Renée J. Fleury

    I am the voice in the stone, the shadow in the grove, the breath between worlds.

    I am Folklore.

 

​​    Stories have always been my way of making sense of the world. Whether I'm standing on a theater stage as Madame Datura, leading a group to an ancient stone chamber, teaching the ways of poisonous plants, or organizing a community event, my work has always been rooted in one simple belief: every place and every person has a story to tell.

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    I am a professional storyteller, educator, performer, and public speaker whose work lives at the intersection of folklore, history, nature, and community. Through my company, Folklore, I create immersive experiences that invite people to rediscover their relationship with the land, with one another, and with the stories that have shaped us for generations.

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    Over the years, I've developed and presented educational programs for audiences of all ages, spoken at museums, conferences, festivals, theaters, libraries, schools, and historical organizations. This all led me to create performances that blend scholarship with theatrical storytelling. My presentations weave together historical research, folklore, archaeology, ethnobotany, and lived experience, transforming information into something audiences can truly feel.

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    My work extends beyond the stage. As an advocate for Northern Appalachia's ceremonial stone landscapes, I've worked alongside community members, historians, archaeologists, Indigenous voices, and local governments to help protect these remarkable places. Those efforts contributed to the creation of landmark preservation legislation in Putnam Valley, NY that safeguards significant stone sites, and I'm honored to see that work continue to grow as similar protections are now being adapted for neighboring communities, including Woodstock, NY. To me, preservation is more than protecting stones; it's protecting memory itself.

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    As the co-organizer of the Set in Stone Megalithic Conference, I bring together researchers, educators, artists, and community members to explore the mysteries, history, and cultural significance of our ancient landscapes. I believe that meaningful conversations happen when curiosity is welcomed and diverse perspectives are invited to the same table.

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    My work has taken many forms throughout the years—Victorian educator, folklorist, horticulturist, historical interpreter, performer, guide, healer, event organizer—but they are all expressions of the same calling: helping people reconnect with wonder.

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    Folklore was built on the belief that stories are living things. They shape our communities, preserve our history, and remind us of who we are. Every performance, workshop, and conversation is another opportunity to keep those stories alive.

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    Because in the end, we're all stories. Thank you for letting me share mine.