For the first half of the Earth, Wind, and Desire series, Kidspace at MASS MoCA was transformed into a Nature Park. Now, for the second half, the gallery morphs into a Wind Farm complete with a sea of metallic, wood, and feathered kinetic sculptures against a backdrop of large photos of wind turbines.
The group exhibition features photographs by Carrie Baker and kinetic sculptures by Tim Prentice, Pedro S. De Movellan, and William R. Bergman.
Visitors to Kidspace will harvest new ideas about wind and wind energy as they walk through the exhibit. The artwork offers myriad perspectives on wind and movement. A resource area for children of all ages will feature books, music, and videos about wind energy, and examples of work by other artists, poets, and storybook writers. And, visitors will be invited to make "moving madness" artwork at tables that offer wonderful views of the Wind Farm art.
Carrie Baker of Montpelier, Vermont, takes evocative photos of wind turbines throughout the country. Her large-scale images give the viewer a vivid sense of just how impressive these giant machines are in real life. Baker's photos are alternately naturalistic -- emphasizing the grace of the wind turbines - and eerie - creating the illusion that the turbines are looming creatures.
Connecticut-based Tim Prentice is known for kinetic works of stainless steel and aluminum. Though crafted from industrial materials, many of his works recall pollen, flower petals, and other natural materials that float on the wind. Pedro S. De Movellan of East Chatham, N.Y.. , creates works in natural materials such as wood, as well as industrial materials such as rough-cast brass, aluminum, and stainless steel. When in motion his pieces recall the movement of the large wind turbines shown in Baker's photographs.
For Wind Farm, both Prentice and De Movellan have created new works. Prentice has built a series of sixteen identical lightweight metal turbines with brightly colored feathers for blades. His piece hangs from the ceiling and is turned by air from heating vents. De Movellan's 50-foot long sculpture is made of painted steel and incorporates an electric air pump to force air to rotate the sculptural pieces propeller-style.
William R. Bergman of Albany, N.Y.. , designs sculptures that take a different approach to kinetic art. His work allows visitors to create wind using innovative mechanical devices and hand cranks to bring his work to life.
A public opening reception for Wind Farm is scheduled for Thursday, March 4, from 3:30 to 6 pm. Refreshments will be served, and visitors will have the opportunity to meet the artists.
About the artists:
Montpelier, Vermont-based photographer Carrie Baker holds a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She was the artistic director for the Perlata Hacienda Historical Park in Oakland, Calif., where she oversaw art and history programs for at-risk youth. Baker was an arts educator at RISD's museum and a teaching assistant for RISD's photography and illustration courses for adults and high school students. She has exhibited her work in several group shows of emerging Bay Area artists in alternative spaces.
Tim Prentice, a sculptor from Cornwall, Conn., holds a Master's degree in architecture from Yale University. Prentice has been awarded a master craftsman award from the Society of Connecticut Crafts and a certificate of merit from the New York State Association of Architects. His work is in many private collections and has been exhibited in solo and group shows in such galleries, museums, and public spaces as: the New York Public Library, N.Y.; Chesterwood, Stockbridge, Mass. ; Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Becket, Mass. ; Bradley Airport, Hartford, Conn.; St. Peter's Church, New York; and the Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield, Conn.
Pedro S. De Movellan, a sculptor from East Chatham, N.Y., holds a BFA in sculpture from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. His work is in private and corporate collections in the United States, as well as Switzerland, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. De Movellan's work has been exhibited in solo and group shows in such galleries as: the Herter Gallery, University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the Grinnell College Art Gallery, Bucksbaum Center for the Arts. He is represented by the Maxwell Davidson Gallery, N.Y.
William R. Bergman, a sculptor from Albany, N.Y. holds an MFA in sculpture from Alfred University. He is a sculpture technician at the College of Saint Rose, Albany, N.Y. His work has been exhibited in group exhibition in such galleries as: The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, N.Y.; Chesterwood, Stockbridge, Mass.; The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; the Albany International Airport Gallery, Albany, N.Y.; and the Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Mass.
About Kidspace:
This March, Kidspace will continue its partnership with the North Berkshire School Union (Clarksburg, Gabriel Abbott Memorial, and Savoy Elementary Schools). The overall focus of the Kidspace program is on movement found in art and nature. In addition to their visit to Kidspace, students will have the opportunity to work with the artists in an extensive residency program funded by a Massachusetts Cultural Council Creative Learning grant.
Through funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant to Williams College, fourth through eighth grade students will be provided with additional programming to explore wind energy. These students will visit the Searsburg Wind Farm in Searsburg, Vt., with staff from the Center for Ecological Technologies, Pittsfield, Mass. Curriculum materials, educational resources, and programs have been developed by Kidspace staff to complement the exhibition.
