Imagine That !
Creativity and Community
Imagine That !
Creativity and Community
The Wheelwrite Imaginarium is more than just a bookstore ; it ’ s a cultural hub where art , film , and literature converge . To that end , 2024 ’ s roster of events offers a diverse range of experiences for literature and art enthusiasts alike . On February 22 , patrons immersed themselves in an evening of poetry and short stories during a Poets and Short Stories Roundtable . On April 9 , an open-mic night at Imaginarium hosted by fiddle player Ida Mae Specker offered local performers a platform to showcase their talents .
From May 23 - May 26 , the Imaginarium plays host to the inaugural Vermont Film and Folklore Festival ( VFFF ), a celebration of independent cinema and the rich cultural heritage of Vermont . This four-day event will feature screenings of independent films , discussions on folklore and storytelling , and a special Vermont sidebar highlighting local filmmakers and traditions . VFFF was founded by Tim Rhys and Indiewire co-founder Karol Martesko-Fenster . “ It ’ s a celebration of storytelling , not just cinematic , although that ’ s our focus ,” says Rhys , the festival director . “ We ’ re bringing in a couple of folklorists to speak on the cultural role of folklore in and outside of Vermont , and we ’ re looking forward to hosting screenings here , as well as the Southern Vermont Arts Center , Manchester Community Library , and Burr & Burton Academy .”
As Tim presses forward with developing the Wheelwrite Imaginarium ’ s program- ming and community offerings , he is energized by his ongoing artistic collaborations with his son , Nick Cassidy , a skilled actor , director , and musician based in L . A . Most recently , they partnered on the 2023 thriller , Fallen Drive , where they combined their talents to create a compelling cinematic experience . Tim helped produce the film , and Nick wrote , directed , and played a starring role . “ Working with Nick was an incredibly rewarding experience ,” says Tim . Their mutual respect for each other ’ s creative vision formed the foundation of their successful collaboration .
Building on the momentum of their previous project , Tim and Nick are gearing up for another feature that they co-wrote , to be shot in Vermont and upstate New York . “ Making Mischief Night is an exciting opportunity for us to push our creative boundaries again ,” says Tim . “ We ’ re going to be shooting a good portion of it in this region , and we ’ re looking forward to starting production this October if things fall into place as we believe they will . Nick will direct this one , as well .”
Reflecting on the local community ’ s support for the Imaginarium , Tim acknowledges that despite the bookstore ’ s semi-secluded location off Main Street , there has been an enthusiastic response . “ I built this little business with the intention of celebrating good books , good films , and good storytelling . The stories that mean the most to us play a powerful role in shaping our identities and our characters . There ’ s a great John Waters quote , ‘ Nothing is more important than an unread library .’ The books that I ’ ve collected here were curated based on my tastes , but I chose them to attract people who also deeply connect with literature and the art of storytelling the way I do . I like to think that if your home is full of books , the story of your life becomes a lot more interesting .” n
Chloe at the bookshop .
12 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine . com
ALL THE DETAILS wheelwriteimaginarium . com