lenox Print and Mercantile (Lenox), St. FrancisGallery (South Lee), Hancock Shaker Village (Hancock) andBride’s studio at NUarts Studios. Seasonal scenes of Bride’spaintings are always on display in the public areas of theCrowne Plaza in Pittsfield. Visits to Bride’s studio to see origi-nals are by appointment and are always welcome…just call oremail.

Commissions for vacation and house portraits are welcomeat any time. It’s not too soon to think about 2015 holi-day gift giving.

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

CAtA Community Access to the Arts (CATA) presents “I Am a Part

of Art,” a celebration of CATA’s visual artists and writers. Themonth-long exhibit at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts inPittsfield features over 115 works of art created by artists withdisabilities from Berkshire County. The opening reception,which is free and open to the public, is Thursday, July 9 from 5p.m. to 7 p.m.

“This art show is the culmination of the program year forCATA’s many visual artists, who have been developing theirartistry in workshops in painting, drawing, and sculpture all yearlong. CATA’s exhibit at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is atremendous opportunity for us to share this vibrant work withthe public, and to realize CATA’s mission of shining a light onthe capabilities of people with disabilities,” reflects CATA Ex-ecutive Director Margaret Keller.

The exhibit includes a variety of media such as acrylic, tem-pera, watercolor, oil and chalk pastel, charcoal, India ink, andmixed media, and features abstract and representational paint-ings and drawings. CATA artists receive a commission on allworks sold, and proceeds will also support CATA visual artsprograms. CATA visual arts faculty members are artists in theirown right: Jeff Gagnon, Pat Hogan, Marlene Marshall, JaniceShields, Stefanie Weber, and Michael Wolski.

CATA offers a wide range of visual and performing artsworkshops, serving 600 people with disabilities in 38 resi-dences, day programs, and schools throughout BerkshireCounty as well as in CATA’s studio space in Great Barrington.

CATA will also hold a poetry reading on Friday, July 24th at5 p.m. that includes selected works from CATA’s Writers Work-shop. Three writing faculty rotate throughout the year to offerCATA’s writers with disabilities a rich and varied experience increative writing and poetry.

“I Am a Part of Art” is made possible through the generosityof Berkshire Gas, Pittsfield Cultural Council, and individualCATA supporters. The exhibit runs through July 25th at the city-owned Lichtenstein Center for the Arts located at 28 Renne Av-enue in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District. It is openWednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information,visit communityaccesstothearts.org or call 413-528-5485.

Great Selection!-Shorts

-Pocket T-shirts-Pants

-Sweatshirts-Caps and more!

KORTNIE STONE, CROPPED FROM ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

MARGUERITE BRIDE, HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE, WATERCOLOR

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10 • JUNE 2015 THE ARTFUL MIND

the actor Jayne Atkinson lives in Great Barrington withher husband Michel Gill and son Jeremy Gill, both also ac-tors. Jayne has appeared in starring roles on and off-Broadway, including Our Town, Blithe Spirit, TheRainmaker and Enchanted April. Her feature film creditsinclude Free Willy, Free Willy 2 and Syriana. On televisionshe is known for her guest appearances on the hit seriesThe X-Files, Law and Order, Gossip Girl and White Col-lar. As a recurring character, she has played karen Hayeson the award-winning 24, erin strauss on CriminalMinds and, most recently, secretary of state Catherine Du-rant on the netflix original series House of Cards. she andMichel also frequently star in local productions at theBerkshire theatre festival.

in addition to acting, Jayne runs Jadana Productions,which specializes in entertainment development. she alsodirects, teaches acting students and coaches professionalsin public speaking and project presentation. in her sparetime, she loves to travel as well as to promote and fundraisefor women’s causes.

The Artful Mind caught up with Jayne recently to findout more about the woman behind the celebrity glamour.

First of all, Jayne, tell us about your childhood.  I was born in Bournemouth, England. My parents are English;my father worked for a butcher and my mother was a secretary.My father was in a little rock-n-roll band and my mother’s sis-ter was in the Royal Shakespeare Company, so we had theaterand music running through our veins. My parents were pio-neers and brought me and my sister to Connecticut when I wasone and a half. We moved to Long Island  and then to NorthMiami Beach, Florida, where I spent most of my childhood. 

My parents did community theater for fun together, so Iwas a theater rat; I would help my father run his lines and mymother learn her songs. I was the oldest of three daughters,and one year the whole family did “The Sound of Music” to-gether. I loved it!  I was the leader of the pack, and when myfather promised us a spot on the Merv Griffin show if we couldcome up with a good routine, we came up with a routine that,believe it or not, we still do sometimes at parties!

So it sounds like your parents were supportive of you goinginto show business as a career?My parents were my champions. They were behind me one-hundred-plus percent in pursuing an acting career. They leftthe UK with barely a penny in their pockets and two children,with another on the way. They didn’t have much support fromtheir own parents, and I guess they understood how importantthat was for them to give their children. They brought me tothe land of opportunity and when they saw that I was good atacting, they believed in me, as they believed in and supportedall their kids. There’s nothing quite like that kind of support.You can’t buy it; it has soul currency.  

When did you start performing regularly?In high school I had a wonderful mentor, Ron Krikac, whogave me the basics of acting.  He was quite the taskmaster buthe really knew how to seed me with important information andgrow my talent and encourage me. He stretched me: I playedyoung women and grandmothers, lead roles and side roles, hehad me play big and he had me play small. And then when Iwent to college at Northwestern, he was there too, getting aMaster’s degree, and he kept on mentoring me. 

