1. Berkshire Botanical Garden presentsa public reception Friday, May 15, 5pm to 7pm for the opening of “Grand Gesture: Monumental Vessels in the Garden,” The exhibition runs May 16 through October.
Step into a world where clay becomes living form in “an exhibition at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Mass., featuring the striking sculptures of Vermont-based ceramicist Stephen Procter. Placed throughout the Garden, Procter’s works turn simple materials into forms that feel both grounded and expressive.
Procter’s large vessels — some weighing up to 250 pounds and standing as tall as five feet — are both monumental and approachable, inviting reflection and a personal response. As physical objects, they draw the eye and shape the spaces around them; as sculptures, they carry a calm, steady presence.
Reflecting on the meaning behind the exhibition’s title, Procter explains that a “grand gesture” goes beyond scale. “More important is the inspiration that motivates and justifies the scale. The animating impulse often includes some mixture of generosity, expansiveness, gratitude, compassion, awe, and love,” he says.
Set within the changing environment of the Garden, the works shift over time. “In the Garden, the vessels are constantly changing,” Procter notes. “The surfaces, even unglazed, subtly reflect light. Shadows of leaves play on them, they shine in rain … and take on moss patina over time.”
Procter describes his practice as “a long-term investigation into the mystery of form,” exploring how gesture and volume can evoke emotional responses.
Visitors may find themselves forming unexpected connections with the sculptures. According to Procter, the vessels communicate in a non-verbal language that reaches beyond the intellect: “Their mode of communication bypasses the realm of the intellect and goes directly to something deeper.” If they could speak, he adds, “they might be, ‘Be here now. I am with you.’”
In addition to the outdoor installation, smaller, classically inspired works by Procter will be on view in the Leonhardt Galleries.
After decades of refining his craft, Procter still finds each installation moment meaningful. “We set it down, and so often someone in the party exclaims words I love to hear: ‘It looks like it has always been here!’”
For more information, visit www.BerkshireBotanical.org
2. West Stockbridge Historical Society presents
Massachusetts: A Song of Itself” Saturday April 18, 2026 – 3pStockbridge First Congregational Church – Main Street, Stockbridge, MA
Regie Gibson, our State Poet Laureate, backed by a group of outstanding musicians, presents a reimagined history of the founding of the Commonwealth told through the eyes of its marginalized and all too often forgotten people who influenced the growth and early struggles incurred in the formation of our Commonwealth.
Through passionate and creative storytelling, poetry and song, they give voice to a wide range of historical characters and their aspirations, hopes, and struggles, as he leads the audience on a journey from the early days of the English settler’s interaction with the indigenous native peoples, to the introduction of slavery, the formation of the Commonwealth, and ultimately the revolution itself.
The program casts a critical eye on some of our most cherished illusions about the State’s creation story and asks the audience to rethink these myths to form a more historically accurate picture of how we came to be who we are.
This is particularly relevant to what is happening within the state today, as we grapple with the attack of long-held beliefs of what it means to be an American and the resilience of the foundational elements of our state and country that our forefathers worked hard to create over 250 years ago. There will be a reception following the program to meet Regie and the musicians, partner organizations, and fellow attendees. Tickets $20 available at West Stockbridge History Massachusetts-a-song-of-itself
3. The Elizabeth Freeman Center is celebrating fifty years on May 14, 2026, at Barrington Hall, 426 Stockbridge Road, 6pm. Plated dinner, complimentary signature cocktail, $250/person.
For 50 years, Elizabeth Freeman Center has stood at the heart of Berkshire County as a lifeline for survivors of domestic and sexual violence—offering safety, dignity, and hope when it is needed most. This year, we invite you to join us for a remarkable evening as we celebrate five decades of impact, honor the resilience of survivors, and look ahead to the work that still lies before us in an increasingly uncertain time. Join us for a luminous evening of connection, reflection, and joy. Enjoy an exceptional dinner by Chef Sabrina Tan, live music, complimentary drinks, and great company. As we look back with gratitude, we also look forward with purpose—because every survivor deserves life-saving support, today and into the future.
4. Town of Stockbridge Party
5. Arbor Day Event
The Agriculture and Forestry Commission in cooperation with the Highway Department will hold an Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at the soccer fields on Park Street on April 24th, 2026 from 3 – 3:30pm
6. Bidwell House Museum
7. Chesterwood announces its 2026 Season. The summer residence, studio, and gardens of American Renaissance sculptor Daniel Chester French will be open to visitors May 15 – October 31. For more information about special events at Chesterwood, contact Rebecca Davis, PR, rebecca@rebeccadavispr.com
8. The Memorial Day Committee is looking for volunteers to help refresh the flags of veterans’ markers in the Town and Catholic cemeteries in advance of Memorial Day. For those who have participated in this work, it is a wonderful opportunity for community members to come together, get outside, and honor the veterans who served our Town and country for over the past 250 years. Volunteers are asked to meet Saturday May 9, 2026 10AM at the vault near the Sedgewick Pie. This work is not expected to last more than 1 hour. Contact Rich Bradway richbradway@gmail.com
