The Berkshires are in western Massachusetts.
Hancock Shaker Village
Hancock Shaker Village is located in the Berkshires, in Hancock, Massachusetts and was established in 1791. It eventually closed in 1960. The Village was sold to a local group who operates it as a museum. The Shaker religion began in Manchester, England in 1747. Their belief was by renouncing sexual relations humankind could achieve entrance into heaven. Suffering persecution in England, they went to America in 1774. At one time there were approximately 5000 Shakers in the United States. Now, there are only 2. The Shakers believed in celibacy, communal living, gender equality, and pacifism. Their worship included singing, ecstatic dance, and shaking, hence the name “Shakers”. They produced a unique style of furniture and other products.
Even though they were primarily dairy farmers, the sale of garden seeds was lucrative. Celibacy was one of the reasons for the dwindling numbers over the years, but urban migration was believed to be a major factor is the demise of the population of the village.
One of the unique features of the Shaker Village was the round stone barn. It was built in 1826. Its design promoted ventilation for the stored hay, made it easier to unload hay, and easier to milk their cows.
In their large brick dwelling, there was plenty of restoration to see how the Shakers lived, their daily choirs, and how the sexes lived apart under one roof.
Clark Art Institute
What a find! The Clark Art Institute is located in the Berkshires, in Williamstown, Massachusetts and was established in 1955. The museum has a predominant European collection of paintings and sculptures. The Clark’s fortune was inherited; his grandfather was a principal in the Singer Sewing Machine company. They traveled the world and amassed a huge private art collection. Concerned about war and the safety of their artwork; they stored their artwork in Massachusetts with the intent of a museum. The collection is best known for its French Impressionism, especially paintings of Renoir. We saw works by Botticelli, Monet, Degas, and Troulouse-Lautrec.
There were also works by American artists like Remington and Stuart. They had a Picasso exhibition that was amazing.
Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum is located in the Berkshires, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Norman Rockwell was famous for over 300 cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post magazine.
He also made contributions to Look and Boys’ Life magazines.
His paintings reflected an idealistic or sentimentalized portrayal of everyday American life.
Norman Rockwell’s studio.
James Warhola
He is the older brother of Andy Warhol and is an illustrator. James Warhola has worked for Interview magazine and has done cover art for more than 300 books. He was also one of Mad magazines illustrators.
Andy Warhol
It was a good exhibition on Andy Warhol. He was at the forefront of the pop art movement that flourished in the 1960’s. Neither of us were captivated by the New York night club, celebrity/designer/pretentious, Studio 54, cocaine/amphetamine parties, scene in the 60’s and 70’s. But, he did create a unique and interesting art style. Warhol was gay, 5’11”, malnourished, anemic, and weighted 128 pounds when he died after a gallbladder surgery at the age of 58. The museum was comparing the art of Warhol and Rockwell. We had a great time here.
