For Immediate Release
April 7, 2022

CLARK ART INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES FINAL FREE SUNDAY OF THE SEASON

(Williamstown, Massachusetts)—The Clark Art Institute holds its final First Sunday Free program of the season on Sunday, May 1. Offering free admission to the galleries and special exhibitions from 10 am–5 pm, the day also features a series of special activities from 1–4 pm, centered around this month’s theme, “May Day at the Clark.” Visitors are invited to weave a spring wall hanging, make a kit to plant your own flower garden, and enjoy live music! At 2 pm, join a docent to browse springtime highlights in the Clark's collection. And as always, enjoy the outdoors by relaxing near the reflecting pool or taking a hike on the Clark's trails. 

This event is free. To reserve tickets, visit clarkart.edu/events.

Visitors can see the Clark’s current special exhibition, As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War, before it closes on May 30. The exhibition examines the role artists played in documenting the events and experiences of war over four centuries (1520-1920) and showcases a diverse selection from the Clark’s holdings: both pro- and anti-Napoleonic imagery (including Francisco de Goya’s The Disasters of War); Civil War photographs and wood engravings; and multiple perspectives on World War I. Also featured are images of Black Americans in military service, whose contributions have often been underrepresented in the historical record. Veterans, active-duty military members, and their families receive daily free admission to the Clark through the run of the exhibition.

Also on view is a year-long installation of contemporary works by 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.

Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.

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, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are strongly recommended. 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 information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. 

Visitors age five and older must provide proof of having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter our facilities. Face masks are optional for all vaccinated visitors age five and older. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.

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