Northwestern was a much bigger pond than I was used to,and I was scared, but he was there to tell me I could do it.  Iremember once I was supposed to audition for the role of apregnant mother, and I was afraid to do it because I didn’tknow anything about being a pregnant mother. Ron said, that’swhy you’re going to do it—because acting isn’t about whatyou know, it’s about what you’ll find out. And it’s all just pre-tend, and you’re just scared.  He helped me handle my fear offailure and understand that it wasn’t about getting the part, itwas about doing my best.  

I acted and sang and danced all through college. MeganMullally was at Northwestern at the same time I was there—she later starred on Will and Grace—and because of her Ididn’t pursue musical theater.  I just wasn’t as good at singingas she was, and that helped me because I was able to concen-

JAyne AtkinsOnEmbracing the Sacred Calling of

Acting and MotherhoodInterview by Jennifer Browdy Photography by Jane Feldman

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THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2015 • 11

trate on my acting. In the theater department at Northwestern,there were people who were good, but there was no one Icouldn’t match.

I hear a little of your competitive edge speaking there, canyou talk a bit about that?With acting, or any profession really, to be a success you needthat competitive edge, you need to feel like you’re the best inthe room. When I go to an audition, I take my competitive spiritand I use it to get what I want.  I’m totally focused at auditions,I’m not there to sit in a room and schmooze with people, I’mthere to do my best and get that job. 

The competitive spirit in me was always encouraged in apositive way.  As a kid I did track and high jump; my fatherwas very influential in teaching me how to jump high and runfast.  When I was a sophomore in high school I was the besthigh jumper in the school. I was even better than the boys. Iremember one day I beat the best boy in my class, and when Icame to school the next day none of the boys would talk to me.So at the next competition I twisted my ankle so badly Icouldn’t jump anymore, because it scared me to have the boysmad at me.

What about in theater?  Do you ever face that kind of un-friendly competition from male actors?In theater I haven’t had to deal with competition with men ex-cept for the question of parity in pay—there isn’t any.  For themost part, a man doing the same job as me, at the same levelas me, will get paid more.  I don’t know why.  I’m just gladMeryl Streep and Geena Davis are out there fighting for parityin pay for actors.  I hope in our lifetime we’re able to stop talk-ing about gender equality because it just becomes a non-issue—everyone is paid equally for their skill, and that’s it. It’sjust ridiculous to have it any other way. 

I have always had a strong personality. I don’t shy awayfrom making things happen, and I enjoy my successes.  I re-member in my senior year at Northwestern I wrote, directedand starred in a one-woman show about Flannery O’Connor.  Ididn’t understand her writing at all, but then I read her autobi-ography and just I fell in love with her humor and the way sheused language.  One of my favorite lines in the show was fromher autobiography; she developed lupus as a young woman,and when she described how she had to use crutches to walk,she said: “I shall henceforth be a structure with flying but-tresses.” The show was a big success, and it helped me engagewhat some might call my “masculine” side.  I was doing whatI loved and being respected and praised for it, and I was justhaving a great time.  When was I going to be more famous?  Iwas THE girl on campus, I was THE girl in the acting depart-ment.  It wasn’t a perfect show, but I did it, I made it, and thatexperience helped me take ownership of my career and believein my ability to be successful.  

A lot of successful people say it’s important to experience fail-ures along the way.  Do you agree?Oh yes.  That’s why I think acting on stage is so important, be-cause it teaches you to stomach imperfection.  On the stage,you just know something is going to go wrong—it has to!  Youhave to learn compassion for yourself when you fail, and infact, some of my greatest moments on stage have come fromfailure.

For example?I remember in college I was playing Phaedra in the Greektragedy; I had long flowing robes on, and there were these tallwinding stairs I had to walk down, and in one performance Ifell down the whole flight of stairs, just head over heels. WhenI got to the bottom I landed on my knees and looked out at theaudience and I just dared them to believe I hadn’t done it onpurpose. Nobody knew it wasn’t part of the show! I’m gettingsweaty just thinking about it, but my teacher said it was thetour de force of my performance. By making that mistake Ilearned how to be a queen: you fake it til you make it, and dareanyone to believe you haven’t done it on purpose! 

This is why I love the stage the most, because the stage ismost like life… things happen, you think you know whatyou’re doing and then suddenly the prop isn’t there, or the

words aren’t there, and you just keep going anyway.  If youmake a mistake one night, the next night you slow down anddo it better.  Some actors can’t bear to make a mistake, but I’mnot like that.  I roll with whatever happens, it’s what makes mealive on stage, and alive in life.  And it’s great to be able tolaugh at yourself once in a while!

What happened with your career after you finished college?I went to graduate school in theater at Yale—Meryl Streep wentto Yale, so I wanted to go to Yale too.  And then my career justtook off, and I ran with it! My mother always said to me, don’tget tied down, don’t be fettered.  Don’t accumulate a lot ofthings—all you need is a suitcase and yourself.  My father wasof the mind that I would get married and have babies; his viewof women was that that was their job, their lot in life.  And mymother kept telling me don’t get married, don’t have children.My first husband was an actor and he didn’t want children,which turned out to be a good thing. But then there cameMichel and I knew that I wanted to have a child with him.  

I had this real watershed moment while I was doing “TheRainmaker” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.  The directortold me one night that we were going to take the show toBroadway, so I’d better not get pregnant.  He was just kidding,

but at that time Michel and I were thinking about having achild, and the night he said that to me, I was actually ovulating.I mean, you can’t make this shit up! I got really upset and whenI talked to Michel about it, he said “What do you care what hesays?” I went for a walk and had this internal battle within my-self about deciding to become a mother.  It was this conver-gence of events and I realized that inside of me there was avoice that represented my mother and that director, telling meI couldn’t have both a child and a career.  I was so angry, I justkept saying ‘Why, why can’t I have both?’

