Please join us for an End-of-Summer Celebration and Auction, Saturday, September 18, 12:00pm – 4:00pm. (Scroll to the bottom to purchase tickets). You will enjoy beautiful vistas, a scrumptious lunch, and an exciting auction including:

Experiences!

Spa Day for Two at Canyon Ranch

Enjoy the ultimate wellness day at world-renowned Canyon Ranch Lenox. Choose your preferred spa treatment by selecting a focused pathway with curated services, either together or separately, bundled to support your intention. A healthy lunch is included in the dining room of Bellafontaine, often considered the most elegant former Gilded-Age summer home in Lenox. Choose from topics such as healthy weight, life transitions, wellness, or joy. A $650 value; the minimum bid is $400. Please visit www.canyonranch/lenox/massachusetts-resort/ for more information.  Bid Here!

Dinner for two at Café Boulud, Blantyre

Café Boulud Blantyre combines Blantyre’s plush Relais & Chateaux hotel in a Gilded-Age Tudor-Revival mansion on a 220-acre estate in Lenox with Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud. Chef Boulud oversees an extensive portfolio of global dining destinations including his Michelin-starred NYC restaurant eponymously named DANIEL. The seasonally adjusted menus At Café Boulud Blantyre showcases innovative French classics utilizing the freshest ingredients sourced locally combined with outstanding service and an award-winning wine cellar with 1600 vintages for a dining experience second to none in the Berkshires. A $250 Value; the minimum bid is $150. Please visit www.blantyre.com/boulud/ for more information.  Bid Here!

The Greystone Quartet Performance for Host and Guests

Born from The Berkshire Jazz Collective, these musicians form the premier jazz quartet in the Berkshires. Sharing a passion for jazz standards and innovation these four musicians play original compositions and the best of The Great American Songbook, perfect for a private concert with friends or an event looking for classic jazz at its best. The quartet is anchored by Andy Wrba on bass, who was chosen by Yo Yo Ma to curate the community music for his Bach Project World Tour when he played in Pittsfield in 2018. Among their many credits, Andy joined with Conor Meehan on drums and Ben Kohn on keyboards to provide the music for the Midsummer Night’s Barbecue at Wheatleigh for years. The estimable Don Mikkelsen, who has played with a who’s who of the jazz world, joined that trio on trombone to form The Greystone Quartet this past year. A $2000 value; the minimum bid is $500. Please contact Andy Wrba at [email protected] for more information and to agree upon a mutually convenient date. Bid Here!

A Consultation with Master Gardener Nicole Zaccaria

Nicole has worked on private estates throughout Berkshire County and public ones such as the award-winning gardens at Santarella in Tyringham and Laurel Hill Nature Preserve in Stockbridge. Nicole takes a very personal creative holistic approach in the design and maintenance of the landscaping and gardening wishes of her clients. She works almost entirely by herself so that the vision created while working closely with her clients is followed through to her exacting standards. A $100 value toward future services; the minimum bid is $60. Please contact Nicole at [email protected] for more information. Bid Here!

A Conversation with Nobel Laureate Dr. Joachim Frank

Dr. Frank shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with his colleagues Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson in 2017. He is regarded as the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and developed a method for analyzing blurry two-dimensional images of the electron microscope into a sharp three-dimensional image, important in the development of pharmaceuticals, among other things. Dr. Frank continues to work on these techniques which are contributing to the development of treatments for COVID-19. A priceless once in a lifetime experience; the minimum bid is $300. Please visit Joachim Frank – Wikipedia for more information. Bid Here!

A Conversation with Author, Journalist and Essayist Lance Morrow

Lance Morrow is an author and journalist whose essays appeared for many years in Time Magazine, where he wrote over 150 cover stories, eight Man of the Year profiles, and hundreds of essays covering wars from Vietnam to the Middle East and Bosnia, the American presidency from Nixon to Obama, and the radical changes in American life in the second half of the 20th century into the 21st. He is the author of eight books, including a widely acclaimed memoir, The Chief. Selections of his essays have been published in Fishing in the Tiber, and in Second Drafts of History. He is a winner of the National Magazine Award in essay and criticism. Mr. Morrow is currently the Henry Grunwald Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington. A priceless once in a lifetime experience; the minimum bid is $300. Please visit Lance Morrow – Wikipedia for more information.  Bid Here!

