ROOTDRINKER INSTITUTE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Rootdrinker Institute encourages artists, musicians, writers, and crafters to use local images, lore, and legends. Rootdrinker promotes rediscovery of the inspirations and creative visions of earlier artists and writers of each unique watershed. Rootdrinker advocates increased interest in nature, local history, and local traditions. Rootdrinker continues to publish small press books that reflect these purposes.
At the center of Rootdrinker Institute’s philosophy is the vision of people defining the territory they call their own in terms of their local watershed. This focus allows the natural rather than the political to inform their education. Such an orientation stimulates a sense of place, and the growth of a unique to its area cultural life. To promote this viewpoint, and to further its encouragement of the artistic community, Rootdrinker Institute sponsors publications, readings, concerts, conferences, seminars, and social gatherings.
On hiking trails, along streams, in libraries, through prose and poetry, the goal of preserving and improving the land and keeping alive the heritage of its people by joining with friends and neighbors is inherent to all of Rootdrinker Institute’s work
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Web Site: Rootdrinker.com
Small Press Publications
Benevolent Bird Press
Library and Archive
Conferences
Poetry Readings
Research: Folklife, Natural History, Sustainability,
Local Poets and Poetry Magazines
EVENTS
Memory of Poems Contest May 2007 with Prize Awarded to Tom Corrado
William Weaver Christman Tribute at Christman Preserve June 1, 2007
Book Warming for Annals of Perious Frink at Perfect Blend, Delmar, January 27, 2008 with Prize Awards to Edie Abrams, Mark O’Brien, and Tim Lake
Normanskill Poets Reading at Perfect Blend, Delmar, February 24, 2008
JAZZ POETRY Open Mike at Perfect Blend, April 27, 2008
William Weaver Christman Tribute Second Annual at Christman Perserve June 1, 2008
