July at the Sandisfield Arts Center was not to be missed, concluding with a sold-out performance on July 26 by NYC's Seth Herzog, a warm-up comedian for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He agreed to his first visit to Sandisfield to see his longtime friend Douglas Miner. On stage he poked fun at the abundant biting insects enjoying him while he tried to eat a dinner outside before the show, and several audience members, including one who didn't know what make of car he drove.

Two Saturday morning events brought crowds of 20-30 people to learn more about Sandisfield.

Tom Ryan of the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Photo: The Sandisfield Times.

On July 12, Tom Ryan, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation Tom.Ryan@mass.gov presented "Strategic Forest Planning in a Stressful Environment." He enumerated the components of the five P's that are changing our forests forever, Pests, Pathogens, Plants (invasives and non-invasives), Planet (Climate Change) and People.

Concluding on a hopeful note, he described the success of the Community Preservation Act, where towns and cities agree to a small tax surcharge to raise funds for dedicated, land conservation, affordable housing, historic preservation, and outdoor recreation facilities. Sheffield, Great Barrington, Becket, and 197 other MA municipalities have already signed on.

Ron Bernard lectures on Native American ceremonial structures.
Photo: The Sandisfield Times.

Two weeks later, Ron Bernard gave an intriguing presentation about the abundance of Native American ceremonial structures that fill our woods including serpentine walls, prayer stones and turtle effigies, some with the strategic inclusion of blocks of white quartzite. I doubt anyone in attendance will look at stones on the landscape in the same way, I certainly won't.

Four Fabulous Friday Open Mic series continued on July 18, which was a busy weekend for the Sandisfield Arts Center.

Beyond Our Boundaries, a groundbreaking international art show and "Not So Short" film festival opened in the Garfield Family Gallery on July 19. The film festival was a five-hour compilation of films by global artists created during the pandemic, including works by Irena Paskali (Macedonia/Germany) and Gabi Gusmao (Brazil.) The art exhibit, curated by Jaye Alison Moscariello, brings together a diverse group of talented artists from across the globe. It offers a unique challenge: all participating artists present work in small format-no larger than 12 x 12 inches. While working on a reduced scale might seem limiting, it often demands greater focus, intention, and precision. Through this diverse assembly of works, the exhibition reflects the expansive potential of contemporary art and offers a glimpse into the dynamic global art scene-featuring 19 artists from nine countries. The exhibit continues through August with the Galley opened Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 3 or by appointment.

On August 15, the third of Four Fabulous Friday Open Mic series continues providing a wonderful forum for all kinds of performance and all kinds of performers. We've had young and old, novice and veteran performers and all kinds of music, poetry, and storytelling. Finally on Saturday, August 23, John Wheeler, president of the Berkshire Mycological Society will lead a mushroom walk beginning at 10:00 a.m.