TYRINGHAM -- Step into a fairy tale at the Santarella Gardens and Museum, where curving roofs and fanciful gardens conjure images of hobbits and elves. The whimsical design was created by Henry Hudson Kitson, sculptor of the Lexington “Minute Man†statue and “The Pilgrim Maiden,†at Plymouth, among other patriotic pieces. Kitson’s handsplit cedar shingling, applied in layers, looks like a thatched roof from a distance; but his artist’s imagination also sought to create the sense of swirling autumn leaves. The studio, which was built over a period of about three years in the early 1920’s, became known to local people as “The Gingerbread House.â€
“Santarella†which means “maker of small images†in Italian, actually houses some pretty large creations from artists past and present in its current incarnation of four galleries and outdoor sculpture garden. The magic extends to the grounds and gardens, where a circuitous path through a wooded area now showcases entries in the museum’s 5th Annual Sculpture Show.
Kitson was a naturalist who designed the gardens to protect and attract wildlife, according to the museum’s brochure, but owners Candy Talbert and Michael Atkins have made it the magical world that it is today. Talbert and Atkins bought the property in the mid-1990’s, and created an exhibit about Kitson’s life, which includes 17 of his studies, plaster casts of his work, paintings, and memorabilia. According to Talbert, much of Kitson’s work is spread throughout the United States and Europe. Born in England, he once said that one of his “finest accomplishments†was becoming a United States citizen.
Kitson reportedly built the studio using wood from old barns and fences in the area. It is said that he offered to build the farmers new barns if they would give him their old wood. He was in his seventies at the time of this construction. A 200-year-old silo attached to the back of the studio was moved across the Tyringham Valley. The museum is located on Tyringham’s Main Road, a scenic route with sweeping vistas of the valley that separate it from Monterey and Lee.
A 1933 Boston Herald article described his garden as “A living poem in free verse.†Today seventeen pieces of sculpture lie in wait in nooks and crannies along the winding path through the garden’s wooded area. Some seem to complement the natural environs; others create a comic contrast. There is an incredible variety of sculpture and each forms its own tableux in the outdoor setting. The quality of light varies from location to location. “Our favorite part is placing the sculptures,†says Talbert, whose connections as a former sculptor bring some of the art to the galleries. “The fun part is to be able to exhibit in full sunlight versus shaded area in the woods, with all the different gradations.†When creating a show, she puts a call out for artists near and far.
When Kitson died in 1947, he was 84. His wife had preceded him. A New York newspaperman, Don Davis, and his wife, Ann, made a serendipitous visit to the Berkshires three months later, and found out that the infamous gingerbread house was for sale. They decided to make their family home there. Davis describes the interior at the time: “Further hurried inspection revealed a fascinating and jumbled collection of plaster casts in the great studio hall; huge concrete-buttressed walls, leaded glass windows through which the sun poured… I knew I had to have this place.†The Davis’ moved into the dwelling next door. They decided to establish an art gallery and conducted extensive repairs and renovations to both buildings over the next few years. Two thousand people visited the site during the first season, in 1954.
Current owners Talbert and Atkins have re-instituted an Artist-in-Residence program and this day Hinsdale painter Ivor Parry was at work creating a painting from his lunch – an apple. “The light changes so often,†he says, complaining about the mercurial Berkshire sunlight pouring in over his shoulder. “One minute it looks green, the next yellow.†Parry lived in New York City before settling here permanently, though his family had a summer home in Hinsdale for many years. His vibrant and colorful abstract paintings are also being shown at the Train Station Gallery in West Stockbridge.
Talbert and Atkins have lived in the Berkshires for 25 years. This is their third gallery.
The preservation aspect is new, says Talbert. She added that she is very much committed to preserving the property for the public and bringing Henry’s work back to his studio.
Santarella is open seven days a week from May through October. Admission is $4 per person. They can be reached at (413) 243-3260.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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