Poetry Reading with Amy Dryansky and Hannah Fries
2026-08-30 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Pictured: Amy Dryansky and Hannah Fries
Amy Dryansky’s third book, Ambergris is forthcoming in August 2026. She has two prior collections; Grass Whistle (Salmon Poetry) which won the Massachusetts Book award, and How I Got Lost So Close to Home (Alice James Books). Her poetry is included in several anthologies and individual poems appear in Adroit, Harvard Review, New England Review, Memorious, MER, Orion, The Sun, Tin House, and other journals.
”Amy Dryansky’s poems open the moment of experience for fresh possibilities of understanding. By this, I mean the impact of her language, her vision, and her quest bring us to the point of moving beyond the poems. We are given more in this book than in most collections because the poet has not held anything back. We find ourselves on the other side of the book–that place any poet and her reader wishes to be.”
—Ray Gonzalez

As a writer and editor, Hannah Fries often works at the intersection of poetry, science, and the wonder and mystery expressed in both. Her new book, A Forest Language, a collection of lyrical essays, will be released September 30th of this year from Storey Publishing. She is also the author of Being with Trees and the poetry collection Little Terrarium. She grew up in the woods of New Hampshire and now lives in Sandisfield with her family.

“A Forest Language is an exquisite cabinet of arboreal wonders, where each term becomes a story and each story a portal into the secret lives of trees, written with the precision of a naturalist and the tenderness of a poet.” —Diane Ackerman, author of A Natural History of the Senses

Amy and Hannah each have special and deep connections to Sandisfield. Amy is the daughter of a Sandisfield Arts Center’s founder Leonard Dryansky and spent many summers here growing up. Hannah is a longtime resident whose writing about “arboreal wonders” draws on her Sandisfield surroundings.

Papier-Mâché Workshop - Session 1 of 2 - Free - Reserve your space
2026-09-05 10:00 - 13:00
Create vibrant, tactile sculptures in a fun and fast-paced Papier Mâché workshop led by Christine Novak and Jaye Moscariello.
This is the first of two class sessions — the second is Saturday September 12, 10 AM – 1 PM.
Open to ages 12 and up, this hands-on session invites you to craft colorful 3D pieces for the “Touch Me, Gently” exhibition opening on Saturday, September 19, 1–4 PM.
Class size limited to 12, reserve your space with a free ticket below. Parents accompanying a child (12 and up) don’t need a ticket.
Bring your imagination and leave with a unique, touchable creation.

Papier-Mâché Workshop - Session 2 of 2 - Free
2026-09-12 10:00 - 13:00
Second session of 2. Space is limited, sign up before the first session https://sandisfieldartscenter.org/event/papier-mache-workshop-session-1-of-2-free/
Create vibrant, tactile sculptures in a fun and fast-paced Papier Mâché workshop led by Christine Novak and Jaye Moscariello.
Open to ages 12 and up, this hands-on session invites you to craft colorful 3D pieces for the “Touch Me, Gently” exhibition opening on Saturday, September 19, 1–4 PM.
Bring your imagination and leave with a unique, touchable creation.

Four Fabulous Fridays: Open Mic Series - Free
2026-09-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Sandisfield Arts Center, 5 Hammertown Road, Sandisfield, MA, 01255, United States
June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18.
Seasoned performer or just starting out, come and share your talent—Music, poetry, comedy. drama, or whatever! Or just come enjoy some live entertainment.
Performers please arrive 15 minutes early to sign up.

Touch Me, Gently, Group Show - Opening Reception - Free
2026-09-19 13:00 - 16:00
Dolls by Susan Flex Gilbert
Touch Me, Gently invites you to experience three-dimensional art through touch.
This tactile exhibition features fabric arts, papier-mâché, and other touchable sculptures designed to soothe during turbulent times. Gently explore textures and forms with your hands, engaging with art in an intimate, calming, and multi-sensory way.
Artists include Bonnie Cordova, Susan Flex Gilbert, Christine Novak, Jaye Alison and participants in the two-session Papier-Mâché Workshop (Sept 5 and 12).
About the artists (more to come)

