Williams College Museum of Art

(under 5 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

The Museum has 14 different galleries to browse through, so a perfect afternoon trip or morning Jaunt just minutes away from the inn.

15 Lawrence Hall Dr, Ste 2 Williamstown, MA

http://wcma.williams.edu/

Check out their blog at http://wcma.williams.edu/blog/

General Information: (413) 597-2429

Widely considered one of the finest college art museums in the country, the Williams College Museum of Art is a department of Williams College. WCMA houses nearly 13,000 works that span the history of art

An active, collecting museum, its strengths are in modern and contemporary art, photography, prints, and Indian painting. The museum is especially known for its stellar collection of American art from the late 18th century to the present.

Admission is free.

Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

The museum is closed on Mondays

Exhibitions:

JUNE 11, 2011 - OCTOBER 2, 2011

Masters of the Modern: The Gift of Madeleine P. and Harvey R. Plonsker, Class of 1961

MAY 13, 2011 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

Artist’s Project: Jesse Aron Green

Jesse Aron Green, on campus for this academic year as the Arthur Levitt, Jr. ’52 Artist-in-Residence in Art, has been commissioned to create a work of art in response to the question: How does an artist respond to the space of the museum?

Check out the many more current and upcoming exhibitions at http://wcma.williams.edu/exhibitions/current/

Things to do in the area on July 4th weekend

Saturday, July 2th

RENDEZVOUS AT THE FOLLY

Williamstown, noon-2 p.m.

Field Farm, Sloan Road. The Trustees of Reservations invite you to explore the place where modern art and architecture meet nature in the pinwheel-shaped house by the beaver pond. Tours offered at noon and 1 p.m. on alternate Saturdays July 2, 16, 30 and ending Sept. 10. Admission is $5 per adult; children, Trustees members and Williamstown residents are admitted free. To learn more, visit www.thetrustees.org, call 413-298-3239, ext. 3003 weekdays

Saturday, July 2th and Sunday, July 3rd

ART STUDIO TOURS

North Adams, 1 and 2 p.m.

Beaver Mill, 189 Beaver St./Route 8. 413-664-9550. Free and open to the public. The tours will be guided by artist Robert Hagy, and will explore various artists’ studios and spaces within the Beaver Mill, including the studios and alternative galleries of Leibman Studios, Keith’s X-tremes Gallery, Rudd Sculpture Space, studio21south, Gravity Press, and others.  Please note, that the galleries have general open hours and can be visited without a tour, but other studios and spaces can only be visited on the tours. Meet at the front (center) door at 1 and 2 p.m. Please note that there are stairs and the studios are not handicapped accessible.

Saturday, July 2th, Sunday, July 3rd and Monday July 4th

10TH ANNUAL BERKSHIRE ARTS FESTIVAL

Great Barrington, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Ski Butternut, Route 23. $11 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for students; free for children younger than 10. $13 for weekend pass. Seven artists and artisans from the Berkshires are among the more than 200 juried artists from 22 states and Canada who will be exhibiting their work. Festival includes workshops, demonstrations, performances, activities for children and food. The show will be held, rain or shine, under tents, outdoors, and in the air-conditioned lodge at Ski Butternut. Ample free parking is available. For more information visitberkshiresartsfestival.com or call 800-834-9437.

Sunday, July 3rd

THE 26TH ANNUAL BERKSHIRE CHARITY AUTO SHOW

Pittsfield, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

26th Annual Berkshire Charity Auto Show on Sunday, July 3, 2011, To Benefit Berkshire United Way, on the grounds of the Hillcrest Campus of Berkshire Medical Center, 165 Tor Court, Pittsfield. (Rain date is July 10th.) Thirty-seven categories of cars will be represented ranging from antiques and originals by decade beginning with the 1900 Ford Model A up until 1972, with special groups for popular models like Corvettes and Thunderbirds. Show proceeds benefits Berkshire United Way, which supports the event with volunteers. A family-friendly event, admission if $4.00 for adults and free for children under 12 accompanied by a parent. Show car registration is $10 and includes admission for two adults. All registrants have the chance to cast their vote for the best entries in each category. Refreshments will be available and music provided by local DJ Paul Therrien.

Monday, July 4th

BASEBALL AND FIREWORKS (only 15 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

North Adams, 6:30 p.m.

Joe Wolfe Field, 310 State St. (Route 8). The SteepleCats take on the Mystic Schooners at 6:30, with fireworks put on by the City of North Adams following the game. T-shirts will be give to the first 500 fans. More information at www.steeplecats.com.