Latest News
Zombie art
Oct 29, 2025
Bill Murphy
The rocker/director Rob Zombie unveiled his first-ever art exhibition, “What Lurks on Channel X?” at an opening reception at Morrison Gallery in Kent on Oct. 25. Zombie (left) is pictured here with Jed Hotchkiss, an artist from Canaan. The exhibition will be on view until Nov. 16.
‘Der Golem’ comes alive at the Mahaiwe
Oct 29, 2025
The silent film ‘Der Golem’ will be brought to life with a live klezmer-infused score at The Mahaiwe.
Provided
On Sunday, Nov. 2, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington will present a screening of Paul Wegener’s “Der Golem”(1920), accompanied by a live klezmer-infused score.
Conductor Jonathan Yates transforms traditional Yiddish folk melodies and Jewish liturgical music into a rich, cinematic soundscape performed live by clarinetist Saerom Kim and the Avalon String Quartet.
Wegener’s German Expressionist landmark film tells the haunting 16th-century legend of a clay figure brought to life to protect Prague’s Jewish community — only to turn on its creators. The film was a sensation on release, influencing works from operettas to the 1931 cult classic “Frankenstein.”
Regarding the relevance of the work, in a recent phone interview Yates said, “The reason movies like ‘Der Golem’ stay so relevant is that we, as humans, are quite capable of creating all sorts of monsters that turn on us. In terms of how it relates to modern technology, you need look no further than a movie like ‘1984,’ in some ways very much in the same genre as ‘Der Golem,’ for a vision of how AI might come back to haunt us!”
Israeli-born composer Betty Olivero’s evocative score heightens the film’s drama with color, urgency, and nuance, creating an unforgettable, fully immersive experience for both eyes and ears.
About the score and the challenges of producing it live, Yates said, “The process of putting together Betty’s inventive and colorful score with the movie is challenging, but very fulfilling. A lot of film composers use a click track, so that every moment lines up exactly with their score, but Betty’s approach is freer. Though the timings and scenes are notated in the score, it’s the musician's responsibility to make sure it all fits, which gives us more latitude in our interpretation. There are also moments in the work in which there is no music for the film so that you can appreciate the pure expressivity of the visual language, and times when the film is paused so you can just be invested in the music. While the music is extremely evocative and interacts in a thrilling way with the movie, it is more of a complete art piece than a traditional film score — and we think that makes it even more exciting.”
Violist Anthony Devroe added, “This is a return performance to Close Encounters With Music for the Avalon Quartet, but a debut performance for myself and Saerom, and we’re all just so thrilled and grateful to get to share this very special project. It’s a unique work — the combination of a masterpiece of a film with an inspired original score, written more than 70 years after the movie-- it promises to be a very special afternoon.”
After each performance, audiences are invited to an “Afterglow” reception to meet the artists and mingle with fellow music lovers. Select concerts will also be available online, extending CEWM’s reach to listeners far beyond the Berkshires.
Tickets are available at mahaiwe.org or by calling 413-528-0100.
Keep ReadingShow less
Katalina Mayland (age 14) in her bedroom.
Lam Nguyen
As an interior designer, I’ve learned that sometimes the smallest voices in the room can have the biggest impact on a project. Over the years, more and more of my clients have begun looping their children into our design communication threads. Sometimes they’re quiet observers, other times they’re very vocal about what they love —o r absolutely can’t stand. And more often than not, I’ll hear the parents say, “Well, that’s the one the kids agreed to, so we’ll go with that.”
And honestly, I love that.
Think about it: our homes are our children’s worlds. These are the spaces that will embrace them, shape them, and forever live in their memories. When they close their eyes years from now and think of “home,” they’ll picture the colors, textures, and feelings that surrounded them growing up. So yes, they deserve a seat at the design table.
Today’s kids, though, are a whole new generation of design-savvy. They’re not learning from HGTV or paging through glossy magazines like we once did. Their inspiration comes from TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, where they’re constantly fed aesthetics and visual trends. They can tell you if they’re “cottagecore” or “dopamine decorators,” and they know the difference between midcentury modern and Japandi faster than you can say “mood board.” (Just ask them to explain. It’s eye-opening.)
This constant exposure means they’ve developed strong opinions and surprisingly refined tastes. They see how spaces make them feel, and they want to recreate those moods at home. It’s not just about pretty rooms — it’s about self-expression and belonging. I’ve seen teenagers reference color palettes or layering techniques they picked up online and then ask how they can apply those ideas to their own bedrooms or shared family spaces. They’re thoughtful and pragmatic, often looking for ways to incorporate what they’ve seen without a full renovation. Sometimes that means rearranging furniture for better “flow,” or adding LED strips and plants for atmosphere. These little design experiments give them a sense of ownership and teach them how personal space and creativity intersect.
I was recently listening to Vern Yip on the “How to Decorate” podcast from Ballard Designs, and he said something that struck me. He talked about designing his kids’ rooms as neutral palettes that could evolve with them. Instead of going all in on a theme or bold color that would need a total overhaul every few years, he kept the foundation versatile and layered in accessories and accents that could change as his kids’ interests did. It’s a brilliant approach — their spaces stay fresh and personal without becoming costly renovation projects every time they move from dinosaurs to drum kits.
The balance between giving kids a voice and maintaining long-term design sense is key. Let them express their personalities, but guide the process with materials and layouts that stand the test of time.
One of my favorite lessons came from my own son. When he was about 9, I asked how he wanted to decorate his room. I was fully expecting something along the lines of navy walls and sports posters. Instead, he surprised me with “modern and sleek.” I blinked. We live in a Dutch Colonial, and I’ve always believed in keeping interiors somewhat true to the home’s architecture, so chrome and white lacquer weren’t exactly on my radar. But it was his space, so I leaned in. We painted the walls black, added modern lines and textures, and tied it all together with a few transitional elements and personal memorabilia. Now, as a college baseball player, his room still tells the story of who he was — and who he’s become.
My daughter, too, was inspired by a TikTok trend not so long ago, and we did her room in Roller Rabbit’s popular “Amanda” pattern — from the chair to the shams to the bedspread. Thankfully, it’s stood the test of time. She still loves it, maybe even more now that it’s no longer a trend but simply something that feels like her.
Allowing kids to have that kind of ownership gives them a sense of pride and belonging. They’re not just growing up in a home — they’re growing up with it. Their opinions remind us, as designers and parents, that homes aren’t meant to be showpieces. They’re meant to be lived in, loved, and remembered.
So the next time you’re making a design decision — whether it’s a paint color, sofa fabric, or art for the hallway — ask the kids what they think. You might be surprised by their insight. And who knows? That one small choice might become the memory they carry with them forever, the color of home etched in their mind long after they’ve grown.
Kerri-Lee Mayland is an Emmy award-winning news anchor and designer. She lives in Lakeville.
Keep ReadingShow less
Judy Jacobs, right, took the advice of Dick Heinz to buy the French vanilla orange marmalade cake.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE— The aroma of fresh baked goods and simmering chili filled the air around noon Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Falls Village Congregational Church’s annual “Apples and Things” event, stirring cravings among the hungry visitors.
A bowl of chili and a couple of miniature corn muffins took care of the hollow feeling.
There were children’s activities inside and outside, housewares and knickknacks for sale, and the above-mentioned baked goods.
Lots of baked goods.
Judy Jacobs, with some input from Dick Heinz, walked out with a French vanilla orange marmalade cake.
She said she was intrigued by this particular combination of flavors and ingredients.
Someone said in passing, “That’s 500 calories a slice.”
“At least,” laughed Jacobs.
Keep ReadingShow less
loading