I decided that I wanted a baby, and if that meant that I could-n’t have a career, well—who made that rule up, anyway? Thatwas the first act of motherhood for me, deciding that I wasgoing to have a baby, and if that meant not going to Broadway,so be it.  I actually got pregnant that night. The next day I cameinto work and told the director, I’m having a baby!  He justlooked at me and said, How long do you need?” So I didn’tlose anything!  I went to Broadway with “The Rainmaker,” Iacted with Woody Harrelson and breastfed my baby betweenacts, and I got a Tony nomination out of it too!  I didn’t loseanything, and I didn’t have to compromise.  

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE....

JAYNE ATKINSON CAUGHT IN A LAUGH, PHOTOGRAPHED BY JANE FELDMAN

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12 • JUNE 2015 THE ARTFUL MIND

Your son is about sixteen now.  Has it been challenging to bal-ance motherhood and your career?Of course, being a mother and a working actor has its chal-lenges.  Sometimes Jeremy lets me know that I’m not payingclose enough attention to him, and when that happens I havetwo really big words I use: I’m sorry. I’m human, I make mis-takes.  The choice to be a mother influences my choice of roles,when and where I work.   I see my role as an actor as a kind ofsacred storyteller, and I go deep into the roles I play.  As amother, there are certain roles I won’t play, like ones that in-volve rape or child abuse, because I know that I can’t turn offthe negative energy I have to summon to play those roles well,and I don’t want to bring that home with me.  

What about your personal and professional partnership withyour husband?  I imagine that has its own challenges too?It’s not for sissies, any of it, especially when Michel and I areso often acting on the same stage or in the same show.  It’s beenchallenging for me to allow myself to shine and trust that he’sokay with that.  For a long time, I didn’t trust that.  In my back-ground, my mother took care of my father so he could shine.There aren’t a lot of role models for the opposite kind of part-nership, where the women are the ones who are out there shin-ing.  What should happen, I believe, is that the diamond is thewoman and the man is the setting.  He gives of his bounty andhe holds that beautiful diamond so she can shine.  For most ofmy life I down-played myself and my abilities.  In some waysI gave my success away so I wouldn’t be threatening to the menin my life.  Michel never asked me to do that—it was somethingI did to myself, because of my cultural conditioning as awoman.  

So you think in some ways being a woman has held you back?You know, it’s interesting that in order to be successful, I some-how felt that I had to let go of being womanly.  And by that I

mean letting go of being soft, but also letting go of solving allthe problems.  I had to let go of juggling all the plates becauseI could, letting go of wearing the pants, even though I’m reallygood at it. To be successful as women, we often had to proveto the world that we could do everything, but that’s really lonelyand I don’t think we really want that.  What we want is for ourmen to be strong and successful and we want to stand by them.But they have to work too.  They have to listen.  

I changed a lot over time. First I gave up my softness, thenI claimed my power in the marriage and everything I’d workedfor, and then I had to go back into partnership and re-vitalizethe woman in me.  For me to admit that I’m feeling worried,that I’m confused—for me that kind of language feels like itbelongs to a dumb blonde, and I’m most certainly not a dumbblonde!  But when I allowed myself to talk about my feelings,and to let my husband take the lead on finding solutions, I founda balance in me between my masculine and my feminine sidethat was good for my marriage. I didn’t lose the get-it-done girl,she’s still there—I can still man up with the best of them.  Butby allowing myself to tap into and express my feelings, what Igained was a level of security in my softness as a woman,which I needed. I’m fortunate that my husband is a guy who isgoing to hang the sun, the moon and the stars on me becausehe loves me, but independent of him and our marriage, it wasimportant for me to find that balance.  

I hope that the next generation of girls doesn’t even have tothink about that—I hope they get to be both strong and soft.And for our boys, I hope that they learn that they don’t have torun when a woman roars, they can just stand in it and let thewave ride over them.  We women can be pretty scary whenwe’re in our big power.  We’re actually the strong ones, as mostmen will admit. I would love it if I could make a difference byplaying roles in film and TV that show strong women and cel-ebrate good men. I want to play a wonderfully strong, sexy, lov-ing, deep-hearted woman that shows this journey that I’m

talking about, that has that awakening. I would love to showthe chrysalis, the butterfly coming from the cocoon.  That’s thejourney, that’s life.  As a woman actor, I want to inspire womento open up to that journey, and I’m working on creating thosepossibilities for myself.  

You’ve had a long and illustrious career, Jayne. What havebeen some of your favorite roles to play?I’ve been lucky because I’ve had the opportunity to play char-acters that have some interesting complexity.  On the TV show24, I played the head of a counter-intelligence unit who was asmart woman with a very strong woman’s heart. And I had alot of positive feedback from women on that, complimentingme for being a woman in the part, not a man-woman.  I thinkbeing a mother prepared me for that role.  As a mother, youhave to hold your ground, but you also have to let your childrenknow that you value them.  That’s the way I talked to my teamon the show.

My character on Criminal Minds was also complex in thatshe was a woman in power, trying to dance in the world of men,and not handling it very well. She had a secret problem withalcohol.  Basically I think that if as an actor I’m going to be thepurveyor of human experience, I have to be able to claim allfacets of human experience.  You have to be able to recognizeyourself in me.  Even if I’m playing a perfect alabaster queen,which sometimes I do have to play, I’ll be showing you thecracks in her façade.  We all have those cracks.  

