Through February 21, 2027
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA CLARKART. EDU
All the talks have a visual arts or performancerelated component, from band photography to cartoonists and detailed pop-up books. This fall, Roz Chast and Jason Adam Katzenstein from The New Yorker will give a talk on October 17 about their book The Two Saddest Kitchens: A Comics Conversation. Melissa Auf der Maur, Hudson resident and former bassist for the bands Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins, will discuss her book My’ 90s Rock Photographs on October 9.
Nearly all of the talks will be held in the R & D Store, with the exception of Chast and Katzenstein’ s talk, which will be held in the Hunter Center. The R & D store is part gallery, part retail space, and home to author talks and record release events. The recently expanded 500-square-foot event space seats 40 people, with the ability to expand into the retail space as needed.
Chris Conti, who formerly worked in publishing and at other contemporary arts centers, has been with MASS MoCA since 2023. He’ s the creative producer and manager of MASS MoCA’ s R & D Store and says authors are often thrilled to make a stop at the museum as part of their book tours.
“ It’ s funny because I’ ll contact publishers often and just ask if the authors are interested,” says Conti,“ and everyone seems to have some sort of history with MASS MoCA.”
For updates and more information on the talks, go to massmoca. org.
Upcoming book talks at MASS MoCA’ s R & D Store:
Maggie O’ Brien in conversation with Bernie Rhie and the launch of O’ Brien’ s memoir, Two Birds One Stone, October 3. Eden Robins( Birdie Horne), Don’ t Cross Mo Ellery( William Morrow), and Andrea Hairston, The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays, October 4.
Melissa Auf der Maur, My’ 90s Rock Photographs, an intimate conversation with altrock bassist of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins fame, October 16.
Roz Chast and Jason Adam Katzenstein, The Two Saddest Kitchens: A Comics Conversation, October 17.
Lizzie Whitman, On the Calculation of Volume( Book I), November 18.
A. S. Hamrah, Last Week in End Times Cinema, November 21.
TINA PACKER UNFILTERED
“ The idea was simple: Tina would choose her favorite Shakespeare sonnets, then talk about how they related to her life and work,” says Alison Larkin, who recorded the audiobook Tina Packer and the Sonnets in conversation with Alison Larkin in the Berkshires just three weeks before Packer’ s death on January 9, 2026. Capturing the Shakespeare expert and founder of Shakespeare & Company’ s final, unfiltered reflections on the Bard and the human experience, the work is a rich, captivating conversation on love, mortality, politics, leadership, creativity, acting, and why Shakespeare still matters. Those who remember Packer know this is a conversation not to be missed. alisonlarkinpresents. com
AN EXQUISITE EYE
INTRODUCING THE ASO O. TAVITIAN COLLECTION
Through February 21, 2027
This exhibition marks the first public presentation of select works gifted to the Clark in 2024 by the foundation of the late philanthropist Aso O. Tavitian, featuring masterpieces by Jan van Eyck, Andrea della Robbia, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and more.
An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection is made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel.
Anthony van Dyck, Portrait of Margaret Lemon( detail), c. 1638, oil on canvas. The Clark, Gift of Aso O. Tavitian Foundation, 2025.1.56
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA CLARKART. EDU
Fall 2026 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 45