Woodstock @ 50: Marist College Explores the Festival’s Impact, Then And Now
It may seem like Woodstock emerged out of nowhere, Brigadoon-like. But in reality, the three days of peace and music were actually almost a decade in the making. While it’s not certain if the Woodstock 50 festival will take place in Watkins Glen in August, there’s another recognition of Woodstock’s 50th coming up. Marist College in Poughkeepsie will be examining the events that led to the iconic music festival. The College’s conference, "1969: When Woodstock Changed the World" is the definitive — and perhaps only — academic conference on this golden anniversary.
The conference will be held June 13-14, and all events are open to the public.
Don’t be put off by the academic tone of the conference. Organizers took care to construct a conference that appeals to a broad audience, and early registrations are validating their efforts. From a field trip to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, to talks by renowned historians and a panel discussion by people who were there, the conference examines the circumstances that culminated in the Woodstock Music Festival.
Marist President David Yellen recognized the College’s location as the right place to set up a conference with the '60s as a concept. The Hudson River Valley Institute (HVRI) at Marist, which focuses on studying and interpreting the history and culture of the Hudson River Valley, was charged with organizing the event within the College.
“We’ll be providing context of the '60s, so people understand why there was this thing called Woodstock, and how that was a part of what was going on in the very transformative decade,” said Dr. James Johnson, director of the HVRI. War/antiwar, civil rights/Black Panthers, second wave feminism, culture/counterculture are topics that will be covered by “a dream team of historians,” Johnson said.
Key events include an optional morning bus trip to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, including a visit to the Museum; panel discussions on music in the '60s, social movements, including civil rights and black power, communal living, feminism, and the Vietnam War and peace movements.
The keynote lecture on June 13 features Douglas Brinkley, CNN Presidential Historian, speaking on “Woodstock Revelations: Fifty Years Later,” and on June 14, the keynote lecture presents '60s historian Dr. David Farber on “Woodstock and the American Sixties.” The festival wraps up with a Woodstock anniversary panel discussion with Elliott Landy, the Festival’s official photographer; Nick and Bobbi Ercoline, festival attendees whose photo graces the cover the Woodstock album; Rachel Marco-Havens, oral historian and daughter of Richie Havens; and Chogyi Lama, guitarist and grandson of Richie Havens.
“We hope people come for the whole conference, but the nighttime keynote addresses are free and open to public,” Johnson said.
For a full schedule of events and to register, click here. Capacity for the Bethel Woods field trip on June 13 is very limited.
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