Honestly, of late, I like my character on House of Cards butI really haven’t had a part in a long time that gives me a chanceto show my full complexity.  For me, part of that might be myage… when you get older, it’s harder to get work, and I’m verynervous about all the things I see women having to do to them-selves to stay relevant—face lifts, cosmetic surgery.  With theadvent of high definition TV it’s just awful.  And then, thankheaven, you have Patricia Arquette who doesn’t do any of that

Jeremy, happy pup, Jayne and Michel, living room shot by Jane Feldman, the Berkshires

JAyne AtkinsOn, ACtOr

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THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2015 • 13

and yet wins an Oscar for Boyhood.  She’s not super-young,she’s not skinny-skinny—to me she represents the new waveof woman who’s saying I’m just not doing that shit, and she’sgot enough gravitas in the business to pull it off.  

Jayne, why have you chosen to live in Great Barrington MA,rather than Hollywood or New York?  I have to admit, this past winter it was so cold, I started lookingat the possibility of moving to L.A.  But I love living in theBerkshires. We moved here initially following my best friendHope Fitzgerald and her family, and at this point it’s really be-come our home.  I live here because it’s normal. There are alot of wonderful creative people here and I love that they don’tneed a lot of hoo-ha. Of course, people here know that we dothis and that and I’m not going to say it doesn’t mean anything,but we have a normalcy that we wouldn’t necessarily get else-where. I want to be in a world where I can talk with a writer,an artist—different kinds of people, not just actors and peoplein the business.  Everybody comes here to the Berkshires, so Ihave the best of the best by living here.  In our culture, stardom is often put on such a pedestal.  I lovewhen someone uses their star power for good in the world, butit can imbalance what’s important.  For me it’s really importantto be with people who are doing what they do because theylove it.  As a mother, I appreciate the Berkshires as a kind ofcocoon to grow our son’s life skills. I want my kid to be ableto go out the door, ride a bike and jump in the lake. I grew upin a little pond and I found it gave me confidence.  If you canbe successful in your little pond, you can be successful in thenext bigger one, and all the little failures that you might en-counter are in scale.

Do you do any mentoring of young people locally?  This year I’m doing a wonderful after-school project called“Bring Me A Woman,” with Monument Mountain RegionalHigh School, where Jeremy goes to school.  I’m working withJolyn Unruh and other faculty in the English and theater de-partments, and what we’re doing is having the girls research awoman who is not well-known, and the boys research such awoman and find a man who was significant in her life. The kidswill write a monologue from the point of view of that person,and I’ll come in and help them perform their monologues. Ifthey’re shy about performing, they can read—the idea is thatthis is an acting class for kids who might not take a theaterclass.  Public speaking is a skill you can use in every career,after all!  

I’m also involved with a group based in Washington DCcalled Running Start, which encourages young women to runfor office.  They give scholarships for girls to come to Wash-ington for a training, and they explore what they’re passionateabout, and get fired up with the possibilities of doing somethingfor their communities, using their voices and taking leadershiproles.  

Michel and I are also hoping to offer a local class in actingand public speaking for adults, drawing on our training at Juil-liard and Yale—sharing what we know about how to relax your

body, how to breathe, how to use whatever you’re afraid of toyour advantage.  

Does your son want to follow the family business and go intoacting?It seems like Jeremy does want to be an actor.  He’s lovedworking with Enrico Spada in the Shakespeare & CompanyShakespeare in the Schools project, and he loves to sing and towrite. I’m pretty sure he’s going to do something creative, andhe’s very clear that he wants to be successful.  He’s going tostudy acting for the camera at Interlochen this summer.  

What excites you about your life and career as you look for-ward into the future?  Right now I’m sitting back a bit, focusing on raising Jeremy.Michel and I tag-team with him, and since I’m holding the fortat home, I can only take the supporting, peripheral roles. I stillget to play, but it’s not hard work and it doesn’t require a lot oftime and energy.  That’s why I haven’t done theater in NewYork lately.  But in a way it’s perfect because I can see it as acocooning time for me; I have time to germinate the next ver-sion of myself, where I’m doing fundraisers, I’m directing, I’mmentoring. One door may be closing but another one is open-ing. I’m starting to think about stepping into my queen yearsand celebrating the beauty of everything that’s there lying fal-low, waiting to be developed and experienced. I’m preparingfor that.

Brava to you for fundraising for good causes, Jayne!  Canyou talk about the local organizations have you been drawnto support?I am very interested in supporting organizations that help getwomen’s voices and visions out into the world.  So I’ve doneseveral fundraising events for WAM Theatre, run by the mar-velous Kristen van Ginhoven—WAM stands for Women’s Ac-tion Movement, and Kristen is all about bringing to the localstage works by women playwrights, featuring strong women’sroles.  I’ve also supported the Berkshire Festival of WomenWriters, which has a similar mission in terms of wanting tonourish and encourage women of all ages to get their voicesand perspectives out tobroader audiences.  

For the past two years, I di-rected these fabulous plays forthe March Festival of WomenWriters, Motherhood OutLoud by Susan Rose Lafer in2014, and Can You Hear MeBaby? Stories of Sex, Loveand OMG Birth by Lisa Rafelin 2015.  In both cases, theplays brought women’s voicesfront and center, talking aboutwhat really matters to them.In Motherhood Out Loud, wealso had local women—

Amber Chand, Hope Fitzgerald, Anni Crofut, Suzi BanksBaum and others—contribute and perform monologues.  It wasfantastic!  And not only did the audiences love the shows, butwe also made some much-needed money for these women-fo-cused organizations.  A win-win all around.

Any final insights you’d like to leave us with?I believe that acting is a sacred calling.  Someone said once it’snot open-heart surgery.  But on some level I think I am an open-heart surgeon.  You come and see a show, and if I’ve committedto this person’s story, you get to watch this woman open up toa part of life that you wouldn’t have been able to gain insightinto any other way.  I know a lot of surgeons who could usethe skills actors have—empathy, compassion, the ability to putoneself in another’s shoes.

