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Appalshop NotesAppalshop Notes – June 19, 2008 Brief Update AMI Appalshop's Appalachian Media Institute (AMI), currently in the midst of its flagship Summer Documentary Institute, received grant awards this week of $225,000 from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and $50,000 from the NEA. AMI uses media making to teach leadership to youth from the central Appalachian coalfields. Seedtime on the Cumberland 2008 This year’s Seedtime involved more than 1900 participants. Using a formula developed by Appalachian State University for MerleFest, Seedtime exerted a local economic impact of $261,000.
We’re very proud to contribute both to the cultural health of Letcher County and the economic health of the area. Seedtime 2008 proves that money invested in the arts and culture delivers a seven-fold return to the economy. What is more important, however, is presenting outstanding musicians, films, crafts, and other cultural activities here in Whitesburg.
Seedtime drew participants from Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Indonesia, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Louisiana. Three-quarters of the attendees came from Kentucky, but only 31% from Letcher County itself.
Data from interviews with 55 festival participants indicated that they attended an average of two days of the festival and spent one and a third nights in Letcher County. Not counting tickets, the average Seedtime attendee spent $128 in Letcher County.
Seedtime on the Cumberland received editorial coverage or advertising in the Mountain Eagle, Pikeville Medical Leader, Letcher County Community News-Press, Appalachian News-Express, Coalfield Progress, Old-Time Herald, Bluegrass Unlimited, Dirty Linen, WMMT-FM, WEKU-FM, and “Inside Appalachia.” Fifteen visiting media producers from Indonesia created both audio and video pieces about Seedtime. These were presented at Summit City Lounge on June 18 to an enthusiastic audience. The audio story will be broadcast on radio in Sulawesi, Indonesia. We hope that you will support Seedtime 2009, June 9-13. The support of its sponsors made possible the free components and helped keep the ticket costs down in the evening. 2008 sponsors were Lonesome Records, Parkway Pharmacy, Community Trust Bank, the Parkway Inn, the Mountain Eagle newspaper, Food City, Mama Mac’s, Home Town Music, and ARH - Whitesburg. Seedtime, as a part of Appalshop, also receives support from Kentucky Arts Council and the Appalshop Production & Education Fund. Seedtime 2008 also acknowledged the support of the City of Whitesburg, the Letcher County Fiscal Court, Letcher County Central High School, Letcher County Tourism Commission, WMMT-FM, Courthouse Café, Summit City Lounge, Cowan Community Action Group, Letcher County Senior Citizens Center, Roy Tackett, Frazier’s Farm Supply, and Whitesburg First Baptist Church. Appalshop Notes – June 10, 2008 Brief Update It is Time for Seedtime on the Cumberland Seedtime on the Cumberland 2008, the 22nd annual celebration presented by Appalshop, will happen June 10 through 14. Seedtime kicks off tonight at 8 PM with an outdoor screening of works by visiting Indonesian media makers and a gorgeous new print of Sunny Side of Life. Headlining musical acts will include Kathy Mattea, Darrell and Wayne Scott, and Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys. Also scheduled to appear are Jim & Ada McCown with Paul Smith, Lee Sexton, Kentucky Wild Horse, Brett Ratliff and the Clack Mountain String Band, Rich and the Po’ Folks, Music of Coal, and the Cowan Creek Pick and Bow All-Stars. Seedtime will additionally offer film screenings, picking contests, gallery exhibits, Singing on the Mountain at Indian Bottom, literary readings, a square dance with caller Randy Wilson, a residency by the Fossil Fools Collective, a Youth Bored concert, international exchange activities, nature hikes, and craft and food vendors. While the evening concerts will be ticketed, most of the events are free to the public. $25 advance discount tickets for admission to both Friday and Saturday evening concerts will be available only at the Appalshop through June 12. Seedtime on the Cumberland 2008 will begin with free film screenings on Tuesday, June 10, starting at 8:00 PM outdoors at the Appalshop. Appalshop will host fifteen Indonesian media artists from June 7-21, 2008. The Indonesian artists will be working with Appalshop filmmakers and Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) interns to create and exhibit film and audio. The exchange members will present work for festival audiences during Appalshop’s annual Seedtime on the Cumberland, starting with an evening of outdoor screenings on the Seedtime grounds in Whitesburg on Tuesday, June 10. Film screenings and international exchange activities will also happen on Saturday and Saturday afternoons in the Appalshop Theater. Instrument picking contests and Chuck Johnson's Annual Watermelon Eatin’, Seed Spittin', and Hollerin’ Contest will take place on Saturday afternoon as well. Storyteller Angelyn DeBord will perform Saturday afternoon, as will The Cowan Women who will present an original play, “It’s About Time,” in the Appalshop Theater. Kathy Mattea will appear at the Letcher County Central High School Auditorium on