Berkshire Art Center Sets Youth Puppet Workshop for April Vacation

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STOCKBRIDGE — The Berkshire Art Center (BAC) has scheduled a specialized April vacation program, "Giant Parade Puppets," running April 20–24 at Citizens' Hall.

The workshop is designed for students aged 8 and older and will be led by artist and educator Eric "Homeslice" Weiss.

The week-long curriculum focuses on the design and construction of large-scale puppets. Students will learn to sculpt puppet heads and mount them onto wooden frames equipped with fabric arms and hand rods. The program draws inspiration from global traditions, including Chinese New Year dragon puppets and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, to teach the technical engineering and narrative elements of festive puppetry.

The program concludes with a puppet performance for family and friends on the BAC lawn. Following the workshop, the BAC will store the completed puppets, allowing students to retrieve them to participate in the Pittsfield Annual Fourth of July Parade on July 4, 2026.

Sessions will held Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Supporting sponsors for the program include the Mass Cultural Council, Feigenbaum Foundation, Lee Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Mill Town, Berkshire Bank, and the Rotary Club of Pittsfield.

Registration and additional information are available through the Berkshire Art Center website.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Great Barrington Unveils 9/11 Memorial Featuring World Trade Center Steel

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — A piece of history will now stand in front of the Great Barrington Fire Department, serving as a lasting reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and heroism of those who rushed in, stepped forward, and answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001.
 
Hundreds of community members gathered outside the Fire Department for the unveiling of a 9/11 memorial featuring a steel I-beam salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.
 
The monument marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, and its effect reached far and wide beyond New York, said Deputy Fire Chief James Mead.
 
"There are moments in our lives that become markers of time. Moments when we remember not only what happened, but where we were, who was beside us, and how the world somehow felt different afterwards," Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove said. 
 
"For those of us who experienced September 11, 2001 — it is one of those moments for us to share."
 
The acquisition of the beam was a multi-year effort initiated by the late Andy Moro, former commander of American Legion Post 298 in Housatonic, and was carried on by the Legion's second vice commander, John Morris. 
 
Morris said he was able to obtain the warped steel I-beam through connections he made during his time as a New York City firefighter.
 
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