In the long run, I want to give back what I’ve learned aboutbeing a successful woman.  I’ve just come to understand whatthat means in a more balanced way.  I want to support womenwho are giving voice to other women; I want us to feel that weare holding each other’s hands and saying yes we can, we canhave it all. You know, I love the Dr. Seuss story Horton Hearsa Who—that’s the one where Horton the elephant is able to hearthe Whos of Whoville, who live on a bit of dust on a cloverblossom. No one else can hear them, and the whole city isabout to be destroyed, until one little Who speaks up, yelling“Yopp!” and is able to make his voice heard.  The reason I amall about women’s voices is that I believe that every womanwho dares to raise her voice has the potential to make a realdifference to her community and to the world.  We just neverknow which “Yopp!” is going to provide the tipping point,opening the gates to a new paradigm.

It would be a very dried up world without the creativity andintuition of women.  If I can help younger women realize thatthey can be both strong and soft, and not have to compromise—that they can have it all, then I will be happy.  

h

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Richard Britell

In October of 1989, a loft space became available to renton the third floor of the Barbieri Lumber Mill in Housatonic,Massachusetts. It was a 4000 square foot space, and lookedlike a bricked-in and roofed-over football field with huge win-dows on all four sides. There was no electricity, no heat, andno running water. It was rented for a few hundred dollars amonth. The entire space was full of piles of junk, dead birdsand dead mice. It was rented to be an artist’s studio space.

Housatonic then and now is a strange place. There are mill

towns and there are industrial cities, but Housatonic was a millvillage. The mills had closed in the sixties, and from the sev-enties on, the town had filled up with artists. It was an un-known artist village.

FIRST SHOW: It was decided to use the huge loft space topresent an art exhibit of the works of all the artists who hap-pened to be living in the village at that time. It was a show of13 artists. They were all neighbors and friends. The show wasa gigantic and unexpectedly successful event for all involved.Nothing was sold, but it was the sudden birth of an art gallery

and an artist community. That is how Spazi began. Below aresome anecdotes from that time and place.

THE NAME: The name came from an article in a magazineabout art spaces. It was an Italian magazine and the article titlewas “Gli Spazi Delle Arte.” It means “The Spaces of Art.”That was the original name of the gallery, but since nobodycould pronounce it or knew what it meant, it was changed tosimply Spazi.

SPAZI

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THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2015 • 15

MICHELANGELO: For many months the gallery had nolights, and it was not until about ten months had passed untilthere was enough money to illuminate the space. The sunlightfrom the windows was the only light, and it was so bright thatit was almost impossible to view the art hung on the brickwalls of chipping black and white paint. Visitors were an-noyed that there was a gallery with no lights, but we wouldalways say, “Just like it was for Michelangelo.”

AT FIRST IT WAS FREE: People would get to the top of thethree flights of stairs and gape in wonder at the gigantic spacethat was so awesome and spellbinding. Over and over againthe first thing visitors would say was, “Great space, how muchis the rent.” The answer was always the same, “At first it wasfree, but now they pay us to be here.”

WALKING NAILS: The gigantic floor of the space wascrudely top-nailed. Over the years as the floor was used, thenails would creep up little by little, until after a hundred yearsthe nail heads could be found here and there, sticking up fromthe floor by a half an inch. The local schools got in the habitof bringing classes to visit the gallery to see the art, but whenthe children arrived they would always shout, “Show us thewalking nails.”

THE TITLES: During the history of the gallery there were atotal of 59 exhibitions, talks, and musical performances in thespace. Here are a few of the titles:“Locomotion/Local Motion/Low Commotion/Loco Motion,”“The Eclectic Chair,” “From Paradise to a Crazy World,”“Domestic Chaos,” “Growing Up Racist,” “Death of Marat,”“87 Inches of Toast.”

YO-YO MA: Yo-Yo Ma never came to Spazi, and I am surehe never heard about it, but he had an important effect on thegallery’s decisions about what to do and what not to do. Twicethere were concerts of cello music in the space. The high ceil-ing, the cavernous space, and the brick walls combined to cre-ated perfect acoustics. Admission was charged, and theperformers were paid. When the box office was tallied andthe artists paid there was a profit of exactly one dollar, so itwas a big success. Since it was a cello performance, after theevent was over all the guests stood up and began talking aboutYo-Yo Ma. From this the gallery learned an important truth.Tanglewood is like a gigantic wonderful tree in full leaf, un-derneath which anything small and local tends to shrivel up.

PHOTO OPEN: Of the 59 shows presented, the most success-ful was an annual show called “The Photo Open.” This hasnever been done before or since. The gallery published an an-nouncement asking that anyone who wanted to could submitframed photographs. There was to be no jury, and all workswould be accepted and hung. There were hundreds of entries,and the show opened to thousands of guests. The entire com-munity became involved. It was simply amazing to experi-ence what it was like to let people show their art without anyfear of being judged. For many it was an experience of a life-time. It expanded the Spazi community from Housatonic toall of Berkshire County. Also, and not surprisingly, it made alot of money.

THE GRAND TOUR: Spazi was an amazing space open toall. The old mill architecture was often more interesting to thegallery’s visitors that the art hung on the walls, just like MassMoca or Bilbao today. But the gallery space was not as fasci-

nating as the town itself, in which one could wander aroundruined 19th century industrial buildings with not a single“keep out” sign to be found. By far the most interesting build-ing in the town was Cook’s Garage; always open day andnight. Cook’s was a ramshackle mill structure featuring carsstored years ago and never claimed, artist’s studios, and a con-stantly running artesian well of limewater. The water cameup from an aquifer four hundred feet underground and over-flowed into three huge cement catch basins in the middle ofa cavernous room lit only by one greenish, moss covered win-dow.

