December 2007


Greetings from Inkberry,

What a difference a year makes.

2007 brought new volunteers, new workshop instructors and courses, and new partnerships with The Williams College Museum of Art, The Elizabeth Freeman Center, Gallery 51, and Kidspace. Bill Belcher signed on as reading series coordinator and made his first introductions at readings by Julia Glass, Margot Livesey, and Elizabeth Winthrop. Inkberry’s offices received a sprucing and technology upgrade with the help of members and friends who responded to calls for donations of time, equipment, database software, and furniture.

Gail Burns hosted readings featuring dozens of local writers at WordPlay who read from their poetry, fiction, theatrical works, and creative non-fiction. Writers from Inkberry’s college workshop group showcased their work in Cacophony, a chapbook of poems and stories funded by a grant from MCLA. The group, newly titled SKRiV, met at Inkberry’s offices on Main Street again this fall, led by senior Sondra Murphy. Their work will be featured at WordPlay this month.

The Write Stuff Program hired its first writer-in-residence, Curtis Asch, and blossomed into an in-school program that served over 100 middle school students. Next week, students from the program will read alongside 3rd graders from Brayton Elementary at MASS MoCA’s B-10 café as part of a 1st annual Student Authors Night in partnership with Kidspace’s artist-in-residence program.

There are some changes ahead.

Inkberry is just beginning to transition out of its founding stage, and its board of directors has been working on strategies related to operational sustainability. While my appointment as the first paid executive director in August of 2006 represented the first step toward that transition, the board recently decided that returning to an all- volunteer model will better allow them to secure Inkberry’s future while maintaining current programming commitments.

As some of you may know, the immediate consequence of this decision is that I will no longer be leading the organization. While I am saddened by the board’s decision, I feel fortunate to have been a part of Inkberry. It has been a great privilege to work with so many organizations and community members committed to the growth of the literary arts in the Berkshires.

Best wishes for a joyful holiday season.

—Jill

Inkberry is brought to you by:

(people)

Inkberry advisory board member Patty Crane has been checking in from Sweden and promises to send notes to you soon via Inkblog. We have missed you this year, Patty! Her essay “Letting the Moment Go” is included in December’s issue of The Writer’s Chronicle.

In the community

Richard Criddle’s exhibition, It’s Rude to Stare, which features oversized sculptural portraits of the people from the artist’s past, is on view in Kidspace at MASS MoCA through February 24, 2007. This fall, Inkberry collaborated with Kidspace at MASS MoCA to incorporate writing into their artist-in-residence program, which is funded in part through North Adams Public Schools’ Massachusetts Cultural Council Creative Schools grant. Inkberry writer-in-residence, Curt Asch, was appointed to work with nine third-grade classes in the three North Adams elementary schools to create poems, creative writing pieces, and even some skits based on Criddle’s artwork. Enjoy a reading of their work at Inkberry’s 1st Annual Student Authors Night.

Happening this month

December 4th, 6:00 pm – 1st Annual Student Authors Night at MASS MoCA’s B-10 Café.

Join Inkberry’s fall 2007 writer-in-residence, Curtis Asch, and his students from The Write Stuff Program and Kidspace’s artist-in- residence program for a performance featuring their recent writings. Students from Silvio O. Conte Middle School and 3rd graders from Brayton Elementary will read from stories and poems inspired by Richard Criddle’s exhibition It’s Rude to Stare, on view in Kidspace at MASS MoCA through February 24, 2007.

December 6th, 7:30 pm - Thursday Night Critique with Bill Belcher. Share your work with local writers in this community-based workshop.

All members submit their writings and receive feedback on a rotating basis. The workshop is open to writers of all levels and styles, and provides a welcoming environment for those who want to participate or simply observe. Writers need feedback. Get it here: http://inkberry.org/workshops/atinkberry/

December 8th, 7:00 pm - WordPlay at Papyri Books featuring SKRiV writers

On the 2nd Saturday of every month, Inkberry and Papyri Books join forces to highlight local and regional writers. The evening, hosted by Gail Burns, begins with featured readers and is followed by open-mic. This month, join us for an evening of readings by members of “SKRiV,” Inkberry’s college workshop group. The group, facilitated by MCLA senior Sondra Murphy, meets every 2nd and 4th Monday at Inkberry each fall and spring. Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, North Adams 413-662-2099.

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