Program Idea - Big Event - Woodstock Witness: The 1969 Woodstock Festival

Program: Woodstock Witness: The 1969 Woodstock Festival

Presenter: Barry Z. Levine

Organization: Brunswick Institute

Description:
As the official still photographer of Woodstock, the Academy Award-winning documentary, Barry Z Levine has a treasure trove of more than 300 color photographs, a host of vivid memories, and a wealth of anecdotes to share with Boomer audiences. In an exciting and lively presentation incorporating his exclusive photographs, stills, audio and video clips, in a presentation that can be tailored to fit a variety of time slots, Barry sets the stage for Woodstock, locating the events of the decade leading up to the Festival, and utilizing photos and personal experiences, recounts his interactions with the producers, participants, film crew, and performers.
Following Woodstock, Barry Z Levine moved to Holland where he directed an alternative music radio program. He has lived in Los Angeles, Montreal, New York City and in the Hudson Valley, and has been a free-lance writer/producer for clients in the record and film industries. He had his own video production studio in New York City for many years, and has extensive experience in producing video for theatrical presentations.

His photographs of Jimi Hendrix from Woodstock are in an international traveling exhibition of fine art prints that have been on display in museums and galleries in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Santa Fe, and Beverly Hills. His photographs of Woodstock have been featured in the books “Woodstock Remembered” and “Woodstock 1969: The First Festival”, and have been included in Time, People, Life, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, MoJo, and numerous international periodicals and newspapers.

“The Woodstock Story Book”, a new book of photographs and text, is slated for publication Winter, 2008, and his work will be included in several other new books, videos, and CD sets which will be published to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival, August 2009. Interest in Woodstock is being fanned by a new Ang Lee movie, “Taking Woodstock”, several new books, and records and videos.

Length of Program: 1 to 2 hours

Presenter's Requirements: Projector (capable of taking input from MacBook) and screen, Table of Displaying Materials

Fee: Willing to work with our budget, or do subsequent libraries for 1 cost. I think he's going to be looking for at least $500 though.

Libraries willing to travel to: All

Notes: I spoke with Barry on the phone this week, and he sounds really down to earth. He's willing to work with our budget constraints, and I'm thinking we could create a fairly decent event out of his presentation.

I think having 2 or 3 libraries that are close together, teaming up and funding 1 event would work really well. We can have Barry come and present, and do a small mixer afterwards with snacks and drinks, where Barry can chat with the attendees one on one.

We could also charge a small fee to offset the cost.
I really think people could view this as an event they'd be willing to pay for.
We can also look into having a community business sponsor the event if need be.