Arts

Arts

The Hollywood Horses of Amenia

By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg In Winter’s Tale, the current film based on Mark Helprin’s gripping novel, a white horse plays a prominent role. Until his recent move to the west coast, when this equine wonder was not appearing in all his equine splendor in one role or another,

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Arts

A Portion of Thyself: Barbara Bonner Is Inspiring Generosity with Her First Book

By Nichole Dupont “Giving away an old coat you wouldn't be caught dead in isn’t exactly generous," says philanthropy consultant Barbara Bonner, glancing over the top of her red-framed glasses. “It doesn’t have meaning. True generosity is giving away something that has meaning to

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Arts

Review: "10 x 10" Festival at Barrington Stage

By Dan Shaw You have probably spent a lot of time this snowbound winter in front of the television. Netflix, Showtime and PBS notwithstanding, you’ve probably realized that television is actually getting worse, not better — sitcoms with 90-second scenes, dramas that depend on violence instead of dialogue to

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Arts

Stacking the Cards: Michel Gill and Jayne Atkinson Talk Rural Life and Conspiracy Theory

By Nichole Dupont Great Barrington dwellers Michel Gill and Jayne Atkinson are not your typical Hollywood couple. Sure, they fly to New York and L.A. on a fairly regular basis, but this down-to-earth duo are always on the lookout for the next big role. They may have

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Arts

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Heats Up Hudson

By Robert Burke Warren Perhaps you've got a top hat and tailcoat in the closet? Or a corset and tutu you've been dying to wear? The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus invites you to dig them out, put them on, and be part of the spectacle at a

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Arts

MASS MoCA Finds The Faith In Documentary Films

By Rachel Louchen The Rural Intelligence region is flush with independent theaters that eschew the commercial box office smashes dominating the chain cinemas in order to highlight smaller fare like simulcasts and critics' choice films. Documentary films are among the most popular, and MASS MoCA has long responded with

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Arts

Darlingside Rising: Indie Folk Quartet Brings Harmony to Pittsfield

By Robert Burke Warren When Rural Intelligence last spoke to Massachusetts-based indie folk band Darlingside, they were upstarts who’d charmed noted producer Nate Kunkel (Maroon 5, James Taylor) into flying from L.A. to produce their debut CD, Pilot Machines, and were thrilled to be opening for The

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Arts

A Winter Warm-up: Berkshire Festival of Women Writers Prepares For March With A Week Of Workshops

By Amy Krzanik “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." --Alice Walker. As this quote flashes on the screen, so begins Miss Representation, the 2011 documentary that shines a harsh light on how the American media portray woman—

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Arts

Bettye LaVette: Powerhouse Song Interpreter Goes Soul Deep

By Robert Burke Warren Legendary R & B vocalist Bettye LaVette, a 52-year veteran of the concert stage, wants to set the record straight about her reputation as a superlative song interpreter; when she appears at Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, January 11, she will not “inhabit" her material.

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Arts

A 'Wonderful Life' Hits Home

By Jeremy D. Goodwin The woman sitting by the hearth looked so calm and comfortable, so part of the scenery, I wondered whether she was a volunteer who’d been stationed there deliberately. Before the start of Shakespeare & Company’s thoroughly entertaining production of the holiday classic It’s

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Arts

Pizzarelli Parlor: John Pizzarelli Brings the Family to the Mahaiwe

By Robert Burke Warren Singer, guitarist, and showman extraordinaire John Pizzarelli plans to say good-bye to 2013 with even more class than usual. The Grammy nominee, who plays close to 150 dates a year, routinely leaves audiences smoldering with his quartet, drawing on a wide array of everything from

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Arts

In Local Living Color: Vince Pomilio’s Thornbush Grid

By Dave King Vincent Pomilio no doubt cleans up nicely, but in his New York City studio he’s the archetype of the painter at ease, answering the door in splattered painter’s pants and a white t-shirt that clearly doubles as a paint rag. On the day I

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