ALABAMA ARTS RADIO PROGRAM ARCHIVE
For updated list go here http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx
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PROGRAM
DATE AIRED
AUDIO STREAM
COMMENTS
All Programs 28'30"
03-09-2014
This week Community Arts Program manager Deb Boykin interviews Darren Butler, director of Time Out for Theater. This program, developed by the Tennessee Valley Art Association, introduces elementary students in area schools to live theater through performances at the Ritz, an art deco movie house that has been converted to a performance venue. In the second half of the program, TVAA director Mary Settle Cooney discusses the organization’s commitment to bringing theater to the Shoals area. more
03-02-2014
This week Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews banjo champion Weston Stewart. Weston, an Alabama native from Anderson, Alabama, holds 14 state titles on banjo, as well as the 2011 National Bluegrass Banjo Title. In 2013, he was the Tennessee state champion on both banjo and dobro. Stewart is a master artist with the State Arts Council's Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program and is passing on his musical knowledge to students in North Alabama. more
02-23-2014
In this show Community Arts program manager Deb Boykin interviews Xan Morrow, chairman of the committee for the Red Door Theatre for the Tourism Council of Bullock County and Midge Putnam, executive director of the Tourism Council of Bullock County. The Red Door Theatre, housed in a former Episcopal church, presented Conecuh People, its initial production, in 2004. Morrow and Putnam discuss the theatre's emergence as a regional tourism destination and a showcase for plays about the South. more
Ethan Sawyer
02-16-2014
In this program Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight interviews Alabama artist Ethan Sawyer about his past work and current exhibit at Kentuck Art Center in Northport, AL. more
Joseph D. Trimble
02-02-2014
Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews storyteller Joseph D. Trimble. Joseph, a 2013 recipient of a Theatre Fellowships from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, recounts a short tale of many from his repertory about Anansi the Spider, and shares tips to budding storytellers. more
Annual Capitol Rotunda Four-Book Shapenote Singing
01-26-2014
This program is a rebroadcast of Alabama shapenote music and its history, in preparation for this year's Annual Capitol Rotunda Four-Book Shapenote Singing that will be held February 1st at the Alabama Department of Archives and History off of Union St between Adams and Washington in Montgomery. The singing will start at 9:30 am and end at 3pm. The public is welcome to come and listen or sing. For more information call 334-242-4076, x-225. more
01-12-2014
This week Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Burgin Mathews and Frank "Doc" Adams about their book titled Doc: The Story of a Birmingham Jazz Man. Mathews is a writer and teacher at Spain Park High School in Hoover and Adams is a jazz musician, educator and the director of music at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. The two discuss their collaboration on the book that covers the life and career of Adams, including his education with John T. "Fess" Whatley and his experience playing with jazz legends Sun Ra and Duke Ellington. more
Radiovisions Production, J R. "Pap" Baxter
01-05-2014
This program is a rebroadcast of the 1991 Radiovisions program produced by Russell Gulley and the Big Wills Arts Council. The program features the songs of J. R. "Pap" Baxter and an extended interview by Al Malone, Baxter's nephew, about the life and time of this well-known Southern Gospel singer/songwriter and publisher. more
12-29-2013
This week on Alabama Arts Radio Kevin Nutt, Folklife archivist for the Alabama Department of Archives and History, interviews Birmingham native Andrew Nelson, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland at College Park, about an historic collection of glass plate negatives housed at the Birmingham Library.
Andrew Freear, director of The Rural Studio
12-15-2013
This program is a repeat from 2009 of Deborah Boykin interviewing Andrew Freear, director of The Rural Studio , a project of Auburn University's School of Architecture. He discusses how this community-based program enables students to learn through projects that ultimately provide affordable homes and public spaces in rural West Alabama. (watch a video here) (picture)
Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of the Tuscaloosa Arts and Humanities Council
12-08-2013
Community Arts program manager Deb Boykin talks with Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of the Tuscaloosa Arts and Humanities Council, about the recently-opened Dinah Washington Cultural Center. The Center is a hub for the arts in Tuscaloosa and houses a black box theatre/workshop space which is perfect for family programming, educational opportunities and rehearsal space or community meeting space for rent. In addition, the CAC houses offices for local arts groups and a gallery space for The University of Alabama. (more)
12-01-2013
This program is a rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviewing Robert Haygens of Opp about making white oak baskets and teaching his traditional craft through the support of the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. Mr. Haygens walks listeners through the entire basket making process from selecting the right tree, to weaving the oak splits, to attaching the rim and handles. (more)
David Hope, Artistic Director of Summer Stock at the Ritz
11-24-2013
David Hope, artistic director of Summer Stock at the Ritz talks with Community Arts Program manager Deborah Boykin. Sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Arts Association, Summer Stock at the Ritz provides training in musical theater for young people throughout the state of Alabama and neighboring states. (more)
Kevin Nutt, of CaseQuarter Records
11-17-2013
This program is a rebroadcast of Steve Grauberger interviewing Kevin Nutt, of CaseQuarter Records talking about his research on early blues recording artist Ed Bell from Greenville, Alabama. His Tributaries article on the subject can be obtained at Alabamafolklife.org Kevin can be heard weekly, online, at WFMU with his radio program Sinners Crossroads. (more)
Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Jake Landers
11-10-2013
This week, Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Jake Landers talks with Community Arts program manager Deb Boykin about his long career as a bluegrass musician and songwriter. Landers discusses his work with fellow bluegrass pioneers Rual Yarbrough, Al Lester, and Herschel Sizemore and recalls touring with Bill Monroe. He describes the songwriting process including the writing of his best-known song, �Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine.�(more)
11-03-2013
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Executive Director Joey Brackner interviews Joe Wilson. Wilson, a folklorist and journalist, served as the executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) from 1976 to 2004. In 2001, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Wilson a National Heritage Fellowship for his dedication to the field. In this interview he recollects living in Alabama in the 1960s and some of the interesting people he met along the way.(more)
10-27-2013
This week, Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews motivational speaker and Montgomery, Alabama native, Julius Pryor III. Pryor was the keynote speaker at this year's Bill Bates Leadership Conference for Alabama Arts Administrators held at Cheaha State Park. (more)
Priscilla Crommelin Ball, director of the newly formed River Region Ballet School and Youth Company; and Adria Ferrali
10-20-2013
Diana Green interviews Priscilla Crommelin Ball, director of the newly formed River Region Ballet School and Youth Company; and Adria Ferrali, previously a Martha Graham Company dancer and choreographer from Florence, Italy. Priscilla and Adria are working on a new production about Alabama ghosts, inspired by Kathryn Tucker Windham�s ghost stories. Adria talks about her inspiration and her friendship with Bobby Horton, who has arranged music for the production. This entire collaboration stems from the Cultural Exchange program instigated by the Council during an initial trip to Pietrasanta, Italy in 2008.(more)
Shana Berger and Nathan Purath, Co-Directors of the Coleman Center for the Arts in York, Alabama.
10-06-2013
This week Community Arts Program Manager Deborah Boykin interviews Shana Berger and Nathan Purath, Co-Directors of the Coleman Center for the Arts in York, Alabama. They discuss the history of the Center and various artistic projects produced through the years in their artists- in- residence program. This includes the well received Open House Project created by former artist-in-residence, Matthew Mazzotta. (more)
Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center Executive Director Morgan Drinkard
09-29-2013
Visual Arts program Manager Elliot Knight talks with Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center Executive Director Morgan Drinkard. Drinkard talks about the history of TPCAC, their facilities in downtown Troy, current programming and partnerships throughout the community. (more)
09-22-2013
Deborah Boykin interviews David Ivey, a Sacred Harp singer and one of nine recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to the fellowship, he discusses his participation in the Cold Mountain soundtrack, establishing Camp Fa Sol La, and sacred harp singing as a long-standing tradition in his family. (more)
09-15-2013
Heirloom sewing is the subject of this week�s program on Alabama Arts Radio. Folklorist Anne Kimzey interviews Martha Pullen of Huntsville, an internationally-known sewing teacher, author, publisher and host of public television�s popular show Martha�s Sewing Room. (more)
Jonathan Katz, long-time director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
09-01-2013
Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Al Head, talks with Jonathan Katz, long-time director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies about issues of national interest and relevance including congressional funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. Other topics include the public value of the arts, the impact of the emerging digital revolution on the arts and the current emphasis on arts education. Katz was in Alabama recently speaking at a statewide leadership institute for directors of arts organizations. (more)
Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman, an Alabama native originally from Grady
08-25-2013
In June of 2011 a group of relatives came together in Alabama to commemorate a common bond, the late Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman, an Alabama native originally from Grady. After making his home in Beauregard, Mississippi in the 1930s, he became a mentor to bluesman guitarist Robert Johnson. An accomplished blues guitarist and performer himself, Ike Zimmerman and his wife Ruth took Johnson into their home for over a year where Ike generously taught Johnson, then known as R.L., what he knew about the blues. In this program Grey Brennan, Marketing Manager at the Alabama Department of Travel and Tourism and Steve Grauberger of ASCA interview two daughters of Ike Zimmerman, Loretha Z. Smith and Nelly Ruth Brown with their sons James Smith and Oscar Brown, to try and find more information about this interesting Alabamian and his relationship to Robert Johnson. (more)
Charlie Louvin of the legendary Louvin Brothers of Sand Mountain
08-18-2013
This program is a rebroadcast of a 1989 Radiovisions production. It features Russell Gulley Executive Director of the Big Wills Arts Council interviewing Charlie Louvin of the legendary Louvin Brothers of Sand Mountain. The program includes a narrative history of the Louvins as well as various recordings made by them. Russell Gulley and the Big Wills Arts Council of Ft. Payne Alabama produced the Radiovisions series that were released originally on cassette tape. (more)
Alabama Blues Project Program Director Cara Lynn Teague and musician Bruce Andrews
08-11-2013
I this program Summer Upchurch interviews Alabama Blues Project Program Director Cara Lynn Teague and musician Bruce Andrews about the Alabama Blues Project's annual summer blues camp. (more)
Performing Arts/Dance Fellowship Recipient Sudha Raghuram
08-04-2013
This week Summer Upchurch interviews Performing Arts/Dance Fellowship Recipient Sudha Raghuram, a performer and teacher of Bharatanatyam the most ancient of all classical dance forms of India. The main features of Bharatanatyam are "Abhinaya" (expression), "Rasa" (emotion), and "Mudras" (hand gestures). Sudha talks about how she learned to dance in India as a child, her performances, aspects of costuming, and techniques of instruction for her students in Montgomery. (more)
Jessica Peterson, proprietor of the Southern Letterpress shop in downtown Northport
07-28-2013
This week on Alabama Arts radio, Visual Arts program Manager Elliot Knight talks with Jessica Peterson. Jessica is the proprietor of the Southern Letterpress shop in downtown Northport and is recipient of a 2014 ASCA Visual Arts Fellowship. Listen to Jessica talk about the process of letterpress printing, her own creative philosophy, and what projects she will be working on over the next year. (more)
Chloe Collins, the Executive Director of the Sidewalk Film Festival
07-21-2013
This week, Summer Upchurch talks with Chloe Collins, the Executive Director of the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Al and a recent ASCA fellowship recipient. Chloe talks about the process of producing the Sidewalk Film Festival every year and what it means for the Birmingham community as well as the independent film industry.(more)
07-14-2013
This week on Alabama Arts Radio, Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight talks with hot glass artist Mark Leputa. Mark works at Orbix Hot Glass in Little River Canyon and is a 2013 ASCA Fellowship recipient. Mark discusses how he got started working with glass, his recent solo exhibition in the Netherlands and talks about his artistic inspirations and process. Learn more about mark and view his art at www.markleupta.com (more)
07-07-2013
Summer Upchurch, an ASCA intern, interviews Craig Wedderspoon, a 2013 Visual Arts Fellowship Recipient, in his studio in Tuscaloosa about his philosophies on teaching and art-making. Craig is an Associate Professor of Sculpture and 3D Design at the University of Alabama. His large metal and wooden installations are featured in Woods Quad at the UA Campus, and he is frequently commissioned to design permanent outdoor installations in locations around the United States. His upcoming exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art will begin on December 15th. (more)
06-30-2013
Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews 2013 ASCA Music Fellowship Recipient Kristi Tingle Higginbotham. Kristi, who has a distinguished stage career in Birmingham and is a frequent soloist with symphony orchestras in the U.S. and Canada, shares some age old wisdom for having longevity as a vocal artist in the Millennial Generation of Music. (more)
06-23-2013
Claire Lynch, member of the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame and IBMA award-winning vocalist, talks with Deborah Boykin about her experiences as a bluegrass singer, songwriter and bandleader. The program features songs from her most recent project, Dear Sister. The title song, which Lynch co-wrote with Louise Branscomb, is based on a collection of letters from a Confederate soldier to his sister in Alabama. (more)
06-16-2013
This week Joey Brackner, director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, talks with Mary Allison Haynie, director of the Alabama Folklife Association. They discuss the AFA's traveling exhibit "Alabama in the Making" as well as upcoming workshops for researchers and teachers. (more)
06-09-2013
Anne Kimzey interviews author Chantel Acevedo, recipient of a 2013 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. During the program Ms. Acevedo reads from her recent work and discusses the influence of her Cuban-American heritage on her writing. Acevedo is a professor of Creative Writing at Auburn University. Her book Love and Ghost Letters won the 2006 Latino International Book Award for Best Historical Fiction. (more)
06-02-2013
This program is a rebroadcast of Yvette Jones-Smedley, Performing Arts Program Manager, interviewing Quinton Cockrell, ASCA�s 2006-2007 Theatre Fellowship recipient. Discussed are his plans to develop new works for the American stage and about his career as a professional actor in New York and in regional theatres across the country. (more)
Bob Sain and Daryn Glassbrook of the Centre for the Living Arts in Mobile
05-26-2013
This week on Alabama Arts Radio, Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight talks with Bob Sain and Daryn Glassbrook of the Centre for the Living Arts in Mobile. The Centre for the Living Arts recently unveiled the Futures Project, which features new artwork from a variety of international artists, as well as community programming throughout the Mobile area. The Futures Project is on display at Space 301 through January 2014. (more)
05-19-2013
Alabama musician Braxton Schuffert, a country singer and songwriter who was one of Hank Williams�s original Drifting Cowboys, died on April 26 at the age of 97. This program is a rebroadcast of his 2011 interview with folkorist Deborah Boykin. Mr. Schuffert talks about his early life, his experience performing on WSFA radio and his long friendship with Williams, which began when Schuffert made a delivery to the boarding house run by Hank's mother. He also describes the experience of co-writing a song with Williams and talks about his own compositions. (more)
Alan and Karen Jabbour
05-12-2013
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews Alan and Karen Jabbour about their book published in 2010, Decoration Day in the Mountains: Traditions of Cemetery Decorations in the Southern Appalachians. (more)
05-05-2013
This week's program is a rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey interviewing Marcus Johnson of the Bay City Brass Band of Mobile. They discuss brass band history and music in the Mobile Mardi Gras tradition. (more)
04-28-2013
Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight discusses the 2013 Southern Makers event. Southern Makers is a one day event celebrating Alabama creativity and innovation by bringing together highly curated, handpicked top talent - artists, chefs, breweries, craftsmen, designers - for one fantastic gathering to explore the contemporary side of Alabama's heritage of textiles, music, craftsmanship, and food. Elliot talks with event organizers Andrea Jean (Goodwyn Mills and Cawood) and Edwin Marty (E.A.T. South) about the event and what will be offered on May 4. Elliot also talks with fashion designer Natalie Chanin and woodworker Ethan Sawyer, who will both be at the event. (more)
Alabama Dance Theatre Artistic Director Kitty Seale
04-21-2013
In this program performing arts program manager Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews Alabama Dance Theatre Artistic Director Kitty Seale. (more)
David Ivey and Jeff Sheppard; Camp Fasola
04-14-2013
This program is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing David Ivey and Jeff Sheppard about the annual Camp Fasola held each year at Camp Lee near Anniston and Camp McDowell near Jasper, Alabama. (more)
04-07-2013
This week Anne Kimzey interviews Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum, about the 8th annual Alabama Book Festival to be held Saturday, April 20th in Montgomery�s Old Alabama Town. Jeanie will give a preview of the more than 40 authors appearing at the Book Festival plus special features such as the poetry tent and children�s area, as well as outreach activities for students and teachers. (more)
03-31-2013
This show is a repeat of Steve Grauberger interviewing Auburn native Ernestine Hill Robinson about her life as a singer and the artistic director of the a cappella Negro Spiritual singing group, The Plantation Heirs. Musical examples are included in the program. (more)
Shweta Gamble, Executive Director of the Kentuck Arts Center
03-24-2013
This week, Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight interviews Shweta Gamble, Executive Director of the Kentuck Arts Center in Northport, Ala. Shweta discusses what the first six months on the job have been like for her at Kentuck and how her previous experience as a designer at a newspaper prepared her to take the lead in her new role. The annual Kentuck Arts Festival is well-known throughout the region and is held the third weekend every October, but Shweta shares about the numerous and ongoing events, projects, and opportunities happening throughout the year at the Kentuck Art Center. (more)
03-17-2013
Steve Grauberger interviews Leah Tucker, Executive Director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Carver Theatre in Birmingham. They discuss the history of the Carver Theatre and the Hall of Fame as well as various events and services provided by the organization. (more)
03-10-2013
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum, interviews poet Adam Vines, 2013 ASCA Literature Fellowship recipient. Thompson talks with Vines about his latest collection of poems, The Coal Life, which was a 2012 finalist for the Miller William, Arkansas Poetry Prize. Exploring the rich metaphors of several generations of his coal-mining family, Vines uncovers his personal connection to Alabama�s landscape. Vines also talks with Thompson about his recent trip to New York City to visit museums and pursue his interest in ekphrastic poems (poems about works of art). He and Thompson also discuss how poems are made, what makes poetry �poetry,� and how poets contribute to the community of writers. Originally from Birmingham, Vines is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he co-edits The Birmingham Poetry Review. (more)
Carole King, 2013 Festival of Alabama Fiber Arts.
