The Coachman’s House is open for exploration when you visit Olana. Once the home of the Church’s carriage driver, the space is now home to a reading room, peaceful spot where you can learn and relax while you wait for a tour or program to start. There are comfortable chairs, lots of books and articles, and even some cool activities for children. Stop by during your visit out this season, and leave time to read about Church and Olana. Coachmen’s House is located adjacent to the Visitor Center.

If you are on Facebook, join Olana’s first ever dynamic, interactive, virtual book club. This online book club will include occasional appearances from the author and The Olana Partnership educators. TOP will launch this online book club with the newly published book Embattled River: The Hudson and Modern American Environmentalism, by David Schuyler.

ABOUT the BOOK: Embattled River describes the efforts to reverse the pollution and bleak future of the Hudson River that became evident in the 1950s. Through his investigative narrative, Schuyler uncovers the critical role of this iconic American waterway in the emergence of modern environmentalism in the United States. Writing fifty-five years after Consolidated Edison announced plans to construct a pumped storage power plant at Storm King Mountain, Schuyler recounts how a loose coalition of activists took on corporate capitalism and defended the river. Led by Scenic Hudson, later joined by groups such as Riverkeeper, Clearwater, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the coalition won the first of many legal and publicity battles that would halt pollution of the river, slowly reverse the damage of years of discharge into the river, and protect hundreds of thousands of acres of undeveloped land in the river valley. With these legal and regulatory means, the contest between environmental advocates and corporate power has continued well into the twenty-first century. Indeed, as Embattled River shows, the past is prologue. The struggle to control the uses and maintain the ecological health of the Hudson River persists and the stories of the pioneering advocates told by Schuyler provide lessons, reminders, and inspiration for today’s activists. Order your copy through the Olana Museum Store to support Olana and see you online on the 26th.

Historic Landscape Tours give visitors new views and celebrates Frederic Church’s legacy which is Olana in its entirety. The Olana Partnership is launching the 2018 season with more regular public tours and specialty tours of Olana’s historic site.
Tours are offered every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday
Walking Tour 10:30, Electric 12:30 and Electric 2:30; Specialty Landscape Tours Monthly at 4pm
Meet near Visitor Center, signage marks starting place.
Reservations are strongly encouraged, please visit the Book a Tour page on www.olana.org. Walk-ins welcome, but not guaranteed.

Daniel’s Art Party: Performing Arts Festival
June 12 through July 1, 2018
Daniel Arts Center, Bard College at Simon’s Rock
84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-7400
danielartscenter@simons-rock.edu
https://www.facebook.com/danielsartparty/
www.DanielsArtParty.org

Daniel’s Art Party Performing Arts Festival features 7 immersive, interactive, and fun performances over three weeks. The performances include theater, music, dance, art, and storytelling. The events are family friendly (with one exception). Daniel Arts Center Artistic Director Ken Roht describes the three week long extravaganza as: “Art and audience run amok.”

$5-$15
$50 for an all Access pass, some events are free
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-access-party-pass-tickets-45682120452

The Performances include:
The Elgar Variations Tour: Pop-Art Ballet
The Secret City: Revival Celebration in Praise of Art
Leatherheads: Tales from Berkshire Firefighting Heroes
Orange Star Smasharoo: Country Western Musical Farce
Scavenger Hunt: Immersive Hunt for Fantastical Creatures
Maestro Doolally and The Choir: Choral Concert Gone Awry
Danny’s At the Fair: County Fair Style Variety Show

https://www.facebook.com/danielsartparty/

This four day and three-night painting workshop will focus on developing and expanding skills of drawing, composition, and painting through keen observation of nature en plein air at Olana State Historic Site. Olana offers endless inspirational vistas, views, and vignettes to choose from all under the guidance of master painter Beth Runquist. Participants will be in a special “residency status” at Olana and will stay in an expansive and beautifully situated, privately owned farmhouse (with only painters in residence). In this way participants will step further into the Hudson River School atmosphere by eating, living and painting immersed in the local Hudson Valley culture. Shady Glen Farm has been in one family for nearly a century and offers private room comfort, meals provided by talented regional chefs (including from “Blue Hill” at Stone Barns), a swimming pool, walking trails, stone terraces and a rooftop deck for relaxing at the end of the day. Participants will receive site demonstrations, active teaching, and critique will be part of every day to expand experience and benefits. Join us and steep yourself in the art of living and painting in the Hudson Valley. Art making materials and transportation not provided. Space is limited and advance registration is required.