Triplex Cinema and Great Barrington Libraries Announce "Banned Books on Film" Series

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Triplex Cinema and the Great Barrington Public Libraries have announced a new film series titled "Banned Books on Film."

The series will commence on Saturday, May 4, at 4:00 p.m. with a screening of Francois Truffaut’s 1966 film "Fahrenheit 451", an adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel. A discussion will follow the screening. Tickets are available for purchase at www.thetriplex.com. The Great Barrington Friends of the Library is sponsoring the series, and copies of Bradbury's novel are available for borrowing at Mason Library.

"Fahrenheit 451" stars Julie Christie, Oskar Werner, and Cyril Cusack. The film depicts a future American society where books are banned and burned by firemen. The narrative follows one such fireman who becomes disillusioned and ultimately dedicates himself to preserving literature. Bradbury described his novel, published during the McCarthy era and influenced by historical instances of book burning and ideological repression, as a commentary on preventing potential futures.

Bradbury’s novel received critical acclaim upon release but was also subject to bans in schools and censorship. The "Banned Books on Film" series intends to feature other film adaptations of frequently banned books, such as "The Grapes of Wrath", "Of Mice and Men", "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", "The Scarlett Letter", "The Fault in our Stars", and "The Outsiders".

Jamie Nicholson, head of adult programming for the Great Barrington Libraries, emphasized the importance of free access to knowledge and the increasing prevalence of book bans. The partnership with the Triplex Cinema aims to foster community discussion about intellectual freedom and the right to read.

Gail Lansky, Triplex Board President, expressed enthusiasm for the series and the collaboration with the Great Barrington Libraries.

The Triplex Cinema is a nonprofit organization presenting a variety of films and programs. The Great Barrington Libraries, consisting of Mason and Ramsdell Libraries, offer resources and programs to the community.

 

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Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

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