03-03-2013
Elliot Knight, Visual Arts Program Manager, talks with Carole King about the 2013 Festival of Alabama Fiber Arts. The festival, now in its second year, will be held March 22nd and 23rd at Old Alabama Town in downtown Montgomery and will feature an exhibition of diverse fiber arts, demonstrating artists, workshops, and activities for the whole family to enjoy. (more)
Visual Arts Fellowship recipients, John Douglas Powers and Sarah Cusimano Miles
02-24-2013
This week Visual Arts Fellowship recipients, John Douglas Powers and Sarah Cusimano Miles, talk with Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight about their artistic inspirations and processes, and the relationship between their personal work and teaching practice. Powers, Miles, and three other recent ASCA Fellowship recipients have work on display until March 29, 2013 in the Alabama Artists Gallery in Montgomery. (more)
02-17-2013
Arts in Education Program Manager, Diana Green, interviews Diana Van Fossen of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Diana is the wife of artistic director, Geoffrey Sherman and is an accomplished actor and director in her own right. In this interview she discusses her process in the direction of Much Ado About Nothing, The Trojan Women and her current direction of To Kill a Mockingbird. (more)
02-10-2013
In this program Arts in Education Program Manager, Diana Green, interviews students and teachers who attended the Finding Your Voice Workshop hosted by the Tuscaloosa Arts Council for Region 4. Some of these students were selected to participate in the State Poetry Out Loud finals February 18th. Green also interviews Diana Van Fossen, of the Alabama Shakespeare about the Shakespeare Festival partnership. (more)
Scott Bennett talks about the 2013 Alabama Clay Conference.
02-03-2013
Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight interviews Alabama Craft Council director Scott Bennett about the 28th annual Alabama Clay Conference. The conference will be held February 21-24 in Birmingham. Bennett talks about the history of the Clay Conference, the new collaboration between the Clay Conference and the Birmingham Museum of Art�s Ceramic Symposium, and gives an overview of what attendees can expect from this year�s conference. (more)
Michael Richardson creator of the Red String Wayang Theatre.
01-27-2013
Education Program Specialist Diana Green interviews Michael Richardson creator of the Red String Wayang Theatre. After receiving a Fulbright Fellowship to Indonesia in 1985, Richardson began working on new shadow puppet designs for western stories. From 1985-92, Richardson gave over 2000 performances in the Mid-Atlantic region. Diana talks to Michael about his participation in ASCA's Alabama Touring Artists in the Schools program. (more)
Mike Cooley, co-founder of the Drive-By Truckers
01-20-2013
Mike Cooley, co-founder of the Drive-By Truckers, talks with Deborah Boykin about his songwriting, his career with DBT, and recent solo performances. (more)
Executive Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts Al Head
01-13-2013
This program Anne Kimzey interviews Al Head, executive director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Head was recently honored in Washington, D.C. as a recipient of the 2012 Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for his role as a traditional arts advocate during his 40-year career directing cultural agencies in three states. (more)
Kyle Abraham director of the Abraham.In.Motion Dance Company
01-06-2013
Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director for the Alabama Dance Council, and Leah Tucker, Director of the Carver Theater and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, talk to Kyle Abraham director of the Abraham.In.Motion Dance Company about his background that influenced his choreography of two productions, The Radio Show and Pavement that will be performed in Birmingham in January 2013. (more)
12-30-2012
Richard Lee Young with the Alabama Roots Music Society talks to Steve Grauberger about the various musical artists presented by the Society. (more)
Seasons Greetings from the Alabama State Council on the Arts
12-23-2012
This program features musical artists in Alabama who have performed for the Alabama State Council on the Arts in past Sounds of the Seasons programs presented at the State Capitol. The Mariachi Garibaldi, soprano Bessie Sheldon, The Tribe of Judah gospel singers and instrumentalist Bobby Horton are presented this week for your listening pleasure. (more)
12-16-2012
This program, is a rebroadcast that originally aired in 2009. It features Alabama State Council on the Arts Executive Director Al Head interviewing renowned Alabama author Rick Bragg about his upbringing in Alabama and his writing career. They discuss Bragg's books, All Over But the Shoutin', Ava's Man, The Prince of Frogtown, and his newest book The Most They Ever Had which is a group of essays built around stories of mill workers at the now defunct Union Yarn Mill in Jacksonville Alabama. (more)
12-09-2012
Musician and bandleader Scott Ward talks with Deborah Boykin about the musicians who have influenced him, beginning with members of his family and extending to include David Hood, Spooner Oldham and other Muscle Shoals writers and muscians. His first CD, Muscle Shoals Down Through Decatur is a tribute to songwriters from that area. He also talks about his most recent CD project, A Heaping Helping. This recording, which features contributions from Christine Ohlman, Bekka Bramlett, Jay Gonzalez, and the Decoys, among others.(more)
12-02-2012
This is a rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey, literary arts program manager with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviewing poet Dr. Virginia Gilbert of Madison about her work and her time serving in the Peace Corps in Korea. Gilbert received a Literary Arts Fellowship award from the State Arts Council in 2010 and has recently retired from the English faculty of Alabama A & M University.(more)
11-25-2012
Ralph �Soul� Jackson is a singer and song writer whose career began when he was still in high school in Phenix City. He talks with Deborah Boykin about his first recording session at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, where he got his nickname from producer Rick Hall and teamed up with legendary keyboard player Spooner Oldham. Jackson also discusses his songwriting technique and performance style, as well as his recent CD.(more)
11-18-2012
This is a rebroadcast of Alabama Writer's Forum Director Jeanie Thompson interviewing poet, playwright, educator and activist Sonia Sanchez. Sanchez talks about her belief in the power of poetry to help people survive their circumstances, including alienation and incarceration. She also speaks about her early life in Alabama, her father Wilson L. Driver, a 1980 Inductee in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and her formative experiences with the Black Arts Movement and the development of Black Studies programs around the country. (more)
11-11-2012
This week Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Jason Russell of Gadsden an award-winning maker of traditional hunting decoys. Mr. Russell is teaching his craft to student Kevin Asbury through the support of the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. Mr. Russell and Mr. Asbury talk about their interest in duck hunting and take listeners through the process of making realistic and functional decoys.(more)
11-04-2012
This program is a repeat of Community Arts Program Manager Deb Boykin interviewing Steve Grauberger about the folklife CD project Traditional Musics of Alabama Volume 5 New Book Gospel Shapenote Singing produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture and the Alabama Folklife Association. (To read extended liner notes about this tradition click here.) (more)
10-28-2012
Executive Director Al Head interviews Thomas L. Birch, former National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) legislative counsel, recipient of NASAA's 2012 President's Award for Outstanding Advocacy. From 1981 to 2012, Birch served as NASAA's legislative counsel, representing the interests of state arts agencies on Capitol Hill. For the past 10 years, Birch chaired the Cultural Advocacy Group's national coalition of arts and humanities allies carrying a unified message to Congress about the value of the arts in federal policy.(more)
Folklore Scholar William Ferris
10-21-2012
This program is a rebroadcast of a 2006 program of Joey Brackner interviewing folklorist William Ferris of the University of North Carolina about southern culture and his experiences as director of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss. (more)
10-14-2012
This week Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Bob Friedman, bass singer for The Pillars gospel quartet of Birmingham. During the program Friedman discusses his musical roots in New York City, the political activism that brought him to Alabama, his work with WJLD radio and his interest in African American gospel quartet singing. Friedman and the Pillars participate in the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship program, teaching their traditional a capella singing style to a younger generation. (more)
10-07-2012
This is a repeat of a 2011 program of Alabama State Arts Council Director Al Head interviewing John O'Neal, actor, playwright, founder and now retired artistic director of Junebug Productions based in New Orleans. As a civil rights activist beginning in the early 1960s he co-founded the Free Southern Theater. He is probably best know for his widely toured character Junebug Jabbo Jones, a mythic figure who symbolizes the wisdom of common people. O�Neal has written eighteen plays, a musical comedy, poetry and several essays. He is a winner of a Ford Foundation�s Leadership for a Changing World award (2005), the Award of Merit from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (2010) and the United States Artists Award. (more)
09-30-2012
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director of the Council, interviews Howard Bankhead, executive director of Tennessee Valley Jazz Society, Inc. and the 2013 recipient of the Council Arts Administration Fellowship Award. Under Howard�s leadership, Tennessee Valley Jazz Society has presented �Jazz Education-in-the Schools� programs since 1998. Approximately, 26,500 young people living in the metro Huntsville area have been exposed to jazz artists and jazz music. Additionally, the organization sponsors the annual Jazz-N-June Festival. (more)
09-23-2012
This program is a rebroadcast of a 2005 interview by Anne Kimzey with musicians Cast King and Matt Downer from Sand Mountain.� Guitarist and songwriter Cast King and his former band The Country Drifters recorded with Sun Records of Memphis in the 1950s.� Matt Downer, a young musician, worked with Mr. King for a few years to learn his guitar style and to record his music and life history.�� During the program Mr. King performed three of the approximately 500 songs he wrote in his lifetime. Cast King died in 2007. (more)
Bettie Champion, Gumbo Academy
09-16-2012
In this program folklorist Anne Kimzey and Bettie Champion of Mobile discuss the art of making traditional seafood gumbo, an important part of the culinary heritage of the Gulf Coast. Ms. Champion, who learned her recipe from her mother, created the Gumbo Academy to teach interested cooks everything they need to know to make this complicated dish, from cleaning the crabs, to preparing the roux, to serving the finished gumbo over rice. (more)
09-09-2012
This program is a rebroadcast from 2008 of Executive Director Al Head interviewing 2009 Distinguished Artist Award winner Beth Nielsen Chapman about her life as a popular singer/songwriter and as an educator. They also discuss Chapman's inspirations and her unique process of songwriting. (more)
09-02-2012
ASCA intern Summer Upchurch interviews Individual Fellowship Recipient Jess Marie Walker about her life as an artist and an educator. Inspired by nature, music, and the art of public installation pieces, Jess Marie's background varies as much as her interests. Her work is highly collaborative and has been brought to fruition by HoWaYaDa, an artist collective, and by Pretty Much Collective. Her pieces range from a large-scale collaborative and interactive musical piece (where artists play kettles, rocks, and whatever is on-hand) to a smaller-scale collaborative piece celebrating the beauty of line-drawing and mountains. Her experiments with sound, form, and public exposure have been hosted in museums in Birmingham, Minneapolis, Long Island, Brooklyn, and Fairhope, among others. She currently lives in Montevallo with her youngest son. (more)
08-26-2012
This week's program is a rebroadcast of a 2006 show with Barbara Edwards interviewing Donna Walker-Kuhne. Walker-Kuhne, recognized as the nation's foremost expert on Audience Diversification by the Arts and Business Council, was a presenter at the 2007 Bill Bates Leadership Institute. In the interview Walker-Kuhne discusses practical strategies and methods to engage diverse communities in the arts and the importance of marketing to diverse audiences. (more)
Leah Stephens, Executive Director of ClefWorks, Inc.
08-19-2012
Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews Leah Stephens, Executive Director of ClefWorks, Inc., of Montgomery, Alabama. ClefWorks, founded in 2006 has presented headliners in the classical chamber music industry including Jack Quartet, Fireworks Ensemble, and in 2012, Ethel String Quartet. Leah shares her passion for the genre of music and her enthusiasm for introducing chamber music to young audiences. ClefWorks also sponsors an annual Composition Competition. For more information visit the website at www.clefworks.org. (more)
Greg Thornton and Emily Dauber Flowers with the Cloverdale Playhouse
08-12-2012
ASCA
intern Diedre Graham interviews Greg Thornton
about his many years
performing with the Alabama Shakespeare
Festival and now as the Artistic Director of the
Cloverdale Playhouse
in Montgomery. In
the second half of the program
Diedre talks to Emily Dauber Flowers, Managing Director for the Cloverdale
Playhouse. Discussed are the various programs and
events presented at the Playhouse.
(more)
08-05-2012
Summer
Upchurch, an intern at the Arts Council,
interviews Patricia White, co-founder of Slash
Pine Press, an organization housed at the
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Slash
Pine Press started
as an independent printing press, the brain
child of Patti White and Joseph Wood. Now, the
program is run by four staff members: Patti
White, Joseph Wood, Lucas Southworth, and Brian
Oliu. Now in its fourth year, Slash Pine achieves
its goals through a community-centered
internship program that can be taken as a
class at the University of Alabama. Each
semester two instructors and ten interns stitch
one to three poetry chapbooks (handmade books
sent to the program as manuscripts), plan
several community events such as poetry hikes
(art installations in which readers and
listeners walk over several miles together,
stopping at intervals to read poetry outdoors),
and participate in creative exchanges with other
universities� creative writing students. The
program functions as an English or Writing
class, but dedicates itself to community
engagement and poetic education.
(more)
07-29-2012
On July 16th Alabama lost one of its most celebrated
quilters. Mozell Benson was 78 years old
when she died at her home last week in Waverly.
Mrs. Benson�s quilts first gained national
attention in the exhibit �Signs and Symbols:
African American Quilts from the Rural South.�
Her work has also been displayed at the
Smithsonian Institution and the American
Folklife Museum. In 2001 Mrs. Benson was honored
with a National Heritage Fellowship from the
National Endowment for the Arts, our nation�s
highest award for the folk and traditional arts.
The following program is a rebroadcast of Anne
Kimzey�s 2007 interview with Mozell Benson and
her daughter Sylvia Stephens in which they
discuss their participation in the State Arts
Council�s Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program and
also the experience of having a home and quilt
studio built for Mrs. Benson by students in the
Design/Build Master�s program at Auburn
University�s School of Architecture.
(more)
07-22-2012
Russell
Gulley, musician, songwriter, and co-founder
of the band Jackson
way, recalls his early days in Muscle
Shoals, his work with producer Jimmy Johnson,
and his return to roots music in current
performances in an interview with Deborah
Boykin, community arts program manager.
(more)
Mark Driscoll, director of Historic Sites for the Alabama Historical Commission
07-15-2012
Joey Brackner, director of the Alabama Center for
Traditional Culture, interviews Mark Driscoll,
director of Historic
Sites for the Alabama
Historical Commission, about the Freedom
Rides Museum in Montgomery Alabama.
(more)
Brant Beene the General Manager of The Historic Alabama Theatre
07-08-2012
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey
Brackner interviews Brant Beene the General
Manager of The
Historic Alabama Theatre and Development
Director for the Lyric
Theatre for Birmingham Landmarks, Inc.
(more)
Singer-songwriter Maxwell Russell
07-01-2012
Singer-songwriter
Maxwell
Russell talks with Deborah Boykin about his
career, his writing, and his efforts to promote
other songwriters. A well-known North Alabama
performer, Russell
sponsors a songwriters� showcase each week
at a Sheffield restaurant. His son Kirk,
also a musician, writer and vocalist, also
appears to talk about his band, Abstract
Theory.
(more)
06-24-2012
This program is a rebroadcast of a 2006 show of Steve Grauberger
interviewing the Thomas Sister Singers from Alexander
City, Phyllis,
Margie and Bernice. Both Margie and Bernice
have since passed but at the time Margie and
Bernice Thomas had been singing gospel music for over 60 years in and
around Alexander City, performing on radio and TV as early as the 1950s with
three other of their sisters all known
collectively as the Thomas Sister Singers. Included in the program are
songs sung by
Margie and Bernice Thomas, and Margie's daughter Phyllis, recorded at their
home in 2005. Watch
a video clip of the Thomas Sisters singing
"Not Made With Hands", click here.
(more)
06-17-2012
This program is a rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey
interviewing Joey Brackner Director of the Alabama
Center for Traditional Culture about his
book, Alabama Folk Pottery, released in
2006 by the University of Alabama Press.
Brackner discusses various aspects detailed in
the publication. You can hear a
podcast of the 2006 symposium
on southern pottery held at the Birmingham
Museum of Art.
