For Immediate Release
January 18, 2022

CLARK ART INSTITUTE OFFERS FREE ADMISSION ON FEBRUARY 6 AS PART OF ITS FIRST SUNDAYS FREE INITIATIVE

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute’s popular First Sundays Free program continues on Sunday, February 6, offering free admission to the galleries and special exhibitions along with a series of special programs. February’s theme is “Illuminating Illustration,” placing a special emphasis on poster art and illustration in a nod to one of the Clark’s current exhibitions. 

Visitors can explore a rich array of French color prints by artists including Pierre Bonnard, Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Jules Chéret, Maurice Denis, Camille Pissarro, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Edouard Vuillard in Hue & Cry: French Printmaking and the Debate over Colors in the Clark Center galleries. The exhibition studies the changes in popular taste and critical reception to the use of color in French printmaking. Also on view is a new installation of contemporary works by emerging artist Tomm El-Saieh. The exhibition, Tomm El-Saieh: Imaginary City, is the latest offering in the Clark’s on-going presentation of contemporary art in public spaces, and is on view in multiple locations in the Clark Center and Manton Research Center. The child of Palestinian-Haitian and Israeli parents, El-Saieh's artistic practice is in dialogue with Abstract Expressionism and Surrealist automatism as well as Haitian vodou traditions—all of which coalesce in the artist’s highly distinctive painterly approach. 

In addition, the Clark’s full permanent collection is on view, featuring a rich array of works by artists including John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas. Recent acquisitions by artists Sarah Bernhardt and Anna Alma-Tadema are featured in the galleries.

Special activities planned for the day include a pop-up display of illustrations on view in the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper from 11–1 pm. In the Michael Conforti Pavilion from 1–4 pm, visitors are invited to meet an artist and try their hand at several illustration activities.

The Clark’s grounds, which are always open free of charge, provide miles of walking trails. The Clark’s popular Project Snowshoe program offers visitors the opportunity to borrow free snowshoes to explore the beauty of the campus in winter. Snowshoes are available in adult and child sizes on a first-come, first-served basis.

While admission to the galleries is free to all visitors, advance registration is strongly recommended. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all visitors over the age of 12 and facemasks are required for all visitors over the age of 5. Visit clarkart.edu to register and for details on current health and safety protocols.

First Sundays Free is generously supported by the officers and employees of Allen & Company, Inc.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are required. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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