Christine Novak
By nature, I am both an artist and an educator. My now-ancient undergraduate degree is in studio art with an emphasis in printmaking. Later in life, while teaching elementary school, I returned for a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Development Using the Arts. This inspired me to teach the academic subjects using the arts. For example, this allowed me to explore American history using music and recipes; to investigate math using dance and rhythm; or to create poetry as we examine science and nature. For me, it was the perfect blend of lifelong learning and a creative process. At 73, I haven’t stopped. Often, I just like to create for no purpose!
This past winter I created two papier-maché giraffes shown in the Knox Gallery Show in Monterey. They are on their way to being full-sized creations. The next step is to calculate and create a frame for the bodies. Then build out the bodies with pool noodles, wadded paper, foam, or whatever junk that works. Then cover them with papier-maché, paper-maché clay, adding painted features, finally finishing with a clear waterproof acrylic. Eventually I hope to add them to my backyard. If I could, I would create a whole LIFE-SIZE ark for people young and old to climb on!

Susan Flex Gilbert
As an artist I am a painter. I graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 1981.
My work is about color, pattern and storytelling with a little humor and irreverence thrown in. It takes a couple of different forms, one being gouache on paper and the other 3D pieces constructed out of roofing aluminum and plywood painted with either gouache or oils. I work in a cartoony figurative style inspired by such artists as Red Grooms, Roger Brown and the Chicago Hairy Who. Other influences are outsider art, gothic religious art and indian miniature painting. My subject matter runs from observations about American popular culture to portraits of people I know or admire to rooms which depict exaggerated scenes from my own life.

Touch Me, Gently, Group Show - Free
2026-09-19 13:00 - 2026-10-11 16:00
Dolls by Susan Flex Gilbert
Touch Me, Gently invites you to experience three-dimensional art through touch. Show runs from Saturday September 19 through October 11, open most weekends 11-3 or by appointment, contact gallery@sandisfieldartscenter.org.
This tactile exhibition features fabric arts, papier-mâché, and other touchable sculptures designed to soothe during turbulent times. Gently explore textures and forms with your hands, engaging with art in an intimate, calming, and multi-sensory way.
Artists include Bonnie Cordova, Susan Flex Gilbert, Christine Novak, Jaye Alison and participants in the two-session Papier-Mâché Workshop (Sept 5 and 12).
About the artists (more to come)

Christine Novak
By nature, I am both an artist and an educator. My now-ancient undergraduate degree is in studio art with an emphasis in printmaking. Later in life, while teaching elementary school, I returned for a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Development Using the Arts. This inspired me to teach the academic subjects using the arts. For example, this allowed me to explore American history using music and recipes; to investigate math using dance and rhythm; or to create poetry as we examine science and nature. For me, it was the perfect blend of lifelong learning and a creative process. At 73, I haven’t stopped. Often, I just like to create for no purpose!
This past winter I created two papier-maché giraffes shown in the Knox Gallery Show in Monterey. They are on their way to being full-sized creations. The next step is to calculate and create a frame for the bodies. Then build out the bodies with pool noodles, wadded paper, foam, or whatever junk that works. Then cover them with papier-maché, paper-maché clay, adding painted features, finally finishing with a clear waterproof acrylic. Eventually I hope to add them to my backyard. If I could, I would create a whole LIFE-SIZE ark for people young and old to climb on!

Susan Flex Gilbert
As an artist I am a painter. I graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 1981.
My work is about color, pattern and storytelling with a little humor and irreverence thrown in. It takes a couple of different forms, one being gouache on paper and the other 3D pieces constructed out of roofing aluminum and plywood painted with either gouache or oils. I work in a cartoony figurative style inspired by such artists as Red Grooms, Roger Brown and the Chicago Hairy Who. Other influences are outsider art, gothic religious art and indian miniature painting. My subject matter runs from observations about American popular culture to portraits of people I know or admire to rooms which depict exaggerated scenes from my own life.

The Poetry of Touch - Free
2026-09-20 14:00 - 16:00
Join local poets for an afternoon of original verse inspired by the “Touch Me, Gently” group art show running from Saturday September 19 through October 11.
These readings explore themes of tactile connection, comfort, and sensory experience. Discover how words can evoke touch, texture, and tenderness during challenging times.
Poets include Phillip Benevento, Linda Storms, Hilde Weisert, Jaye Alison, Ed Lent (first poet laureate of Madison, CT) and Bonnie Arkin Cordova reading her brother Bob Arkin’s work.