(more)
06-10-2012
This week, David Norwood, general manager of WAWL radio in Moulton, discusses Downtown Live! This four-week series brought performers from the surrounding area to Moulton�s courthouse square for Friday evening concerts. Community Arts program manager Deborah Boykin talks with Norwood and the Thompsons, a Lawrence County duo who also perform one of their original songs. (more)
06-03-2012
Arts in Education Program Manager Diana Green interviews the 2012 Winners of Alabama�s Poetry Out Loud Program. First place in Original poetry recitation went to Doris-Anne Darbouze from Auburn High School. Bonnie Chen, also from Auburn High School, received an Honorable Mention for her original poetry recitation. The Poetry Out Loud State Championship was awarded to Peggy Payne from Mooresville, Alabama. Peggy traveled to Washington DC to compete nationally with 52 other state champions, a Washington DC champion, and a champion from the Virgin Islands. Poetry Out Loud is a National Poetry Recitation Contest supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The State Finals for the program are held in partnership with the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, where students perform on the Festival Stage in Montgomery. (more)
05-27-2012
Deputy Director, Barbara Edwards, interviews Patti Hendrix Lovoy, the Council�s 2011 Arts Administration Fellowship recipient. The Council makes available each year a $5,000 Arts Administration Fellowship award. This award is given to an arts administrator to improve his/her skills and ability to better serve his/her organization and the community. Patti is the executive director of VSA Alabama. In the interview, Patti talks about the impact of the professional opportunities afford her though the Arts Administration Fellowship award. (more)
05-20-2012
Community Arts Program manager Deb Boykin interviews Eldon Bryson, a musician and instrument maker from Mobile. Bryson, now 82, recalls his childhood in South Carolina, where he and his older brother often sang with Bill Monroe in the early days of bluegrass music. He recounts how a luthier there taught him to repair old fiddles and shares some of his knowledge about fiddle-making. He plays an original fiddle tune which he often performs when he and his band play each weekend at a Mississippi restaurant. (more)
Mary Ann Pettway, director of the Gee�s Bend Quilters Collective
05-13-2012
Community Arts program manager, Deb Boykin talks with Mary Ann Pettway, director of the Gee�s Bend Quilters Collective. Ms. Pettway discusses the rich quilting tradition in her community and her experiences in learning from her elders and teaching a new generation through ASCA�s Folk Arts Apprenticeship program. Also a fine singer, Ms. Pettway is joined by Mary Lee Bendolph and Nancy Pettway to sing traditional gospel songs from Gee�s Bend. (more)
University of Alabama film maker Andrew Grace
05-06-2012
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews University of Alabama film maker Andrew Grace about his new film, "Eating Alabama." (more)
04-29-2012
This week Steve Grauberger interviews, Alabama folklore scholar, teacher and writer Jack Solomon at his home in Tallassee, Alabama. He discusses various books he produced with his late wife Olivia and talks about his life with her and his long career as a teacher and college professor. Their books include Cracklin Bread and Asfidity, Zickary Zan, Ghosts and Goosebumps, Sweet Bunch of Daisies, and Honey in the Rock. (more)
Joe Dand Boyd author of Judge Jackson and the Colored Sacred Harp
04-22-2012
This program is a repeat of a 2003 interview by Joey Brackner with Joe Dan Boyd about his book on Judge Jackson, the Ozark, Alabama man who published the "Colored Sacred Harp" tunebook in the 1930's. Included in the show are historic musical examples of African American songsters. (more)
04-15-2012
This week Anne Kimzey interviews poet Abraham Smith of Tuscaloosa, recipient of a 2012 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. A 2004 graduate of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Alabama, Smith is an instructor of English at the University and the assistant editor at Slash Pine Press. During the program he reads a few of his poems and talks about the influences of his rural Wisconsin childhood on his writing. He will be giving public readings of his poetry on April 21st at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and April 27th at the Alabama Writers Symposium in Monroeville. (more)
04-08-2012
This week, Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews Alabama native Barry Bradford, a Southern playwright who writes often about small towns, racial conflict and the vanishing South. Bradford discusses how he was commissioned to write The Face in The Courthouse Window, a theatrical work produced annually in Carrolton, Alabama detailing the legendary story of Henry Wells whose face was indelibly etched in the Pickens County courthouse window. Bradford is known for his fearless portrayal of delicate subjects - like slavery and racism - and for his ability to bring to light the unique struggles of the human condition. Currently residing in Hammond, LA, he is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has been writing plays for over nineteen years. Some of Barry's works include Rugs, Chairs, Tables; Conquistadors; Was; and Hit and Miss. In 2003 his play Dead Towns of Alabama was work-shopped at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and scenes from it were read as part of ASF's Festival of New Plays. Since that time he has won the Southern Playwrights Competition three times (2005, 2009, and 2011). (more)
Heritage Hall Museum director Tommy Moorehead and guest curator Sarah Wright
04-01-2012
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews Heritage Hall Museum director Tommy Moorehead and guest curator Sarah Wright about the exhibit "Our Quilted Past." The exhibit explores the quilt art of Leola Heard and daughter Elizabeth Heard Bean who used the cloth from feed sacks to make beautiful quilts in the mid-20th Century. (more)
Jeanie Thompson recipient of a 2012 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts
03-25-2012
Anne Kimzey interviews Jeanie Thompson, poet and director of the Alabama Writers' Forum and recipient of a 2012 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Thompson, who is completing a book length persona poem sequence on the adult life of Helen Keller, reads poems from this latest work and discusses her research and the creative process involved in revealing the depth and passion of the famous Alabama author and activist. (more)
Greta Lambert, Actress and Director of Education & Outreach at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival
03-18-2012
Yvette Jones-Smedley Performing Arts Program Manager interviews Greta Lambert, nationally recognized actor of stage and screen and recipient of the ASCA Fellowship award in Theatre. Ms. Lambert, a native of Alabama and noted leading lady frequenty seen on stage at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival reflects on characters she has portrayed from far off places including Cleopatra of the Nile to Lady Macbeth from the highlands of Scotland to the �fair and tender lady� Ivy Rowe from the Appalachian mounts. Greta shares her love of theatre and reveals her passion for the one of the six Aristotelian Elements of Drama, language, along with all the distinctive dialects involved in the performance of her craft.(more)
Russell Everett and Brad Morton
03-11-2012
This is repeat of a 2004 program of Georgine Clarke interviewing artists Russell Everett and Brad Morton about their backgrounds and art works..(more)
03-04-2012
Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews award winning choreographer and educator Gary Moore. Moore, former Artistic Director of the Montgomery Ballet is currently the Director of Dance at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, AL. Gary holds, among others, a Master of Education degree in Dance Anthropology and Performance from Lesley University, Cambridge , MA, is an ASCA Fellowship recipient and was recently chosen as an Unsung Hero in Education by the ING,Co for an original ballet, "Ever After'ING" celebrating the work of American graphic artist Maxfield Parrish performed Montgomery Museum of Fine Art.(more)
02-26-2012
Kern Jackson, Director of the African American Studies program and an Assistant Professor of English at the University of South Alabama, talks with folklorist Deborah Boykin about Mardi Gras in Mobile and its related traditions. (more)
"Tommie" Tonea Stewart
02-19-2012
Performing Arts Program Manager Yvette Jones-Smedley talks with actress, director and educator Dr. "Tommie" Tonea Stewart about the recent national and local recognitions she has received for her lifelong service in Theatre. Stewart, presently serving as Dean of the Visual and Performing Arts Department of Alabama State University has appeared in several feature films, such as "A Time to Kill" and "Mississippi Burning," as well as the television series, "In the Heat of the Night." The widely recognized actress shares childhood memories of her formative years as a budding performing artist as well as success stories of the many she has impacted through her craft. (more)
02-12-2012
Performing
Arts Program Manager Yvette Jones-Smedley
interviews Jacqueline Crenshaw Lockhart.
Mrs Lockhart, founder and director of the J.
Lockhart Performing Arts Institute is also
Director of Dance and Adjunct Professor of Dance
Jazz/Dance History/Pedagogy at Birmingham
Southern College. In this interview she talks about
her experience as a Fellowship recipient
in Dance from the Alabama State Council on the
Arts, and shares how the award impacted
here career as a dancer a choreography and a
teaching artist. Ms.
Lockhart serves on the board of the Alabama
Dance Council and has received numerous
accolades, awards, and proclamations for her
contributions to the community and tireless work
in the arts.
02-05-2012
Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Sulynn Creswell, director of Black Belt Treasures in Camden, Alabama. Creswell discusses the efforts of Black Belt Treasures to showcase and promote the arts of the Black Belt Region. (more)
The Secret Sisters, Laura and Lydia Rodgers
01-29-2012
The Secret Sisters, Laura and Lydia Rodgers, have, in the past year and a half, secured a record deal, released an album produced by noted producer T-Bone Burnett, toured much of the United States, Europe, and Australia, and opened for Paul Simon. Folklorist Deborah Boykin talked with the sisters before a November appearance at Decatur's Princess Theater. They discussed their early influences, the audition that led them into the music business, their recent songwriting efforts, and their touring and performing experiences. (more)
Linda Vice, director of the Southwest Alabama Tourism and Film Office.
01-22-2012
The Southwest Alabama Culinary Trail is the topic of this week�s program as Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, travels to Thomasville to interview Linda Vice, director of the Southwest Alabama Tourism and Film Office. Ms. Vice takes listeners on a county-by-county tour highlighting the traditional cuisine and hospitality offered along the trail, which includes everything from Conecuh and Monroe sausages to the Black Bottom Pie served at Gaines Ridge Supper Club in Camden. (more)
01-15-2012
The importance of community cookbooks as cultural documents is the subject of this week�s program on Alabama Arts Radio. Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Jessica Lacher-Feldman, curator of rare books and special collections at the University of Alabama�s Hoole Library. Lacher-Feldman discusses a number of cookbooks, recipes, and illustrations included in their Alabama Collection and the Lupton African American Cookbook Collection. (more)
Augusto Soledade, artistic director of Brazz Dance Theatre
01-08-2012
Augusto Soledade, artistic director of Brazz Dance Theatre talks about his life, philosophy and choreographic process with arts in education program manager, Diana Green. Brazz Dance Theatre kicks off the second weekend of events as part of the Alabama Dance Festival 2012, with a brand new work, Cordel. This new work blends the styles and social implications of the Argentine Tango with American Hip-hop culture. Mr. Soledade's intent is to bring a discussion on marginalization and social tensions around the globe, using the literary tradition of Cordel (popular Brazilian folk poetry) as inspirations for the creation of this abstract contemporary dance, to be presented on Friday, January 27, at Samford University's Wright Fine Arts Center. (more)
Tom Davenport Founding director of Folkstreams.net
01-01-2012
This program is a rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviewing Tom Davenport an independent filmmaker and founding director of Folkstreams.net. During the program Davenport discusses how Folkstreams preserves and gives new life to documentary films about American folklore and roots cultures by streaming them on the internet. He talks about several important Alabama films featured on the website, as well as his own work making folklore documentaries and dramatic adaptations of Grimm�s fairy tales. (more)
12-25-2011
For this program we want to thank Bobby Horton for graciously allowing us to play selections from his personally arranged and performed Homespun Songs of the Christmas Season CD for our Christmas Day radio program. We at the Alabama State Council on the Arts want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year.
A seasoned performer, Horton is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and music historian. He has performed with the musical- comedy trio Three On a String, throughout the United States and Canada for 35 plus years. He has also produced and performed music scores for thirteen PBS films by Ken Burns including �The Civil War�, and �Baseball,� two films for The A&E network, and sixteen films for The National Park Service. His series of recordings of authentic period music has been acclaimed by historical organization and publications through America and Europe.
Ronald K. Brown, artistic director of Evidence, A Dance Company
12-18-2011
Arts in Education program manager Diana Green talks with Ronald K. Brown, artistic director of Evidence, A Dance Company before his performance at the Samford University Wright Center during the 2012 Alabama Dance Festival. The interview is a sneak preview into the process of this well-known choreographer from Brooklyn, New York. His work is a seamless fusion of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word. It provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. Brown uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms. The depth of human experience that has become the inspiration for his work is evident as he speaks about why he creates. (more)
12-11-2011
This program is a rebroadcast of Steve Grauberger interviewing Betty Moon Sampson, bluegrass musician and Master Artist in the Arts Council's Folk Arts Apprentice Program. Betty tells stories about various aspects of her life growing up in Holly Pond, Alabama and learning to play and sing music with her father, banjo maker and musician Arlin Moon. She talks about her family band Dixie Bluegrass and shares examples of her music (more)
12-04-2011
Doug Seroff has been researching and writing about African-American vernacular music for over 30 years. Much of his research concerns the gospel singing traditions of the Jefferson County area of Alabama. Archivist Kevin Nutt discusses this gospel singing traditions with Mr. Seroff. A strong public school music program during the 1920s and 1930s and the presence of talented, community �quartet trainers� are two of the characteristics Mr. Seroff discusses that contributed to what became known as the Birmingham Sound. (more)
11-27-2011
This program is a rebroadcast of
folklore researcher and history professor Jim Brown of Samford University
narrating an interview with "Gandy Dance Caller" John Henry
Mealing (1908-2007) who was a National Heritage Recipient. The ASCA show is edited from
the original Samford University WVSU Radio Production done the 1980s.
For more on Gandy Dancers.
Gandy Dancers film on
folkstreams.net
Jim Hilgartner received a Literary Arts Fellowship Award from the State Arts Council in 2011
11-20-2011
This week Anne Kimzey, literary arts program manager with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, talks with Jim Hilgartner of Montgomery as he reads and discusses selections from his current works of short fiction. Hilgartner received a Literary Arts Fellowship Award from the State Arts Council in 2011. He serves on the English faculty of Huntingdon College where he also directs the Staton Center for Learning Enrichment.. (more)
Archivist Cheylon Woods
11-13-2011
Kevin Nutt interviews Archivist Cheylon Woods who is currently working at the Alabama Department of Archives and History on a fellowship from the HistoryMakers foundation. Cheylon discusses The HistoryMakers organization and how it seeks to further the presence of African-Americans in the archiving field. Woods talks about her current projects at Archives and History and discusses her upbringing, family and education and how these influenced her life and career choice. (more)
11-06-2011
This rebroadcast is the second of two programs that Steve Grauberger interviews participants of the 2004 Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention about convention history, song writing and publishing, piano playing, and singing schools. Music examples are also included. This and the previous program is to help promote the 81st Annual Convention held November 11th & 12th, 2011 at the Cottondale United Methodist Church Cottondale, Al (Tuscaloosa County), Friday night: 6:30p.m. � 8:30p.m. to Saturday: 10:00a.m. � 3:00p.m. (more)
Mary Allison Haynie Executive Director of the Alabama Folklife Association
10-30-2011
Mary Allison Haynie Executive Director of the Alabama Folklife Association (AFA) discusses various events that the AFA has presented throughout the year promoting this Year of Alabama Music. Such as, the tribute to the traditional fiddling of the Stripling family, the Sacred Harp Singing School held at Tannehill State Park, and the free upcoming event In Harmony: Gospel Quartet Tradition, Teaching, and Training to be held November 5th starting 1 PM at Discovery Alabama Event Center, 4500 Alabama Adventure Parkway; Bessemer, Alabama. (more)
10-23-2011
This rebroadcast is the first of two programs of Steve Grauberger interviewing participants of the 2004 Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention about convention history, song writing and publishing, and singing schools. Music examples are also included. This program is to help promote the 81st Annual Convention held November 11th & 12th, 2011 at the Cottondale United Methodist Church Cottondale, Al (Tuscaloosa County), Friday night: 6:30p.m. � 8:30p.m. to Saturday: 10:00a.m. � 3:00p.m. (more)
10-16-2011
To help promote the Alabama Folklife Association event In Harmony: The Gospel Quartet Music Tradition of Jefferson County on Nov 5th 2011, this radio program is a rebroadcast with Joey Brackner interviewing film maker Robert Clem about his project the Gospel way. In the second half of the program Joey interviews Auguster Maul, lead singer for the Delta Aires Quartet. (more)
Chris Homes, Sucarnochee: A Revue of Alabama Music
10-09-2011
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews Alabama Public Television (APT) producer Chris Holmes about his new film "Sucarnochee: A Revue of Alabama Music." The film profiles several Alabama musicians who participated in a special concert this year at the University of West Alabama in Livingston as part of the Sucarnochee Revue series. The film will premiere October 24th at 9pm on APT. (more)
10-02-2011
This program is a repeat of Steve Grauberger interviewing James Alex Taylor and Barry Taylor, two of the six members of the gospel a cappella group the Birmingham Sunlights. In 2009 the Birmingham Sunlights received a National Heritage Fellowship for master folk and traditional artists in a ceremony in Washington D. C. from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In this interview James and Barry Taylor describe the history of their group, its members and the travels they have experienced singing and representing Alabama in Africa, France, Italy and the United States. Musical examples of their singing are presented as well. (more)
09-25-2011
Arts in Education program manager Diana Green interviews Mary Foshee and Charla Cochran from the Children�s Dance Foundation, in Homewood, Alabama. The Children�s Dance Foundation offers classes in dance, drumming and dramatics for all ages, and tours performances and workshops to schools and community organizations. More detailed information about their programs and their contribution to arts education in our state is included in this interview. (more)
09-18-2011
Alabama State Arts Council Director Al Head interviews John O'Neal, actor, playwright, founder and now retired artistic director of Junebug Productions based in New Orleans. As a civil rights activist beginning in the early 1960s he co-founded the Free Southern Theater. He is probably best know for his widely toured character Junebug Jabbo Jones, a mythic figure who symbolizes the wisdom of common people. O�Neal has written eighteen plays, a musical comedy, poetry and several essays. He is a winner of a Ford Foundation�s Leadership for a Changing World award (2005), the Award of Merit from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (2010) and the United States Artists Award. He was in Alabama demonstrating elements of the Story Circle Project to Arts leaders here. The Story Circle concept allows individuals to share intimate stories about themselves to help bridge understanding between races. (more)
09-11-2011
Georgine Clarke discusses the Outdoor Sculpture Project at Auburn University Montgomery with project director Sue Jensen and participating artist Jamey Grimes. Jensen explains how the three artists were selected and describes their various approaches to sculpture. Grimes talks about the nature of his work, especially as it relates to his study of the environment. He also talks about teaching in the Prison Arts in Education program operated from Auburn University. (more)
09-04-2011
This program is a 2004 rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing University of Alabama professor Robert Halli about his book, An Alabama Songbook: Ballads, Folksongs, and Spirituals. The book is based upon the research of Byron Arnold who collected folk songs throughout Alabama during the late 1940s. Actual field recordings made by Byron Arnold are featured during the program.
Kim Mitchell, Interim Director of the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur
08-28-2011
In this week's program Georgine Clarke interviews Kim Mitchell, Interim Director of the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, Alabama. The discussion includes the exhibition schedule and description of classes for children. The Center has sponsored public art icons painted by artists and located throughout the community for the past three years. The images have included butterflies and dragon flies as well as roosters. Kim explains the popularity of this program and also discusses how the roosters have been done in conjunction with the Moulton Chicken and Egg Festival.
08-21-2011
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews Joyce Cauthen, recently retired as the director of the Alabama Folkife Association. In this conversation Joyce discusses her many years as director of the AFA and how she developed the organization and the folklife research she accomplished over three decades as director. She also describes her work with the Birmingham Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance and her performance group, Red Mountain.
08-14-2011
In this program Diana Green, Arts in Education Program Manager interviews the 2011 Poetry Out Loud National Champion, Youssef Biaz from Auburn High School, along with his English teacher and mentor, Davis Thompson and Youssef's father and sister. more
08-07-2011
Georgine Clarke interviews Tommy Moorehead, director and artist-in-residence at Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall in Talladega. He discusses the museum's educational programming for both adults and children as well as the exhibition schedule. The conversation includes discussion of his artwork and his background as an artist and artist-in-residence throughout Alabama. He describes the development of a new museum of the Creek Indian in Talladega as well as activities of the Sarah Carlisle Towery art colony in Alex City.
07-31-2011
This week Anne Kimzey, literary arts program manager with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews poet Dr. Virginia Gilbert of Madison about her work and her time serving in the Peace Corps in Korea. Gilbert received a Literary Arts Fellowship award from the State Arts Council in 2010 and has recently retired from the English faculty of Alabama A & M University.
07-24-2011
In June of 2011 a group of relatives came together in Alabama to commemorate a common bond, the late Isaiah "Ike" Zimmerman, an Alabama native originally from Grady. After making his home in Beauregard, Mississippi in the 1930s, he became a mentor to bluesman guitarist Robert Johnson. An acomplished blues guitarist and performer himself, Ike Zimmerman and his wife Ruth took Johnson into their home for over a year where Ike generously taught Johnson, then known as R.L., what he knew about the blues. In this program Grey Brennan, Marketing Manager at the Alabama Department of Travel and Tourism and Steve Grauberger of ASCA interview two daughters of Ike Zimmerman, Loretha Z. Smith and Nelly Ruth Brown with their two sons James Smith and Oscar Brown, to try and find more information about this interesting Alabamian and his relationship to Robert Johnson. more
07-17-2011
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum. interviews Jake Adam York, featured poet at the 6th Annual Alabama Book Festival. Thompson talks with York about his �open project� of poems memorializing murdered civil rights workers, inspired when he visited the newly installed Civil Rights Memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery. more
07-10-2011
Folklorist Deborah Boykin interviews musician Patterson Hood about the Drive-By Truckers' (DBT) upcoming appearance at the W.C. Handy Festival sponsored by the Alabama Folklife Association. A native of Florence, Hood talks about the influence of the area on his songwriting and discusses growing up as a second generation musician in Muscle Shoals. He describes the evolution of the DBT and his long partnership with fellow Trucker Mike Cooley and gives his thoughts on the future of music in the Shoals. more
07-03-2011
Program Manager Geogine Clarke interviews Visual Artist and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) professor of foundation studies Benjamin Ward. In this radio interview Ward details various aspects of the SCAD academic program and gives insight into his early influences and his contemporary approach to teaching foundation studies. Ward's current professional work and past exhibits are also discussed.
