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Inkberry to Close its Doors

NORTH ADAMS, MA- Inkberry, a North Adams independent nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the literary arts, is closing its doors. Though solid financially, the organization has been unable to raise enough funds to maintain a paid staff. With several members of their working board stepping down in December, they have likewise been unsuccessful in their efforts to recruit enough replacement board members with the time and skills necessary to carry on the programming as volunteers. On Tuesday, November 10, having exhausted their options, the Inkberry Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization by year end.

"We are exploring ways to donate dedicated funds to local nonprofits, to keep the Inkberry name and mission alive, although the organization itself will cease to exist." says Linda White, who has served as president of the Inkberry Board since 2006.

Rachel Barenblat, one of the three founders, responded to the news by email, "I'm awfully sad to hear this news, but I think we can still feel good about the remarkable things the organization accomplished during its tenure."

Inkberry was launched in January of 2001 by three Williams College graduates, Emily Banner, Rachel Barenblat, and Sandy Ryan. The founders named the organization after an evergreen holly, native to New England, that is known to be able to put down roots and bear fruit even in poor soil. The metaphor proved to be apt throughout Inkberry's nine-year history as the group repeatedly overcame financial and organizational difficulties to present writing workshops, readings by local, regional, and national authors, and to otherwise promote reading and writing in North Adams, Williamstown and beyond.

Inkberry brought nationally known authors and poets such as Claire Massoud, Donald Hall, Ted Conover, Mark Doty, Rick Moody, Margot Livesey, and Julia Glass, to North Adams as part of their reading series. Their programming also included writing workshops and such special events as an exploration of rural living and a sense of place with New York Times columnist Verlyn Klinkenborg, and Share Our Strength, a workshop offered in conjunction with the Elizabeth Freeman Center for victims of breast cancer.

The Write Stuff, a writing program for middle school students, offered in partnership with MCLA's Center for Service and Citizenship, evolved from an after school program to an in-school mentor program that served students at Conte Middle School and gave volunteers from MCLA and the community an opportunity to contribute to and enhance the educational experience of those students.

Inkberry's Board of Directors is now focusing their attention on moving out of their offices and arranging for the continuation of the organization's programs. They hope to secure homes for the reading series, workshops, and The Write Stuff within the next few weeks. Members of the
Wednesday Night Writers' Group will carry that program forward on their own. Wordplay, which Inkberry sponsored and which has always been hosted by Papyri Books, will continue uninterrupted at the bookstore.

For more information about Inkberry's mission and programs, visit their website at www.Inkberry.org. The history of the organization is preserved on the site under the News tab on the left of the screen. There you will find the complete archive of the newsletter, Inkmail, and copies of many of the stories that have appeared about the organization in local newspapers.

About Inkberry- Inkberry promotes the literary arts in the Berkshires with events and community partnerships that celebrate and support writing and reading. Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Distinguished Poet Richard Wilbur to Read November 8

Williamstown, MA - Richard Wilbur, one of America’s most beloved poets, will read from his works at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, in St. John’s Episcopal Church, Williamstown.  The public is invited to this event, which will also feature Nathaniel Parke, artist associate in cello at Williams College and instructor of cello at Bennington College, playing interludes of Bach’s compositions for unaccompanied cello.

Richard Wilbur has served as Poet Laureate of the United States.  His other honors include the National Book Award, two Pulitzer Prizes, and the Bollingen Translation Prize.  He is a member of the American Institute of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Academy of American Poets.  In addition to his poetry and his translations of the great verse plays of Molière and Racine, he has published three books for children and collections of prose pieces.

Nathaniel Parke is a member of the Bennington String Quartet and is principal cello of the Berkshire Symphony.            

A free will offering will benefit the Western MA Food Bank.

St. John’s Church is located at 35 Park Street and is wheel chair accessible.  Information: 413-458-8144.

 

Inkberry and Papyri Books present Wordplay with Poets from Slate Roof Press

NORTH ADAMS, MA- Saturday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. Wordplay, a monthly reading series co-sponsored by Inkberry and Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, will present poets Janet MacFadyen, Susan Middleton, Susie Patlove, and Paula Sayword, who will read from their work. All four poets are members of Slate Roof, a member-run press committed to publishing Franklin County poets.

