mass moca

With 2022 in its waning hours, it’s time to look back at some of the cultural highlights in Berkshire County and the Capital Region.

An interview with Maida Rosenstein.

The North Adams, Massachusetts city council met Tuesday night to discuss fee structures for downtown parking during concerts, festivals, and other large events.

After almost a year of contract negotiations, unionized workers at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts are holding a one-day strike Friday.

A new exhibition of art installations by Catskill-based artist Marc Swanson is now at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. The exhibition -- titled “Marc Swanson: A Memorial to Ice at the Dead Deer Disco” -- is the second part of a two-part exhibition of his work that is also on display at MASS MoCA. The exhibition is inspired by the work of Thomas Cole and his warnings about environmental damage.

Former MASS MoCA Director Joe Thompson’s trial for vehicular manslaughter has been again postponed after a motor vehicle collision involving jurors and court officials Monday.

Deon Jones is a musician and artist with one of the most important voices of his generation. Jones created his first recording project—a powerful rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” featuring Academy Award-winning composer Jon Batiste — after being shot by police in the face with a rubber bullet during the 2020 summer protests. The recording has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine and U2’s Bono as “transformative” and by The Boston Globe as “a performance with clarifying power.” Jones brings his transformative energy to the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA on Saturday, March 19.The music video for Deon Jones’ cover of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is part of artist Glenn Kaino’s exhibition “In the Light of a Shadow” which is installed in MASS MoCA’s Building 5 through September 5. The exhibition is inspired by the connection between protests across the globe.

Angélique Kidjo has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. Kidjo also travels the world advocating on behalf of children in her capacity as a UNICEF and OXFAM goodwill Ambassador and created her own charitable foundation, Batonga, dedicated to support the education of young girls in Africa. The global superstar and four-time Grammy Award winner now stars in "Yemandja," a new music theater work that is a family drama and historical thriller infused with Greek tragedy and themes of love, betrayal, honor, free will, and the horror and injustice of slavery. Named for a Yoruban deity, this MASS MoCA co-commission a parable about gods and humans that illuminates through song what can happen when people are robbed of their culture. The musical will be performed at MASS MoCA on March 4 and 5.

Brooklyn heroes, The Might Be Giants are still celebrating the 30th anniversary of their classic, platinum album "Flood," which is truly the album that solidified their place as alternative rock legends. Their national tour started in 2020 and was stopped suddenly with COVID. It was rescheduled several times and they will now return to the road in March 2022. And they will be local at MASS MoCA on September 4, 2022.

Kristy Edmunds has been appointed the new Director of MASS MoCA — following a 10-month international search and a unanimous decision by the Board.