Learn how to parent your Neurodiverse children from Caitlin Meister
Lenox —On Thursday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m., the Lenox Library will present “Parenting Neurodiverse Kids & Teens: How to Be Less Stressed & Help Your Kids Thrive” with Caitlin Meister. Caitlin Meister is the Founding Director of The Greer Meister Group, a private tutoring and educational consulting practice. The event will take place in the main reading room of the Lenox Library located at 18 Main St, Lenox.
How does your child learn best? How do we help our kids thrive with forms of neurodiversity like ADHD, ASD, language-based learning differences, and more? Join in conversation with Caitlin Meister as she explains what to do if you suspect your child has a form of neurodivergence; next steps if your child has a confirmed diagnosis; effective strategies for communicating with teachers; and how a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach can reduce stress in your home and set your child up for success.
For more information, please visit https://lenoxlib.org/events/ or call the Lenox Library at 413-637-0197.
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‘A Raisin in the Sun’ by Lorraine Hansberry Opens at the Bobbie Olsen Theater
Sharon — October 6-17th the Bobbie Olsen Theater presents a run of “A Raisin in the Sun.” The first show is on Friday, October 7 at 8 p.m. Click here for a full performance schedule and tickets.
Set on Chicago’s South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. The tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. The Younger family’s heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.
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Investigate the moral quandary of immoral works of art
Pittsfield —The OLLI Distinguished speakers Series presents Professor James Harold on “What Makes a Work of Art Immoral and What Should We Do About Immoral Works of Art” on Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m. online via Zoom.
Politicians, pundits, and ordinary people often accuse works of art of being immoral. But what could that mean? Sometimes we are concerned about the “message” of an artwork, sometimes about the effects of the work on the audience, and sometimes about the personal morality of the artists. Once we determine that an individual work of art is immoral, how should we respond? Professor Harold will examine these questions in his talk.
Admission is $10 for OLLI at BCC and Berkshire Museum members, and $15 for the general public. Admission is free for Berkshire Community College students, youth 17 and under, and those holding WIC, EBT/SNAP, or ConnectorCare cards. Pre-registration is required. Register safely and securely online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.) to register by phone with a credit card.
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Judged artists show opens during First Fridays Artswalk
Pittsfield —RE*Fresh show opens Friday, October 7 from 5 p.m. to 8p.m. during Pittsfield’s monthly First Fridays Artswalk. An awards reception will be held Saturday, October 8 from 3-5 p.m. The show will be on display through November 26 at the city-owned Lichtenstein Center for the Arts. Gallery hours during the 6 weeks of the show are by appointment. Admission is free.
RE*Fresh speaks of the challenges, inspirations and new possibilities presented to all of us over the past two years. These dynamic issues are expressed and explored by 36 artists from the Northeast United States.
Jurors for the exhibit are Kinney Freylinguysen, artist and director of the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio, Lenox, Massachusetts, and Genevieve Gaignard, a multi-disciplinary artist based in Los Angeles and Massachusetts.
To view this show virtually or in person, call 413 499 9348 for an appointment. For updated information, go to berkshireartassociation.org
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“Luminescence” show opens with art by local Berkshire artists
Lee — Good Purpose Gallery on Main Street in Lee is hosting an open house for local Berkshrie artists Natalia Bystrianyk and Julie Anna Bishop from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on October 6th. The artwork will be displayed through November 29th.
Much of Natalia Bystrianyk’s work can be described in as luminous. She is best known for deeply layered intuitive paintings, allowing ideas to develop freely rather than be concerned with end results. This grants a sense of freedom, possibility, wonder, and light to her work.
Supporting artist, Julie Anna Bishop, views luminescence as the light coming from within. Her animal spirit portraits emit a playful radiance allowing the viewer to connect with nature on a more vibrant level. This new work is being developed as illustrations for the second children’s book of a language adventure series. Her first book of the series, Rainbow Roads, was published in June 2022. Julie’s passion is connecting to a deeper source and empowering others to do the same through her artwork, written word, jewelry, and coaching practice.
More info: https://goodpurpose.org; https://talby.art; https://divinefinery.com; https://julieannabishop.com/art
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Join the Great Barrington Meditation Circle to find peace and stillness
Great Barrington — Barbara Bonner will offer a Community Meditation Circle every Sunday from 4-5 p.m., at LifeWorks Studio, 50 Castle Street, Great Barrington, beginning again on Sunday, September 18.
This group is open to all community members, free of charge, whether you are contemplating taking a first step into the world of meditation or you have been sitting for decades. No registration or regular attendance is required. Groups will be open to whoever wants to attend on any particular Sunday.
Gatherings will begin with brief introductions, perhaps a few sharings on meditation, very likely a poem or reading, followed by a 45 minute period of silent meditation which Barbara will introduce. We should emphasize that these are group sittings, not classes in meditation. For those who would like to linger a bit after meditation and connect, we will offer some simple refreshments.
Barbara can be reached at barbara@barbarabonner.org.