Alabama State Poetry Out Loud Winners Peggy Payne and Youssef Biaz
06-26-2011
Donna Russell, executive director of the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education, interviews two high school student winners of our Poetry Out Loud Program. Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Students select poems from an anthology provided at poetryoutloud.org. Alabama adds to this program an opportunity for students to write original poems and to recite them at the State competition. Peggy Payne was the Original Poetry Recitation winner for 2011. Youssef Biaz became Alabama�s State Champion in 2011 for the second year in a row and traveled to Washington D.C. to compete in the national competition. Both students recite poetry during this interview.
06-19-2011
Folklorist Deborah Boykin interviews musician and author Bill Jehle about his interest in cigarbox guitars. Jehle, who plays the guitars he makes from cigar boxes and a variety of found objects, is the author of One Man's Trash: A History of the Cigarbox Guitar and curator of his own Cigar Box Musuem. One of his guitars is part of the exhibit Music Makers: A Celebration for the Year of Alabama Music on display in the Alabama Artists Gallery in the RSA Tower in Montgomery.
06-12-2011
To highlight this Year of Alabama Music, the Alabama Artist Gallery features an exhibit called, Music Makers: A Celebration for the Year of Alabama Music (pdf of exhibit program). Included in the exhibit are various musical instruments made by Alabamians. Two craftsmen featured in this program are James Burkett, a guitar maker from Dothan and Warren Shirley a cigar-box guitar maker from Davenport. Both describe the process of making their instruments.
06-05-2011
To highlight this Year of Alabama Music, the Alabama Artist Gallery features the exhibit, Music Makers: A Celebration for the Year of Alabama Music (pdf of exhibit program)..In this radio program, Visual Arts Program Manager and Gallery Director Georgine Clarke interviews self-taught artist Robena Perry. Perry has contributed her unusual sculpture "The World's Smallest Band" made of over a hundred Barbie, Ken, G. I. Joe, and other similar dolls that serves as a centerpiece for the exhibit. Robena talks about her ideas behind the making of "The World's Smallest Band" and other smaller vignettes that she calls rooms.
05-29-2011
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews musician and flute maker Michael Graham Allen of Walker County. Allen constructs wooden flutes inspired by American Indian designs. He also decorates the instruments based on historic Indian pottery designs. Photos of his flutes as well as his music CDs can be found at: coyoteoldman.com.
Poet, Playwright, Educator and Activist Sonia Sanchez
05-22-2011
This week Jeanie Thompson interviews poet, playwright, educator and activist Sonia Sanchez. Sanchez talks about her belief in the power of poetry to help people survive their circumstances, including alienation and incarceration. She also speaks about her early life in Alabama, her father Wilson L. Driver, a 1980 Inductee in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and her formative experiences with the Black Arts Movement and the development of Black Studies programs around the country.
05-15-2011
Deborah Boykin, folklorist with the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews Brent Warren of The Newgrass Troubadours. This Birmingham band performs bluegrass standards as well as their own arrangements of songs by artists rarely covered by bluegrass bands, such as Jimi Hendrix. Warren, who is also president of the Alabama Bluegrass Music Association, talks about the band's musical influences and their experiences performing at festivals around the region. He also discusses learning to play with other musicians in jam sessions at festivals and encourages up and coming pickers to seek out these opportunities when they can. Examples of their eclectic style can be heard as well.
05-08-2011
Deborah Boykin talks with soul music great Eddie Floyd. Floyd, who wrote hits including "Knock on Wood" and "634-5789," describes his songwriting techniques, his early career in Detroit as part of The Falcons, a group that also included Prattville native Wilson Pickett, and his experiences touring in Europe. He also talks about growing up in Alabama, his early musical influences, and his performance at the Governor's Arts Awards on May 17th, 2011.
04-24-2011
Folkorist Deborah Boykin talks with 94 year old Braxton Schuffert, a country singer and songwriter who was one of Hank Williams's original Drifting Cowboys. Mr. Schuffert talks about his early life, his experience performing on WSFA radio and his long friendship with Williams, which began when Schuffert made a delivery to the boarding house run by Hank's mother. He also describes the experience of co-writing a song with Williams and talks about his own compositions.
04-24-2011
Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews two University of West Alabama faculty members who are working to promote the Black Belt region of Alabama. In the first half of the show Valerie Pope Burnes, Director of the Center for the Study of the Black Belt and Assistant Professor of History at UWA discusses the activities of the Center and its role in creating appreciation of the culture and natural history of the 19-county region. In the second half of the show, Dr. Tina Naremore Jones, Dean of Educational Outreach at UWA and president of the board of the Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area describes efforts to develop tourism in the region.
04-17-2011
04-09-2011
04-03-2011
03-27-2011
03-20-2011
Donna Russell, director of the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education.
03-13-2011
Enoch and Margie Sullivan of the Sullivan Family Bluegrass Gospel Band
03-06-2011
Marc Smirnoff, editor of the Oxford American
02-27-2011
02-20-2011
02-13-2011
02-06-2011
01-29-2011
01-23-2011
Inspired by Diane Bentley's interest in quilting the Alabama State Council on the Arts has organized an exhibition of quilts titled Alabama Quilts: Stitched for Warmth and Beauty. The exhibition is on display until March 18th, 2011 at the Alabama Artists Gallery, 201 Monroe Street in Montgomery. There are works by 28 quilters, including the Cathedral Window quilt panel made by Dianne Bentley while traveling with her husband during his campaign.
01-16-2011
Photographer Mark Gooch
01-09-2011
Priscilla Hancock Cooper, coordinator for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
01-02-2011
Randy Foster Program Manager for Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts
12-25-2010
12-18-2010
12-11-2010
2011 Alabama Dance Festival Director Rosemary Johnson
12-04-2010
11-28-2010
11-21-2010
11-14-2010
11-07-2010
10-31-2010
In
this program Joyce Cauthen, author of With
Fiddle and Well-Rosined Bow: The History of
Old-Time Fiddling in Alabama, interviews
Robert Stripling, the oldest son of Charlie
Stripling (1896-1963). Charlie Stripling
was a master fiddler who, with his brother Ira
on guitar, recorded 42 fiddle tunes for
Brunswick and Decca Records between 1928 and
1936. He was a popular performer in his
hometown of Kennedy and surrounding communities
in Lamar, Fayette, Pickens and Tuscaloosa
counties, where he played for hundreds of
fiddlers� conventions and dances. When
his recordings were reissued in the 1980s, his
music found new fans across the nation.
For more information on Charlie Stripling, visit the Encyclopedia of Alabama Online. For information about the event in Belk visit www.alabamafolklife.org.
10-24-2010
This program is a rebroadcast featuring Alabama State Council on the Arts Executive Director Al Head interviewing renowned Alabama author Rick Bragg about his upbringing in Alabama and his writing career. They discuss Bragg's books, All Over But the Shoutin', Ava's Man, The Prince of Frogtown, and his newest book The Most They Ever Had which is a group of essays built around stories of mill workers at the now defunct Union Yarn Mill in Jacksonville Alabama.
Stacey Bryan and Linda Swann of Alabama Communities of Excellence
10-17-2010
Design Alabama Executive Director Gina Clifford interviews Stacey Bryan, Director of the Alabama Communities of Excellence and Linda Swann from the Alabama development Office and current President of ACE. ACE is an organization which works closely with Design Alabama to create quality communities in Alabama. Founded in 2002, The Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program is a comprehensive three-phase approach to economic and community development for cities with populations between 2,000 and 18,000. With the mission of helping Alabama�s smaller communities to plan, grow and prosper, ACE partners from the private sector, governmental agencies, and universities work with each community to successfully achieve the vision and goals created during the ACE program.
Steve Miller, coordinator of the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama
10-10-2010
This is a rebroadcast of a 2007 program in which Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, continues a conversation with professor Steve Miller, coordinator of the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama.�� This is the second of a two-part series where Miller describes hand papermaking and discusses two recent book projects featured in the Southern Arts Federation exhibit conceived through American Masterpieces, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Steve Miller, coordinator of the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama
10-03-2010
This is a rebroadcast of a 2007 program in which Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews professor Steve Miller, coordinator of the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama. This radio show is the first in a two-part series, where Miller discusses the art of making books by hand, including letterpress printing and hand papermaking. Hear how the faculty and students of Alabama�s Book Arts Program use ancient technology to produce cutting edge work. The second part of this interview will take place next week.
09-26-2010
Yvette Jones-Smedley, Performing Arts Program Manager interviews internationally known producer, composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and educator, Dr. Henry Panion, III. ASCA Music Fellowship recipient, Dr. Panion, shares his wealth of experiences in the music industry from Gospel to Classical, and everything in between. Hear reflections of his professional affiliations with superstars such as Stevie Wonder, jazz luminaries such as Jonathan Butler and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra as well as Gospel legends the Winans and Juanita Bynum.
09-19-2010
To help promote Thomas Hylton's upcoming keynote presentation at the Alabama Communities of Exellence (ACE) organization's kickoff event, Completing the Puzzle to Build a Successful Community on September 23, 2010; this is a rebroadcast of an earlier program. DesignAlabama was honored to have Thomas Hylton, of Save Our Land, Save Our Towns as a speaker at their 2008 DesignAlabama Mayors Design Summit. As a former newspaper, man, this Pennsylvania native and resident has turned a passion for a walkable world into a successful non-profit organization promoting walkable communities, downtown redevelopment and historic preservation. Join us during this radio program as we learn more about what individuals and communities can do to save our land and save our towns.
Hannah Leatherbury, co-manager of ArtsReady
09-12-2010
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director for ASCA, interviews Hannah Leatherbury, co-manager of ArtsReady, an initiative of South Arts. South Arts, in partnership with its nine member state arts agencies, urges the arts community to engage in continuity planning through their Be ArtsReady campaign. Being ArtsReady means preparedness, readiness and business continuity for arts organizations.
09-05-2010
Steve Grauberger interviews Betty Moon Sampson, bluegrass musician and Master Artist in the Arts Council's Folk Arts Apprentice Program. Betty tells stories about various aspects of her life growing up in Holly Pond, Alabama and learning to play and sing music with her father, banjo maker and musician Arlin Moon. She talks about her family band Dixie Bluegrass and shares examples of her music.
Tom Davenport founding director of Folkstreams.net.
08-29-2010
Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Tom Davenport an independent filmmaker and founding director of Folkstreams.net. During the program Davenport discusses how Folkstreams preserves and gives new life to documentary films about American folklore and roots cultures by streaming them on the internet. He talks about several important Alabama films featured on the website, as well as his own work making folklore documentaries and dramatic adaptations of Grimm�s fairy tales.
08-22-2010
Yvette Jones-Smedley, Performing Arts Program Manger interviews Birmingham�s own, Belinda George-Peoples, a recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship Award in Music. Belinda shares the inspiring tale of her journey which began at the age of six, singing from the church pews and led her to center stage in a musical written especially to showcase her immense talent in the Red Mountain Theatre�s world premier of �Respect.�
Teresa Hollingsworth Senior Program Director and Gerri Combs Executive Director of South Arts
08-15-2010
In this program, Deborah Boykin talks with South Arts Senior Program Director Teresa Hollingsworth about the programs and services offered through this regional arts organization. In the second half of the program Gerri Combs, Executive Director of South Arts discusses the organization's role in helping to shape arts policy and advocacy in the Southeast.
Deborah Rankins, Assistant Director of Library Services at Alabama Southern Community College and the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum
08-08-2010
Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviews Deborah Rankins, Assistant Director of Library Services at Alabama Southern Community College and the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum in Thomasville. Rankins furnishes information about the Windham Museum and discusses a calendar of events that feature various regional storytelling groups that are part of the Kathryn Tucker Windam Storytelling Club in Southwest Alabama.
Robin Wade Furniture Maker
08-01-2010
Georgine Clarke interviews Florence, Alabama furniture builder Robin Wade. He discusses the techniques used in making his large slab tables and benches and describes cutting trees up to 60" in diameter using a special Austrailian saw mill. The slabs are then both air-dried and kiln dried before the construction begins. Wade talks about his philosophy in working with wood and the aesthetics of the pieces. He describes the finishing process, care of the furniture in a business or home and also his interest in finding and using large historic trees when they have been taken down.
Elie Lazar, Artistic Director of Montgomery Ballet
07-25-2010
Performing Arts Program Manager Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews Elie Lazar, Artistic Director of Montgomery Ballet and recipient of a Fellowship Award in Dance from the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA). Elie talks about his journey as a dancer and choreographer from Israel to New York to Alabama and his professional accomplishments that led to statewide recognition with the ASCA Fellowship Award. Mr. Lazar also discusses the upcoming season at the Montgomery Ballet and about the exciting collaboration with the Montgomery Choral and other performing arts organizations.
07-18-2010
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture Director Joey Brackner interviews Chris Holmes, Executive Producer at Alabama Public Television (APT) and Paige Wainwright, Curator of the Metal Arts Program at Sloss Furances about the new APT production Sloss: Industry to Art having its public premiere July 23rd at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark at 7 P. M. The television premiere is on July 25th at 7 P. M. on APT.
07-10-2010
Folklife Specialist Deb Boykin interviews Steve Grauberger about the new CD project Traditional Musics of Alabama Volume 5 New Book Gospel Shapenote Singing produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture and the Alabama Folklife Association.
07-03-2010
Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews wood turner Joseph Wujcik of Calera. Wujcik is a recipient of the Council's Individual Artist's Fellowship in Craft. He describes his source of the natural wood burls and the process of creating hollow formed vessels. He also talks about the finishing and care of the pieces as well as marketing his work at Art Festivals throughout the United States.
06-27-2010
In this program Joey Brackner interviews Susan Robertson and Alison Beeson of Dothan's Wiregrass Museum of Art, The Wiregrass Museum of Art is the result of a community�s genuine desire for the arts in the city of Dothan, Alabama and surrounding communities of the Wiregrass Region. Begun in 1991, WMA has grown to be the flagship of the arts in the Wiregrass with a mission to bring the fine arts and art education to Dothan and the Wiregrass Region.
Jan Pruitt, Executive Director of the Kentuck in Northport, Alabama
06-20-2010
06-13-2010
06-06-2010
05-30-2010
05-23-2010
05-16-2010
05-09-2010
05-02-2010
04-25-2010
04-18-2010
04-11-2010
04-04-2010
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum
03-28-2010
Randy Shoults, program manager for literature at ASCA, talks with Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum and producer of two events for the 5th Annual Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery, Alabama on April 17 in Old Alabama Town. Thompson produces the Festival�s Poetry Tent and directs the Teacher Workshops associated with the Book Festival. Thompson tells about the range of poets highlighting generations of writers in the state, from up and coming young poets through the state�s poet laureate, and reads selections of poets� works. For a complete list of poets and other authors at the Alabama Book Festival, go to www.alabamabookfestival.org.
Alabama Music Hall of Fame director David Johnson
03-21-2010
In this program Joey Brackner interviews Alabama Music Hall of Fame director David Johnson about the 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show to be held in the Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, March 25. The inductees and their categories are: Performing artist/group category- The Blind Boys of Alabama and Eddie Levert, (the lead singer of the O�Jays); Music creator- Dothan songwriter/record producer Buddy Buie and Florence session musician Jerry Carrigan; Entertainment industry-Elba native, record producer/musician Paul Hornsby; John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award- The late Muscle Shoals musician Terry Thompson and singer/Colbert-Lauderdale County State Senator Bobby Denton.
Bob McClain, Executive Director of Old Alabama Town and Ashley Gordon, Alabama Book Festival.
03-14-2010
For this program Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager, interviews Bob McClain, Executive Director of Old Alabama Town and Ashley Gordon about the 5th Annual Alabama Book Festival. The Festival will be held again in downtown Montgomery at Old Alabama Town on April, 17 and will feature over 50 Alabama authors. This event is free and open to the public.
David Boley, Executive Director of the Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame
03-07-2010
In this program Deborah Boykin interviews David Boley, Executive Director of the Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, about the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees and other activities of the Alabama Bluegrass Music Association. He also discusses the state's rich tradition of bluegrass festivals.
Molly Gamble and Fran Pierce of Arts Revive
02-28-2010
In this program Community Arts Program Manager Randy Shoults interviews Molly Gamble and Fran Pierce about Selma's Arts Revive and the conversion of the Carneal Auto Service building into their organization's arts center.
Marcus Johnson of the Bay City Brass Band
02-21-2010
Rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey interviewing Marcus Johnson of the Bay City Brass Band of Mobile. They discuss brass band history and music in the Mobile Mardi Gras tradition.
Randy Gachet, Individual Artist Fellowship recipient in sculpture from the Alabama State Council on the Arts
02-14-2010
This week's program features Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviewing artist Randy Gachet, Individual Artist Fellowship recipient in sculpture from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and art faculty member at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. Gachet discusses themes of his work, much of which is constructed with wire and tire material he picks up along roadways. He talks about the process of teaching art to high school students and directions of contemporary art using non-traditional materials.
Henry Gipson and Lenny Madden of Gip's Juke Joint
02-07-2010
In this program Joey Brackner interviews Henry Gipson and Lenny Madden of Gip's Juke Joint in Bessemer.
01-31-2010
Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews Gary Chapman, Professor of Art at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Chapman's paintings are in the collections of all of Alabama's Art Museums. He was included in ASCA's 2008 publication "Alabama Masters: Artists and Their Work" and is a two time recipient of the Council's Individual Artist Fellowship. During the program, Chapman discusses his painting and teaching philosophy as well as the use of symbolism in his paintings.
