May 2007

Greetings from Inkberry!

And happy (finally) spring!

In the spirit of new beginnings, Inkberry partnered with the Elizabeth Freeman Center last month to offer “Standing Tall,” a writing workshop for survivors of domestic abuse. The Center provides counseling, advocacy, emotional, educational, vocational, and economic services to victims of domestic violence in Berkshire County. Inkberry’s own Rachel Barenblat led the first workshop for participants of the Center’s on-going support group. “We talked about writing as a tool for healing,” Rachel says of their first meeting, “of writing for oneself, to express what needs to be said, versus writing for an audience; about different kinds of poetry, and why one might choose either form or free verse…and about creating a safe space in which to share our words with one another.” For more information about this workshop, contact Inkberry or call counselor Mary Molleur at (413) 663-9709.

Inkberry also collaborated with the Williams College Museum of Art to offer a series of programs around The Moon Is Broken, an exhibition of poetry inspired by works from the museum’s photography collection. The final event was fantastic—several of the poets who contributed to the exhibition read from their work: Larry Raab, Barbara Tran, D. L. Crockett-Smith, Peter Filkins, Rachel Barenblat, John Yau, Cassandra Cleghorn, and Trudy Ames.

Inkberry’s monthly WordPlay series went ekphrastic as well, with members from the community reading from their own art-inspired work. The Write Stuff program’s pilot year concluded with a visit to the WCMA and a special unit on the art of writing ekphrastic poems, taught by Williams College art history major, George Philip LeBourdais.

Last week, our staff said goodbye (and good luck!) to our college interns, Sarah Russell and Alexandra Woolner, with a reading at Papyri Books. Students from Inkberry’s college workshop group, facilitated by Sarah, read from Cacophony, a chapbook of poetry, fiction, and photography generated by the group’s participants. It was great to see Sarah and her group up there reading from their work, which was presented so beautifully. Sarah, Alex, and Courtney Llewellyn—who completed her internship last fall—will be graduating from MCLA this week. Congratulations you three! We are cheering you on!

Our summer calendar is in the mail. Enjoy the month of May, and browse our summer schedule on-line at inkberry.org for a complete list of upcoming workshops and events.

Jill

In the community

Inkberry and the First Congregational Church of Williamstown co-present Writing the Sacred: The Art of Writing Psalms, taught by Ray McGinnis —Wednesday, May 16th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at the First Congregational Church of Williamstown. $15.00. This workshop will explore the Psalms as a doorway to spiritual self-expression by inviting people to discover the poetic forms and themes of the Hebrew Psalms and draw upon these to help articulate their own longing for the sacred. Learn more about this workshop at www.inkberry.org/workshops/atinkberry/.

Inkberry is brought to you by…(People)

I first met local humor writer Seth Brown in at a WordPlay reading back in Papyri’s old space. It was poetry month, so we kept the mic open late and gave out prizes, and had an all around good time. That night, Seth recited one of his magnificent impromptu poems—on a manatee, I think—for which he won the cheese (we ran out of t-shirts but the wedge of brie and a small chunk of cheddar had survived the break). Last month, his weekly column in The North Adams Transcript, “The Pun Also Rises,” was awarded second place for overall best humor column by The New England Press Association. Congratulations, Seth! Find out more about Mr. Brown and his work at http://inkberry.org/inkblog/.

Happening this month

Wordplay featuring J. Peter Bergman – Saturday, May 12th at 7:00 at Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, North Adams. Free. This second-Saturday series, co-presented by Inkberry and Papyri Books, features regional writers, followed by an open-mike. Hosted by Gail Burns. This month’s featured reader is J. Peter Bergman, who will read selections from his fiction. Learn more about May’s WordPlay event at http://inkberry.org/events/.

Thursday Night Critique, led by Inkberry’s workshop facilitator, Bill Belcher —May 3rd and 17th at 7:30 at Inkberry, 61 Main Street #223. Free. You got yourself in the chair and wrote the draft. Print the draft and bring it to Inkberry. Writers need feedback. Get it here: http://inkberry.org/workshops/atinkberry/.

Opportunities

Call for writers: food historian and editor Linda Berzok is seeking submissions for a new book on women, recipes and stories. The deadline for submissions is July 1st 2007. Read more about this opportunity at http://inkberry.org/opportunities/index.html.

Call for readers: The David & Joyce Milne Public Library is looking for readers to perform classic and contemporary plays at the library. Read more about this opportunity at http://inkberry.org/opportunities/index.html.

Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.