Janet MacFadyen is author of two books of poetry, A Newfoundland Journal (Killick Press, 2009) and In Defense of Stones (Heatherstone Press,  1996). Her poems have appeared in Poetry, The Atlantic Monthly, Yankee Magazine, The Atlanta Review, and Rosebud. She is also the recipient of an Academy of American Poets Award. Janet grew up in Williamstown and now lives in Shutesbury with her husband and dog.

Susan Middleton lives in Ashfield, where she works as a freelance editor of science books. Her poems have appeared in The Berkshire Review, Peregrine, Sanctuary: The Magazine of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and The Comstock Review, among others, as well as the anthology 5-Minute Pieces (Arms Library, Shelburne Falls, MA, 1998). Passions besides writing include tutoring adults in English as a Second Language, leading hikes for the Appalachian Mountain Club, and exploring the woods, fields, and mountains of western New England.

Susie Patlove's poems have been heard on NPR's A Writers Almanac. They have appeared in The Atlanta Review, Monkscript, and Sanctuary, and are forthcoming in Ted Kooser's national newspaper column American Life in Poetry. Her first poetry collection, Quickening, was published by Slate Roof in 2007. Her work also was included in Crossing Paths: An Anthology of Poems by Women (Mad River Press, 2002) Susie lives with her husband, Les, in  Charlemont where they have raised three boys and countless organic vegetables.

Paula Sayword has been writing poetry for forty years and recently retired from working in public housing to dedicate her time to that art. Her poems have appeared in Sanctuary Magazine, and she is a Poet Seat Contest winner. Her first collection, What Sleeps Inside Us, is forthcoming from Slate Roof in 2010. When not dreaming of the southwest, Paula lives on a small farm in Leyden with her longtime woman partner and gardens.

Gail Burns of Williamstown will host the event for Inkberry. After the reading there will be a brief intermission, followed by the popular Wordplay open mic. Refreshments will be available.  The event is free and open to the public.

For additional information regarding Inkberry or these readings, contact Inkberry by phone at (413) 664-0775 or visit www.inkberry.org.

About Inkberry- Inkberry promotes the literary arts in the Berkshires with events and community partnerships that celebrate and support writing and reading. Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

NAPL Children's Department Presents November Programs

North Adams, MA - The children’s department at the North Adams Public Library presents programs such as pre-school story time (with a craft or activity) and toddler time. These programs will be presented on weekdays throughout November. For details, call Youth Services Librarian Kim DiLego, 413.662.3133 or natlib@yahoo.com

NAPL Book Sale October 22-24 at Notre Dame Church

North Adams, MA -The Friends of the North Adams Public Library hold their fall book sale October 22 - October 24 in the community room of Notre Dame Church on East Main Street from 9-5 pm each day. For information call 413.662.3133. Other events sponsored by the library include the Tea and Talk discussion on October 22 at 1 pm.

Inkberry and Williams Present an Evening of Speculative Fiction

Williamstown, MA - The literary arts organization Inkberry and the English department of Williams College have teamed up to present an evening of speculative fiction with award-winning author Elizabeth Bear and up-and-coming author Margaret Ronald (Williams College class of '97) on October 15. The event will take place at 7pm in Griffin 3 at Williams College.

Bear is author of the Shakespearean fantasy novels of the Promethean Age series (most recently Hell and Earth, Roc Books, 2008) and of two trilogies of Norse fantasy from Tor, as well as two trilogies of science fiction published by Bantam Spectra. Ronald is author of the critically-acclaimed Spiral Hunt and its forthcoming two sequels (Eos Books.)

After each writer reads from her published work, both writers will take questions: about their work, speculative fiction, the literary life, how they got into "the business," etc. A book-signing will follow.

For additional information regarding Inkberry or this reading, contact Inkberry by phone at (413) 664-0775 or visit www.inkberry.org.

About Inkberry- Inkberry promotes the literary arts in the Berkshires with events and community partnerships that celebrate and support writing and reading. Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Inkberry & Papyri Books Present Wordplay Featuring Charles O'Brien October 10

NORTH ADAMS, MA- Saturday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m. Wordplay, a monthly reading series co-sponsored by Inkberry and Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street. Featured historical fiction author Charles O'Brien will read from Deadly Quarrel, his newest novel of his Anne Cartier mystery series.

