The first Bedlam Farm Open House of 2014 is coming up, June 21-22 (details on Maria’s website events page), I haven’t written much about it, but we are excited about it. The first Open House was held at the first Bedlam Farm, the Pig Barn was turned into an art gallery and we had more than 2,000 people in two days, it was wonderful and sobering.
Our new farm is smaller stage, but a nice one. The Open House is an art show where Maria and other artists will show and sell their work – paintings, my photographs, quilts, notecards, potholders. Maria has been working on the Open House for months, she has some wonderful stuff ready. It is also a chance for the readers of my books and our blogs to come and see the farm and share our bounty – Simon, Lulu and Fanny, Red and Lenore (Frieda will be growling from inside, she’ll get to come out a few times), the lambs and the sheep.
I’ll do some sheepherding demos with Red, we will organize donkey-greeting and cuddling tours (bring carrots). You will get some face time with Red and Lenore and check out the new lambs. There will be a sizeable contingent from the Open Group At Bedlam Farm, a creativity-sharing and encouragement group that has become a powerful and successful Internet community. The creative output on the Open Group is wonderful, there are now about 800 people sharing their work there.
Some members of the Open Group At Bedlam Farm will be sharing their work at the open house – Deborah Glessner will be showing and selling her photography, Jeff Anderson will be sharing his writing about his experiences raising his son Jay. I will also be talking about my work – the new Simon book and the “Talking To Animals” project and also, the story of the Open Group, a lifelong dream for me.
The poet Mary Kellogg will be here reading from some of her poems, and George Forss, the famed photographer will be at the Open House available to take portraits of people who with to have them. I’m not sure what he is charging, but knowing George, it will be a bargain, an incredible opportunity for people to have their portraits done by one of the world’s most acclaimed photographers.
The farmhouse will be closed but Maria’s studio will be open and Simon loves to cuddle with admirers. We cannot offer refreshments or restrooms, but those are nearby, we encourage people to try check the Round House Cafe, the Battenkill Bookstore, Jack’s Outback store and the other wonderful things in my town. You can see a partial list on Maria’s site. Sorry, but we cannot accommodate dogs, they will make Frieda and the donkeys crazy.
If you can’t make this one, we are holding a second Open House on Columbus Day weekend. Hope to see you.