For Immediate Release
November 16, 2023

CLARK ART INSTITUTE PARTICIPATES IN WILLIAMSTOWN’S HOLIDAY WALK WEEKEND

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute joins in the community-wide celebration of the holidays during Williamstown’s 40th Annual Holiday Walk weekend, held the first weekend in December. The Clark kicks off the festivities on December 1 with a live concert by Johnny Irion and U.S. Elevator. On December 2, the Clark hosts art-making activities and horse-drawn carriage rides. The Institute’s popular First Sundays Free program continues on Sunday, December 3. Offering free admission to the galleries and special exhibitions from
 10 am–5 pm, the day also features a series of light-themed special activities from 1–4 pm, and a special production by Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) at 3 pm.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 ACTIVITIES
Williamstown’s Holiday Walk Weekend kicks off with a lively performance by troubadour rocker and Berkshire County treasure Johnny Irion and U.S. Elevator. The concert takes place on Friday, December 1 at 6 pm in the Clark’s auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

 Irion has been bringing folk-rock to western Massachusetts and the world for decades. He has performed with the likes of Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Jeff Bridges and John Goodwin (Crazy Heart), Superchunk, and Wilco. His solo album “Driving Friend” came out in 2018, and he has a new album coming out this winter. Irion will perform rich, layered arrangements of his new music, along with covers of John Lennon’s Christmas music. It is a Christmas celebration—Berkshire-style!

Tickets $10 ($8 members, $7 students, $5 children 15 and under). Advance registration required; capacity is limited. For more information and to register, visit clarkart.edu/events.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 ACTIVITIES
Enjoy a full day of free holiday festivities all along Williamstown’s Spring Street! Engage in art-making activities and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides on Spring Street, both sponsored by the Clark.

For details on Williamstown’s Holiday Walk weekend, visit DestinationWilliamstown.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 ACTIVITIES
It’s First Sunday Free at the Clark, welcoming everyone with free admission and all sorts of things to do! Prepare to ring in the new year by making your own disco ball or designing a lantern decorated with images from the Clark’s collection. The fun continues as light and a bit of theater are combined to help create shadow puppets with MusicArtPuppetSound (MAPS), a Berkshire/New York-based arts nonprofit. MAPS leads children in an exploration of shadow play, inventing and performing with both larger-than-life and teeny-tiny shadow puppets. A pop-up installation of Clark images focused on sunlight and shadows is on view in the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper from 11 am–1 pm.

The Clark’s newest exhibition, 50 Years and Forward: British Prints and Drawings Acquisitions, is on view in the Manton Research Center, the home of the Clark’s noted works on paper collection. This exhibition places a special focus on British prints, drawings, and watercolors in the collection, with a rich selection of works by artists including Thomas Rowlandson, J.M.W Turner, John Constable, Evelyn de Morgan, and Anna Alma-Tadema. Elizabeth Atterbury: Oracle Bones, a special installation in public areas at the Clark, is also on view. 

At 3 pm, the Clark hosts a free performance presented by Williamstown Theatre Festival, SAMMIE AND DAN: Singing and Holiday Cheer with Samantha Williams and Dan Rudin. The show brings a Festival favorite back to Williamstown to celebrate the season. Samantha Williams (Caroline, Or Change and Dear Evan Hansen) dazzled as a guest star in WTF’s summer 2023 cabaret and now she returns to Williamstown with her best pal, Dan Rudin (pianist at MJ and Caroline, Or Change), and a whole act featuring favorite holiday tunes. This next generation Broadway star is sure to brighten up your Sunday afternoon with classic songs and warm spirits—more delicious and less filling than eggnog!

Free. Space is limited and advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Secure tickets for the concert through the Williamstown Theatre Festival Box Office at wtfestival.org. 

For more information on First Sunday Free, visit clarkart.edu/events. Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.

For more information about Clark Art Institute events, visit clarkart.edu/events.

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 some 300,000 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. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also 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.

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