The Clark

Our drive west through The Berkshires along the Mohawk Trail teased us with the hint of trees turning yellow, orange, and red. We anticipate being immersed in color but still wonder when. Rain and cold weather play havoc on predictions.

We stopped at The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. These two people amassed an outstanding collection American and European art. As heirs to the Singer sewing machine company, they collected such artists as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Homer and Cassatt. We had moments when we were all but hypnotized by paintings or sculpture. Our pictures are pale hints of what we experienced.

Sir Edwin Manton, formerly CEO of AIG (when they were a successful company), was an avid art lover whose collection of Gainsborough, Constable, and Turner is on temporary display. When he discovered an artist, he would collect all the pieces he could find. Along side paintings are comments by Manton telling of his personal experiences in finding and acquiring his art.


The Clark is expanding and has opened another building, The Stone Hill Center. It currently has three rooms of Japanese art, two with scrolls and screens hundreds of years old and the third with modern ceramics made in traditional style. This collection was minimalist as befits Japanese art.


Our walk to the center took us through trees beginning to change color.