Clark Art Presents Outdoor Concert Series

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute presents a five-part outdoor concert series with thematic connections to its Ground/work 2025 exhibition. 
 
These free concerts take place every Wednesday in July at 6 pm on the Reflecting Pool Lawn, with the exception of July 23's concert, which takes place on the Fernández Terrace.
 
The lineup includes:
 
BALLA KOUYATÉ
July 2, Reflecting Pool Lawn
Balla Kouyaté's lineage goes back more than 800 years to Balla Faséké, the first of an unbroken line of djelis in the Kouyaté clan. The word "djeli" derives from the Mandinka language, meaning the oral historians, musicians, and performers who celebrate the history of the Mandé people of Mali, Guinea, and other West African countries. Kouyaté's musical virtuosity on the balafon (the West African antecedent of the xylophone) brings the sounds of West Africa to Williamstown, honoring the roots of Ground/work 2025 artist Aboubakar Fofana.
 
GABY MORENO
July 9, Reflecting Pool Lawn
Singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno has released eight albums and earned four Grammy nominations for her albums. Over her career, Moreno has shared the international stage with music luminaries such as Tracy Chapman, Nickel Creek, Buena Vista Social Club, Calexico, Los Lobos, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Taj Mahal, and Jackson Browne. Her talent and breadth match well with the Ground/work 2025 architect and artist Javier Senosiain.
 
CHINOBAY
July 16, Reflecting Pool Lawn
Hailing from the rich musical traditions of Uganda, Chinobay is a musician, cultural ambassador, and educator, spreading the vibrant rhythms and melodies of Africa everywhere. As a child, he embraced the folk tunes he gleaned from his elders. As time unfolded, he undertook the task of revitalizing these classic songs, all while mastering an array of traditional instruments. Just as Ground/work 2025 artist Aboubakar Fofana's artistic practice is rooted in the traditions of West African dyeing and weaving, Chinobay's musical practice connects to the past and to the inherited teachings of his ancestors.
 
SONIA DE LOS SANTOS
July 23, Fernández Terrace
Sonia De Los Santos shares her Mexican heritage with Ground/work 2025 artist Javier Senosian and has been singing in Spanish and English for audiences of all ages since 2007. She brings her joyful music to the Clark for a family-friendly concert geared towards the young and the young at heart.
 
Supported by Allen & Company.
 
CEDRIC WATSON
July 30, Reflecting Pool Lawn
One of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and zydeco music over the last decade, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter. Although he comes from a very different part of Texas than Ground/work 2025 artist Hugh Hayden, he underscores how traditional, folk, and popular music in the United States is interwoven with the history of Black America.
 
All outdoor summer concerts are free and take place at 6 pm. Bring a picnic and your own seating. Inclement weather moves events to the Manton Research Center auditorium. For accessibility questions, call 413 458 0524. 

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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