Kidspace at MASS MoCA is a joint program of the Williams College Museum of Art, the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute, and MASS MoCA. Additional funding has been provided in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (a state agency), the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant to Williams College, and the Brownrigg Charitable Trust in memory of Lynn Laitman.
From March 4 through June 20, Kidspace's public hours will be Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 P.M., plus additional hours on holidays. From June 20 through September 5, Kidspace will be open every day from noon to 4. Please call Kidspace at (413) 664-4481 x8131 for more details on hours, programs, and exhibitions. Admission to Kidspace is free.
MASS MoCA, housed on a 13-acre campus of restored 19th-century factory buildings, is the largest center for contemporary art in the country. During the winter, MASS MoCA's galleries are open every day except Tuesdays, from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission is $9 for adults, $3 for children 6-16, free for children under 6 and free for members at all times. For additional information, call 413-662-2111 or visit www.massmoca.org .
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
State Fire Marshal Offers Cold Snap Heating Safety Tips
STOW, Mass. —With temperatures expected to dip into the teens overnight this week, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to stay warm safely and protect their loved ones from some of the most common home heating fires.
"We're expecting very cold weather in the nights ahead, and home heating appliances will be working overtime," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide at home and the second leading cause of residential fires. Whether you're using gas, oil, solid fuel, or space heaters to keep warm, be sure you keep safe, too."
State Fire Marshal Davine said there were nearly 6,000 heating fires in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2023. These fires claimed eight lives, caused 139 injuries to firefighters and residents, and contributed to over $42 million in damage. And in 2023 alone, Massachusetts fire departments reported finding carbon monoxide at nearly 5,000 non-fire incidents.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Every household needs working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their home. Check the manufacturing date on the back of your alarms so you know when to replace them: smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after 5 to 10 years depending on the model. If your alarms take alkaline batteries, put in fresh batteries twice a year when you change your clocks. If it's time to replace your alarms, choose new ones from a well-known, national brand. Select smoke alarms with a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature.
Natural Gas and Oil Heat
If you have a furnace, water heater, or oil burner, have it professionally checked and serviced each year. This will help it run more efficiently, which will save you money and could save your life. Always keep a three-foot "circle of safety" around the appliance clear of anything that could catch fire. Never store painting supplies, aerosol cans, or other flammable items near these appliances. If you smell gas, don't use any electrical switches or devices: get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 right away.
Residents struggling to pay for heating bills or maintenance may be eligible for assistance through the Massachusetts home energy assistance program (HEAP). No matter what type of heating equipment you use, HEAP may be able to help you pay your winter heating bills or maintain your heating system. All Massachusetts residents are encouraged to explore eligibility for this free program and apply for assistance.
Solid Fuel Heating
If you use a fireplace or a stove that burns wood, pellets, or coal, always keep the area around it clear for three feet in all directions. This circle of safety should be free of furniture, drapery, rugs, books and papers, fuel, and any other flammable items. To prevent sparks and embers from escaping, use a fireplace screen or keep the stove door closed while burning. Use only dry, seasoned hardwood and don't use flammable liquids to start the fire. To dispose of ashes, wait until they are cool and shovel them into a metal bucket with a lid and place it outside at least 10 feet away from the building.
Have your chimney and flue professionally inspected and cleaned each year. Most chimney fires are caused by burning creosote, a tarry substance that builds up as the fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove is used. If burning creosote, sparks, embers, or hot gases escape through cracks in the flue or chimney, they can cause a fire that spreads to the rest of the structure. Annual cleaning and inspection can minimize this risk. Contact the Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild or Chimney Safety Institute of America to identify reputable local companies.
Space Heaters
Keep space heaters at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and anything else that can burn. Plug them directly into a wall socket, not an extension cord or a power strip, and remember that they're for temporary use. Always turn a space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
When purchasing a space heater, select one that's been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Newer space heaters should have an automatic shut-off switch that turns the device off if it tips over. Unvented kerosene space heaters and portable propane space heaters are not permitted for residential use in Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Davine said: the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning that they pose is too great.
Monument Mountain's Everett Pacheco took control of the race in the final mile and went on to a convincing Division 3 State Championship on Saturday at Fort Devens. click for more
Mila Marcisz ripped a shot from the top of the 18 that slipped just under the swing of teammate Adele Low and past the Mustangs keeper in the fourth minute of the second overtime to give Mount Greylock a 1-0 win. click for more
Mount Greylock dominated for much of the game, compiling a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal, not to mention numerous Mountie chances that went just wide or high of frame. click for more
Nora Schoeny, Gianna Love and Elyssa Scrimo Sunday led the Lenox girls cross country team to a narrow victory in the Division 2 race at the Western Massachusetts Championships at Stanley Park. click for more
Wahconah High senior Tim Kaley Sunday earned his second Berkshire Classic Championship by shooting a 77 at the Country Club of Pittsfield. click for more
