The Clark

“The Clark” is how locals refer to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown MA. I had heard good things about it so I decided to take a day trip to Williamstown. It is about 70 miles and an hour and 45 minutes away, straight out MA 2. Route 2 is a 2-lane road almost the entire way (with the exception of a 3-mile stretch that it shares with I-91 and a few “slow lane” sections) which accounts for the slow trip. But it is scenic. You get a close-up view of the Berkshires along the way.

Parking is free and the lot is not too tight, so I had no problem fitting The Beast into a slot, ably assisted by a few high-school students doing their summer job. Admission was $20 (no discount for my senior status). The grounds are expansive, with many miles of walking and biking trails (which I didn’t sample). The entrance is via the Clark Center, a building which houses special exhibits, the gift shop and the cafeteria. It is connected by an enclosed walkway to the museum, which was my main destination. There is also a Lunder Center, a building which I did not visit that seems to house research and academic facilities. Near the gift shop is an outdoor plaza with a reflecting pool and a bucolic view of the rolling hills that surround the complex. I was there on a cloudy day, so the photos I took probably don’t show the outdoor area in its best light.

I am a fan of impressionist paintings and I had heard that The Clark had some good ones. That was an understatement. I love Degas, Monet, Pissarro and Van Gogh. The Clark has only a few Van Gogh paintings, but has lots of the others. I am not so much of a fan of Renoir, Gauguin or Toulouse-Lautrec, but The Clark has many of those as well. I would estimate that at least half of the paintings in the museum are by impressionists.

It also has a smattering of sculptures, including some nice ones by Degas. Jett and I both love “The Dancer” by Degas and I was surprised to find one at The Clark (there are a couple of dozen in all, each of the bronze statues being cast from the wax original).

It also had one of Degas’ ballerina paintings – one I have never seen before, so that was a treat. And four smaller ballerina sculptures. In all, a very nice assortment of Degas’ ballerina works.

Other highlights? Some paintings and one sculpture by Remington. Some very nice Monets and Pissarros. A “Thinker” sculpture by Rodin. And a very intriguing painting of a wedding by an unfamiliar artist. I can’t make out the name from the photo.