WTF and the Clark Collaborate to Bring Art to Life

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Roger Rees worked with Danielle Steinmann, Erica Lipez and Stephen Sanders to organize "The Unknown Monet Revealed," a dramatic reading of the painter's letters.
WILLIAMSTOWN - As part of a collaboration of two powerhouse arts organizations, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute hosted nearly 150 people for "The Unknown Monet Revealed" on Monday night. The Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Artistic Director Roger Rees joined actor and violinist Erica Lipez and the Clark’s assistant curator of education Danielle Steinmann for a dramatic reading of painter Claude Monet’s personal letters, written between 1864 and 1926. “We really just wanted to explore Monet’s reasons for creating art,” said Stephen Sanders, the assistant to the creative director and general manager at WTF. One of the most recognizable painters of the 19th and 20th centuries, Monet is considered one of the founder’s of impressionism, an artistic movement that centered on representing movement and light in artwork. The “Unknown Monet: Pastels and Drawings,” the Clark’s summer exhibition, displays more than 80 pieces of Monet’s work and challenges traditional ideas about the painter and his methods. Rees gave life to Monet’s letters, which chronicled the journey of a man plagued by financial woes and struggling with acceptance both in his personal and professional lives. Using Monet’s own words, Rees revealed a truly emotional man who loved passionately, despaired deeply and wrote dramatically. Most famous for his tranquil paintings of nature scenes, Monet lived a tumultuous yet full life, dedicated to artistic pursuits until his last days. “These are real letters by a real man,” said Rees after the performance. “He lived a rather poignant life and it’s truly moving to read his letters.” Collaborating for the third summer, WTF and the Clark aim to place art in context in a unique form, allowing viewers to create new connections and looking at art in a new way. “The educational value of an event like this is priceless,” said Steinmann, who framed the reading of the letters by providing biographical information about the painter. “What we try to do at the Clark is to understand the human experience and allow people to get to know artists as humans.” “Going into the gallery and seeing a piece of art, I wonder ‘What motivates artists to create it?’ After a reading like this, you can go and see the human element in the painting,” said Sanders. "The Unknown Monet" will be on display at the Clark through Sept. 16. The Clark is at 225 South St. The galleries are open daily from 10 to 5, and closed Mondays September through June. Admission is $12.50 for adults, free for children 18 and under, members, and students with valid ID. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu Jen Thomas may be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, Ext. 23.
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Swann, Williams College Harriers Compete at NCAA Championships

iBerkshires.com Sports
Mount Greylock Regional School alumna Kate Swann and the Williams College women's cross country team are in Terre Haute, Ind., Saturday morning to compete at the NCAA Division III Championship.
 
Williams crushed the field at the 24-team regional championship in New London, Conn., to qualify for the national championship.
 
On Nov. 16 at the Mideast Regional, Williams finished with 59 points, well ahead of runner-up Rensselaer Polytechnic, which collected 110 points.
 
Swann, a junior, was the second Williams runner across the finish line, finishing 10th overall with a time of 21 minutes, 36 seconds on the 6-kilometer course.
 
Williams has finished first or second in every event it entered this fall, winning titles at its own Purple Valley Classic, Keene State (N.H.) Invitational, James Eareley Invitational (Westfield State), Connecticut College Invitational and New England Small College Athletic Conference Championships.
 
The NCAA DIII Championships get underway at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course.
 
The Division I Stonehill College women's cross country team placed fourth at the Northeast Conference Championship; Pittsfield High graduate Kellie Harrington was the second finisher for the Skyhawks, placing 17th at the season-ending meet.
 
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