A Sparkling Evening Gala
2026-09-26 18:00 - 21:00
Celebrate life and all that the new Sandisfield Arts Center has to offer.
Enjoy a delicious meal prepared by chef Adam Manacher in our new kitchen.
Wine and dessert included, entertainment guaranteed to sparkle.

Nazi Town, USA. A Chilling Documentary Film by Peter Yost
2026-10-03 19:00 - 21:00
This film traces the rise and fall of the German American Bund, exposing the fascist threat in 1930s America. Nominated for an Emmy and a Columbia-Dupont Award.
We are thrilled to have Director/Producer Peter Yost here to lead a discussion afterward.
More about the film:
In February 1939, more than 20,000 Americans filled Madison Square Garden for an event billed as a “Pro-American Rally.” Images of George Washington hung next to swastikas and speakers railed against the “Jewish controlled media” and called for a return to a racially “pure” America. The keynote speaker was Fritz Kuhn, head of the German American Bund. Nazi Town, USA tells the largely unknown story of the Bund, which had scores of chapters in suburbs and big cities across the country and represented what many believe was a real threat of fascist subversion in the United States. The Bund held joint rallies with the Ku Klux Klan and ran dozens of summer camps for children centered around Nazi ideology and imagery. Its melding of patriotic values with virulent anti-Semitism raised thorny issues that we continue to wrestle with today.
A limited number of reduced price community tickets are available.

The Thistles Quartet
2026-10-04 15:00 - 17:00
Pictured: Jaye Alison Moscariello, Bill Taylor, Lesley Rosenthal, Terry Keevil
The Thistles quartet is Terry Keevil oboe and duduk (Armenian oboe), Lesley Rosenthal electric violin, Jaye Alison Moscariello vocals, and Bill Taylor piano. Their sound blends classical, jazz and show tune influences in a unique and often unexpected way that is inspiring and a joy to hear. In addition to many of Bill Taylor’s works, they play works by Paul McCandless, Terry Keevil, and other composers and songwriters.
While the musicians have each performed for decades, this ensemble got together in 2024 and Rosenthal joined in 2025. Taylor’s music is inspired by classical greats like Schumann, Debussy and the “3 B’s”, and by his exposure to jazz, show tunes, and other music of our times. Keevil has several albums including one for the Duduk (Armenian oboe) which appears in Thistle concerts. Rosenthal is a poet as well as musician, and directs The Julliard School. Our name comes from the energizing, liver-supporting thistle drink Jaye makes and which some of us drink before performances and all of us at other times. With thistle, lemon and apple, it alkalinizes the body.
Terry Keevil (oboe, duduk) has been a member of the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and Choir of Sacred Music, and performed with Lazar Gosman’s Tchaikovsky Orchestra as well as the Bach Aria Group. For over thirty years he was a member of the chamber group, North Shore Pro Musica. Terry was also part of the Constellation Trio with Linda Wetherill, flute and Steve Salerno, guitar. Terry has performed and recorded with cellist David Darling and released a CD of original duduk music titled “Duduk Creations”. He received a DMA in oboe performance from SUNY/Stony Brook where he studied with Steve Taylor, and an MM from SUNYSB where he studied with Ronald Roseman. As an undergraduate, he attended Amherst College for two years and received a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, where he studied with Ronald Roseman. Terry and his wife, Sarah, moved to West Stockbridge from Long Island in the Summer of 2023. Terry performs regularly in a variety of ensembles and solo appearances.
Jaye Alison Moscariello (vocals) is a visual artist and singer who recorded on both of Bill’s albums, trained with Rosa D’Acri and performed at Durham (CT) Grange and with Anderson Valley Chorus, led Laura Nyro tributes, and numerous concerts with Bill. She has been a professional painter in a variety of media since 1973, shows internationally as well as locally, directed several short films including From the Ashes about fire recovery in California. She’s a volunteer on the Gallery committee of the Sandisfield Arts Center (organizer of their International Film Festival and Art Show) and New Marlborough Meeting House Gallery.
Lesley Rosenthal plays in several groups and is an accomplished electric violinist based in New York and Otis MA. She is Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary of The Juilliard School. Previously she served as EVP, General Counsel & Secretary of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. Rosenthal graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, served a six-year term on the Harvard University Board of Overseers and chaired its Arts & Humanities committee. She is the author of the bestselling book, Good Counsel: Meeting the Legal Needs of Nonprofits (John Wiley & Sons 2012) and co-librettist of the jazz opera, Dear Erich. As immediate past President of the NY Bar Foundation, she led the organization through a 3-year strategic plan period with the Rule of Law as its central theme. Together with the Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, she co-presented a panel on arts and the rule of law at the 2017 World Justice Forum. Rosenthal is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the founding board chair of Friends of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, which in 2021 galvanized international support for the rescue of all 273 members of the Afghan music school from peril at the hands of the Taliban.
Bill Taylor (Piano) is a composer, pianist, and market gardener/farmer and radio show cohost with Jaye, living in Sandisfield MA. Members of the Ukiah Symphony, with Bill on piano, performed several of his works in March 2019. He played in the Soul Purpose Band from 2012 to 2020, was church pianist and organist from 2004 to 2020 in northern California and from 2022 to present in West Stockbridge, MA. While in California he performed and recorded with wind player Paul McCandless and jazz flautist George Husaruk. His farming and environmental awareness and involvement inform his compositions. He studied composition at Cornish School and with composer Ken Benshoof, piano with his father Arnold Taylor, Harriet Shirvan in Boston, and jazz pianist Jerry Gray in Seattle. His music was featured in several films produced by Jaye Alison Moscariello. In June 2023 and again in 2024 he was a composer at the Mostly Modern Festival (MMF) where his chamber pieces Regenerate, Heal, Cool, Normalizing Evil and others were performed. He attended the Screen Music Program in Pavia, Italy in August 2025, an introduction to writing for film and video games.
Limited number of reduced price community tickets @ $10.