Saturday, June 14, with Jim & Ada McCown with Paul Smith and Lee Sexton opening. Mattea’s recently released album, “Coal,” is a collection of songs reflecting her deep roots in Appalachia. The program will commence at 7:00 PM. Tickets will be $17 at the door or by calling 800-838-3006 or on the World Wide Web at www.appalshop.org/seedtime/tickets.html. Appalshop’s Roadside Theater will host Singing on the Mountain will take place on Wednesday night, June 10, at 7:00 PM at the Indian Bottom Old Regular Baptist Church on KY 7 near Blackey. Those interested in volunteering can contact Mark Kidd at Appalshop (606-633-0108 or mark@appalshop.org). WMMT-FM 88.7, community radio from the Appalshop, will hold a public forum about proposed changes to its program schedule from 6:00 until 8:00 PM on Monday, June 16, in the Appalshop Theater at 91 Madison Ave., Whitesburg, KY 41858. __________________________________________________________________________________ Exchange Project Appalshop will host fifteen Indonesian media artists from June 7-21, 2008. The Indonesian artists will be working with Appalshop filmmakers and Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) interns to create and exhibit film and audio. The exchange members will present work for festival audiences during Appalshop’s annual Seedtime on the Cumberland, starting with an evening of outdoor screenings on the Seedtime grounds in Whitesburg on Tuesday, June 10. Throughout the visit, Exchange members will participate in media training sessions and collaborative production with AMI; reciprocal screenings and discussions of films and videos; as well as exposure to the Appalachian region’s history, culture, and social issues through community events and conversations as part of a person-to-person exchange approach. Appalshop is also hosting Indonesian filmmaker and visual anthropologist Aryo Danusiri as a short-term visiting artist in conjunction with the Exchange Project. He is currently in the United States on a Fulbright Fellowship pursuing a PhD at Harvard University. Aryo is affiliated with the organization RAGAM Media Network. Based in Jakarta, Aryo has made videos in West Papua and Aceh and will be sharing his work throughout Seedtime. In addition, Appalshop's youth leadership and media training program the Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) is hosting youth media makers from Texas this week. Indonesian organizations represented include: _________________________________________________________________________________ May 19, 2008 Brief Update On Wednesday, May 21, Appalshop will receive the 2008 Service to Preservation Award from the Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation and the Kentucky Heritage Council in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort at 2 PM on Wednesday, May 21. The award recognizes the preservation work Appalshop has conducted on the former Boone Motors building in Whitesburg. Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Preservation Awards recognize those who have demonstrated an understanding of and an appreciation for the value of preserving and reusing Kentucky’s historic and prehistoric resources, whether through the restoration of an important building, structure or community resource or through a lifetime commitment to encouraging and promoting historic preservation. Awards are presented in three categories. Service to Preservation Awards honor those who have furthered historic preservation activities or have had a positive impact in their communities, including individuals, organizations, public officials, financial institutions, news media, and/or volunteers. Machlyn Blair of Jeremiah, Kentucky tells his story to put a human face on the political debate over the issue of poverty. He stood with presidential candidate John Edwards during his "One America Tour" when poverty reduction was in the spotlight. Since then, the issue has taken a back seat in the Democratic Presidential campaign. Machlyn Blair would like to see it back in America's consciousness, especially as recession hits. Congratulations to Machlyn on this national broadcast debut of his essay. This essay was collaboration between the Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) and Youth Radio. Visit www.appalshop.org/ami to view video excerpts about this important issue. The AMI Summer Documentary Institute begins on May 27. Headlining musical acts will include Kathy Mattea, Darrell and Wayne Scott, Lee Sexton, and Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys (WMMT’s Bluegrass Express Live). Also scheduled to appear are Kentucky Wild Horse, Brett Ratliff and the Clack Mountain String Band, Rich and the Po’ Folks, Music of Coal, and the Cowan Creek Pick and Bow All-Stars. Seedtime will additionally offer film screenings, picking contests, gallery exhibits, Singing on the Mountain at Indian Bottom, literary readings featuring Gurney Norman, the Fossil Fools Collective, a square dance with caller Randy Wilson, a Youth Bored concert, nature hikes, and craft and food vendors. Storyteller Angie DeBord will perform Saturday afternoon and host an original play by the women of the Cowan Community Center in the Appalshop Theater. While the evening concerts will be ticketed, most of the events are free to the public. $25 advance discount