NEWSLETTER
Exploring the Impact and Inspiration of the Sixties
Changemakers, artists, and influencers inspire thinking and awaken purpose throughout series of eight events from May to October 2019
Part of a Year-Long Celebration of Woodstock’s Golden Anniversary
Bethel, NY, February 12, 2019 - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a nonprofit cultural center located on the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, today announces Vibrations, a series of eight events celebrating the iconic festival’s Golden Anniversary from many angles. From May to October 2019, Vibrations will explore music, iconic photography, film, mindfulness, environmental stewardship, deep space and more, connecting these conversations to the legacy of the sixties and movements of today.
The Vibrations series will celebrate the spirit of peace and togetherness that made the Woodstock festival legendary — right where it happened. In 1969, Woodstock represented the power of love and community amidst chaos. As this decade comes to a close, Vibrations attendees will join changemakers, artists, and influencers to reflect on the world we want during a time that demands resilience and understanding.
“With record-breaking tourism expected in New York and Sullivan County this summer, we are thrilled to be producing an event series that allows more people to say ‘I was there’ during the golden anniversary of the most famous concert of the 20th century,” said Darlene Fedun, chief executive officer at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. “For nearly 25 years, Bethel Woods has had the honor of stewarding the historic 1969 Woodstock festival site and its legacy. We’re proud to be recognized as one of the world’s top 25 amphitheaters and excited to educate and inspire new generations to contribute positively to the world throughout 2019 and beyond.”
Vibrations events include:
- Deep Field, May 18: 50 years after the moon landing, Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre presents a powerful new piece of music set to never-before-seen images from the Hubble Space Telescope’s greatest discovery, the iconic Deep Field image. Whitacre is joined by NASA astronauts and scientists to delve into space exploration as not only a scientific venture, but an artistic and cultural one as well. The New York premiere will take place on the same weekend as Bethel Wood’s Lunar Weekend, where there will be immersive family-friendly activities, from a star-gazing sleepover, to rocket launching and an inflatable planetarium.
- Power of the Poster, June 5: Original Woodstock poster designer David Edward Byrd and renowned Broadway poster designer Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo take attendees on a kaleidoscopic journey through the power of posters over the last 50 years through a panel and hands-on workshops. Coinciding with PLAY: After Dark, a monthly event for adults 21 and over to explore their creative side and The Museum and Special Exhibits, Power of the Poster will present the winning design of the “Peace, Love & Posters” contest which will serve as the face of Bethel Woods during the Golden Anniversary year.
- PBS American Experience Woodstock, July 25: PBS and American Experience present the new documentary Woodstock. The film examines the tumultuous decade that led to Woodstock, told from the perspectives of those who experienced it. Audiences hear from Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated director, Barak Goodman. This screening is one of the film’s public premieres, and presents an opportunity to engage Woodstock alumni in a reunion setting.
- Songs for Change (date TBD): A ground-breaking songwriter examines the power of music to create change by exploring their own works and inspiration. More than a concert, the event is an experiential performance and dialogue. Attendees gain an intimate, usually unseen, glimpse into the inception of powerful creative expression. The songwriter performs and leads an immersive workshop for musicians and anyone looking to channel their passion into art.
- Mind: Body: Earth, August 31-September 1: Innovators in health, sustainability, and mindfulness explore how wellness leads to kindness and civility during this two-day festival that coincides with Bethel Woods’ popular Harvest Festival, which celebrates the bounty of the region with farmers, crafters and artisans, family-friendly activities, and musical performances. Speakers and partnerships give attendees access to an unparalleled weekend of wellness and health.
- Framing History, September 28: Audiences learn about photography's impact on society from the sixties to today. An interactive photography class for students will be held before a panel of acclaimed photographers – Baron Wolman (Woodstock photographer for Rolling Stone Magazine), Marcus Bleasdale (documentary and humanitarian photographer), Elliott Landy (official Woodstock photographer), and Ruth Fremson (New York Times Photojournalist) – discuss their work, its importance, and share hopes for photography’s impact in the future.
- Youth Leadership Day, October 2: Participants examine how they can find their passion and purpose at this day-long workshop for high school and college students which includes an inspiring keynote presentation and interactive sessions. Attendees work on opening themselves and others up to kindness and civility, leaving with tools to steward their influence wisely and lead the next generation.
- Sixties @ 50: A Woodstock Retrospective, October 19: This panel invites authors, historians, changemakers, and people who were there to share Woodstock memories and trace social movements from their origins in the 1960s to today. Afterward, attendees engage in a “People’s Supper” where participants share a meal and facilitated conversation that instills ideals of kindness and civility.
Golden Anniversary themed exhibits and programming are planned throughout the year at Bethel Woods. The Museum, featuring two new Special Exhibits, opens to the public on March 30th and includes We Are Golden - Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival and Aspirations for an Aquarian Future, and We Are Stardust. A Lunar Weekend inspired by the exhibit and featuring programming for the whole family will follow May 17-19. The newly restored Bindy Bazaar Trails will open to the public on May 4, proving a new way to experience the historic site. Additional plans include a Film on the Field screening of the acclaimed documentary Woodstock: The Director’s Cut on the historic festival field where it was filmed 50 years ago. A Woodstock Anniversary Brunch offers a chance for Woodstock Alumni and those who wished they could have attended to gather to share stories and make new memories.
For additional details as they become available, and ticketing information please visit https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=73810f17-2fa73ba3-7383f622-000babd9fe9f-df10b04651d3c39e&u=http://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/
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About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and The Museum at Bethel Woods
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a nonprofit cultural organization, located at the National Register Historic Site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY. Located just 90 miles from New York City on a lush campus featuring bucolic countryside views, the Center is comprised of the Pavilion Stage amphitheater that accommodates 15,000, an intimate 440-seat indoor Event Gallery, and the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods. The Center offers a diverse selection of popular artists, culturally-rich performances, and educational, community, and museum programs committed to inspiring expression, creativity and innovation through the arts. Bethel Woods is exemplary in its efforts to engage, inspire and advocate for the accessibility of the arts for all ages and to connect with community partners to broaden programmatic reach and to strengthen support and resources for its activities. The Museum at Bethel Woods is dedicated to the study and exhibition of the social, political and cultural events of the 1960s, including the Woodstock festival, and the legacies of those times, as well as the preservation of the 1969 Woodstock festival site. For more information, please visit: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=76a7f8fd-2a81cc49-76a501c8-000babd9fe9f-d556fb3f7a49ce74&u=http://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/
Contact
Kayla Gomes
kgomes@momentum-cg.com
Emily Casey
ecasey@bethelwoodscenter.org