New exhibit at Museum at Bethel Woods http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090326/ENT04/90326019
March 26, 2009 The Museum at Bethel Woods, which explores and celebrates the Woodstock concert held in 1969, as well as the societal context of the 1960s, will host two new exhibits starting Saturday. The Journal today got a sneak peek at the exhibits, "Rock Heroes: Woodstock-Inspired Selections from the Hard Rock International Music Memorabilia Collection" and "Old School: The Museum at Bethel Woods Custom Chopper Built by Orange County Choppers." Hard Rock International operates Hard Rock Cafes around the world. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts includes the museum and a performing arts center on the site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, which was held in Bethel, Sullivan County, in Aug. 1969. This year marks the 40th anniversary of that historic concert. "Rock Heroes" features very eclectic pieces, including the Gibson SG electric guitar that Pete Townshend of The Who played at Woodstock, and smashed on the stage; a 1969 Woodstock concert designed for when the concert going to be held in the Town of Wallkill, N.Y.; and a two-piece snow-suit that Sears is believed to have sold in the 1970s, which featured a print of a photograph of the crowd at Woodstock on material. The chopper is a dazzling, sparking machine that Bethel Woods commissioned for the museum, by the very famous Orange County Choppers in Newburgh. This motorcycle has a leather fringe seat and is a cross between the film "Easy Rider" and the Summer of Love. The "Rock Heroes" exhibit also features pieces that add to the lore of Woodstock. These include an "official" Woodstock t-shirt that rocker Graham Nash, of Crosby, Stills & Nash, allegedly purchased at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. However, there were no "official" t-shirts sold at Woodstock, said Wade Lawrence, museum director. Another item is a long-sleeve collar shirt, with a Woodstock logo, that was allegedly worn by "personal assistants" working backstage at the famous concert. Again, Lawrence said the Woodstock logo on the shirt was used to market the movie made about Woodstock, which did not come out until 1970. Lawrence said that these exhibit pieces, regardless of the stories behind them, fit into the larger story behind Woodstock, the telling of which is the core of the mission undertaken by the Museum of Bethel Woods. "This isn't about 'you're wrong, I'm right,'" Lawrence said Thursday. "It's about adding to the story. It's about building the story." In this same spirit, the "Rock Heroes" exhibit features items associated with Woodstock, but not directly linked to the festival, like clothing owned by Sly Stone, Joe Cocker and Keith Moon, drummer for The Who. Moon's dress shirt features a large, embroidered, dragon/butterfly/fairy in psychedelic colors. Townshend's guitar, according to Lawrence, ended up in the "pit" at the foot of the stage after The Who played Woodstock. The pit is where the media and people with special access were situated. The guitar appears to be in good shape, and is in one piece, although you can see where it broke when Townshend famously smashed it on the stage. The snow-suit, which is as eye-catching as the motorcycle, looks like it could have been designed by Andy Warhol and stands out simply as a unique piece of clothing. Its association with Woodstock just adds to its allure. These two exhibits open at 10 a.m. Saturday in the special exhibitions gallery, on the lower level of the museum. Admission to these special exhibits is free with the purchase of a museum admission ticket, which costs $13 for ages 18 and older; $11 for age 65 and older; and $9 for ages 8-17. Children age 3-7 cost $4 and children age 2 and younger are free. Click on the links to the right to watch a video interview with Alan Gerry, who built Bethel Woods; and to see photos from today's sneak peek of these exhibits. Check back today for updates on this story and visit www.bethelwoodscenter.org for information. . --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
