SUMMER OPENING RECEPTION: A ROOM OF HER OWN—WOMEN ARTIST-ACTIVISTS IN BRITAIN, 1875–1945
June 13, 6 pm
Clark Center lower lobby

Join us at the opening celebration for A Room of Her Own: Women Artist–Activists in Britain, 1875–1945. Enjoy light refreshments and be among the first to view the new exhibition.

Free. Advance registration required. Register at clarkart.edu/events or call 413 458 0524.

OPENING LECTURE: A ROOM OF HER OWN—WOMEN ARTIST-ACTIVISTS IN BRITAIN, 1875–1945
June 14, 11 am
Manton Research Center auditorium

Associate Curator Alexis Goodin introduces A Room of Her Own: Women Artist–Activists in Britain, 1875–1945. A survey of paintings, drawings, prints, stained glass, and other decorative arts made by women artists in Britain, the exhibition explores the spaces women claimed as their own and which furthered their artistic ambitions.

Free. Accessible seats available.

EXHIBITION TOUR: A ROOM OF HER OWN—WOMEN ARTIS-ACTIVISTS IN BRITAIN, 1875–1945
Twice daily: July 1–12 & 14–31 and August 1–31, 10:15 am & 3:45 pm
Meet in the Clark Center lower lobby

Learn more about women artists and the artworks they created in Great Britain during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Discover how these artists defied social expectations by establishing spaces to make art and nurture their artistic lives during a time when it was difficult for female artists to secure training, gain access to professional art societies, exhibit their work, and be taken seriously by art critics and collectors. With the help of a Clark educator, understand how these professional women artists’ activism extended beyond the art world and included other social issues of their time.

Free with gallery admission. Capacity is limited. Pick up a ticket at the Clark Center admissions desk, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

COMMUNITY DAY: ART IN ACTION
July 13, 11 am–4 pm

It's time for our biggest bash, Community Day at the Clark! Celebrate vibrant artwork, the lush summer campus, and the remarkable women artists highlighted in the exhibitions open this season—A Room of her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 1875–1945; Berenice Abbott's Modern Lens; and Mariel Capanna: Giornata. Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and special exhibitions all day, as well as special activities, art-making, artist demonstrations, and entertainment inspired by these special exhibitions.

From 11 am–4 pm, pose for a photo-portrait like Berenice Abbott’s subjects, explore fiber arts as May Morris did, and paint in the style of Marial Capanna’s artworks. Throughout the day, experience live music performances, delicious food from a variety of local vendors, and even more fun surprises. This all-ages event is sure to lift your artistic spirits!

Free and open to all. Refreshments available for purchase. Held rain or shine.

Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.

SUMMER PARTY AT CHARLESTON: BLOOMSBURY DINING EXPERIENCE WITH LEAH GUADAGNOLI
July 26, 6–8 pm
Schow Pond

In her essay “A Room of One’s Own,” Virginia Woolf wrote, “...one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” The Clark and chef Leah Guadagnoli, founder of Hudson, New York’s Fancy Feast Supper Club, recreate the spirit of Woolf’s Bloomsbury Group with a special evening of food and art celebrating the A Room of Her Own exhibition. A collective of writers, artists, and intellectuals—including Woolf, her sister Vanessa Bell, and author E.M. Forster—the Bloomsbury Group was known for radical ideas, bohemian lifestyles, and lively socializing at Bell’s country retreat, Charleston. This special evening begins with a welcome drink from Berkshire Cider Project followed by a walk through the exhibition A Room of Her Own and culminates in a vegetarian buffet supper prepared by Guadagnoli and inspired by the Bloomsbury Group’s final summer party. Don’t miss this memorable dining experience! 

Advance registration required; seating is limited. Tickets are offered on a choose-your-price basis ($25, $50, or $100) and include a welcome drink, exhibition walk-through, dinner, and dessert. Additional drinks available for purchase. Inclement weather moves the celebration to the Clark Center lower lobby. For more information and to register, visit clarkart.edu/events.

“CORRUPTIVE…DESTRUCTIVE:” WOMEN ARTISTS PAINT THE NUDE, 1875–1945
August 2, 2 pm
Manton Research Center auditorium

In 1930, writing about her sister Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf describes how “it was held, until sixty years ago […] for a woman to look upon nakedness with the eye of an artist, and not simply with the eye of mother, wife or mistress, was corruptive of her innocency and destructive of her domesticity.” In this lecture, author and art historian Rebecca Birrell explores how Bell, among others (including Evelyn de Morgan, Gwen John, and Winifred Knights), overcame moral and pedagogical constraints to produce nudes that reflected new ideas about women’s ambitions, desires, and social roles. If the nude was taboo, how did women artists, including Gluck and Ethel Sands, innovate in other genres such as flower paintings and interiors to reflect on sexuality, gender, and the body?

Free. Accessible seats available. A 3 pm tea party hosted by the Clark and Wild Soul River, featuring British teas and light bites, follows.

OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES
August 6, 13 & 27, Dusk
Reflecting Pool Lawn

In celebration of A Room of Her Own: Women Artists in Britain, 1875–1945, the Clark presents a selection of films with female directors and leads.

August 6, Dusk (8:20 pm)
Lady Bird

Lady Bird (2017), directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, introduces us to headstrong teenager navigating her senior year of high school. A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story, the film captures the push and pull between ambition and home, independence and family. Gerwig’s directional debit was praised for its writing, emotional honesty, and personal yet universal themes. (Run time: 1 hour, 34 minutes)

August 13, Dusk (8:10 pm)
Shrek

Shrek (2001), directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, provides a subversive take on a classic fairy tale, following the adventures of an ogre, a talkative donkey, and a spirited princess who all challenge storybook conventions. Jenson, one of the first women to co-direct a major animated feature, shaped the film’s sharp humor and heartfelt core. A critical and commercial success, Shrek won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. (Run time: 1 hour, 30 minutes)

August 27, Dusk (7:45 pm)
Turning Red

Turning Red (2022), directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Domee Shi, is a coming-of-age story following Mei, a confident yet conflicted teenager who transforms into a giant red panda when she experiences strong emotions. Incorporating relatable family dynamics with a playful take on adolescence, Turning Red is the first Pixar feature solely directed by a woman. (Run time: 1 hour, 40 minutes)

All movies are free. Bring a picnic and your own seating. . Inclement weather moves events to the Manton Research Center auditorium. For accessibility questions, call 413 458 0524.

OUTDOOR CONCERT: THE KNIGHTS
August 30, 4 pm
Fernández Terrace

Based in New York City, The Knights are a collective of musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audience and music. To celebrate the A Room of Her Own exhibition, the orchestra’s program includes: 

Dame Ethel Smyth 
Scherzo: Allegro vivace from her Suite in E Major for String Orchestra op. 1a

Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending (string arrangement; written for and premiered by the acclaimed English violinist Marie Hall)

Felix Mendelssohn
Octet for Strings

Free. For accessibility concerns, call 413 458 0524. Bring a picnic and your own seating. Inclement weather moves the performance to August 31 at 4 pm.

The Knights appear through the generous support of the Sea Island Foundation.

FAMILY CONCERT: THE KNIGHTS
August 31, 12 pm
Manton Research Center auditorium

The Knights present a family–friendly concert for younger audiences complementing the A Room of Her Own exhibition. This program is intended to provide a fun and engaging introduction to classical music. Audience participation activities highlight musical details and showcase the way instruments can tell a story.

Free. Accessible seats available.

The Knights appear through the generous support of the Sea Island Foundation.