By David Pepose
Sunday August 8, 2010
HANCOCK — Fifty years ago, the last remaining Shaker sisters of Berkshire County left a sign on Route 20 giving their heritage to the wind: “1,000 acres for sale. $200,000.”
Years later, those once-fading buildings on Shaker land now house a new energy and a new hope, and more than 200 people visited the Hancock Shaker Village on Saturday to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
“This is one of those evenings where the past and present come together to take a look at the future,” said Ellen Spear, the Shaker organization’s president and CEO. “We strive to make this a place that people can explore that extraordinary way of living that was the Shakers.”
The event not only memorialized the Shakers’ past, but used their philosophies with a more modern twist, as the village opened a new art exhibit, “Simple Gifts: Contemporary Artists Celebrate Hancock Shaker Village’s 50th Anniversary.”
The exhibit was born after a group of artists were given a tour of the village, and were invited to create an installation based on their trip. The modern art exhibition, which included paintings, rugs, quilts, sculptures, photographs and mixed media, used bright colors and recycled materials straight from the Shaker tradition.
“In Europe, when you say the word ‘Shaker,’ most people think of it as a design, not a religious sect,” said Paula Kraudelat, the vice chairwoman of the village’s board of directors. “We have to do more than just be a historical place — the Shaker philosophy and life has a lot more to say today.”
With Shaker traditions so steeped in music and song, the village also invited the Cantilena Chamber Choir of Lenox and mezzo-soprano Deborah Rentz-Moore to perform. They were joined by Tina Packer, the founding director of Shakespeare & Company, who read passages ranging from Shaker wisdom to the obituary of Shaker founder Mother Ann Lee.
Many at the event said that the village’s beautiful views, historic architecture and timeless nature was what continued to draw them back.
“It’s gotten better and better,” said Ted Andrews, whose grandparents Faith and Edward Deming-Andrew were pioneers in Shaker studies. “Every decade has left the village in better and better condition physically.”
“I think there’s tremendous interest in the community way of living. People want to look backwards — to see a simpler and more refined way of life,” said Pittsfield Mayor James M. Ruberto. “The way that Ellen Spear has been creating this program, it’s just a grand slam.”
Steve Bedford, director of the UMass Historic Preservation Program at the village, said, “everywhere you look you see an opportunity to teach.” Citing utilitarian, “cutting-edge” Shaker advances such as reinforced concrete and the circular saw, Beford said, “for all kinds of things, this place is an exemplar of things to do or not to do.”
Spear said that she was particularly gratified to help usher the village to its 50th year, and looked forward to promoting new programs and installations to build attendance further.
“I find the village’s secrets very interesting — there are still corners of the buildings we’re still uncovering,” she said. “This is a living place, and the story still continues.”
