Arts on the Lake at the Lake Carmel Cultural Center in Kent has a great variety of offerings, a true community center that is well-supported. Their latest program, set for Aug. 1, is topical and historical at the same time.

Here’s the release:

ARTS ON THE LAKE TO PRESENT DOCUMENTARY FILM: BIRTH OF A GENERATION: THE CREATION OF THE WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL

In mid-August of 1969 the festival that named a nation was held at Bethel New York. A week before the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, Filmmaker Michael Richards with members of the original festival crew will present the first showing of his documentary film at Arts on the Lake at  the Lake Carmel Cultural Center, 640 Route 52 Kent, NY, Saturday August 1, 2009 at 8:00pm.

The myths that have grown from that event are myriad, and, as with most myths, somewhat exaggerated.  Many think that the logistical problems were a matter of bad or no planning  but those who helped to make it happen know better.  It is untrue that it was not planned to be what it was.  Some for whom this job was the signal event of their careers, saw the vision…perhaps not on the quantitative level it achieved (that came a little closer to festival time), but certainly on the qualitative level. The unity of purpose that Michael Lang, Chip Monck, Mel Lawrence and a long list of others in production conveyed were the nucleus of that miracle.

For those who worked on Woodstock, having an accurate account, one that acknowledges more fully their participation, has been an ongoing desire. That interest is no doubt partially ego, partially legacy, perhaps partially an interest in discovering more of what happened out of their sight and hearing.  There may not be many years left to gather those inside, first hand stories.

In 1995 Michael Richards, an award-winning film maker, started interviewing the professionals involved in making the festival happen, and on August 1, 2009, in celebration of that event, he will show the film and talk about his experiences in meeting the cast of characters and editing this historical movie.  He will be joined by Joyce Mitchell, a Kent local, who worked closely with Michael Lang and the core production group from early on to become a part of the miracle.  Others who worked in that core are invited to join  in viewing the finished 90-minute version of the film for the first time and to converse with the  audience.

The recent reunions began in 2006 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts celebrated its award winning documentaries.  They invited the personnel of the festival and the makers of the 1970 film that received Best Documentary to meet in Los Angeles for a two-night event in which the Woodstock film was shown and a panel discussion was held to enable the individuals who had become a part of that history to share stories and fill in the holes.  Later, the event was repeated in New York City on a smaller scale.  Some who had not met in nearly 40 years were reunited for a raucous two days, and to quote the program moderator,  “a Rashomon experience.”

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Saturday, August 1 at 8pm, everyone can participate in this little piece of history and share the memories of those tie-dyed times and three days of peace and  music. Admission is $6 per person, $5 for AotL members. Tickets may be purchased via a secure server at www.artsonthelake.org.  Reservations may be made at: rsvp@artsonthelake.org. or by calling Arts on the Lake at (845) 228-2685.