Casana T House Tea Ceremony for Six

Prepare for an exploration in tea unlike any other with Carrie Chen. Tea ceremonies (or chayi, “the art of drinking tea”) are a vital social staple in Chinese culture, a combination of ancient ritual and hospitality that invites guests to relax and enjoy an afternoon with friends while expanding their sensory horizons. During a 90-minute session, guests will meditate and sample teas from diverse regions of China and Taiwan, as well as Casana’s signature house blends, experiencing the flavor notes of each variety in full. Fresh, homemade food accompanies each tea served, chosen specifically to enhance the flavor and culinary experience. A $650 value; the minimum bid is $400. Please visit https://casanatea.com/ for more information. Bid Here!

Art Works!

Arthur Yanoff Painting

Arthur Yanoff has had more than 75 exhibitions of his work throughout the country. His work is in the collections of major museums, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, where he had a one person show. He credits ocean light and the elevating principles of Chasidism as deep influences on his work. Classically trained, his development pushed him further into abstraction. Moving away from the easel, he works on unstretched canvases placed horizontally on a floor or table. This major work is titled “Schoenfield’s Refractions, No. 1”. It was painted in 2007 and is acrylic and collage on canvas and measures 16” x 53”. We thank Marcia Stamwell for this very generous donation. A $4750 value; the minimum bid is $2000. Please visit yanoff.carbonmade.com for more information. Bid Here!

Kenro & Yumiko Izu’s Lumina Edition Photograph

Kenro and Yumiko Izu, both world famous photographers, live in Rhinebeck, NY and are known for using large format view cameras and long exposure times to capture dramatic lighting, textures and a spirituality of places and subjects. In the Lumina Edition, the couple worked together to lovingly examine details of nature—and the life and culture of the region—giving the viewer a unique, poetic and humanistic perspective into natural themes. The artists would like the viewer to enjoy the harmony between art and life. The image is approximately 19×24 inches on 23×29 inch acid-free rag paper.  Please visit luminaedition.com/html/about.html for more information. Bid Here!

Paul Chaleff Pottery

Schooled in the Japanese Tradition of wood fired ceramics, Paul Chaleff is known world-wide for his contemporary wood fired pots and large-scale sculptures.  Examples of his work are in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, The Museum of Modern Art, NY and throughout most major decorative arts Museums in Japan. Chaleff was one of the first American potters using a Japanese style Anagama kiln and became a leader in the introduction of this form of wood-burning kiln. This piece was very generously donated by Mr. Chaleff and is approximately 12” x 15”. A $1200 value; the minimum bid is $750. Please visit https://www.paulchaleff.com/ for more information. Bid Here!

Ronnie Streichler Vase

Ronnie Streichler was born in the Bronx and spent most of her childhood growing up in Englewood, NJ. She currently lives in Fort Lee, NJ and is the principal of Streichler Design in Fort Lee. Much of Ronnie Streichler’s art is done with recycled materials, in this case with drywall bonded with caulking. She sees the potential in recycling material to being turned into art or as Ms. Streichler says, “I see things that will be beautiful. I see their future. I see a different future in everything. I see a journey.” This single vase from her collection is 6×14 inches. A $300 value; the minimum bid is $100. Please visit https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/making-art-from-trash/ for more information about the artist. Bid Here!

Hans Heuberger Water Color

Hans Heuberger is a member of the Housatonic Valley Art League and contributes his watercolors for the playbill covers and website artwork of Close Encounters With Music. His close friends, Yehuda and Hannah Hanani chose this piece for the auction. Please visit cewm.org home page for more of Mr. Heuberger’s art. Bid Here!

Yueh-mei Cheng Painted Violin

Yueh-mei Cheng is an internationally renowned Taiwanese artist. Her art is based on her solid training in both Eastern and Western painting techniques and expressions by which she developed a new way to learn from art history. She feels she can communicate directly with the painters of the past, sharing the same profound philosophical meanings and myths. Once she learned this ‘secret’ everything changed. The impetus for her painting comes mainly from her practice of meditation and dance experience. This painted violin is approximately 24x12x2 inches. A $850 value; the minimum bid is $525. Bid Here!

