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Rob Shuffleton, the grandson of the barber whose shop is pictured in Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting, views the painting for the first time at Norman Rockwell Museum. “Shuffleton’s Barbershop” is on view as part of the exhibition “Keepers of the Flame: Parrish, Wyeth, and Rockwell,” on view through October 28, 2018 at Norman Rockwell Museum. October 7, 2018 / nrm.org

Art Advisor Daniel Farrell on the Berkshire Museum Art Auction | Connecting Point | WGBH | May 29, 2018. The Berkshire Museum Art Auction kicked off this month with thirteen items from the Pittsfield museum’s collection up for bid. Sale proceeds from these items have fallen well short of the Museum’s $55 million-dollar goal, but the museum could be closer to raising that amount than the public knows. Art advisor and appraiser Daniel Farrell, the originator and Consulting Producer of the beloved PBS television series Antiques Roadshow, joined Carrie Saldo to discuss the auction and more.
WGBY 57 / Connecting Point with host Carrie Saldo, April 17, 2018

The John Krol Show

A Facebook Live show from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The following videos dealt with the topic of the Berkshire Museum’s plan to deaccession 40 of the most valuable artworks from their collection to pay for the New Vision. Read More about the John Krol Show.

LIVE-2-12-18 !

UP FOR MONDAY: The The Funky Phoenix shows off some new goods, Randy Kinnas from the Berkshire Family YMCA is here and some live music previewing tomorrow’s Songs of Love with Jeff Hunt and Kimberly Gritman.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Monday, February 12, 2018
Our Opinion: The Berkshire Museum Saga

Let’s move on. John’s opinion on the Berkshire Museum Saga.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Wednesday, April 18, 2018
The Future of the Berkshire Museum

President Buzz McGraw and VP Ethan Klepetar, of the Berkshire Museum Board of Trustees, join us to talk about the future of the museum!

Posted by The John Krol Show on Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Berkshire Museum UPDATE

Larry Parnass updates us on #museumgate

Posted by The John Krol Show on Thursday, February 1, 2018
Larry Parnass on the Berkshire Museum

The Berkshire Museum’s plan to sell two Norman Rockwell paintings is controversial. #museumgate

Posted by The John Krol Show on Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Larry Parnass on the Berkshire Museum

Berkshire Eagle Investigations Editor, Larry Parnass discusses his reporting on The Berkshire Museum and what the future holds for the museum and the Norman Rockwell paintings. #MuseumGate

Posted by The John Krol Show on Thursday, January 4, 2018
Cathy Deely talks Berkshire Museum

Catharine Burton Deely talks about the Berkshire Museum and the decisions being made by the board of directors and most recently, the courts.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Thursday, November 9, 2017
Museum Update

A Special Berkshire Museum update with our friend, Attorney Andrea Harrington breaking down the lawsuits and the AG Maura Healey’s review.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Save the Art

We welcome Save the Art supporters Carol Diehl and Edward Pelkey to talk about their view of the Berkshire Museum art deaccession. #museumgate

Posted by The John Krol Show on Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Marc Wrzesinski

Marc J. Wrzesinski makes it in just in time to join Allison Johnson Krol and John Krol on a wide-ranging and hilarious conversation touching on everything from the Berkshire Museum to Marc J. Wrzesinski Photography’s favorite type of photo shoot!

Posted by The John Krol Show on Thursday, October 26, 2017
#museumgate Continues?

Jessica Rufo talked to some Dottie’s Coffee Lounge customers about #museumgate, Berkshire Museum, and tells us what she found.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Monday, September 25, 2017
8-1-17-p2

Our take on #Museumgate, saying goodbye to two Norman Rockwell paintings and the satirical artwork of Mark Tomasi.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Tuesday, August 1, 2017

August 1, 2017 / Part 2

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Our interview with Van Shields of the Berkshire Museum on the plan to auction off 40 works of art, including two Norman Rockwell paintings for the museum to reinvent itself. This story has made national news with coverage in the The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, NPR, and in papers across the country via the Associated Press.

Posted by The John Krol Show on Tuesday, August 1, 2017

August 1, 2017


A judge has halted the controversial sale of two paintings by the American artist, Norman Rockwell. At the heart of the matter is whether a museum has the right to sell off works that were donated to it for safekeeping for generations to come. The museum says it needs the expected $50 million windfall to pay for renovations. Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey explains. November 14, 2017
CultureGrrl, Lee Rosenbaum talks Berkshire Museum Deaccession Debacle, November 14, 2017
Stephanie Plunkett, chief curator at the Norman Rockwell Museum, discusses the artist’s iconic painting “Shuffleton Barbershop.” The masterpiece, which was donated by Rockwell to the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is at the center of a controversy and major legal battle with the Rockwell family after the museum decided to put it up for auction to raise money. CBS Evening News, November 7, 2017
Norman Rockwell donated two pieces of artwork to the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and with the museum facing tough times, it decided to auction off the pieces. Jim Axelrod reports on November 7, 2017
by William Hosley, November 3, 2017
Dozens gathered outside the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 to protest its plan to sell pieces of art from its collection. MassLive, October 28, 2017
Berkshire Museum Board of Trustees President Elizabeth McGraw, defended the board’s decision to sell art from the museum’s collection as protesters rallied in Pittsfield on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017.
CultureGrrl, Lee Rosenbaum’s visit to the Berkshire Museum, September 27, 2017
A New Vision for the Berkshire Museum, July 11, 2017
The Berkshires: A Tradition of Innovation: Crane & Co. | Places of Invention, June 11, 2015
Arts Matter: Van Shields/Executive Director Berkshire Museum, September 8, 2014
Berkshire Award, Celebrating those who have saved the quality of life in the Berkshires, September 4, 2014
The Crane family has owned and managed Crane & Co. Inc. in Dalton, Massachusetts, since it was founded in 1801, manufacturing fine paper for stationery and currency. Zenas Crane (1840-1917), grandson and namesake of the firm’s founder, was a successful businessman and generous philanthropist. In 1903 he founded the Berkshire Museum; Crane commissioned the architects, funded the construction, and purchased many of the objects that are still in the Museum’s permanent collections.