tickets for admission to both Friday and Saturday evening concerts will be available through June 6. Tickets can be obtained by calling 800-838-3006 or on the World Wide Web at www.appalshop.org/seedtime/tickets.html. The support of its sponsors makes possible the free components and helps keep the ticket costs down in the evening. Seedtime on the Cumberland offers cash and in-kind sponsorships at many levels. Already committed as 2008 sponsors are the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, Parkway Pharmacy, Community Trust Bank, the Parkway Inn, the Mountain Eagle newspaper, Mama Mac’s, WMMT-FM 88.7, Food City, and Appalachian Regional Hospital - Whitesburg. Seedtime, as a part of Appalshop, also receives support from Kentucky Arts Council and the Appalshop Production & Education Fund. Those interested in discussing Seedtime sponsorship at any level should contact Mark Kidd at Appalshop (606-633-0108 or mark@appalshop.org). Winter 2007 - 2008 EditionUpdated January 24, 2008 Progress is being made on the Boone Motor (or Heritage Chair, if you prefer) Building owned by Appalshop. The storefront renovations have been completed and the plumbing bid has been awarded and will start in the next couple of weeks. Thousand Kites/Holler to the Hood's Amelia Kirby and Nick Szuberla appeared on the "Bob Edwards Weekend" on December 22 speaking about "Up the Ridge" and "Calls From Home." "Bob Edwards Weekend" airs on XM Satellite Radio and on public radio nationwide via PRI. Jack Wright was on the second hour that day to speak about Music of Coal. "Calls from Home" was aired on some 120 community radio stations on Christmas Eve. The "Images From The Mountains" exhibit is currently at Pikeville College and will possibly be exhibited in our gallery in February, followed by the Andrew Stern Exhibit in March. A decision has been made to discontinue the “Images” exhibit for 2008 in order to regroup and pursue funding and establish leadership for the 2009 exhibit. Thanks to Appalshop supporters for the tremendous response so far to our 2007 Annual Appeal. Not counting annuities and other long term donations, the appeal has already raised more than $32,000 for Appalshop. The letters went out at the end of October to our large extended family with the email appeal following in December. The Annual Appeal provides vital general operating support that serves as a foundation for all our work. You can download the revised "Appalshop Is" brochure from http://www.appalshop.org/AppalshopBrochure_07.pdf. It is never the wrong time to donate to support Appalshop's work. You can use the Donate Now button on our home page. Robert Salyer, Brynn, Shawn Lind, and Herb E. Smith shot videotape of the Monongah commemoration on Thursday, December 6. On Dec. 6, 1907 (100 years ago), there was an explosion in the Monongah coal mines killing over 360 coalminers. The records about the number of men and boys underground are bad, but many historians think that over 500 miners were killed. Last Thursday was a cold morning, but a number of people came to remember the tragedy, including a large delegation of Italy, a bus load from Canada, the Governor of West Virginia, etc. We will be making a short DVD that will be shown in Monongah in the Spring and material from the shoot will be used in the "On Top of the World" series. Appalshop is now registered on goodsearch.com. Goodsearch.com uses Yahoo!'s search engine as a fundraising tool. Just go to www.goodsearch.com, verify that Appalshop is the non-profit for whom you are searching, and Appalshop will receive about one cent per search. Out of the ‘Shop: New Film and Audio Releases
Project Explores the Impact of Prisons in Rural Appalachia In prison slang, to "shoot a kite" means to send a message. And the new stage production "Thousand Kites" does just that. TheatreUniversity of North Carolina at Asheville became the first in the nation to stage a full production of "Thousand Kites," an innovative play written by Donna Porterfield of Roadside Theater (a part of Appalshop), which explores the issues surrounding America's prison systems. "Thousand Kites" debuted November 14-18 in UNC Asheville's Carol Belk Theatre. Opening night sold out. In three acts, "Thousand Kites" takes the audience on an intimate examination of the impact of high-security prisons on rural Appalachian communities. In 1999, Appalshop launched "Holler to the Hood," the region's only hip-hop radio program. Soon the DJs of this popular program began receiving thousands of "kites" – letters from inmates in the nearby Wallens Ridge State Prison. This new prison was built in the rural Appalachian community of Big Stone Gap, Va., to shore up the shrinking coal economy. The prisoners who were transferred to the new site were mostly minority inner-city men; the prison staff was made up of rural, white former coal miners. The two cultures clashed. And the letters described human rights violations and the serious racial tensions between the two groups. The "Thousand Kites" evening begins with the 45 minute play performance. The script pieces together the words and writings of real people sharing their experiences and feelings gathered through interviews and the "Holler to the Hood" radio show's Web site that allowed inmates, guards and families to contribute their personal stories. Told