THE SOUND: In the gallery, and around the village all day,could be heard the sound of the lumber mill in operation, itsfour-foot circular saw endlessly cutting up the logs piled out-side its doors. That sound, and the smell of the pine saw dustpermeating the air gave us the pleasant illusion that we toowere doing important work like our parents and grandparentsdid.

What occurred at Spazi was a perfect combination of the righttime, the right place and a certain group of people that cametogether to create a true artist community. Those threethings—time, place, and people—happens sometimes by ac-cident, and it is a wonderful thing to be lucky enough to havebeen a part of it.

~ Richard Britell Pittsfield, May 16, 2015

Archival photos of SPAZI

gallery

Harryet says ‘Hi Gabrielle!’

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Denise B ChandlerFine Art Photography

denise b chandler fine art Photography is represented by sohn fine art gallery

www.denisebchandler [email protected]

home Studio & gallery Visits by appointmentnew lenox rd, lenox Ma

413.637.2344 (Home) 413.281.8461 (Cell)

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Marilyn, it seems as if your artwork and your surroundingsin Great Barrington, MA. are growing in more ways than one.Can you comment on that? Marilyn Kalish: Thank you for asking. Yes, a lot is going on inmy life  and my work. Since the GB Reconstruction Project, I’vehad to accept that intrusion as a challenge. Rather than resist thechange of our town, it became crucial to adapt and be flexible. Idon’t remember jokes, except this one: “Do you know how tomake God laugh? Tell him your plans.” In retrospect, this speaksto my whole life. At first I didn’t welcome these changes. How-ever, now I am adjusting to the surroundings. Rather than runfrom the construction, I am hitting it head on. 

The two significant changes for me in the Berkshires: I haveexpanded The Vault Gallery, which has been there for over 12years, by acquiring the second, adjoining space.  The new galleryis inspired by the French Salon manner of exhibiting artwork -installing the paintings ceiling to floor, layering, weaving in an-tique furniture and classic carpets, exquisite vintage frames, artbooks, orchids… integrating the artwork with these other ele-ments. It’s important to me that the new space is not a traditionalgallery. I want this to be a place where people can visit, feel wel-come, and experience the historical perspective of a salon.

The second change is that I have opened my studio at 11 Rail-road Street to the public for the first time—only on weekends tobegin. Traditionally, artists work in solitude and isolation, as Ihave for 25 years. 

I am fortunate to have a large studio space. I am usually work-ing on 20 to 30 paintings at the same time, and this keeps mefresh, avoiding artist blocks. My visitors are seeing the pieces inprocess. I had no idea this would be of such interest. I am appre-ciating the conversations and the  relationships that are being es-tablished. 

It is very different from the gallery experience, which is moreabout business. I enjoy sharing my process. I was born to a family

of artists—this is all I’ve ever done. Still, it was never about theend product, the paintings… it was always about the process. Thatis what interests me. This new effort is very much like a paintingof sorts, in an  unexpected way. I think it is informing my work.I’m open to the new surroundings, the new people, dialogues, andmost important the energy!

i am so happy to have this chance to talk with you, Marilyn.you’re now showing in a gallery in england; expanding yourgallery Gt. Barrington. What do you truly feel you have doneto make all come together? Was it just a matter of time?Whatever it is, i think you share something with manyworldly and successful artists.  All of you do something thatsurpasses other artists, what can that be?Marilyn: Hard work times 10. I always believed in that philoso-phy. I taught my children that thinking. You can have whateveryou want, but you have to work very hard… X 10. It’s the times10 that I think becomes a challenge for many. In regard to the exhibit in England, yes that show is happeningnow. It is the Lily Clifford Gallery in East Sussex, England. Theyfound me. They will be representing me. Of course, the Europeanattention is very flattering, but my interest remains the same—tocreate better, stronger work. I’m almost never satisfied…  Thereis a quote that I like very much… “Don’t seek what your sagesfound, seek what they sought.” I’m very interested in the mastersand what came before me. I don’t think that’s a contemporaryfocus. Every day I look at Leonardo, Rembrandt, Michelangelo,Picasso, etc… to try and get my taste up. I will never reach theheights that these masters reached, because of the European tra-dition of apprenticeship, the support at very young ages. Youngpeople were encouraged to be artists. I don’t often find that to bethe truth, in my experience.  

I don’t compare myself to others. I don’t have the time. I don’tlook back, I don’t stand still to see what other artists are doing or

The Artful GalleryMarilyn Kalishof

THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2015 • 17

Continued on next page...

interview by Harryet Candee photographs by Leah Saty

MARILYN KALISH, SECOND SERIES, FREE FALL

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not doing… I just keep pushing forward. Everything is forward.Again, it’s about never being satisfied…always wanting the workto be stronger. This is not an easy feat. For every good day thereare 5 or 6  disappointing days. But every now and then things Ihave learned converge, and I’m looking at a painting thatworks… That is not a comfortable place for me—a place thatfeels like,  “I’ve got this, I know how to do this… I can come intomorrow and attempt to summon it up.” Ha, I even believe Ihave cracked a code. And then, in the studio the next day, it’sgone. I have had years to think about this, which in itself is dam-aging—that thinking piece. The best way I can describe it is: juststop thinking, keep doing. Even the idea that a piece works… Imust keep moving ahead.

What makes your style of painting unique? Marilyn: With every artist, it’s like a fingerprint. As far as I know,every artist has their own style. I’m working on two different se-ries right now. One series is portraits; I’ve resisted portraits formany years because my grandfather was a recognized portraitartist. I was not encouraged to take that path. And then they sim-ply appeared. They’re difficult for me because I’ve alwaysworked in an ambiguous way. The portrait has to say a lot, theyare specific, while at the same time being still and quiet. 

