Inkberry’s word workers working this summer

NORTH ADAMS — A small evergreen pushes up through the parched earth, buds and bears fruit. This shrub, hearty enough to grow in even a wasteland, is an Inkberry.

While the newest arts organization in Berkshire County, named after the robust evergreen, is growing under better circumstances, it still hopes to bring life to the county’s literary arena.

Inkberry, co-founded by Emily Banner, Rachel Barenblat and Sandy Ryan, is a non-profit organization that hosts writing workshops, book groups and a reading series.

The first offerings of the fledgling group began in April, but the idea for such an organization had been nurtured in the founders’ minds for much longer.

“I was working at the Guild Complex in Chicago before I returned to the area. It’s an organization that does what Inkberry does, but on a much larger scale,” Banner said. “Rachel (Barenblat) suggested how we needed something like that around here.”

After a year of planning, the group emerged and held its first writing workshop and two book groups in the spring.

Banner said, “We’re receiving a very positive reaction. In our writing class we had participants as young as 13 and up into their mid-60s. We had published writers and those who had never written before.”

Book groups take on a single genre, which is the focus of discussions, and are led by a member of the Inkberry staff.

“The topics vary. Who ever leads the group chooses the subject and the books. Some discuss a different book each time they meet, others focus on a single book,” she said.

Although the spring sessions garnered favorable attendance, the summer session has had some set backs due to low attendance and registration. Recently the group postponed two book groups, while the latest reading by local poets received little fan fare. However, Banner and her co-founders are not giving up.

“We’re discovering that the summer is a slow season for anyone who’s not Jacob’s Pillow or the Williamstown Theatre Festival. We’re hoping to see attendance pick back up in the fall,” she said.

Meanwhile the group is moving forward with several events, including an intensive one day mini-workshop focusing on ekphrastic writing (literature inspired by art). The workshop, being held on Saturday, Aug. 4 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., will convene at the Contemporary Artists Center (CAC), Beaver Street, North Adams.

“The day will begin with a tour of the works on display in the CAC galleries. Then participants will have several hours to compose and discuss their work,” Banner said. “The workshop will culminate two weeks later on Aug. 18 at the CAC during a presentation on ekphrastic writing given by Rachel and myself. Students from that workshop will be asked to read their work.”

Fall sessions will include writing workshops focusing around poetry and collecting local histories.

Writing workshops meet one night a week for two hours over a 10 week period. Book groups meet every other week over ten weeks.

Inkberry is partnered with the Main Street Stage and the CAC. For more information or to register call (413) 664-0775 or visit Inkberry on-line at www.inkberry.org.