through narrative, the play portrays and humanizes all sides of the story. The second act features a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary "Up the Ridge." Prompted by the letters sent to "Holler to the Hood," the DJs, Amelia Kirby and Nick Szuberla, set out to make a film that explored the impact of super-max prisons built in rural Appalachian communities. The two began filming in 1999 and followed the story of the Wallens Ridge super-max State Prison for the next six years. "Thousand Kites" wraps up with an audience forum about these challenging issues. Reuters correspondent Alan Elsner will join the audience on opening night to help launch the discussion. Elsner is the author of the critically acclaimed book "Gates of Injustice: The Crisis in America's Prison," which uses U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics to paint a grim picture of life inside a super-max prison. In addition, playwright Porterfield will be on hand to answer questions about the show, and the Appalshop crew will film the discussion for use in future projects. Scott Walters, UNC Asheville associate professor of drama, directed " Thousand Kites" with an all-student cast and crew. The TheatreUNCA cast and crew kept a blog to detail the development of the show as well as their own reactions to the material. The web log is online at http://thousandkites.pbwiki.com/ . The site also contains resources, the film trailer and the play script. Thousand Kites' acclaimed film "Up the Ridge" will be available on DVD very soon. You can pre-order it now from the store section of Appalshop web site: http://www.appalshop.org/store.htm The Thousand Kites web site, while still under development, is live at http://www.thousandkites.org/ ________________________________________________________ Jim Webb (aka "Wiley Quixote"), Appalachian poet, playwright and essayist has a voice widely known in the mountains from his writings, activism and work at Appalshop's community radio station, WMMT. Webb is a founding member of the Southern Appalachian Writers Co-Op (SAWC), is active with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and is a board member of Appalachian Voices and the Appalshop. His book Get In, Jesus, "a collection of poetry, satirical essays, musings & whatnots" is forthcoming in 2008. Appalshop is all over the Center for Civic Participation site - several Appalshop projects are included in the mapping of projects, Robert Salyer is profiled, and Appalshop was part of the Rural Cultural Organizer, US Social Forum, Highlander, and Mississippi gatherings described in the blog! At October's Southern Appalachian International Film Festival at ETSU in Johnson City Appalshop received the Mary Jane Coleman Award for oustanding support of film production and arts and culture in the Appalachian region. E-board member Angelyn DeBord has just returned from 3 weeks as an associate artist at the Atlanta Center for the Arts in beautiful jungley central coastal Florida. She studied under and with renowned storyteller and writer Gioia Timpanelli. Angie had an amazing time and had many opportunities to share the word about Appalshop and all of the wonderful work being done here! Appalshop has reactivated Lee Sexton's nomination for a National Heritage Award from the NEA. The original nomination was made in 2001 and was due to lapse. We got letters of support from Jean Ritchie, Ron Pen, Mike Mullins, and Bob Gates. At the request of the BCMA, we also submitted a letter of support for Mike Seeger, whom they have nominated. “Dreadful Memories,” Mimi Pickering’s portrait of Appalachian singer Sarah Ogun Gunning, has been added to the Folkstreams site. Folkstreams permits full length film streaming on line. To check it out go to www.folkstreams.net. Amelia Kirby helped organize and present a day-long institute on cultural organizing as part of the Highlander Center’s 75th anniversary celebrations. While there she also screened “Up the Ridge,” a video she produced with Nick Szuberla as part of Holler to the Hood. The video is a provocative presentation about the Virginia prison system and its impact on communities. For more information: www.appalshop.org/h2h/film/screenings.htm. Elizabeth also led a screening/discussion of "Stranger With A Camera" as part of the Wednesday afternoon film series sponsored by the Appalachian Studies Center on Oct. 3, at Crabbe Library on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond. On Monday, October 29, Elizabeth led a screening/discussion of Stranger With A Camera at UNC Asheville. sponsored by the History Student Association that brings speakers to campus in order to educate and interest others in the historic narrative. At the New School's Theresa Lang Center, 55 West 13th Street, New York, "Stranger with a Camera" will be screened on Friday, November 9, 2007, at 2 pm. This will be followed by Elizabeth’s participation in the Filmmakers Panel that evening at 7pm for People, Passion. Perspective. -- P.O.V - Twenty Years of Documentary Film, a two day conference and screening series sponsored by The New School Media Studies. Appalshop archivist Chad Hunter presented classic Headwaters Television programs “Morgan Sexton” and “Lily May Ledford” on Saturday, September 15 at the Park Slope Old-Time and Bluegrass Jamboree in Brooklyn.
