The Berkshires in Winter Part II

The second day of our December trip to the Berkshires was devoted to museums. We were anxious to revisit the Clark (Sterling and Francine Clark Institute) in Williamstown, as we had not been there since the opening of the large remodeling/addition project. The approach to the new wing is rather cold and sterile (perhaps it would have felt more welcoming on a day with better weather.

New wing at the Clark 

The new wing has large open spaces for temporary exhibitions. Currently on view was Monet/Kelley, showing how Ellsworth Kelley was inspired by Monet's work and environment during his 1950s stay in France. The "finished" Monet's in this particular exhibit were, I felt, some of his least successful. But the large oil sketches were electrifying, and had you not known the artist, you might have guessed they were contemporary paintings. Sorry that I could not take pictures in this exhibit.

Impressionist Gallery at the Clark

19th Century Salon at the Clark

Grant Wood: Death on the Ridge Road, 1935. Williams College Museum of Art

Our next stop was the Williams College Museum of Art, with its interesting and eclectic collection ranging from Early American to contemporary. I was surprised and delighted to see one of my
favorite Grant Wood paintings in the collection, Death on the Ridge Road.

One of the current exhibits was Franz West (Austrian, 1947-2012). His works were strange, sometimes funny, particularly his "adaptives" which vaguely resembled tools and appliances you may see in a dream or nightmare. In his original gallery installations, he intended for visitors to pick up and handle these items in order to interact with the art (we did not have that privilege in the museum).

Franz West

We then moved on to Mass Moca in North Adams. The highlight was the multi-story installation by Sol Lewitt. While not an artist I particularly care for, it was fascinating to see an art environment so large you wander through it, almost as if in a shopping mall of visuals.

When you visit Mass Moca, you may not care for the art, but the visit is so immersive that even if you feel contemporary installation art is some sort of con game, you still can enjoy the ride through the artist's vision.