01-24-2010
Rebroadcast of ACTC Director Joey Brackner inteviewing Alabama Folklife Association Director Joyce Cauthen about the new CD release called Bullfrog Jumped, culled from original recordings made in Alabama by Byron Arnold in the late 1940s.
01-17-2010
This program is a rebroadcast of Steve Grauberger interviewing George Stewart, producer of the American Gospel Quartet Convention. Also included are interviews from the convention in 2005 with veteran gospel singer Roscoe Robinson and Ricky McKinney of the Blind Boys of Alabama. Gospel quartet musical examples are included.
Felecia Jones Executive Director of the Black Belt Community Foundation
01-10-2010
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, interviews Felecia Jones, Executive Director of the Black Belt Community Foundation. The Council began working in partnership three years ago with the Black Belt Community Foundation to identify, celebrate and support the arts and culture of the black belt region of Alabama.
Jacky Jack White of the Sucarnochee Revue
01-03-2010
In honor of musician Jacky Jack White receiving a 2010 Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship award, this program is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing Jacky Jack White of the Sucarnochee Revue. The Revue, a performance series of southern music is performed at Bibb Graves Auditorium on the campus of the Universityof West Alabama and broadcast throughout the region via radio.
12-27-2009
This is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing renowned folklorist Henry Glassie in honor of Dr Glassie winning the prestigious Haskins Prize for lifetime achievement. In this program Glassie discusses his life and research of vernacular architecture in the Southern United States, and particularly in Alabama.
12-20-2009
This week's program features Christmas songs selected from the Fretted Instruments Christmas CDs. For the past six years Herb Trotman, Wayne Anderson, and numerous Alabama musicians have put together CDs of Christmas music which are distributed each year at Fretted Instruments, Trotman's music store in Homewood. The project involves what Herb calls "the Large and Amorphous Group", made up of area bands and musicians who record Christmas music especially for each year's CD.
Birmingham musician Herb Trotman
12-13-2009
This week Deborah Boykin interviews Birmingham musician Herb Trotman, who talks about banjo playing and tells stories from three decades of performing old time and bluegrass music in Alabama.
12-06-2009
In this program Joey Brackner interviews Joe Watts
of the Alabama Scenic Byways
Program
Charlie Lucas and Chip Cooper
11-29-2009
For this week's program Joey Brackner interviews Charlie Lucas and Chip Cooper about the new book Tinman published by the University of Alabama Press. Tinman features a narrative by Charlie Lucas, edited by Ben Windham, and beautiful photography of Lucas' work by Chip Cooper.
11-22-2009
Steve Grauberger interviews Auburn native Ernestine Hill Robinson about her life as a singer and the director of the a cappella Negro spiritual singing group, The Plantation Heirs. Musical examples are included in the program.
Susan Perry of the Alabama Humanities and Folklife Researcher Fred Fussell
11-15-2009
Joey Brackner interviews Susan Perry of the Alabama Humanities Foundation and researcher Fred Fussell about the exhibit New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.
Andrew Freear, director of The Rural Studio
11-08-2009
Deborah Boykin interviews Andrew Freear, director of The Rural Studio, a project of Auburn University's School of Architecture. He discusses how this community-based program enables students to learn through projects that ultimately provide affordable homes and public spaces in rural West Alabama.
11-01-2009
Steve Grauberger interviews gospel songwriter and music teacher Ezra "Buddy" Knight about his career as a singing school and piano teacher, gospel songwriter, editor and distributor for the Stamp/Baxter Music Company, a major publisher of shapenote convention songbooks.
Ralph "Buddy" Palmer, President and CEO of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham
10-25-2009
Joey Brackner interviews Buddy Palmer, President and CEO of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham.
10-18-2009
This is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing Alabama's curator of historic song - Bobby Horton. Best known for his CDs of Civil War era music and membership in the popular band Three On a String, Mr. Horton also discusses his family's musical heritage and his work composing songs for numerous Ken Burns' documentary films. Bobby Horton was a recipient of a 2005 Governor's Arts Award.
10-11-2009
For this week�s program, Diana Green interviews our Deputy State Superintendent of Education Instructional Services, Dr. Thomas Bice. Dr. Bice talks about the need for school reform and how the arts may play a role. Evident in the discussion is Dr. Bice�s passion for reaching all of Alabama�s students by asking adults to start thinking outside the box. His premise: �Adults can fix this problem!�
Curt Long and Meaghan Heinrich of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
10-04-2009
For this week's program Joey Brackner interviews Curtis Long, Executive Director and Meaghan Heinrich, Education Manager of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
9-27-2009
Council Executive Director Al Head interviews renowned Alabama author Rick Bragg about his upbringing in Alabama and his writing career. They discuss Bragg's books, All Over But the Shoutin', Ava's Man, The Prince of Frogtown, and his yet unnamed, upcoming novel of essays built around stories of mill workers at the now defunct Union Yarn Mill in Jacksonville Alabama.
Richard Metzger, Executive Director of the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Complex
9-20-2009
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State
Council on the Arts, interviews Richard
Metzger, Executive Director of the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Complex in Troy,
Alabama. He explains how the exhibition space was created in a historic
Post Office and describes the programs. The discussion features the current
exhibition "Celebrating
Contemporary Art in Alabama: The Importance of Being Southern."
This presentation includes works by forty-one artists who have received
Individual Artist Fellowships from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Works range from photography, painting, sculpture and printmaking to hot
glass, ironwork, ceramics and quilts. The exhibition marks the first time
such an exhibition has been mounted in Alabama.
9-13-2009
In this program Steve Grauberger interviews James Alex Taylor and Barry Taylor, two of the five members of the gospel a cappella group the Birmingham Sunlights. This September 22nd the Birmingham Sunlights will receive a National Heritage Fellowship for master folk and traditional artists in a ceremony in Washington D. C. from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). On the 24th of September they will preform at the 2009 NEA National Heritage Fellowships Concert. In this interview James and Barry describe the history of their group, its members and the travels they have experienced singing and representing Alabama in Africa, France, Italy and the United States. Musical examples of their singing are presented as well.
Kelly Barsdate, Chief Program and Planning Officer for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
9-06-2009
In this program Barbara Edwards interviews Kelly Barsdate. Ms. Barsdate is the Chief Program and Planning Officer for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in Washingon, DC. She was a presenter at the Council�s 2009 Bill Bates Leadership Institute and discusses some of the topics she advanced at the Institute concerning Arts Participation.
Robert Stewart, Director of the Alabama Humanities Foundation
8-30-2009
Joey Brackner interviews Robert Stewart, Director of the Alabama Humanities Foundation, about the AHF mission and their programs including SUPER, the speakers bureau and grants to organizations.
8-23-2009
Bluegrass musician David Davis talks with Deborah Boykin about his musical influences, including shapenote singing, Charlie Louvin, and his uncle, Cleo Davis, one of Bill Monroe's original Bluegrass Boys. He also discusses his experiences as leader of the Warrior River Boys, one of Alabama's most prominent bluegrass bands. The program includes music from their latest CD, Two Dimes and a Nickle.
8-16-2009
This week Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews quilter Wanda Robertson of Florence about teaching quilt making in the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. Two of her students also discuss their experiences during the program.
8-09-2009
This program is a rebroadcast of Arts Council Executive Director Al Head interviewing Bill Ivey, Director of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University. Subjects discussed are Ivey's background as past head of the National Endowment for the Arts, his involvement with the Curb Center and issues concerning Ivey's book published last year, arts, inc.: How Greed and Neglect Have Destroyed Our Cultural Rights.
8-02-2009
This week Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews jazz and blues musician and bandleader Theodore Arthur, Jr., of Mobile about his music career and his recent tour of Europe and the Middle East. Several of his music students join him during the program.
7-26-2009
George Devours, musician and promoter talks with Deborah Boykin about the Blackwater Bluegrass Festival and his experiences in bluegrass music, including the Brushy Creek festivals of the 1970's and his friendship with bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs.
7-19-2009
Arts in Education Program Manager, Diana Green interviews Foster Dixon, creative writing instructor at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Dixon was named a 2009 Surdna Foundation Arts Teaching Fellow. During this interview he explains his proposed project for which he won the fellowship.
7-12-2009
Heirloom sewing is the subject of this week�s program on Alabama Arts Radio. Folklorist Anne Kimzey interviews Martha Pullen of Huntsville, an internationally-known sewing teacher, author, publisher and host of public television�s popular show Martha�s Sewing Room.
7-05-2009
Joey Brackner interviews Kathryn Tucker Windham at her home in Selma about homecomings, unique graveyards and unusual grave stones.
6-30-2009
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum, interviews poet and editor Sebastian Matthews, who appeared at the April 18 Alabama Book Festival. Matthews is the author of the poetry collection We Generous (Red Hen Press) and a memoir about his poet father, the late William Matthews, In My Father�s Footsteps. He co-edited, with Stanley Plumly, Search Party: Collected Poems of William Matthews. Matthews teaches at Warren Wilson College and serves on the faculty at Queens College Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing. His poetry and prose has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The Georgia Review, and on The Writer�s Almanac, among others. Matthews co-edits Rivendell, a place-based literary journal, and serves as poetry consultant for Ecotone: Re-Imagining Place.
6-23-2009
Steve Grauberger interviews Eric Newby, Thomas Kelly, Gerald Johnson, Charles Draper and Willie Jordan of the Huntsville Police Department's Blue Note Five a cappella quartet (quintet) group. Selections from their CD are included.
6-16-2009
The Alabama State Council on the Arts sponsored a cultural exchange program with the City of Pietrasanta, Italy April 16-May 2. Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, interviews Fred Kuwornu, an Italian filmmaker. Mr. Kuwornu wrote and directed a historical documentary entitled "Inside Buffalo." This documentary uncovers the historical and human events of the 92nd Division of the American Army, nicknamed Buffalo Soldiers. During the cultural exchange this documentary had its premiere screening at the Capri Theatre in Montgomery.
6-09-2009
As part of the Council�s International Exchange in April 2009, Diana Green interviews members of the New Dance Drama, from Pietrasanta, Italy. This Graham based modern dance company, with artistic director Adria Ferrali, spent three weeks in residency, rehearsing at the Montgomery Ballet studios, teaching and performing at Alabama State University, and performing as part of the sculpture Festival in Sylacauga. Adria Ferrali is joined in the interview by her dancers Thomas Johansen, Angelica Stella, and Sabrina Davini.
Bruce Walker and Joseph Trimble of the Alabama Storytelling Association.
6-02-2009
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture director Joey Brackner interviews Bruce Walker and Joseph Trimble of the Alabama Storytelling Association.
5-26-2009
Alabama Center for Traditional Culture director Joey Brackner interviews Betsy Irwin of Moundville Archaeological Park and Creek Indian weaver Jay McGirt about Indian art and the creation of new exhibits for the Moundville Museum.
5-19-2009
In this program Community Arts Program Manager Randy Shoults interviews Terry Norris, founding President of the Grove Hill Arts Council (GHAC). They discuss the various programs, events and town mural project sponsored by the GHAC.
2009 Alabama Folk Heritage Award Winner the late Willie King
5-12-2009
To honor the late Willie King as the 2009 Alabama Folk Heritage Award winner this program is a rebroadcast of Rebecca Ryals interviewing Willie King at the 2003 Freedom Creek Blues Festival in Old Memphis near Aliceville, includes musical examples.
Arts Award winner Beth Nielson Chapman
5-05-2009
2009 Distinguished Artist Award winner Beth Nielsen Chapman is interviewed by Arts Council Executive Director Al Head about her life as a popular singer/songwriter and as an educator. They also discuss Chapman's inspirations and her unique process of songwriting.
4-28-2009
Joey Brackner interviews Scooter Muse, the virtuoso banjo and guitar player from Florence, Alabama. Muse discusses his musical development and his continuing fascination with Celtic music.
4-21-2009
Georgine Clarke interviews Valentina Fogher, Collaborator of Cultural Activities for the City of Pietrasanta, Italy, about the Cultural Exchange Exchange between the State of Alabama and Italy. The program began in the summer of 2008 when Alabama took artists, musicians, exhibitions, film, and literature to Pietrasanta. From April 16-May 2, 2009, Italian artists, dancers, musicians, and film will be in Alabama. The focus of activities will be in Montgomery, with additional programs in Birmingham and Sylacauga. The City of Montgomery will sign a Sister City agreement with Pietrasanta. The theme of the Exchange this year is Michelangelo and His Heirs.
4-14-2009
Poet Jim Murphy is interviewed by Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum. Murphy is the author of Heaven Overland, published this year by Kennesaw State University Press. He is associate professor of English at the University of Montevallo, and his poems have appeared in The Southern Review, Southern Humanities Review, Brooklyn Review, Painted Bride Quarterly, Cimarron Review, Fine Madness, The Alaska Quarterly Review, Puerto del Sol, and in other journals, as well as in The Memphis Sun (Kent State University Press, 2000). He serves as Director of the Montevallo Literary Festival, held on campus each spring, and as an editor in poetry for Red Mountain Review, a Birmingham-based literary journal.
4-07-2009
Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager, travels to Selma to attend the public library's 'Lunch at the Library' program series and record their guest writer, Mary Ward Brown as she discusses her just published memoir, Fanning the Spark. After Ms. Ward�s presentation, long time friend and Instructor of English at University of North Alabama, Pam Kingsbury conducts a short interview.
Old-Time Banjo Champion Robert Montgomery
3-31-2009
Alabama native and National Old-Time Banjo Champion Robert Montgomery talks with Deborah Boykin about his musical influences and the upcoming Chicken and Egg Festival in Moulton on April 18-19, 2009. In the program he demonstrates old-time banjo styles and discusses his recordings.
Cassie Allen and Emily Creel, Christian Harmony Singing School
3-17-2009
Steve Grauberger visits County Line Church in Corner Alabama to interview Cassie Allen and Emily Creel about their Christian Harmony singing school and next day singing held February 7th and 8th, 2009. Discussed in this program is the history of the 1958 Alabama edition of William Walker's Christian Harmony and the necessity of holding singing schools to teach shape-note singing. Also included in the program are songs recorded during this year's event.
Paddy Bowman, Director, Local Learning. The National Network for Folk Arts in Education
3-10-2009
Deborah Boykin interviews folklorist Paddy Bowman, Director, for Local Learning. The National Network for Folk Arts in Education about her recent workshop for Alabama educators at the statewide Arts Education Summit. Bowman, who moved to north Alabama as a teenager, uses this experience to explain the importance of community and culture in the classroom.
3-03-2009
In honor of the 24th annual Alabama Clay Conference sponsored by the Alabama Craft Council and planned for Huntsville March 13-15, Georgine Clarke interviews Chris Greenman and Steve Loucks. Greenman is on the art faculty of Alabama State University and Loucks teaches at Jacksonville State University. Both are art professors as well as professional craft artists working in clay. The discussion covers the process of producing ceramic pieces, marketing, and the importance of the annual conference.
2-24-2009
To help promote the upcoming Jerry Brown Arts Festival , this program is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing Jerry Brown about the process of pottery making at his shop in Hamilton Alabama. This year the Jerry Brown Arts Festival is located at the Old WalMart Building at 1500 Military Street South, in Hamilton on March 7-8, 2009.
2-17-2009
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, interviews Cinque Cullar.� Mr. Cullar is founder and artistic director for the Tribe of Judah, a youth gospel group of students from Alabama State University and the Montgomery community. Mr. Cullar and Ms. Edwards talk about the newly released Black Belt Gospel Tour CD featuring students from Tuskegee Booker T.Washington School, Greensboro East School, Selma School, Francis Marion School and Judson College Voices of Praise.
2-10-2009
Jeanie
Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum,
interviews poet and teacher Kathleen
Driskell, author of Seed Across Snow and Laughing Sickness. Driskell�s
poems have appeared in leading literary journals and she teaches in the Spalding University
Brief Residency MFA Writing Program in Louisville, KY. Driskell will be
in Alabama April 17-18, 2009, to participate in an Alabama School
Teacher Workshop on Friday
and the Alabama
Book Festival Poetry Tent on Saturday.
Driskell reads from Seed Across Snow and talks about her subjects in
poems � domestic emergencies, motherhood, and everyday life that resonates
with lush language and a deeply held sense of the world�s value. She also
discusses teaching creative writing, and the value of the arts in our
schools.
Thompson interviewed Driskell in the studios of WFPL in Louisville,
Kentucky, and extends thanks to the staff for assistance.
Alabama Arts Education Summit 2 �Speaking with One Voice"
2-03-2009
This is a rebroadcast of our 2nd program on the Alabama Arts Education Summit 2008 held in Troy, Alabama. This year the Summit will take place, in Troy, Alabama February 18-20, 2009. Our second show focuses on the essential link needed between higher education and K-12 schools. Diana Green, arts in education program manager interviews Professor and arts educator Larry Percy, who hosted the Summit at Troy University last year.� Mr. Percy discusses the potential for higher education to take a leading role in providing quality arts education in K-12 schools.
Alabama Arts Education Summit 1 �Speaking with One Voice"
1-27-2009
This is a rebroadcast of our program on the Alabama Arts Education Summit 2008. This year the Summit will take place in Troy, Alabama February 18-20, 2009.� The theme for this year's statewide conference is �Speaking with One Voice." In this radio show, performing arts program manager Yvette Daniel interviews the four partners that were instrumental in the planning and implementation of the 2008 Summit: Diana Green, arts in education program manager at the Council, Donna Russell, executive director of the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education, Martha Lockett, executive director of the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts, and Sara Wright, director of academic innovative initiatives at the Alabama State Department of Education.
1-20-2009
This program is a rebroadcast of Alabama shapenote music and its history, in preparation for this year's Annual Capitol Rotunda Four-Book Shapenote Singing that will be held January 31st at the Alabama Department of Archives and History off of Union St between Adams and Washington in Montgomery. The singing will start at 9:30 am and end at 3pm. The public is welcome to come and listen or sing. For more information call 334-242-4076, x-225.
Film maker Robert Clem and Auguster Maul of the Delta Aires Quartet
1-13-2009
In the first half of the program Joey Brackner interviews Film maker Robert Clem about his new film Gospel way. In the second half Joey interviews Auguster Maul, lead singer for the Delta Aires Quartet.
1-6-2009
This program is a rebroadcast of ASCA folklorist Joey Brackner interviewing preeminent Alabama historian Dr. Wayne Flynt about his book Alabama in the Twentieth Century. In the interview Dr. Flynt outlines the significant cultural contributions of Alabamians during the late century. Wayne Flynt is the Distinguished University Professor of History at Auburn University.