Mr. O'Brien taught history for thirty years and was teaching a course called "The History of Modern Crime & Police," at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL and commuting between there and Williamstown when he observed many of his fellow travelers reading mysteries. When he retired from teaching in 1994,  he decided to use his expertise to write historical fiction mysteries.

He worked with colleagues to develop a literary style and cites James Joyce, Willa Cather, P.D. James, Elizabeth George, Anne Perry, Miriam Grace Monfredo and Candace Robb as literary influences.

Deadly Quarrel  is the eighth mystery in Mr. O'Brien's Anne Cartier series, which are set in England and France in the years leading to the French Revolution. He resides in Williamstown with his wife Elvy.

Gail Burns of Williamstown will host the event for Inkberry. After the reading there will be a brief intermission, followed by the popular Wordplay open mic. Refreshments will be available.  The event is free and open to the public.

For additional information regarding Inkberry or these readings, contact Inkberry by phone at (413) 664-0775 or visit www.inkberry.org.

About Inkberry- Inkberry promotes the literary arts in the Berkshires with events and community partnerships that celebrate and support writing and reading. Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Kitting/Crochet Circle Resumes Monday Evenings at NAPL

North Adams, MA - The Knitting / Crochet Circle, a sharing group with free instruction, resumes at the North Adams Public Library, 74 Church Street on Monday evenings from 6-7:30 pm. Drop ins are welcome. Call 413.662.3133.

Inkberry Announces Fall Workshop Schedule

North Adams, MA - NORTH ADAMS, MA -- September 15, 2009, Inkberry, the Berkshire Literary organization located in North Adams, MA has announced a full slate of four fall workshops beginning in October.

Children will be introduced to a variety of poetic styles during the Children's Poetry Workshop, which will consist of 9 Saturday afternoon sessions beginning at 1:00 pm, October 3. They will be encouraged to explore these styles as they create their own poetry. The free workshop will be taught by Lois Daunis, former English teacher and current owner of Papyri Books in North Adams. It will be held upstairs at 61 Main Street in North Adams.

Juliane Hiam, whose plays have been produced at Shakespeare and Company, Mass MoCA, and the Norman Rockwell Museum, as well as in New York City at the Metropolitan Playhouse, will teach a 10-session, 90-minute workshop that will be an exercise in playwriting. Playwriting with Juliane Hiam will be held at Papyri Books at 7:00 pm on Thursday evenings beginning October 1. Registration is $75.00 for the 10 sessions with a discount offered to members of Inkberry.

For those who love poetry or simply want to get to know it better, poet Robert Ronnow will faciliate Double Features: Comparing Poems Across Time & Tribes, Wednesday evenings at Papyri books beginning October 7. During the 6 90-minute sessions participants will be introduced to or expand their contact with a wide range of world poetry, from ancient to modern times and participate in lively, facilitated discussions of exceptional poems. Registration is $60.00 for the 6 sessions, with a discount offered to members of Inkberry.

In addition to the three workshops described above, Inkberry will continue to offer Community Critique at the Inkberry office at the Western Gateway Heritage Park, 115 State Street, 2nd Floor on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 pm. Participants in the workshop submit their original writing and receive peer feedback on a rotating basis. The workshop is free and open to the public.

For more information or to register for these workshops visit Inkberry's website at: www.inkberry.org or call (413) 664-0775. Information is also available by emailing: info@Inkberry.org.
About Inkberry- Inkberry promotes the literary arts in the Berkshires with events and community partnerships that celebrate and support writing and reading. Inkberry is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Learn About Art History's Futures September 26 at The Clark

Williamstown, MA - The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and the Council on Library and Information Resources will present a public conversation on "Art History's Futures" on Saturday, September 26, at 5:30 pm, at the Clark.

Over a two-day period at the Clark, scholars will discuss the current state of the field in art history, and the possibilities for its future. During the public conversation at 5:30 pm, the group will discuss their
deliberations and take questions from the audience. The conversation is chaired by Chuck Henry, Director of the Council on Library and Information Resources, and Michael Ann Holly, Starr Director of the
Research and Academic Programs at the Clark. Speakers include Frederick Asher, Melissa Chiu, David Peters Corbett, Whitney Davis, and Robert Nelson. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.