The second body of work I am working on are free-fallingbirds. Very chaotic oil paint applied thick, tools I have purchasedthat I cannot even identify; trying to make these birds in motion.Physics has always appealed to me, so I like the idea of energy…creating a balance of chaos and order. The birds are allowing meto do this. Free, liberating. No two are alike. Liberating. I feelcomfortable there, living with uncertainty. The portraits have amore cerebral element to them. 

I’d just like to sum it up by saying it’s a good time to be paint-ing right now for me. I painted every day for as long as I can re-member. What is important to me is being in a state of excitement,juxtaposing this chaotic way of working, while at the same timehaving the stillness of the portraiture.  A balance has been struck.I have found a place I can push, a fertility to travel. I’m excited,and most of all I feel alive. I refer often to Woody Allen’s quote,“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” It’s very true. I createrituals, and my rituals create a momentum. The momentum helpsme to show up, face a blank surface and hope something some-thing might happen. 

i am sure it’s not an easy ride.  All this workyou do, non-stop—busy all the time, buried inyour art. Do you ever have time to stop to smellthe roses, or stop to hear yourself vent on some-thing that you need to eventually work out? I am a mother. That’s the most important workI’ve ever done. My grown son and daughter havefilled any need for outside activities, other thanthe painting. The painting was always secondary.Being a parent remains the most important thingin my life. I’m very fortunate as well, privilegedreally, that I have assistants and interns, aftermany years of not having that. I’ve had them forthe past several years. There is a mentoring thathappens and that is very rewarding. It is also verycommunal. I do also enjoy cooking. I cook almostevery evening for my husband and friends. I enjoyan occasional movie. Traveling has never heldsignificant interest for me. It’s always been some-what of a nuisance… Waiting, waiting, waiting…for the plane to arrive… for the hotel room to beavailable. This may change one day but I feelthere is work to be done, and I need to do thiswork. 

How are you going to get people off the streetsand into your studio gallery this summer ifconstruction continues to be an interference inthe town of Great Barrington?Marilyn: It is my understanding that in July andAugust the construction will halt, and not resumeuntil the fall. I must stay positive. Opening thestudio to the public is huge for me. People comingand going, some I know, most I don’t. It’s excit-ing. 

Marilyn, just so we get a good look at you andyour life, tell us where you grew up, and what life was like foryou as a child?Marilyn: I grew up in Massachusetts and I am a child of thewoods. I know that sounds like I was raised by wolves, but I lit-erally grew up in the woods. Nature was my playground. I watchchildren now and I feel bad for them that woods are not as avail-able or appealing to them. I learned so much—mostly ex-ploring. I learned so much that I feel feeds my work… theart of exploring. When I’m in a painting it’s quite similar tobeing a child playing in the woods. Or my night science—Iwould bring home jars that I would scoop up from ponds, ofguppies and little fish, and bring them home in this swampydirty water and set them up in the garage.  You’d see theseamber jars glowing at night. This was my night science. 

Unfortunately, yes, there were deaths. But I was a childfilled with curiosity in the woods. Nature put me in touchwith something much larger than myself—the same feelingand experience I have when I’m painting. I don’t rememberwhen I stopped playing. I’m still that child in the woods… Ibring play to my work. 

Did you know you would be a serious artist at some pointin your youth? Marilyn: Yes. I really don’t know how to do anything else. I do it out of necessity. 

tell me what is one of your deep desires that you may bedepicting or visualizing, or symbolically includingthrough your paintings?Marilyn: It’s very hard to articulate. I get glimpses of workI would like to make or be able to make. The bar is high andI’m reaching very high pragmatically, and I will probablynever achieve what I am reaching for.  But that’s what createsthe momentum; that’s why I “show up.”  

Getting back to your show at Lily Clifford Art Gallery ineastbourne, england… How did this connection to be inthe group show take place? tell us what this gallery islike, and how you feel about it in terms of how it repre-sents you as an American artist.Marilyn: I like that I’m the only American artist in the show.I have heard of the other artists, these are artists I respect and

have been watching for years. It is still is very hard for me to be-lieve I’m on the walls with them.

How it came to be? They found me. Social media has madethis possible for all artists. A powerful exposure. The experienceof social media is entrée, having our work seen by thousands,maybe millions of people. It’s a good time to be an artist.  TheLily Clifford gallery is very well respected. 

About your technique and style, Marilyn… how has itchanged and developed over the years? Marilyn: I experimented, just as all students have. Eventually youdiscover your own voice. The influences of the masters cer-tainly… I’ve been influenced. My hope is only to be better.  Theidea is to always move forward, always get better, learn, be better.Over the years, I became stronger. There is an authority, an evo-lution…there is a confidence from doing it for so many years.Confidence is key.

if everything was to run a smooth course for you, what wouldyou like to see happen in the not too distant future? for you,your painting, gallery, home and family?Marilyn: It is important to me that my family is healthy andhappy. That’s my priority. And in terms of my work, I am inter-ested in more exhibits in Europe. Perhaps that is my travel.

And lastly, can you tell me what you think makes an art com-munity work together, and what suggestions can you makethat can help people join the same force and work towardssimilar goals?Marilyn: I think the Berkshires have always been doing that.Artists know how to work together. They’ve been doing it for somany years in all the different disciplines… film, dance, theatre,writers, painters… it’s good to be an artist in the mountains, witha force that’s larger and more important than we are—Nature. Ihave no suggestions for people. It’s already working. We have alot of advantage in the Berkshires. I believe that’s why a lot ofartists are making work here. 

Come visit me on Saturdays from 11 to 5 in my studio at 11Railroad Street in Great Barrington. Expect connection!  I wouldlike people to feel free to visit! 