12-30-2008
Henri's Notion creates a musical mix of traditional Celtic and American music as well as their own compositions that have a rhythm and voice reflective of their Southern heritage, which lends a pleasing familiarity to the music.
12-23-2008
Seasonal music from husband and wife duo, Annette and Bret Heim, who combine the flute and classical guitar in an exquisite, intimate experience. Their ability to bring their audience into their performances ensures repeat request and performances. They present compositions by living American and British composers of note in an audience-friendly way. Their performance at the National Czech and Slovak Museum was described as "absolutely astonishing."
Four Eagles a cappella Gospel Quartet
12-16-2008
A full program of music of The Four Eagles Quartet a capella gospel group is presented from a program originally recorded during the "Sounds of the Seasons" performance series held at the Alabama State Capitol building in 2002.
12-09-2008
Joey Brackner interviews renowned folklorist Henry Glassie about his life and research of vernacular architecture in the Southern United States, and particularly in Alabama.
Alabama Linguists Tom Nunnally and Catherine Evans Davies
12-02-2008
Joey Brackner interviews linguists Dr. Thomas Nunnally and Dr. Catherine Davies about the new Tributaries: Journal of the Alabama Foliklife Association Vol X that deals entirely with the dialects of Alabamians and southern speech.
11-25-2008
This program is a rebroadcast of Steve Grauberger interviewing Doug Back on the history of Classic Banjo. The program includes musical examples from Back's CD releases, The Banjo Goes brow and The Big Trio Reprise on the Belmando label.
11-18-2008
Yvette Daniel interviews actress and playwright Ella Joyce about her one woman play A Rose Among Thorns: A Dramatic Tribute to Rosa Parks. Also discussed is Joyce's career on the stage, silver screen and in television.
11-11-2008
ASCA Literature Fellowship Recipient in Poetry, Jennifer Horne talks with Jeanie Thompson, Executive Director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, about Horne's love of Southern farming and gardening, her work as an anthologist, and her forthcoming poetry collection Bottle Tree (WordTech, 2010). Horne's anthologies include Working the Dirt: An Anthology of Southern Poets, published in 2003 by New South Books, and All Out of Faith: Southern Women Writers on Spirituality, edited with Wendy Reed and published by the University of Alabama Press. Horne holds an MFA from the University of Alabama, has published poems online in StorySouth.com and other literary journals, and is poetry book reviews editor for the Forum's Book Reviews on line.
10-28-2008
Betty Ann Lloyd interviews Kathryn Tucker Windham about the John Reese photo exhibit featuring the people of Gees Bend, now on display at Gees Bend Quilt Collective. Kathryn also discusses her time as a newspaper reporter and amateur photographer.
10-21-2008
Randy Shoults interviews Jannetta Whitt-Mitchell about various aspects of the Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival that takes place during the first weekend in August each year in Mobile.
10-14-2008
Arts Council Executive Director Al Head interviews Beth Nielsen Chapman about her life as a popular singer/songwriter and as an educator. They also discuss Chapman's inspirations and her unique process of songwriting.
10-07-2008
Yvette Daniel, Performing Arts Program Manager interviews George Culver the Executive Director of the Historic Ritz Theatre of Talladega, Alabama. On October 31st and November 1st 2008. the Ritz will be hosting Hal Holbrook in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT. These performances are billed as among the final few of this historic production's run. Culver also discusses educational programs connected to Ritz Theatre presentations and the interesting history of this historic theater in Talladega.
National Heritage Fellow Bettye Kimbrell
09-30-2008
Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Jefferson County quilter Bettye Kimbrell about her work with 4-H Club students and their quilt exhibit at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Kimbrell is a 2008 recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. The exhibition The Quilts of Bettye Kimbrell: Celebrating the National Heritage Fellowship is on display at the Alabama Artists' Gallery in the RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Montgomery from September 19 - October 31, 2008. A reception honoring Mrs. Kimbrell is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, 2008, from 4-6 p.m.
09-23-2008
Joey Brackner interviews editors Jeff Jakeman, Claire Wilson and Ben Berntson about the new online Encyclopedia of Alabama.
09-16-2008
Georgine Clarke interviews Tuscaloosa quilt artist Yvonne Wells, whose quilts are known as story or picture quilts. Her hand-stitched fabric constructions use rich symbolism and vivid colors, with themes ranging from religion to social and political issues. She also frequently produces whimsical and humorous pieces. Of particular note are her portrayals of the Civil Rights movement, with quilts depicting the history of slavery as well as icons Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. She has represented the State of Alabama in international cultural programs in France and Italy. In the interview, Yvonne talks about her choice of materials and also discusses two projects: twelve quilts she describes as "a book" titled On the Move and a group depicting the Seven Deadly Sins.
09-09-2008
Arts Council Executive Director Al Head interviews Bill Ivey, Director of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University. Subjects discussed are Ivey's background as past head of the National Endowment for the Arts, his involvement with the Curb Center and issues concerning Ivey's recently published book, arts, inc.: How Greed and Neglect Have Destroyed Our Cultural Rights.
Dekalb Fiddling Convention, Eric McKinney and Russell Gulley
09-02-2008
Joey Brackner interviews Eric McKinney and Russell Gulley about the Annual Dekalb Fiddling Convention held in Ft Payne.
08-26-2008
Joey Brackner interviews Sally Smith and Jamie Lawrence of Alabama Contemporary Theater. They discuss "Birmingham Rhapsody" a play being developed from oral histories that the theater has been collecting about Birmingham's Civil Rights era.
08-19-2008
Georgine Clarke interviews Alabama artist Stephen Savage of Daphne. Savage received the 2002 Alabama State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship in photography in 2002. He teaches and also produces both commercial and fine art photography. The discussion covers elements of the art form and the uses of digital photography as well as current approaches to teaching. Savage describes the Alabama Photo Book project which he is producing with print maker and art book designer Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. In this project participating Alabama photographers provide a photograph which is used with limited text to produce a simple eight page book.
08-12-2008
Sand Mountain fiddler Gene Ivey is the subject of this week�s program on Alabama Arts Radio. Folklorist Anne Kimzey talks to Mr. Ivey and his apprentice Joseph Coleman about playing music and making handcrafted fiddles at Ivey�s workshop in Ider.
08-05-2008
This show is a repeat of an earlier broadcast in acknowledgment of playwright and educator Billie Jean Young as a recipient of the 2008 Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship in the area of theater. Fellowships are the most prestigious of grants awarded to individuals by the Council. In this program, Steve Grauberger interviews actor and playwright Dr. Billie Jean Young, in Yantley Alabama, about her play Oh Mary Don't you Weep: The Margaret Ann Knott Legacy. Also interviewed is Choctaw, County educator and civil rights activist Carrie Mae Johnson.
07-29-2008
In this program, Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, travels to the Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell near Jasper. She talks with Folk School director Megan Huston and potter Sandra Heaven about pottery making and other craft and music classes offered in this natural retreat setting.
07-22-2008
Rebroadcast of Steve Grauberger interviewing Kevin Nutt, of CaseQuarter Records talking about his research on early blues recording artist Ed Bell from Greenville, Alabama. His Tributaries article on the subject can be obtained at Alabamafolklife.org Kevin can be heard weekly, online, at WFMU with his radio program Sinners Crossroads.
07-15-2008
This program is a rebroadcast of Steve Grauberger interviewing Stanley Smith, John Etheridge, and Bill Aplin, elected officers of the Sacred Harp Book Company (Cooper revision), includes Sacred Harp singing examples.
07-08-2008
Meagan Vucovich, summer intern for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Patti Hendrix Lovoy, director of VSA Arts of Alabama, along with Ali DeCamillis, art therapist, Dr. Rodney Tucker, director of the UAB Palliative Care Unit, Dr. Avi Madan-Swain, a Pediatric Psychologist/Neuropsychologist at UAB. The discussion focuses on VSA Arts of Alabama�s Arts in Healthcare program.
07-01-2008
This is a repeat of Gina Clifford, director of Design Alabama, interviewing Cheryl Morgan, Professor at Auburn University and Director of the Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, about Your Town Alabama Workshop. Your Town Workshop is an intensive two-and-half day event that includes: lectures, case-study presentations, and interactive group problem solving scenarios involving community planning and design work in a hypothetical small town.
06-24-2008
This is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing Alabama's curator of historic song - Bobby Horton. Best known for his CDs of Civil War era music and membership in the popular band Three On a String, Mr. Horton also discusses his family's musical heritage and his work composing songs for numerous Ken Burns' documentary films. Bobby Horton was a recipient of a 2005 Governor's Arts Award.
Thomas Hylton, Save Our Land Save Our Towns
06-17-2008
DesignAlabama was honored to have Thomas Hylton, of Save Our Land, Save Our Towns as a speaker at their 2008 DesignAlabama Mayors Design Summit. As a former newspaper, man, this Pennsylvania native and resident has turned a passion for a walkable world into a successful non-profit organization promoting walkable communities, downtown redevelopment and historic preservation. Join us during this radio program as we learn more about what individuals and communities can do to save our land and save our towns.
06-10-2008
Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Birmingham photographer Mark Gooch about his career and his recent project documenting Alabama folk artists for the exhibition Carry On: Celebrating Twenty Years of the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. (click here for PDF)
Poet Jake Adam York
06-03-2008
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, interviews poet and Gadsden, Alabama native Jake Adam York, whose collection A Murmuration of Starlings was recently published by Southern Illinois University Press. The book won the Crab Orchard Review Open Poetry Competition in 2007. Thompson talks with York about the elegies for slain civil rights workers and other individuals, including Emmit Till who was killed in Money, Mississippi, that comprise the collection. York's previous book, Murder Ballads, contains the first of these elegies, and he plans to continue the sequence through several more poetry collections. He teaches at the University of Colorado in Denver where he directs the undergraduate creative writing program.
05-27-2008
In this program Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Jefferson County quilter Bettye Kimbrell about her work with 4-H Club students and their quilt exhibit at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Kimbrell is a 2008 recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
05-20-2008
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama
Writers� Forum, interviews two writers who participated in the 3rd Annual Alabama Book Festival
on April 19. Kate Gale,
founding editor of Red Hen Press of Los Angeles,
California, and Richard Goodman, author of
French Dirt and The Soul of Creative Writing, also taught writing
techniques and discussed publishing on April 18 at the inaugural
creative writing workshop open to the general public as part of the
Festival outreach.
05-13-2008
Yvette Daniel interviews Alabama Shakespeare Festival's Chief Operating Officer Michael Vigilant about upcoming events and his new play Bear Country. Also on this program is an interview with Elyzabeth Wilder about her new play Furniture of Home. Both plays were developed through the Southern Writers Project at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
05-06-2008
Deborah Boykin interviews basket makers Mary and Bill Smith about their participation in the Folk Arts Apprenticeship program, their work with local Alabama craftsmen, and their observations about the basket making process.
04-29-2008
Part III of our Series on the Alabama Arts Education Summit held in Troy, Alabama February 21-23, 2008. Focusing on the essential link of communities and K-12 schools, Diana Green interview Dr. Lisa Stamps, principal at Gordo Elementary in Pickens County, about the partnerships she has developed to enhance the arts in her school, and how the Summit supported her efforts.
04-22-2008
Part II of the our Series on the Alabama Arts Education Summit held in Troy, Alabama February 21-23, 2008. Focusing on the essential link needed between higher education and K-12 schools, Diana Green, arts in education program manager interviews Professor and arts educator Larry Percy, who hosted the Summit at Troy University in Troy Alabama.� Mr. Percy discusses the potential for higher education to take a leading role in providing quality arts education in K-12 schools.
04-15-2008
Part I of our Series on the Alabama Arts Education Summit held in Troy, Alabama February 21-23, 2008.� The theme for this statewide conference was �Creating partnerships to ensure quality arts education in Alabama.� As an introduction to this series, performing arts program manager Yvette Daniel interviews the four partners that were instrumental in the planning and implementation of the Summit: Diana Green, arts in education program manager at the Council, Donna Russell, executive director of the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education, Martha Lockett, executive director of the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts, and Sara Wright, director of academic innovative initiatives at the Alabama State Department of Education.
04-08-2008
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum,
interviews Ace Atkins and Rheta Grimsley Johnson, two authors who will be
joining 70 others at the 3rd Annual Alabama Book Festival, April
19 in Montgomery� Old Alabama Town from 9 a.m. � 4 p.m.
Rheta Grimsley Johnson�s latest book Poor Man�s Provence, chronicles her home away from home
in Cajun Louisiana. Grimsley, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, is an
award-winning reporter and columnist for the Atlanta Journal
Constitution and has earned numerous awards for her writing, including
the National Headliner Award for commentary in and Scripps
Howard's Ernie Pyle Memorial Award. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and is also author of Good
Grief, the authorized biography of Charles
Schulz. Currently she writes a syndicated column for Kings Features
Syndicate.
Ace
Atkins, a native of Troy, Alabama, is the author of critically
acclaimed Nick Travers crime novels, including Crossroad Blues, Leavin�
Trunk Blues, Dark End of the Street, Dirty South, and White Shadow.
Atkins talks with Thompson about his new novel Wicked City, a
fictionalized account of Phenix City, Alabama in the 1950s.
04-01-2008
This weeks program features Georgine Clarke interviewing Dan Halcomb, Deputy Director of the Huntsville Arts Council. Subjects discussed deal with issues of Huntsville area arts organizations, educational programs and various attributes of this year's Panoply Festival, to be held April 25th the 27th, 2008.
03-25-2008
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum, interviews Montgomery author Kirk Curnutt. Curnutt is a 2007 Literature Fellowship recipient from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. His novel called Breathing Out the Ghost has just been released from River City Publishing in Montgomery. Kirk Curnutt is the author of several scholarly works, most recently The Cambridge Introduction of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Coffee with Hemingway (an entry in Duncan Baird Publishers� series of imaginary conversations with leading historical figures). He is also the author of a collection of short stories, Baby, Let�s Make a Baby, also from River City Publishing. He is a former finalist for both the Tennessee Book Award/Peter Taylor Prize and the Dana Literary Awards. Curnutt is a three-time consecutive winner of the Hackney Literary Award for short stories. Thompson speaks with him about the craft of writing, shaping the structure of a novel, and the relationship of an author�s mythic landscape to his work.
03-18-2008
This week, Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews Anne Kimzey, folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts.� They discuss the state�s master artists whose craft and music traditions are featured in an exhibit titled Carry On: Celebrating Twenty Years of the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program.�
03-11-2008
Diana F. Green, arts in education program manager, visits with Vassie Welbeck-Browne and Malik Browne, after a performance of Langston Hughes: Emperor of the Muse, which was held for students at Demopolis School on Friday, February 28th.� Vassie & Malik are teaching artists from StoryTree Company, participating with the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts, as part of a Dana Foundation project.� This project trains artists in the Black Belt region to partner with local schools to implement arts integration programs. Vassie and Malik work primarily in Greene County, where they have developed an anti-violence/conflict resolution drama program for high school students.
03-04-2008
This is a rebroadcast of executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum Jeanie Thompson interviewing Sena Jeter Naslund, 2000 Harper Lee Award Winner, Hall-Waters Award Winner and recent participant in last year's 2nd Annual Alabama Book Festival. Sena Jeter Naslund is the author of five novels, Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette , Four Spirits, Ahab's Wife; Or, the Star-Gazer, Sherlock in Love, and The Animal Way to Love, also two short story collections, The Disobedience of Water and Ice Skating at the North Pole. Naslund founded and directs the Spalding University Brief Residency MFA Writing Program in Louisville, KY and is Writer in Residence at the University of Louisville. She is currently the Kentucky Poet Laureate.
02-26-2008
This is a rebroadcast Anne Kimzey, Folklife Specialist for the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviewing Sudha Raghuram a dancer in the Indian classical tradition of Bharatanatyam (Bah-rah-tah Nah-tee-yahm). She is a master artist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts' folk arts apprenticeship program. In the interview, Sudha describes this ancient dance form and tells about teaching it here in Alabama.
David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
02-19-2008
In this week's program, Joey Brackner interviews David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, about the 2008 Induction Banquet and Awards Show presented February 22nd at the new Marriott Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Montgomery. Johnson discusses this year's award recipients and the talent to perform during the event. Musical examples are included.
Tommy McPherson Director of the Mobile Museum of Art
02-12-2008
In this program, Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews Mobile Museum of Art director Tommy McPherson. McPherson discusses the various collections and educational programs his museum has to offer the public. Also discussed are future exhibits and the museum's connection to the immediate community of contemporary artists in the Gulf Coast area.
Playwright Dr. Billie Jean Young and educator Carrie Mae Johnson
02-05-2008
In this program, highlighting Black History Month, Steve Grauberger interviews actor and playwright Dr. Billie Jean Young, in Yantley Alabama, about her play Oh Mary Don't you Weep: The Margaret Ann Knott Legacy. Also interviewed is Choctaw, County educator and civil rights activist Carrie Mae Johnson.
Ceramic artists Larry Percy and Scott Bennett
01-29-2008
To help promote the 23rd Alabama Clay Conference, to be held this year at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on February 8-10, this program is a rebroadcast of Georgine Clarke interviewing two Alabama ceramic artists who taught at the 21st Alabama Clay Conference. Larry Percy is on the Art faculty at Troy University. His work has been inspired by the time he has spent in the Southwest, particularly New Mexico. He talks about that influence of the land in his sculptural, vessel forms. He also discusses his ways of teaching at a college level. Scott Bennett owns Red Dot Gallery in Birmingham, where he produces his work and also teaches classes. As a relatively new Alabama resident, Scott talks about the strong clay community of artists in the state and also describes approaches to his own work.
01-22-2008
This program is a rebroadcast of Alabama shapenote music and its history in preparation for this year's Annual Capitol Rotunda Four-Book Shapenote Singing that will be held on Saturday, February 2nd. Due to a scheduling conflict, the singing will not be in the Capitol Rotunda but at the Alabama Department of Archives and History off of Union St between Adams and Washington in Montgomery. The singing will start at 9:30 am and end at 3Pm. The public is welcome to come and listen or sing. Afterwards, at 3pm, there will be reception for the exhibition "Carry On: Celebrating Twenty Years of the Alabama Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program" at the Alabama Artists Gallery located on the first floor of the RSA Tower at 201 Monroe Street. For more information call 334-242-4076, x-225.
