TEDx Hartland Hill returns with ‘Art of Living’ theme

For many, the losses and changes amid the world-wide pandemic led to a profound search for meaning in life, and a closer look at what we value and how we can rise from challenges to find inspiration. In Woodstock, Vermont, later this month, the TEDx Hartland Hill series returns to bring that into focus with its new theme, “The Art of Living”. 

In a recent interview, Deborah Greene, the executive director of TEDx Hartland Hill, pointed out that so many people experienced loss in many ways during the global pandemic. 

“How do we give it meaning in a different kind of way?,” she said of that experience. “Life has always been precious, but it feels more sensitive. There’s a gentleness in its harshness.” 

Now in its second year, TEDx Hartland Hill dives into this topic with a full day of speakers on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Billings Farm & Museum (see the schedule here). But, among the new features: The weekend begins with an opening event at Artistree in Pomfret on Friday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m.; and there will be a performance at East End Park in Woodstock at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, to wrap up the weekend.  

Early on, after putting out a call for speakers around its 2023 theme, Greene and a local advisory board received 120 submissions, and they sought local participants as well, before deciding on the final slate of speakers. Greene was also joined in the organizational efforts by Ali Madeira, director of operations for TEDx Hartland Hill – a newly added position. 

Looking forward to the 2023 speakers, Greene is excited about the depth of the stories being offered, and she cherished the opportunity to be involved with that process. 

“I got a chance to work with each individual speaker and help them shape their stories,” she said. “I’m honored that I get to do that, and I’m really touched by the stories being told. There are some cool, outside-the-box approaches being shared.”

Some of the focus is about confronting key issues in the world today, Greene added. 

“It’s not just about our experience and touching moments, but the world is changing rapidly and we’re going to have a lot of things we’re not used to, like climate, like AI, like what’s in space,” she said. 

Kicking things off for the weekend, the Friday night speaker is Avi Loeb, Head of Astronomy at Harvard University, covering the topic, “What’s Really In Space?”

A range of speakers are on tap for Saturday, including several Vermonters: poet and author Shanta Lee; artist Adrian Tans, creator of the Woodstock Town Smiler; Rocket, a food enthusiast from Hartford; and Jen Ellis, maker of the famous mittens worn by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. 

During her recent interview, Greene pointed out the only two-person speaking event of the weekend, with Rachael Siddoway and Rachel’s mother Sonja Wasden, award-winning authors and mental health advocates who’ve made a number of public appearances. They will present the moving story of their family’s journey through Sonja’s struggles with mental illness, including how she eventually got help. 

“We created this piece, where it is just a back-and-forth story of their story, which is learning how to thrive with mental illness in their family structure,” Greene said. 

On the Saturday events in general, Greene added, “I think we’ve included a lot from the breadth of the experience of life in one day.” 

On Sunday, Snow Raven-Suor, from Siberia – who is also one of the speakers from Saturday – will have the performance at East End Park. A participant of America’s Got Talent 2020, she is a musician and will offer some speaking and singing in this event – including the different, unique sounds of the forest. Greene said the park performance is a “pay what you can” event (suggested $24 donation), and is part of a growing focus on getting more people involved with TEDx Hartland Hill. 

As part of Saturday, Greene said audience members will have some time in between events, where they can interact with the speakers. For another addition this year: There will be ticketed seating in the barn at Billings Farm, to watch remotely – and that’s also the location where speakers will talk with audience members after their events. 

Also this year, people will notice a lot of involvement from local businesses. For example, The Village Butcher and Splendid Bakes are in charge of the food for the Garden Party at 6 pm on Saturday. There will also be a lounge created by 121 Home, with additional artwork from Focus Gallery (which is opening its Collectors Gallery on Sept. 29).

— Gareth Henderson

For ticket information, and more details about speakers and events, visit www.tedxhartlandhill.org. 

TEDx Hartland Hill 2023 is sponsored by the Woodstock Economic Development Commission, Billings Farm & Museum, Artistree and The Rauch Foundation; with additional support from The Shire Woodstock, The Village Inn, Dartmouth Health-Mt. Ascutney, KW RodenGroup, The Woodstock Inn and Sleep Woodstock Motel.