Cultural correspondernt Bess J.M. Hochstein reports from Pittsfield: On the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, Hancock Shaker Village, which is celebrating its 50th year as a living history museum, opened a new exhibit, True & Honest Before the World, for which 30 celebrity curators such as filmmaker Ken Burns, architect/designer Michael Graves, TV personality Al Roker, furniture maker Thomas Moser, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, each chose an object from Hancock’s collection of Shaker art, furniture, tools, and textiles that best illustrates the Shakers’ enduring influence on them. Local cultural leaders such as Nancy Fitzpatrick, Leslie Ferrin, and Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto also chose items for the exhibit; CEO Ellen Spear chose the iconic Shaker cape. By coincidence, a scene from the indie film Come Life was being shot on opening day; as guests arrived they were treated to traditional song and dance with the iconic Round Stone Barn in the background.
Berkshire Museum executive director Stuart Chase with Pittsfield City Councilor John Krol and Allison Krol, who works for state senator Benjamin Downing; Berkshire Theatre Festival's Development Director Craig Smith and Hancock Shaker Village CEO Ellen Spear.
Photographer Kevin Sprague poses with a phrenological plaster head the HSV collection, which gallery owner Leslie Ferrin chose as the Shaker object that most inspires her; Leslie Ferrin and Millay Society executive director Peter Bergman.
Ben Hillman, writer Gina Hyams, event planner Amy Rudnick, Brian Butterworth (rear) of the Red Lion Inn and Amy Butterworth of IS 183 Art School of the Berkshires.
Magda Gabor Hotchkiss, a longtime librarian at the Shaker Village, with Stephen Miller, a frequent guest curator; Marilyn & Ron Walter, a HSV trustee.
The Red Lion Inn's Nancy Fitzpatrick with Gordon Chandler, who recently installed a sculpture of General Knox in Otis, MA.
Lauren Joy, Eloise Joy, Lily Joy, and Elyse Etling, an HSV trustee who is chairing the 50th anniversary gala andopening the Pronto Cooking School in Lenox; writer Judith Lerner, artist Eric Drury and photographer Sue Geller.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