01-15-2008
In this program Joey Brackner interviews storyteller Donald Davis and the Brundidge Historical Society's Johnny Steed about this year's Piddler's Storytellin' Festival that will feature Sheila Kay Adams, Kathryn Tucker Windham, Donald Davis and Andy Offutt Irwin. Included in the program are stories told by Donald Davis, Kathryn Tucker Windham and Andy Irwin.
01-08-2008
This program is a broadcast of a 1991 Radiovisions series that features bluesman Johhy Shines. Radiovisions is a production of Russell Gulley and the Big Wills Arts Council of Ft. Payne Alabama. The Radiovisions series of programs were initially released as audio cassettes. This particular program is a brief biography of the late Johnny Shines and his music.
01-01-2008
Joey Brackner interviews Robert Moehr, Julia Brown and Jordan Phillips about documenting the personal narratives of WWII Veterans in DeKalb County, Alabama.
12-25-2007
This program features Christmas Holiday music of the Mariachi Garibaldi storytelling of Kathryn Tucker Windham and the music of The Tribe of Judah, Bobby Horton and soprano Bessie Hunter-Shelton.
12-18-2007
Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Hannah Leatherbury, E-Services Manager for the Southern Arts Federation. Ms Leatherbury talks about the Southern Artistry program and other programs and projects offered by Southern Arts Federation to assist artist and arts organizations in the South.
Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council
12-11-2007
Arts in Education Program Manager, Diana Green, interviews Rosemary Johnson, executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council, about the Alabama Dance Festival which takes place over President�s weekend each January in Birmingham. This January, the Festival includes tracks for many age groups, a new community program entitled �Dance Across Birmingham� and performances by Bridgeman Packer Dance.
12-4-2007
Barbara Edwards,
Deputy Director, interviews Cinque
Cullar, Artistic Director for the Tribe of Judah. As a part of the
Black Belt Arts Initiative, the Council sponsored a contemporary Gospel
tour featuring the Tribe of Judah in Selma and Union Springs. The tour
included an education component and a public performance.
During this interview, Mr. Cullar offers his definition of Gospel music,
talks about his work with the Tribe of Judah, and comments on the Black
Belt Gospel Tour.
11-27-2007
In this program Steve Grauberger interviews musician and instrument maker Winky Hicks from Grove Hill, Alabama. Mr. Hicks received a Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts to teach the art of bluegrass banjo to interested students. He discusses his method of teaching and performs a few musical examples on his banjo. Hicks also describes his craft of mandolin, guitar and banjo construction.
Cathey Hendricks, Brenda Lindsey, Deborah Clark, and Grace Quantock
11-20-2007
Arts 4 Excellence 
Congressman Artur Davis
11-13-2007
Arts Council Executive Director Al Head interviews Representative Artur Davis at Cheaha State Park after Congressman Davis spoke to participants of the annual Bill Bates Leadership Institute. Davis discusses his fondness for reading and writing as well as his interest in community revitalization and the role of the arts in public education.
Woodcraft sculptors Dale Lewis and Bobby Michelson
11-06-2007
Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews Dale Lewis from Oneonta and Bobby Michelson from Birmingham, two artist fellowship recipients from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Fellowships are given annually for excellence of work and to assist with career development. These professional, full-time artists work with wood and are furniture builders. Discussions range from uses and types of wood to marketing, design, and ways of commissioning work.
10-30-2007
This rebroadcast is the second of two programs that Steve Grauberger interviews participants of the 2004 Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention about convention history, song writing and publishing, piano playing, and singing schools. Music examples are also included. This and the previous program is to help promote the 77th Annual Convention held November 9th and 10th, 2007 at Trinity Baptist Church in Oxford Alabama. For more information contact Lonnie Hilley at 256-237-5761 or email
10-23-2007
This rebroadcast is the first of two programs of Steve Grauberger interviewing participants of the 2004 Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention about convention history, song writing and publishing, and singing schools. Music examples are also included. This program is to help promote the 77th Annual Convention held November 9th and 10th, 2007 at Trinity Baptist Church in Oxford Alabama. For more information contact Lonnie Hilley at 256-237-5761 or email
Mozell Benson and Sylvia Stephens of Opelika
10-16-2007
In this program Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews mother and daughter quilters Mozell Benson and Sylvia Stephens of Opelika. They discuss their participation in the State Arts Council�s Folk Arts Apprenticeship program and share family memories of quilting and farm life in Lee County. Mrs. Benson also talks about her experience of being selected by Auburn University�s College of Architecture, Design and Construction to have a quilt studio designed and built for her by college students. Mozell Benson is a nationally recognized quilter, having received a National Heritage Fellowship in 2001 from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Cary McQueen Morrow, Executive Director of the Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon University
10-09-2007
Each summer the Council sponsors the Bill Bates Leadership Institute, a retreat for arts professionals in the state. This gathering provides an opportunity for arts professionals to meet and to discuss broad issues and common interests. Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director of the Council, interviews Cary McQueen Morrow, a featured speaker for the 2007 Bill Bates Leadership Institute. Ms. Morrow is the Executive Director of the Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon University. In the interview, Ms. Morrow shares information on the work of the Center for Arts Management and Technology and discusses trends in software applications and social networking technology.
10-02-2007
Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews Claire Robitaille from Magnolia Springs and Christopher McNulty from Auburn, two artist fellowship recipients from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Fellowships are given annually for excellence of work and to assist with career development. Claire is a mixed media sculptor, using fiber techniques, metal and seed beads in her constructions. Christopher is on the faculty at Auburn University and produces drawings as well as wood sculpture. Discussions range from international exhibitions to concepts in creating art to ways of teaching.
Keith Cromwell, Director, Red Mountain Theatre
09-25-2007
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director of the Council, interviews Keith Cromwell. Mr. Cromwell is the Executive Director of Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham and the Council�s 2008 Arts Administration Fellowship recipient. In the interview, Mr. Cromwell talks about his career as a professional theatre artist and the impact of the Arts Administration Fellowship on his career and Red Mountain Theatre.
09-18-2007
Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews six student participants in the Council's annual Visual Arts Achievement Program. The Program provides a statewide exhibition competition in six districts statewide, culminating in an exhibition in the Alabama Artists Gallery in Montgomery. It also provides a portfolio jury review resulting in $500 college scholarships. Students interviewed on the program include three scholarship recipients as well as the best in show winner and the teacher of the year, all from Bob Jones High School in Madison. Also on the program are two scholarship recipients from BTW Magnet High School in Montgomery. The Council considers Arts in Education Projects to be a highest priority.
09-11-2007
In this program Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Amita Bhakta a rangoli artist in Florence. An art that comes from India, rangoli are temporary designs drawn in rice flour and other materials to decorate the floors and courtyards of the homes in India. Ms. Bhakta, who is originally from India, received a Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant from the State Arts Council to teach rangoli to children in the Indian community in Florence as a way of passing on this tradition and connecting them with their cultural heritage.
09-04-2007
This program is the broadcast of a 1989 Radiovisions production. It features Charlie Louvin of the legendary Louvin Brothers of Sand Mountain. The program includes a narrative history of the Louvins as well as various recordings made by them. Russell Gulley and the Big Wills Arts Council of Ft. Payne Alabama produced the Radiovisions series that were released originally on cassette tape.
08-28-2007
This program is a rebroadcast with Diana Green interviewing writer Peggy Denniston and photographer, Shelia Hagler, and two middle school students. Sheila Hagler is the Alabama State Council on the Arts 2007 Fellowship recipient for photography. An incredible photographer in her own right, Sheila partners with Peggy to encourage new photographers in Bayou La Batre, a shrimping community once ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. A selection of student work created after the storm traveled to Chicago as part of a project called Eyes of the Storm � a Katrina Hurricane Relief Effort, and subsequently entered the Photography Hall of Fame in Oklahoma.
08-21-2007
Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews Alabama native, and renowned artist, William Christenberry at his home in Washington D.C. This is the second of two interviews with Christenberry discussing his life�s work as an artist that includes his acclaimed photographic documentation of rural Alabama, his unique dream house sculptures, the Klan Tableau, and ongoing mixed-media work.
08-14-2007
Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews Alabama native, and renowned artist, William Christenberry at his home in Washington D.C. This is the first of two interviews with Christenberry discussing his life's work as an artist that includes drawing and painting as well as his unique dream house sculptures and acclaimed photographic documentation of rural Alabama.
08-07-2007
In this second program, Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, continues a conversation with professor Steve Miller, coordinator of the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama.�� This is the second of a two-part series where Miller describes hand papermaking and discusses two recent book projects featured in the Southern Arts Federation exhibit conceived through American Masterpieces, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts.��
07-31-2007
In this program, Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews professor Steve Miller, coordinator of the Book Arts Program at the University of Alabama. This radio show is the first in a two-part series, where Miller discusses the art of making books by hand, including letterpress printing and hand papermaking. Hear how the faculty and students of Alabama�s Book Arts Program use ancient technology to produce cutting edge work.
07-24-2007
Executive director of the Alabama Writers� Forum Jeanie Thompson interviews Sena Jeter Naslund, 2000 Harper Lee Award Winner, Hall-Waters Award Winner and recent participant in the 2nd Annual Alabama Book Festival. Sena Jeter Naslund is the author of five novels, Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette , Four Spirits, Ahab's Wife; Or, the Star-Gazer, Sherlock in Love, and The Animal Way to Love, also two short story collections, The Disobedience of Water and Ice Skating at the North Pole. Naslund founded and directs the Spalding University Brief Residency MFA Writing Program in Louisville, KY and is Writer in Residence at the University of Louisville. She is currently the Kentucky Poet Laureate.
Dr. Jim Brown and National Heritage Award Recipient John Henry Mealing
07-17-2007
Original 37min WVSU program MP3
Folkways radio program by Anne Kimzey on Gandy Dancers (real media)
Rebroadcast of
folklore researcher and history professor Jim Brown of Samford University
narrating an interview with "Gandy Dance Caller" John Henry
Mealing who was a National Heritage Recipient. The ASCA show is edited from
the original Samford University WVSU Radio Production done the 1980s.
For more on Gandy Dancers.
Gandy Dancers film on
folkstreams.net
07-10-2007
Rebroadcast of Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviewing folklorist Fred Fussell about his many years documenting the rich folklife of the Chattahoochee Valley.
Andy Meadows- photography teacher at Booker T Washington Magnet, Montgomery
07-03-2007
This program is a rebroadcast of a 2005 program of Ryan Hora and Mary Louise Thrower, Booker T Washington (BTW) Magnet students, interviewing their photography teacher Andy Meadows as well as two fellow students.
Ruth Wyers, traditional Christian Harmony singing school teacher
06-26-2007
Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviews traditional Christian Harmony singing-school teacher and singer, Ruth Wyers, about the upcoming singing school to be held at Pleasant Hill Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Centerville, Alabama July 9-13 & 16-20, 2007 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.. The school will culminate with an all-day Christian Harmony singing Sunday, July 22nd starting at 9:30 a.m..
David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
06-19-2007
Rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, about the contributions of Alabamians to American Music
06-12-2007
Georgine Clarke and Steve Grauberger visited the Helen Keller Festival of the Arts in June, early on a Saturday morning as the artists were setting up their booths for displaying and selling their artwork. The conversations with artists and festival organizers give listeners an idea of what to expect at the many outdoor art shows in Alabama. Artists talk about the importance of such shows and the ways they make their work available to the public. This year, 2007, the festival is held June 20th to the 24th in Tuscumbia.
06-05-2007
Yvette Daniel and Diana Green interview Fellowship Award winner Wanda Johnson about her work as a professional storyteller in the Rural School Touring Program for the Arts Council. Wanda shares with us how she began her professional career in her hometown of Prichard, Alabama, absorbing the colorful history and rituals of a southern town. She has gained national recognition as her professional career as a storyteller has taken her from conventions, to the court room to summer camps and corporate retreats. In this interview Wanda challenges her audience to take pride in the lessons, rituals and experiences of life as she encourages young and old to appreciate their personal stories as wealth that should be passed on and preserved.
05-29-2007
Joey Brackner interviews musician Lennie Trawick, Sarah Bowden and Sherrill Tatum about the play "Come Home, It's Suppertime," a production of the We Piddle Around Theatre of Brundidge, AL.
05-22-2007
To help promote the 2007 Freedom Creek Blues Festival on May 25-26, this program is a rebroadcast of Rebecca Ryals interviewing Willie King at the 2003 Freedom Creek Blues Festival in Old Memphis near Aliceville, includes musical examples.
05-15-2007
Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Seven private and public high schools, including more than 70 English classes throughout the five county river region, participated in the program this year. Diana Green, Arts in Education Program Manager, interviews a number of people involved in the program. Winner of the original poetry competition, Jazzmin Almaz Franklin, a senior from Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, recites her impassioned poem entitled The Question My Conscience Plagues Me With. State Champion Khadijah Ameerah Robinson, a senior at Loveless Academic Magnet Program in Montgomery, recites Robert Frost�s, Birches.
05-08-2007
This program is a rebroadcast to help promote the Alabama State Council on the Arts' "A Celebration of the Arts Awards" held May 16th, 2007 at the Davis Theater in Montgomery where bluesman Jerry "Boogie" McCain received the Alabama Folk Heritage Award. In the radio program Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviewed Jerry McCain about his life and music career at his home in Gadsden Alabama. Musical examples are included in the program.
05-01-2007
Steve Grauberger interviews Dr. Charles Thompson, President of the Tuskegee Area Chamber of Commerce; Elaine Thompson, retired Art professor at Tuskegee University and past State Arts Council board member; and National Park Ranger Shirley Baxter about the annual George Washington Carver Arts and Crafts Festival held in downtown Tuskegee.
Glenn Dasher, Chairman of the Art Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Casey Downing, professional artist from Mobile.
4-24-2007
Georgine Clarke interviews two important Alabama sculptors, Glenn Dasher, Chairman of the Art Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Casey Downing, professional artist from Mobile. Topics range from commissioning public art to the importance of art in the schools to ways of teaching student artists. Dasher discusses his approach to making art, producing pieces that combine elements that appear to come from antiquity with contemporary elements. Downing explains the process of casting bronze figurative sculpture and also constructing abstract forms with stainless steel. Both provide insight into the philosophy and ways that artists work.
Jay
Lamar, director of the Caroline Marshall
Draughon Center for Arts and Humanities in the
4-17-2007
Jeanie Thompson,
executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum shares a
lively conversation with Jay Lamar, director of the Caroline Marshall
Draughon Center for Arts and Humanities in the
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum interviews Marlin Barton
04-10-2007
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum interviews Marlin Barton, 2007 Alabama State Council on the Arts Literature Fellowship Recipient. Barton is the author of two short story collections, The Dry Well and Dancing at the River, and a novel, The Dry Well. In addition to writing prize-winning fiction, Barton teaches in the Alabama Writers� Forum�s Writing Our Stories program, a juvenile justice and the arts initiative now in its tenth year. Thompson and Barton discuss the writing process, and how teaching juvenile offenders has impacted Barton�s work
04-03-2007
Yvette Daniel, Performing Arts Program Manager, interviews Helen Steineker, Manager of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra in recognition of the 2006-2007 30th Anniversary Season. The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra began as a community orchestra in 1976 with 30 musicians and a part-time director under the auspices of the City of Montgomery Parks and recreation Department. Twenty-eight years later, the MSO has 75 members, a full-time maestro and manager, and operates under the guidance of an independent Board and League.
3-27-2007
This program is to help promote the 2nd Annual, Official Alabama State Fiddling Championship in Huntsville that will be held during the Panoply Festival on April 28, 2007. At last year's event Steve Grauberger interviews co-producers of the competition, Alabama State Representative Mike Ball and Mark Ralph about the history of this fiddling competition. He also interviews last year's Huntsville Arts Council President Beth Wise, as well as various contestants involved in last year's 1st annual event. Musical examples recorded at that time are also included in the program.
Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager
3-20-2007
Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture interviews Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Shoults describes various aspects of the grant programs that he manages.
03-13-2007
Arts in Education Program Manager, Diana Green, interviews Anne Green Gilbert, a special guest at the Alabama Dance Festival.� Rosemary Johnson, executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council, in partnership with Martha� Lockett, executive director of the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts, have provided this dance education workshop to classroom teachers and dance educators statewide. Ms. Gilbert is the Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope, a children�s creative movement dance company in Seattle, Washington and is known as one of the leading dance educators in the country. She has developed �brain appropriate� dance instruction and shares it with teachers across the nation.� Diana Green interviews Rosemary Johnson, Anne Green Gilbert, Martha Lockett, and 4th grade teacher Lisa Moran and occupational therapist, Kayla Briggs, about the education track offered at the dance festival in Birmingham on January 13, 2007.
03-06-2007
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, interviews William Cobb, recipient of the 2007 Harper Lee Award for Alabama�s Distinguished Writer. Thompson and Cobb discuss his novels and plays, and his latest work The Hermit King (from Livingston Press). Cobb receives his award at the Alabama Writers Symposium on May 4th in Monroeville.
George Lindsey, Alabama State Council on the Arts� 2005 Distinguished Artist Award Recipient
02-27-2007
To help promote the upcoming 10th Annual George Lindsey Film Festival this program is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing television legend and Jasper native George Lindsey about his roots, his career and his current activities. Mr. Lindsey is the recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts� 2005 Distinguished Artist Award.
George Wallace: The Clayton Years
02-20-2007
Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager, travels to Clayton, Alabama and talks to Rebecca Beasley about The Barbour County Governor's Trail and their upcoming stage production, "Wallace: The Clayton Years," a play by Ty Adams that depicts the early career of George Wallace. " Also included in the interview are Representative Billy Beasley and Alva Lambert, who portrays Governor Wallace in the play.
Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture
02-13-2007
Anne Kimzey interviews Joey Brackner about his newly published book, Alabama Folk Pottery, recently released on University of Alabama Press. Brackner discusses various aspects detailed in the publication.
Brian Jones, Regional Director-Mountains Region in the Marketing/Group Travel Division at the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel.
02-06-2007
Joey Brackner interviews Brian Jones, a Regional Director in the Marketing/Group Travel Division of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel. Brian discusses the Tourism & Travel promotion of the Year of the Arts campaign. He describes materials produced for and attributes of the Year of the Arts.
01-30-2007
Steve Grauberger interviews playwright and screenwriter Elyzabeth Wilder about her play Gees Bend, produced by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF). The play premiered Jan 19th to Feb 11, 2007 to a sold-out house. The play developed from Wilder's interest in the women quilters of Gee's Bend and her participation in the Southern Writer's Project at ASF. Wilder also talks about growing up in Mobile and her education in New York City as an actress and a playwright.
