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Original Woodstock Site, New Museum & State of the Art Amphitheater Make Bethel a Musical Mecca Again! A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Rich and Laura Lynch The spirit of the 60's is alive and well at Yasgur's Farm, home of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Bethel Woods is more than a concert venue but a history of the sixties and Woodstock. The Pavilion Stage faces 4,500 covered seats and 10,000 lawn seats, which are in close proximity to the original field and festival bowl of the landmark 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
 The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is an outdoor performing arts center. The facility was tastefully designed in wood and glass and is surrounded by pastures and hills. The grounds of the venue are well landscaped with flowers and even a small stream. A variety of food is available and the museum gift shop has a fine selection of books, fashion and music. The Museum at Bethel Wood is a 6,728 square foot facility that is shaped in a circle that flows through 20 films, five interactive productions, 164 artifacts and more that 300 photographic murals and interpretive text panels. The Museum Theater is a 1,786 square foot state of the art theater that runs films throughout the day.
 The Woodstock Museum at Bethel Woods opened in 2008. The Museum touches on 60's themes including American culture, civil rights, music and war and peace. The first gallery (Back to the Garden) has screens with Woodstock clips and quotes from attendees and musicians. Throughout the exhibits music and visuals are playing telling the story of the 60's and the climactic Woodstock concert. The next room analyzes the aftermath of World War II and the prosperity of the 50's that would shape the climate and changes of the 60's. The next group of displays tell the story of the civil rights movement, the Cold War and the popular music of the times including 45's from The Beatles and The Supremes. On the opposite wall is a 60's timeline that outlines key events and popular music throughout the decade. More American and music history is summarized before the next room dedicated to the Woodstock festival itself, plus video clips about the concert. We got a kick out of the quote from Max Yasgur who said something to the effect that he was not partial to the way hippies looked but respected their right to protest the war, thus allowing them to use his farm as the site of the famed concert. The exhibit also outlined the idea behind the concert and all the issues that surrounded the show.
 The Bus at the Woodstock Museum is also a theater! The Three Days of Peace & Music room contains photos, a psychedelic painted school bus in which folks can watch various cross country journeys to Woodstock. In the center of the circular museum there is a surround sound space to view "The Festival Experience" with the music and stories of Woodstock. The Museum exhibit ends with an analysis of the impact of Woodstock and the decade. In the Museum Theater "Woodstock the Music" runs every half hour capturing classic Woodstock concert clips with quotes from people who were there or were impacted many years later. Depending on how much time you spend reading the panels and watching the films The Museum can require at least two hours to digest the presentation in full. In addition to the educational and entertaining museum, the campus at Bethel Woods has classrooms, an event gallery and the Terrace Stage used for more intimate shows such as the Arts Under the Stars series. Bethel Woods is an ideal setting rich in rock and roll history. Even the famed Woodstock traffic lives on if you choose to vacate via 17B east after a packed event - research alternative routes for a more peaceful exit!
 Kweevak surveys the Woodstock site and monument! Related Links: For more information on BETHEL WOODS and the organizations mentioned in this article please visit the following links -- BethelWoodsCenter.org
(Originally Published on September 04, 2008) |
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