John Chapdelaine Painting: Mr. Chapdelaine created this painting through Community Access to the Arts (CATA), the Berkshire-based nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities. He created this work using an adaptive painting technique called “Artistic Realization Technologies” (or A.R.T.). This method allows artists with significant physical disabilities to control the entire creative process using a laser pointer and a trained assistant. This work was created in 2019 and is titled “Screaming in Silence”. It is acrylic on canvas and is 23” x 27.5” framed. The starting bid is $125. The artist receives 60% of the sale price.  Please visit https://cataarts.org/  for more information about this vital community program. Bid Here!

Painting by Pittsfield High School Students: This painting was a student collaboration through Community Access to the Arts (CATA), the Berkshire-based nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities. The starting bid is $50. Please visit https://cataarts.org/  for more information about this vital community program. Bid Here!

Silk Screen from HappyPlace Berkshires: HappyPlace Berkshires is a women-led screen printing and stitching studio creating original Berkshire branded goods on site in Great Barrington. The starting bid is $125. Please visit https://happyplaceberkshires.com/ for more information about this studio. Bid Here!

Performances!

Barrington Stage – Two Subscriptions to May – October Season

Founded in 1995 and now located in Pittsfield, Barrington Stage has been producing award-winning theater ever since. The company has been lauded by The Boston Globe as “one of the jewels in the state’s crown” and gained national prominence in 2004 with the world premiere of the musical, “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” which eventually won two Tony Awards when the production moved to Broadway. Four Tony Award nominations in 2014 followed the company’s original production of the musical revival of “On the Town” after it opened on Broadway. A $600 value; the minimum bid is $350. Please visit barringtonstageco.org for more information. Bid Here!

Jacob’s Pillow – Four Tickets to Performance for 2022 Season

A generous gift from Rick and Nurit Amdur to America’s longest-running international dance festival founded by Ted Shawn in 1931. “The Pillow” is a treasured 220-acre National Historic Landmark in Becket, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts and lauded by The New York Times as “the dance center of the nation.” Each summer The Jacob’s Pillow Dance festival presents the very best of international dance on its bucolic campus for which these tickets allow access to the successful bidder’s choice of performances in 2022. A $180 value; the minimum bid is $120. Please visit jacobspillow.org for more information. Bid Here!

Shakespeare & Company – Two Tickets to a Fall 2021 Performance

Founded by Tina Packer in 1978, Shakespeare & Company is an institution in the Berkshires becoming a thriving center of creative and collaborative excellence in performance. Shakespeare & Company originally began performing Shakespeare’s plays and more from their location at The Mount, the former home of Edith Wharton. In 2000, Shakespeare & Company moved a mile up the road to their large and beautiful present home on Kemble Street in Lenox where they nowperform Shakespeare, classic, and contemporary  plays of social and political significance. The tickets allow the successful bidder to choose from performances of two plays presented during separate time periods this fall until October 31. A $100 value; the minimum bid is $60. Please visit shakespeare.org for more information. Bid Here!

Close Encounters With Music – Four Subscriptions to the 2021-2022 Season

Not much description of Close Encounters With Music needs to be provided here! What we can say is we’re grateful and thrilled to be able to present our world class performances in front of live audiences this year. The subscription season begins on November 21, 2021 with eight performances through June 12, 2022. A $1000 value; the minimum bid is $600. Please visit cewm.org for more information. First concert Nov. 21, 2021. Bid Here!

Gift Certificates and more!

Guido’s Gift Card for $100

Guido’s Fresh Marketplace Gift Certificate: Over the span of 40 years Guido’s has grown to become the premier destination for discriminating shoppers to find the finest quality produce, meat, fish, cheese, specialty foods, flowers and prepared foods. With locations in Great Barrington and Pittsfield, enjoy the shopping experience of an old-world style food emporium specializing in organic, local and sustainably sourced foods. A $100 value; the minimum bid is $60. Please visit www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com for more information.  Bid Here!

Old Mill Gift Card for $100

Located in the heart of South Egremont, The Old Mill has been a Berkshire dining favorite for over forty years. Chef-Owner Terry Moore oversees a well-trained kitchen staff, serving seasonal, contemporary New England cuisine as well as traditional favorites. The dining room’s wide plank floors, dark chestnut beams, wrought iron sconces and woodburning forge give this 1700’s grist mill a feeling of rustic elegance. A $100 value; the minimum bid is $60. Please visit oldmillberkshires.com for more information. Bid Here!

