Category: Voices
Our local communities share their stories — the Hill Country Observer offers a place to lift up many perspectives, from many backgrounds and experiences, bodies and minds, places and languages — from many migrations and diasporas and Native roots and more.
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Issue: December 2025-January 2026
When a college taught homesteading skills
50 years ago, from 1975 to 1980, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ran the Center for Resourceful Living at a 52-acre farm in Clarksburg — By Kate Abbott read more
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Issue: October 2025
Keeping the life in live performance
Professors’ play explores theater’s power amid perils of a changing world By KATE ABBOTT Contributing writer WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Two colleagues from the theater department of a large West Coast university are talking in an apartment at night. “It’s no joke,” one says. “Like I should be so grateful to be the one person hired to read more
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Issue: August-September 2025
Assets 4 Artists goes independent
The creative organization, which began as a program of Mass MoCA, will become an independent, regional nonprofit — By Kate Abbott read more
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Issue: June-July 2025
A room of her own — Clark Art Institute honors British artist activists
Exhibit traces British women artists’ role in 20th century social change Dame Laura Knight’s “A Balloon Site, Coventry” (1943) is among the works gathered for the Clark Art Institute’s new exhibit “A Room of Her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 1875-1945,” which opens June 13. Imperial War Museums/courtesy of Clark Art Institute By KATE read more
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Issue: June-July 2025
Where Dutch and Black history meet
Groups join forces to save long-vacant house near Hudson The house built by the Dutch colonist Jan Van Hoesen in the early 1700s later became the home of the Quaker abolitionist Charles Marriott and was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Now two local history groups have joined forces to preserve the structure, which has read more
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Issue: November 2024
In Berkshires venues, Native perspectives
Jacob’s Pillow renovation, MoCA show gather work of Indigenous artists The Hudson Valley-based artist Jeffrey Gibson, whose new installation “Power Full Because We’re Different” opens Nov. 2 at Mass MoCA, draws from the vivid colors and patterns of abstract art and finds inspiration in the regalia of Indigenous faith ceremonies. Photo courtesy of Mass read more
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Issue: October 2024
Finding a place in the cosmos — Galileo’s Daughter maps new skies
‘Galileo’s Daughter’ opens Oct. 18 in WAM Theatre co-production The cast and creative team gathered last month for the first rehearsal of “Galileo’s Daughter,” a co-production of WAM Theatre of Lenox and Central Square Theater of Cambridge, Mass. Michael Nancollas photo, courtesy of WAM Theatre By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer LENOX, Mass. When she read more
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Issue: June 2024
Strong, powerful, feminine — Shanta Lee’s ‘Dark Goddess’ photography explores divine, worldly realms
Photographer’s ‘Dark Goddess’ show explores divine, worldly realms Alyse Grange and Kahywanda Wilson worked with photographer Shanta Lee to create “Obeah’d,” one of a series of Lee’s photos in the exhibit “Dark Goddess: Sacroprofanity” at the Bennington Museum.Courtesy of Shanta Lee By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer BENNINGTON, Vt. Two women are sitting together on read more
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Issue: April 2024
In defense of books
Some in region push back against banning efforts in schools and libraries Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman reads to an audience at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, one of a series of stops he made around the state in recent months as part of his Banned Book Tour. Courtesy photo By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer read more
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Issue: February-March 2024
From oppression to liberation — Black artists uplift emancipation at WCMA
New show at Williams museum explores the journey of Black Americans John Quincy Adams Ward’s 1863 bronze sculpture “The Freedman,” left, helped to inspire an exhibition by seven contemporary Black artists exploring the meaning of emancipation in the 21st century. Hugh Hayden’s 3-D printed “American Dream,” right, offers a direct answer to Ward’s read more