To the younger artists—don’t forget to Play. 

-Thanks Marilyn!

18 • tHe ArtfUL MinD JUne 2015

THE ARTFUL GALLERY OF MARILYN KALISH

MARILYN KALISH, PORTRAIT, OIL ON WOOD PANEL, 36 X 48”, FRAMED

MARILYN KALISH, NEW PORTRAIT, OIL ON CANVAS

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Simply Sasha by Sasha Seymour

Smoked Salmon with Scrambles!it's finally June! For me, summertime screams seafood! Salmon is rich in

omega 3's which provide a number of health benefits, such as improving hearthealth, and aiding in regulating cholesterol levels. Wild caught salmon, combinedwith local happy eggs, will make the most awesome Sunday brunch or Father'sDay fare. Show Dad you are concerned about his health, and create a meal for himthis Father's Day exploding with healthy omega 3's! this dish is filled with loveand goodness! peace and happiness to you!

~ 4 slices of brown bread~ 1/2 cup of salted butter, plus more to butter the bread~ 12 organic happy eggs~ 1/4 tsp salt and black pepper to taste~ 2 Tbsp heavy cream~ 4 oz thinly sliced wild caught smoked salmon~ Spoonful of cream cheese (optional)

1. toast and butter the bread and cut each slice into a cross to create four separatepieces. set aside2. Whisk eggs together with salt and pepper3. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a skillet, and add the eggs4. if using, add the cream cheese and the cream, and scramble the eggs with a woodenspoon until firm5. remove from the heat and fold the salmon into the eggs. serve on toast and presto!you're done! Enjoy!

planet waves JUNE 2015ERIC FRANCIS

Aries (March 20-April 19)Focus on your family and home and everything else will seemto fall into place. If you build your life from the foundationup, you will know you're on solid emotional ground, and yourconfidence will reflect itself in every other aspect of your life.Before you invest too much energy worrying, remember thatyou are safe and strong within your own soul.

tAUrUs (April 19-May 20)You can afford to push your luck, because you're so in tunewith your sense of mission and with the knowledge you pos-sess. Indeed you are a reservoir of wisdom, though it's goingto spring from the inside out. You don't need to seek the reas-surance of others, or to have them second-guess you. Beaware of where you stand with yourself at all times, and youcannot go wrong.

GeMini (May 20-June 21)When Mercury stations direct in your sign on the 11th, anydoubts you may have will vanish as if they never existed.Until then, they might be convincing or even paralyzing -- butdon't fall for that illusion. There's no such thing as a problemthat cannot be solved. There are no honest questions that don'thave answers. You will be told everything you need to know.

CAnCer (June 21-July 22)If you find uncertainty rules your mood until the Sun entersyour sign on the 21st, I suggest you question whether that'sreally true. Currently you're being granted a kind of inner vi-sion that's allowing you access to deep intuition. Tune intothat and you will teach yourself a great deal; then as the sol-stice approaches, you will light up your world with passionand grace.

LeO (July 22-Aug. 23)How would you feel if you had no secrets? I reckon youwould feel liberated, honest, authentic and alive. Concealinganything about yourself, whether justified or not, consumesenergy, and makes you question yourself. Yes, it seems easierto live behind a veil, though any experiment requiring braverywill be rewarded handsomely -- if only with the abundantcourage to try again with confidence.

VirGO (Aug. 23-Sep. 22)You can live as if you have a legion of angels guarding you -- because you do. Yet for that to matter, you must be open totheir gifts and their blessings, and listen to the wisdom theyoffer you. So listen carefully and know they will not onlyguide you away from danger, they will guide you toward loveand abundance.

LiBrA (Sep. 22-Oct. 23)You're standing in the midst of astonishing resources, in theform of your colleagues, your community and most of all, therewards of your work. There's clearly money in the stars,though you have available even greater rewards for your ef-forts at making the world a better place. One of them is clearconfirmation that you can indeed guide yourself and others tofreedom and sanity.

sCOrPiO (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)You are in professional leadership mode, and from the lookof your chart you could inspire a whole forest to burst intosong. Your success and positive outlook are proof of what ispossible, and people are looking to you for just that kind ofguidance. Remember, more than anything, you are providingan example to others -- one that will shine out like the Sun.

sAGittAriUs (Nov. 22-Dec. 22)You know what's true and you know what's possible -- any-thing at all. Step into your broadest horizons and begin somenew bold experiment. You can only do this if you believe inyourself with the absolute confidence of the true Sagittarianthat you are. You'll only know for sure if you try -- and youseem destined to do just that, in a rather grand style.

CAPriCOrn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)Your emotional intelligence is at a peak right now. This willconfer on you a form of perception that sometimes seems su-pernatural. Of course, you are a wholly natural phenomenon,which includes your instincts and your intuition. Take that asfar as you can, trust your knowledge and imagine that you re-ally can see the future. Vision is perception, and it's also yourability to build your life.

AqUAriUs (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)You may be given the opportunity to solve problems youthought would never go away. Seize the moment and applyyour brilliance and clarity to whatever puzzles you, particu-larly if it's been lingering for a while. This may feel like un-raveling a knot, or it may feel like working out a complexequation. Summon your streak of genius and it won't let youdown.

PisCes (Feb. 19-March 20)All your work will pay off, so you can afford to do it joyfully,and with faithful expectancy. Go lighter on the effort, and de-pend more on subtler qualities like cooperation, goodwill andyour distinct ability to manifest a winning idea out of thin air.When in doubt, ease off on trying. Instead, focus your obser-vational skills, ask others what they think and make bold de-cisions.

THE ARTFUL MIND JUNE 2015 • 19

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