Marty Lasker Lecture Series - 2011

Searching for the Usable Past

Monday evenings at 7:30 pm

All programs are free and will be held in the air-conditioned Philip Barber Gallery (upstairs gallery) at the Becket Arts Center.

Seating for all presentations is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Refreshments are available following each lecture.

Does Gender Influence Creativity?

Monday, July 11^th • 7:30pm

Are there perceived differences between male and female artists? Does the female
artist, whether she is a painter, musician, or actress, address her subject matter with feminine instincts? Is it a coincidence that the majority of the members of our symphonic orchestras are males?

A panel of talented and qualified artists will discuss these questions and others to
open the 2011 Marty Lasker Lecture series. Come and join us in what promises to be an evening of most provocative discussion.

Panel participants will include:

Charles Bonenti, Features Editor and Visual Arts Writer for The Berkshire Eagle

Paul Campbell, Executive Director, Becket Arts Center

Michele Cohen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Arts Administration; Director, Trustman Art Gallery, Simmons College, Boston

Megan Whilden, Director of Cultura

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From Tantalizing Grapes to Award
Winning Wines

Monday, July 18^th • 7:30pm

John Vittori, owner/winemaker at Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery will present an informal talk with opportunities for questions as well as wine tasting! Included in his presentation will be a history of the Berkshires first Farm Winery, Furnace Brook Winery, as well as a portrayal of wine making in the Berkshires. Furnace Brook Winery was voted the Best Wine in Massachusetts at the June 12, 2010 judging of the Northeast Wine Competition in West Springfield, MA.

The Vittori family celebrates over two decades owning this property and is proud
to preserve this farmland and open it to the public for apple picking, hiking and cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

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The Hilltowns’ Colorful History

Monday, July 25^th • 7:30 pm

Peg Goss, retired director of the Becket Athenaeum, will enlighten us with colorful
and humorous stories from Becket / Hilltowns’ historical past. Not only has she focused her study on the library archives, but also, has developed a strong commitment to listening to stories told by older residents and ancestors of former residents. Her talk will be accompanied with photos, slides, and artifacts.

A long time resident of Becket, she and her husband Tom have been very active in
the community. Her love of Becket led to her passionate interest in exploring Becket’s history and the retelling of eloquent stories by residents.

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Native and Heirloom Plants:
a Vibrant Display

Monday, August 1^st • 7:30pm

Jess Savory will discuss native plants and heirlooms with a focus on our connection with the natural world of plants. Specifically, she will talk about edible plants, their history and uses. Medicinal plants will also be highlighted in her talk.

Jess is presently Senior Gardener at Berkshire Botanical Garden. Her responsibilities include starting all of the annual seeds (both flower and vegetable) for the BBG grounds, and participating in the overall planning of the garden’s design and upkeep. She is well experienced, having started growing vegetables in her own
garden at the age of four in Goshen, CT.

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Liberating Your Creative Dream

Monday, August 8^th • 7:30pm

Do you have creative energies and projects that you really want to dig into, yet
something in you is blocked? In this interactive evening, Roberta Wall will present and walk us through a process of connecting or reconnecting with our creative dream. She will describe how to transform your inner mind-created obstacles into the energy that will contribute to your dream. Roberta mentioned, “We will work on an inner journaling process. You may want to bring writing paper with you for this program.”

Roberta Wall is a lawyer, mediator, trainer, parent, activist, mindfulness practitioner and coach. She lives in Upstate New York and travels the world facilitating workshops and retreats inspired by Empathic
and Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg.

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Music from Bach to John Williams
in Live Performance

Monday, August 15^th • 7:30pm.

Music from Bach to John Williams in Live Performance A unique opportunity awaits you to hear Ronald Feldman, conductor with the Berkshire Symphony and cellist, and Elizabeth Morse, harpist, perform in an intimate setting at Becket Washington
School’s cafetorium. Selections by Bach, Handel, John Williams, and Ralph Vaughan Williams will highlight the program.

Elizabeth Morse, Studio Instructor of Harp at Williams College, is Principal Harp of the Berkshire Symphony. Formerly, she was Principal Harp of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and Assistant Director of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Harp Seminar. Elizabeth has performed with the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops.

Ronald Feldman, Conductor of the Berkshire Symphony and Chamber Music Coordinator at Williams, has achieved critical acclaim for his work as conductor and cellist. He has appeared with major orchestras- the London Symphony, Boston Pops, and Rochester Philharmonic, St. Louis, and Quebec, as well as many regional orchestras. He is the recipient of two ASCAP awards for adventuresome programming. He was a member of the Boston Symphony before joining the faculty of Williams College in 2001.


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Special thanks to Barbara Lasker, administrator of the Marty Lasker Fund. Without the support of this Fund, the local Cultural Councils of Becket, Chester, Hinsdale-Peru, Lee, and the Lasker Committee members: Barbara Barron, Theresa Hanford, David Giannini, Judith Koppel, Barbara Lasker, Lesley Oransky, and Sally Soluri, Chairperson, this free lecture series would not be possible!