It has been a rich seven months of activities, art, and energy.

In October, attendees had the opportunity to see the documentary "Nazi Town, USA", a disturbing portrait of America before World War II and to discuss the film with producer/director, Peter Yost.

Two engaging music performances followed on Sunday afternoons. The Thistle Quartet, on October 3, a wonderful eclectic local group (featuring Sandisfield residents Bill Taylor and Jaye Moscariello), followed in two weeks by jazz with Noah Baerman (piano) and Henry Lugo (base). A family emergency prevented Baerman from participating and pianist Jen Allen masterfully substituted with an enchanting result.

If you haven't been to the 2026 Art Center this season, you have three more opportunities.

November 14, the doors will open for our inagural contra dance. The accomplished Jon Greene, renown throughout New England, will be calling. Fiddle music by Eric Martin and contra pianist Susan Creighton will complete the experience. Dancing has many health benefits, see the helpful list on the Arts Center website: sandisfieldartscenter.org. For myself, I learned to contra and square dance at the Mill River School decades ago and still love it. I've already purchased my tickets.

Immediately after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27, Josh Luxon-Robinson with delight us again. Luxon-Robinson, the grandson of Sandisfield's Ben Luxon, is a recent graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, is now a soloist and chamber musician. His performance will include evocative romantic and early twentieth-century music, suggesting landscapes, moods, birds, water, or childhood.

The season will concludes with the return of the Sandisfield Players under the direction of Jean Atwater-Williams in a radio performance of A Christmas Carol "as you've never seen it before" on Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 pm. Supported by the Sandisfield & Otis Cultural Councils, the Players will transport you to Dickens' England to experience the ruthlessness, repentance, and redemption of the human spirit

And don't forget our newly renovated Garfield Gallery. The last show, Family Fotos curated by Josie Miner, opens Saturday November 7 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and closes after "A Christmas Carol." The exhibit explores the idea of family in all forms - biological/chosen, remembered/ imagined, whole/fractured - and considers questions of memory, intimacy, identity, absence, and belonging. The program is free and not to be missed.