Family Fotos - Opening Reception and Show - Free
2026-10-17 16:00 - 2026-12-05 17:00
Photo: Louie with a swollen eye, by Josie Miner
Opening reception Saturday October 17 4 – 6 PM.
Family of Man meets Sally Mann meets a box of dusty photos. An intimate and raw exploration of “family” in all its possible meanings.
Open most weekends 11 AM – 3 PM or by appointment. Contact gallery@sandisfieldartscenter.org.
Closes December 5.

Noah Bearman and Henry Lugo in Concert
2026-10-18 15:00 - 17:00
Jazz pianist, composer, educator, and activist Noah Baerman’s tenacity and his cutting edge yet soulful music have made him an inspiring figure to a growing legion of admirers. Baerman is a jazz pianist, composer, educator, and activist who has released sixteen acclaimed albums as a leader and several more with ensembles including Trio 149 and Envisage Collective.
Ten albums feature bassist Henry Lugo, his longtime collaborator performing with him today.
“With its heady mix of transcendence, activism, deep lyrical expression and soulful sense of swing, pianist/composer Noah Baerman’s triumphant new CD, Ripples, is one of the best and the brightest releases to grace our region in quite some time.” – Owen McNally, WNPR Jazz Corridor
About Community tickets: We make available a limited number of Community tickets @ $10. (on a first come, first served basis) to make our events affordable for more members of the community. Honor system, no proof required.

An Evening of New England Contra Dance
2026-11-14 19:00 - 21:00
Our inaugurtal Contra dance event! Calling the dances, the popular Jon Greene with fiddle music by Eric Martin.
No experience needed–just come for a new adventure with friends guided by friends with feet-on knolwedge of such things.

Sandisfield Players Present "A Christmas Carol" A Radio Drama
2026-12-05 19:00 - 2027-12-05 21:00
Join us for this holiday classic as you’ve never seen it before!
Performed as a semi-staged radio play with sound effects, you’ll be transported to Dickens’ England to experience the ruthlessness, repentance, and redemption of the human spirit.
Performed by the Sandisfield Players.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Sandisfield Cultural Council and the Otis Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