CafeAdam Gift Card for $100

Located in the historic Jenifer House Commons in Great Barrington, you will find a welcoming dining area modeled after a Berkshire country home created by Berkshire native Chef-Owner Adam Zieminski and partner Sylwia Orczykowska. Chef Zieminski’s menu is adjusted seasonally featuring local ingredients he purchases directly from farms in the area. A friendly and attentive dining room staff and an award-winning four hundred bin wine list completes an outstanding dining experience. A $100 value; the minimum bid is $60. Please visit cafeadam.org for more information. Bid Here!

Home Chef Store Cooking Class Gift Card for $75

Located across the street from its mother store, Hillsdale General Store, Hudson Valley – Berkshire area cooks and food-lovers of all levels know HGS Home Chef for the cooking classes it offers from renowned national and local experts in its two beautiful teaching kitchens as well as its extensive cookbook collection, cookware, tools and gadgets. If using this gift card for a cooking class, please be aware that the classes must be signed up for in advance. We sincerely thank our host, Carrie Chen, for her donation of this card. A $75 value; the minimum bid is $45. Please visit hillsdalegeneralstore.com/home-chef/ for more information. Bid Here!

The Barrington B&B Gift Card for One Night Stay for $350

Conveniently located on Main Street in Great Barrington, The Barrington offers seven luxurious, inviting suites with each suite boasting its own style, décor, and unique ambiance. From the traditional, country chic vibe that is found in some of the suites—to the exotic Asian flair of The Chinoiserie—The Barrington is confident you will find a suite to suit your style. The Barrington offers extensive amenities including a complimentary breakfast. A festive complimentary bottle of Prosecco awaits upon check in. A $360 value; the minimum bid is $250. Please visit thebarringtongb.com for more information. Bid Here!

Exquisite Earrings from Kentshire Galleries

Established in 1940 and spanning three generations of family ownership, Kentshire Galleries is one of the foremost dealers of fine period and estate jewelry. In 1988, Kentshire established a free-standing boutique in New York’s premier luxury store Bergdorf Goodman. We thank Kentshire Galleries for generously donating a pair of large paste “headlight” drop earrings comprising vintage old European cut paste of approximately 13mm in diameter, mounted in close-backed, antiqued sterling silver settings with 14k gold fixed wires.  A $975 value; the minimum bid is $500. Please visit kentshire.com for more information. Bid Here!

Carrie Chen Cashmere Scarf from Casana

Carrie Chen designs scarves and throws handcrafted in Nepal for Casana, her socially conscious brand with the highest ethical business standards, including supporting education and healthcare locally and abroad through Casana’s profit share program. Accordingly, this scarf was woven in the Nepalese tradition with no environmental impact. The cashmere for this 100% cashmere scarf was carefully hand selected from the finest hairs of Himalayan Mountain Goats and then handwoven by a Nepalese artisan on a traditional handloom. Using a Carrie Chen design, the scarf was then hand dyed and individually silk screened creating a unique masterpiece of craftmanship. A $380 value; the minimum bid is $230. Please visit https://casanadesigns.com/scarves/baroque-print-blue-1 for more information. Bid Here!

Jane Iredale Skin Care Kit

More than 25 years ago, Jane Iredale envisioned a makeup that was good for the skin. Her products are free from fragrances, preservatives and fillers that can cause irritation and are rigorously tested to ensure their formulas are safe and effective for the most sensitive skin. This is a custom kit from Jane Iredale’s BeautyPrep™ Skincare System including BeautyPrep™ Face Cleanser, BeautyPrep™ Face Toner, BeautyPrep™ Hyaluronic Serum and BeautyPrep™ Face Moisturizer. A $200 value; the minimum bid is $120. Please visit https://janeiredale.com/pages/beautyprep-skincare-system for more information. Bid Here!

Gala tickets are $80.00. Event address will be given upon purchase of tickets. Your name will be at the door (no tickets will be mailed). Use the PayPal button below. Would you like to make a donation to the auction? Contact us: [email protected] or call (800) 843-0778.

SOLD OUT!