You can listen to Natasha Watts' commentary on prescription drug abuse on NPR's Morning Edition, which aired October 9 at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15143695 Please use the email tool at the NPR website to share the commentary http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15143695#email Appalachian Media Institute (AMI) youth interns hosted Presidential candidate John Edwards on July 18th. This youth led forum on the challenges of poverty in the mountains garnered tremendous national and local media exposure (The Appalshop appeared in Newsweek with some of the news coverage on YouYube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgJss5gbvEY&v3). The AMI interns who joined Senator Edwards on stage - Machlyn Blair, Willa Johnson, and Natasha Watts – spoke about how despite the decades-old problems created by poverty, the coalfields can continue to be the place they call home. To them this means tackling the social and economic problems caused by poverty, including: the prescription drug addiction epidemic, high rates of unemployment, minimum-wage economies, few opportunities for youth development, and struggling schools.
On August 6th around 100 folks gathered in the Appalshop Theater to view new youth-produced videos from the Summer Documentary Institute. Chelcia Widner, Mikie Burke, Tiffany Dixon, and Chris Sturgill produced “Say It Louder” about teen activism in the face of the challenges facing youth in eastern Kentucky. “Up the Hill” by Tommy Anderson, Melissa Rose, David White, and TJ Caudill examined unhealthy responses to these same challenges especially underage drinking and alcoholism. Willa Johnson, Nikki King, and Brittany Hunsaker created “True Cost of Coal,” an examination of the effects of the coal industry on eastern Kentucky communities and how “coal-to-liquid” could exacerbate them. Once again the AMI students impressed not only with their work but with their poise in discussing their videos in a public forum. Traditional Music Project Appalshop's Old Time Jam will be Saturday, February 2nd starting at 1pm. Both Cowan and Carcassonne's monthly square dances will start back up in March. Knoxville’s Carpetbag Theatre was in residency at Appalshop at the beginning of September. They completed their week here with a professional development day for teachers and a public performance of their play-in-development about Howard Armstrong, the legendary African-American string band musician from LaFollette, Tennessee. “Between a Ballad and the Blues” will debut in March 2008. This was a highly successful partnership that provides an example of how Appalshop enriches the cultural life of the area.
WMMT will offer more outstanding “Bluegrass Express Live” concerts in early 2008 with the ever popular Dave Evans & River Bend on February 7. You can see them in the 150 seat intimacy of the Appalshop Theater for just $15 per person, per show. Each concert starts at 7:30 PM on their respective Thursday nights. For tickets, just call 606-633-0108. :Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time put on a great show for an enthusastic audience on January 17. WMMT remembered Starvin' Marvin & Catfish John with tributes during the week of December 10. WMMT’s Community Correspondents Corps (www.appalshop.org/ccc) is expanding into a weekly broadcast of locally-produced news and public affairs programming. Community correspondents receive training and equipment to produce radio pieces on issues in their communities. Congratulations for WMMT for meeting its Fall 2007 pledge drive target. During July the new management team of Beth Bingman, Managing Director, and Art Menius, Director, arrived at Appalshop. In September Appalshop welcomed AMI alumnus Machlyn Blair on a one-year VISTA appointment developing Appalshop's technology capacity; Caroline Rubens, who had been a temporary worker, as a full-time Archivist; and filmmaker Shawn Lind, a longtime contract worker, as a part-time employee in Archives. |
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“Stranger with a Camera,” Elizabeth Barret’s award winning video of the 1967 murder of Canadian filmmaker Hugh O’Connor by a local landlord, appeared on DVD on August 20, 2007. For more information: 
Anne Lewis’ “Morristown: In the Land and the Sky” was released on DVD to great acclaim in July. Its many screenings have included the Highlander Center’s 75th Anniversary Celebration on Labor Day weekend, the Library of Congress LaborLore Symposium in July, and the Austin Film Festival on October 19. "Morristown" screened in Lexington, on Tuesday, January 22nd at 6:45pm at the UK Student Center, Center Theater, sponsored by KFTC, the UK College Democrats, Amnesty International UK, the Latino American Student Organization, and the local chapter of United Food and Commercial Workers.
