Q-MoB Queer-Eye Tour of Chesterwood (Stockbridge, MA)

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must purchase your tickets in advance from the Chesterwood Ticketing link listed below in order to attend & there are 2 different ticket prices:

1) Regular: receive a $5 discount on the $25 ticket price by entering the promo code "Q-MoB" when you purchase your tickets, or

2) EBT/SNAP/Card to Culture: get a ticket for $5

https://trytn.com/en/chesterwood/Details/8cfb370d-7324-4a15-9442-20a014c05b22?typeOfProduct=activity

Queer Whispers in Fairy-Land: An Evening Exploration at Chesterwood and the possibly queer eye of Daniel Chester French.

Daniel Chester French, a meticulous molder of monumental images, carefully crafted the public persona which helped him become one of the most successful American sculptors of his time. Dive beneath this ‘straight-laced’ façade to explore the ‘queer whispers’ he left in his letters and sculptures for us to puzzle over.

🔍 Become a Queer History Detective: Make use of the tools offered by queer historiography as we dissect French's life and works to reveal the complexities of his era and identity.

🎨 Explore French's Artistic Expression: Decode the sensual masterpieces of a sculptor who meticulously crafted monumental images, each hiding layers of meaning beneath the surface.

👥 Uncover Forgotten Relationships: Dive deep into French's complex – but often-overlooked – friendship with artist Newton Mackintosh, spanning over four decades, and challenge the assumptions of his straightness.

🤔 Question Presumptions, Make Your Own Determination: Engage in thought-provoking discussions and examine the evidence, as we encourage you to form your own conclusions about the extent of French's possible queerness.

Stay for a prosecco reception with your guide, Senior Manager of Interpretation Lucas Griswold. Don't miss this unique opportunity to journey through history with us and uncover the long-overlooked narratives intertwined with Daniel Chester French's remarkable legacy. Book your spot and get ready to explore!

TOUR LEADER BIO: Lucas Griswold moved to the Berkshires in September to be the new Senior Manager for Interpretation and Education at Chesterwood. In this role, he is tasked with revising and expanding the narratives of this historic site to tell the full American Story. After over a decade leading tours and programs in the field of historic interpretation, it is his goal to reveal the ways that straightness is presumed and enforced through the erasure of queer possibilities at historic sites and museums. He is delighted to realize a long-term personal goal in this special Queer Eye Tour for Q-MoB.

Parking: Guests are invited to use the main Chesterwood parking lot at 4 Glendale Road in Stockbridge, MA. For accessible parking, follow the signs along the driveway.The tour will meet at the “Barn Gallery Visitor Center,” just up the path from the parking lot. There is wheel-chair & mobility challenged parking and the tour will be accessible, except the outdoor paths do have gravel, but Chesterwood has a special all-terrain wheelchair that someone could borrow for gravel paths.

Accessibility: This tour takes place both indoors and outdoors on a mix of paved and gravel paths. While fully accessible, the gravel can be challenging for some wheelchair users. For individuals with mobility concerns, an all-terrain wheelchair is available for the duration of the program. For accessible parking, follow the signs along the driveway.

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: Carpooling is a great way to get to know other men, save money on gas, and help to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. If you need a ride or are open to carpooling, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

DONATE OR BECOME A MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER: Please donate $10-$20 to help assure Q-MoB can continue to offer more than 20 activities & multiple resources & services to rural queer men all over the region. If you attend 2 or more Q-MoB events/month, please consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor member. By donating $25, $50, $75, or $100/month you can help to sustain the incredible variety of activities, services, and resources Q-MoB provides and assure all of these activities are accessible to men regardless of their age, income, or ability, and best of all you can avoid having to donate at each and every event you attend. Monthly Sustaining Members pay only once a month and then can attend all our activities with no further donation.

REACHING US ON THE DAY OF THE TOUR: If you wil be late, have trouble finding us, or need to cancel, please TEXT BART AT 503-734-6508.