Berkshire Museum Celebrates the Art of Collecting

vintage guitar (photo by Eric Korenman(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Collections of rare motorcycles, wind-up toys, exotic insects, vintage guitars, antique toasters, and Pez dispensers among other artifacts will be on display at Berkshire Museum as part of the exhibition Berkshire Collects from Saturday, January 25, 2014, through May 11. The exhibit is intended to showcase Berkshire County residents’ passionate pursuit of every imaginable kind of object and memorabilia. More than 40 collections are included in the exhibit, which salutes the long and diverse tradition of collecting that built the Berkshire Museum itself 110 years ago.

An opening reception for Berkshire Collects will be held Saturday, January 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is $5; free for Museum members.
The human drive to organize, collect, and acquire is strong. These collections are fascinating for a number of reasons – some are rare, some are historic, some are works of craftsmanship, some are astonishing specimens from nature, some display ingenuity and inventiveness – and all are of surpassing interest to their collectors. Visitors to Berkshire Collects will not only see fabulous objects, but gain insight into the obsessions of the collectors in their own words.

antique phone photo by Eric KorenmanFrom a visual standpoint, many of the objects in the collections on display at the museum are spectacular in themselves, like the Britten motorcycle or the vintage guitars. Others make a visual impact by virtue of numbers: even mundane items, such as oil cans or glass insulators, can be stunning when displayed in large groups.

The sheer diversity of objects, and the human interest in the stories of the collectors and their “obsessions,” will be a significant part of the visitor experience. Objects from popular culture include Pez dispensers, Star Wars toys, Green Hornet collectibles, and a more current craze, Dunnys and Munnys. Unfamiliar items include a large number of tools called peg breakers, used by cobblers when shoes were made by hand. Another unusual collection is of brass shell casings from World War I, engraved and embellished by the soldiers on duty in the battlefield trenches.

For some, collecting is a family trait. In one father and son pair, the elder member shares examples from his extensive collections of insect specimens and taxidermy, and his son collects matchbooks and ID badges. Other collections that will be represented include duck decoys, Inuit art, international currency, antique silver objects, doorstops, pedal cars, miniature books, bicycles, fishing lures, presidential memorabilia, antique ceramic ink wells, carved ducks, model trains, cookbooks, toy soldiers, vintage Santa Claus figures, antique telephones, and more.
Berkshire Collects is curated by independent museum professional Linda Norris, working closely with Berkshire Museum’s director of interpretation Maria Mingalone and collections manager and registrar Leanne Hayden. An advisory committee of community members participated in the identification of collections and collectors.

“People create collections for reasons as varied as the collections themselves. Some collectors seek out beauty; others childhood memories; and others cherish the rare and unusual,” says Norris. “Travel souvenirs might engender a collection, or the pursuit of a sport or a hobby might be the incentive. Berkshire Collects celebrates both the collections and the collectors by exploring the motivation behind their passions, and by including a number of interactive activities in the galleries, visitors to the exhibition may be inspired to begin collections of their own.”

“Berkshire Collects is the third and final exhibition we designed to open during our celebration of the museum’s 110th year,” says Van Shields, Berkshire Museum’s executive director. “It is particularly appropriate for our anniversary, as this is a community-sourced exhibition that celebrates connections, collecting, and sharing. The collectors who are featured are our neighbors and friends, making this exhibition uniquely a Berkshire experience. The high level of community participation is a hallmark of the Berkshire Museum.”

Located in downtown Pittsfield at 39 South St., the Berkshire Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $13 adult, $6 child; Museum members and children age 3 and under enjoy free admission. For more information, visit Berkshire Museum or call 413.443.7171.

In association with the Smithsonian since 2013, Berkshire Museum is part of a select group of museums, cultural, educational, and arts organizations that share the Smithsonian’s resources with the nation.

Established by Zenas Crane in 1903, Berkshire Museum integrates art, history, and natural science in a wide range of programs and exhibitions that inspire educational connections between the disciplines. Objectify: A Look into the Permanent Collection is currently on view. Little Cinema is open year-round. Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation, Worlds in Miniature, Aquarium, and other exhibits are ongoing.

 

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