Alabama State Capitol Rotunda Four-Book Shape-Note Singing 2006
01-23-2007
This program promotes the 10th annual Capitol Rotunda, Four-Book, Shape Note Singing to be held in the Alabama State Capitol Rotunda on Feb 3rd starting at 9:30 AM. Included in the program are descriptions of the four different Alabama shape-note books used in the singing and recorded musical examples from past Rotunda singings.
01-16-2007
Steve Grauberger interviews the Thomas Sisters Singers from Alexander City. Margie and Bernice Thomas have been a singing gospel music for over 60 years in and around Alexander City, performing on radio and TV as early as the 1950s. In December, shortly after this interview was taped, Bernice Thomas passed. Included in the program are recently recorded songs sung by Margie and Bernice Thomas, and Margie's daughter, Phyllis.
01-09-2007
Rebroadcast of Barbara Edwards interviewing Jazz musician Eric Essix about his work with the rural schools touring program and his work as a musician
01-02-2007
Rebroadcast of Diana Green interviewing Kimberly Ramsey, an English teacher from Holy Cross Episcopal School in Montgomery, about a new arts education program entitled Shakespeare Can Be Fun, a program which began at a teacher workshop in the summer of 2005. Shakespeare Can Be Fun is a program that involves all 4th, 5th and 6th grade students at Holy Cross Episcopal School in the study and performance of Shakespeare.
Quinton Cockrell, ASCA�s 2006-2007 Theatre Fellowship recipient
12-26-2006
Yvette Daniel, Performing Arts Program Manager, interviews Quinton Cockrell, ASCA�s 2006-2007 Theatre Fellowship recipient. Discussed are his plans to develop new works for the American stage and about his career as a professional actor in New York and in regional theatres across the country.
Mariachi Garibaldi, Kathryn Tucker Windham, The Tribe of Judah, Bobby Horton and Bessie Hunter-Shelton.
12-19-2006
This radio show features music of the Mariachi Garibaldi storytelling of Kathryn Tucker Windham and the music of The Tribe of Judah, Bobby Horton and soprano Bessie Hunter-Shelton.
Shana Berger and Nathan Purath from the Coleman Center for Arts and Culture in York, Alabama
12-12-2006
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager, interviews Shana Berger, Executive Director and Nathan Purath, Artistic Director of the Coleman Center for Arts and Culture in York, Alabama. Located in Sumter County in West Alabama, York has a population of approximately 2,600 residents. The projects of the Center range from a public art, artist in residence program to regular exhibitions of local and national artists' work. Unique programs, particularly in photography, are provided for children.
Jacky Jack White and the Sucarnochee Revue
12-05-2006
Joey Brackner interviews Jacky Jack White of the Sucarnochee Revue. The Revue, a performance series of southern music is performed at Bibb Graves Auditorium on the campus of the Universityof West Alabama and broadcast throughout the region via radio.
Mary Settle Cooney, Director of the Tennessee Valley Art Association
11-28-2006
Georgine Clarke interviews Mary Settle Cooney, Director of the Tennessee Valley Art Association programs. She discusses the Art Center and Ritz Theater as well as the role of the arts in education and community development.
11-21-2006
Joey Brackner interviews William Bailey of Poarch Creek Indians. Mr. Bailey discusses surviving cultural traditions among Creek Indians in southwest Alabama
11-14-2006
Randy Shoults, Community Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, sits down with Director George Culver and board member Bill McGee of the Antique Talladega and The Ritz Theatre. They discuss the past, present and future of their organization, the Ritz Theatre and the impact that it has had of the City of Talladega. George Culver is also a recent recipient of an Alabama State Council on the Arts Administration Fellowship.
11-07-2006
Joey Brackner interviews blues musician George Connor of Aliceville. Mr. Connor recounts his experiences playing the blues in Chicago, on the road, and in Alabama.
10-31-2006
Georgine Clarke interviews Clayton Bass, President and CEO of the Huntsville Museum of Art. The discussion ranges from the roll of the Museum in community economic development to services for artists to the general nature of programs at the Museum. Included is information about the exhibition schedule, educational approaches to interpreting objects on exhibit, classes, and even the Museum restaurant and shop. Bass views activities in the Museum as being a complete experience for the visitor.
10-24-2006
Joey Brackner interviews folklorist Bill Ferris of the University of North Carolina about southern culture and his experiences as director of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss.
Whitney Green, Black Belt Arts Project Coordinator for the Black Belt Community Initiative in Selma.
10-17-2006
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, interviews Whitney Green, the Coordinator for the Council's Black Belt Arts Initiative. Whitney talks about her job as the Black Belt Arts Coordinator and the exciting projects and activities of the black belt region.
10-10-2006
Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviews Gee's Bend quilter Lucy Mingo about her life and experiences quilting for her family and friends. Also interviewed in the program is her daughter Polly Raymond. Mingo's quilts are included in the nationally toured art exhibit, The Quilts of Gee's Bend, and publications derived from the exhibition. She is a master artist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts' folk arts apprenticeship program.
David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
10-03-2006
Joey Brackner interviews David Johnson, director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, about the contributions of Alabamians to American Music
09-26-2006
Georgine Clarke and Steve Grauberger visited the Helen Keller Festival of the Arts in June, early on a Saturday morning as the artists were setting up their booths for displaying and selling their artwork. The conversations with artists and festival organizers give listeners an idea of what to expect at the many outdoor art shows in Alabama. Artists talk about the importance of such shows and the ways they make their work available to the public.
09-19-2006
Barbara Edwards interviews Donna Walker-Kuhne. Walker-Kuhne, recognized as the nation's foremost expert on Audience Diversification by the Arts and Business Council, was a presenter at the 2007 Bill Bates Leadership Institute. In the interview Walker-Kuhne discusses practical strategies and methods to engage diverse communities in the arts and the importance of marketing to diverse audiences.
09-12-2006
Joey Brackner interviews Joyce Cauthen of the Alabama Folklife Association, Debbie Pendleton of the Alabama Department of Archives and History and archivist Trey Bunn about the new Archive of Alabama Folk Culture.
Radiovisions Radio Rebroadcast : J. R. "Pap" Baxter
09-05-2006
Re-edited broadcast of the 1991 Radiovisions program produced by Russell Gulley and the Big Wills Arts Council. The program features the songs of J. R. "Pap" Baxter and an extended interview by Al Malone, Baxter's nephew, about the life and time of this well-known Southern Gospel singer/songwriter and publisher.
Interview with poet Marlin Barton and teacher Sandra Whatley-Washington about DYS "Writing Our Stories Project"
08-22-2006
Rebroadcast from 2004 of Alabama Writers' Forum Executive Director Jeanie Thompson interviewing teaching writer Marlin Barton and Department of Youth Services teacher Sandra Whatley-Washington about the innovative Writing Our Stories: Anti-Violence Creative Writing Program, now in its ninth year.
08-15-2006
Anne Kimzey, Folklorist with the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews Yvette Daniel Performing Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Ms. Daniel discusses how the agency's performing arts program supports high quality performances of music dance and theater in Alabama and assists performing arts organizations and artists throughout the state.
08-08-2006
Georgine Clarke interviews George Jones, newly selected recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship in Craft. Jones is a fourth-generation broommaker whose family begain making functional brooms in 1932 to help with the economic challenges of the depression. Using time-honored traditional tools and materials, he has begun to create one-of-a-kind pieces which are very sculptural in form. Jones markets his work at art festivals throughout the region.
Cooper-Hewitt and the City of Neighborhoods
08-01-2006
Gina Clifford interviews Hettie Jordan Vilanova, Fran Nagy and Caroline Payson about the exciting three day workshop, City of Neighborhoods that took place in Birmingham, June 15-17, 2006. This workshop was an unique opportunity for the residents of Avondale, to explore their neighborhood to better plan for its future. It was sponsored by DesignAlabama in partnership with the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Design Musuem, Alabama Alliance for Arts Education, MainStreet Birmingham, American Architectural Foundation and the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham.
ASCA Apprenticeship Program
07-25-2006
Rebroadcast of Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviewing Joey Brackner about the Folklife Master Apprenticeship program that he administers. Music examples of traditional master artists are included.
Poet Peter Huggins, 2006 Alabama State Council on the Arts Artist Literature Fellow
07-18-2006
Rebroadcast of Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, interviewing poet Peter Huggins. Huggins is one of two 2006 Alabama State Council on the Arts Artist Literature Fellows. A native of Louisiana, he teaches in the English Department at Auburn University and his books of poems are Necessary Acts (River City Publishing, 2004), Blue Angels (River City Publishing, 2001) and Hard Facts (Livingston Press, 1998). Huggins' poems have appeared in more than 100 journals and magazines. He is also the author of a forthcoming novel for middle readers, In the Company of Owls. Huggins' first picture book, called Trosclair and the Alligator, is just out from Star Bright Books in New York.
Ceramic Artists, Larry Percy and Scott Bennett
07-11-2006
Georgine Clarke interviews two Alabama ceramic artists who taught at the 21st Alabama Clay Conference. Larry Percy is on the Art faculty at Troy University. His work has been inspired by the time he has spent in the Southwest, particularly New Mexico. He talks about that influence of the land in his sculptural, vessel forms. He also discusses his ways of teaching at a college level. Scott Bennett owns Red Dot Gallery in Birmingham, where he produces his work and also teaches classes. As a relatively new Alabama resident, Scott talks about the strong clay community of artists in the state and also describes approaches to his own work.
07-04-2006
Diana Green interviews Kimberly Ramsey, an English teacher from Holy Cross Episcopal School in Montgomery, about a new arts education program entitled Shakespeare Can Be Fun, a program which began at a teacher workshop in the summer of 2005. Shakespeare Can Be Fun is a program that involves all 4th, 5th and 6th grade students at Holy Cross Episcopal School in the study and performance of Shakespeare.
06-27-2006
Rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing David Ivey and Jeff Sheppard about the annual Camp Fasola held each year at Camp Lee near Anniston Alabama.
06-20-2006
Yvette Daniel, Performing Arts Program Manager interviews Ms. Bessie Hunter-Shelton, Music Instructor/Choir Director at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham. Ms. Shelton shares insights regarding how higher education impacts the students of today, especially those preparing for a career in the field of music. She stresses the importance of ones development as a solo artist, and about valuing ones natural gifts.
06-13-2006
Steve Grauberger interviews Dennis George and Bill Henson about an old-time music and bluegrass program that teaches fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo to beginning students after school in Fyffe, Alabama, funded, in part, by an ASCA Master-Apprentice grant. Included in the program is information on the annual Fyffe Fiddling Contest as well as examples of music performed by Dennis George.
Peggy Denniston and Shelia Hagler
06-06-2006
Diana Green interviews writer Peggy Denniston and photographer, Shelia Hagler, founders of Merging our Cultures, a program that provides creative writing and hands-on experience with photography for students in South Mobile County. Each student uses a camera and a darkroom to create their own photographs. These photographs then become the inspiration for the student�s creative writing. Student work is exhibited in contests, museums and schools. A selection of student work recently traveled to Chicago as part of a project called Eyes of the Storm � a Katrina Hurricane Relief Effort. Alabama artists, Peggy Denniston and Sheila Hagler will be interviewed along with two of their middle school students.
Poets, Greg Pape and Frank X. Walker
05-30-2006
Alabama Writers' Forum Executive Director Jeanie Thompson interviews two poets who participated in the inaugural Alabama Book Festival, April 22, in Montgomery. Montana poet Greg Pape, author of American Flamingo, winner of the 2004 Crab Orchard Review Open Competition Award and other works, talks about teaching at the University of Alabama as well as his recent visit to Julia Tutwiler Prison with the Auburn Prison Arts and Education Project. Kentucky poet Frank X. Walker, who recently received a prestigious Lannan Fellowship and is a founding member of the Affrilachian poets and a Cave Canem Fellow, reads new works from Black Box, his latest collection from Old Cove Press.
Steve Miller MFA Program Coordinator, Associate professor, letterpress printing & hand papermaking.
05-23-2006
Steve Miller MFA Program Coordinator, Associate professor, letterpress printing & hand papermaking, interviews Glenn House Sr., a founder of the BookArts Program at University of Alabama School of Library Information Studies. The program is edited from a StoryCorps project interview made at the Kentuck Arts Center, Northport, AL in 2005. That recording is available in its entirety here (click this link if you want to hear it). Glenn House Sr. has spent a lifetime making art. From his studio in Gordo, Alabama, he spins clay objects, handmade paper, and printing projects. Miller questions House about these subjects as well as his work with the MFA program in Book Arts at the University of Alabama.
Dr. Scott Meyer, Professor of Art at the University of Montevallo
05-16-2006
Georgine Clarke interviews Dr. Scott Meyer, Professor of Art at the University of Montevallo about the unique clay furnace called an anagama kiln. Dr. Meyer describes how this 40 foot long brick structure takes a week using wood to fire about 1000 pieces of clay pottery and sculpture. Its design is based on a traditional Japanese method of firing pottery. Dr. Meyer built this kiln and fires it several times a year, bringing potters from throughout the Southeast as well as providing a unique learning opportunity for students at Montevallo. The kiln was a focal point of the recent 21st annual Alabama Clay Conference held near Montevallo.
Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman-Davis
05-09-2006
Arts in Education Program Manager Diana Green interviews Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman-Davis. Thaddeus is a dancer and choreographer from Montgomery, Alabama who has successfully launched his career in New York City and founded his own dance company, Wideman/Davis Dance. Thaddeus has returned to Alabama with his lovely wife, Tanya. They perform an original work commissioned by Auburn University Women's Studies, based on the lives of the women in Gee's Bend called The Bends of Life. He has just completed a tour of five Black Belt counties, where both he and his wife taught master classes in dance to children in the schools.
05-02-2006
Donna Russell Director of the Alabama Alliance for Arts in Education interviews company members from the Birmingham Children�s Theatre (BCT) about its upcoming 60th anniversary celebration, and the various programs offered by the company. Donna speaks with Pat Anderson-Flowers, the artistic director; Shannon Chambliss, the marketing director and Alexa McElroy, director of education outreach regarding the quality of the programs offered for families and students.
04-25-2006
Randy Shoults, Community Arts and Literature Program Manager travels to Union Springs to interview participants in the annually held community play, Conecuh People, a poignant story of one boy's coming of age in rural Alabama in the 1950. The play, adapted by Ty Adams is based on the book, Conecuh People: Words Of Life From The Alabama Black Belt, by Bullock County native, Wade Hall. The play is staged at the Red Door Theatre in downtown Union Springs April 27,28,29 and May 4,5,7. For further information call 334/737-8687.
1st Annual Alabama Book Festival 04-22-2006
This inaugural event takes place April 22 in Montgomery�s Old Alabama Town from 10 a.m. � 4 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event features more than 50 writers and performers from across Alabama and elsewhere
04-18-2006
Alabama Writers Forum Director Jeanie Thompson interviews Conner Henton of the Alabama Center for the Book about the upcoming Alabama Book Festival. Also in this program, Thompson interviews one of the featured writers to be at the Festival, Wayne Greenhaw (Montgomery), 2006 Harper Lee Award recipient and author of The Thunder of Angels, and more than 16 other works.
4-11-2006
ACTC Director Joey Brackner inteviews Alabama Folklife Association Director Joyce Cauthen about the new CD release called Bullfrog Jumped, culled from original recordings made in Alabama by Byron Arnold in the late 1940s.
Rick Lowe, Founding Director of Project Row Houses in Houston, Texas
04-04-2006
Georgine Clarke interviews Rick Lowe, an Alabama native, is founding director of Project Row Houses in Houston, Texas, an arts and cultural center located in 22 historic "shotgun" houses and based on his innovative concept of the transformative power of art in community revitalization. Project Row Houses has received national recognition and provides both art gallery space and a variety of social programs including the Young Mothers Residential Program. Lowe will discuss Row Houses as well as his ideas for a community program along the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama and the leadership of artists in re-development of New Orleans.
Poet Peter Huggins, 2006 Alabama State Council on the Arts Artist Literature Fellow
03-28-2006
Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, interviews poet Peter Huggins. Huggins is one of two 2006 Alabama State Council on the Arts Artist Literature Fellows. A native of Louisiana, he teaches in the English Department at Auburn University and his books of poems are Necessary Acts (River City Publishing, 2004), Blue Angels (River City Publishing, 2001) and Hard Facts (Livingston Press, 1998). Huggins' poems have appeared in more than 100 journals and magazines. He is also the author of a forthcoming novel for middle readers, In the Company of Owls. Huggins' first picture book, called Trosclair and the Alligator, is just out from Star Bright Books in New York.
Country Musician and Songwriter Cast King and apprentice Matt Downer
03-21-2006
Rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey interviewing musicians Cast King and Matt Downer from Sand Mountain.� Guitarist and songwriter Cast King and his former band The Country Drifters recorded with Sun Records of Memphis in the 1950s.� Matt Downer, a young musician, has been working with Mr. King for a few years to learn his guitar style and to record his music and life history.�� During the program Mr. King performs three of the approximately 500 songs he has written in his lifetime.
Priscilla Hancock Cooper, Performer, Poet and Coordinator for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
03-14-2006
Randy Shoults, Community Arts, Literature and Design Program Manager for
the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Priscilla Hancock Cooper
about her literary works. Cooper is the coordinator for the Birmingham
Civil Rights Institute and she is also a teaching writer with the Writing
Our Stories Project (Chalkville Campus), an anti-violence creative writing
program for incarcerated youth. Writing Our Stories takes place through a
cooperative arrangement between the Alabama Writers' Forum and the Alabama
Department of Youth Services (DYS).
Cooper is a recent Fellowship recipient, and will read samples from
previous literary works, new works and works in progress
Anita Miller Garner, 2006 recipient of an Alabama State Arts Council fellowship in fiction.
03-07-2006
Jeanie Thompson, Director of the Alabama Writers� Forum, talks with Anita Miller Garner, 2006 Artist Fellowship recipient in literature. A native of Rockford Alabama. She is an Associate Professor of English at University of North Alabama in Florence. She also is chair of the Forum�s School Literary Arts Awards Competition that recognizes young Alabama writers and their schools. Garner�s collection of short stories, Delectable Waters, was selected runner up for the Virginia Prize and is currently under consideration for publication. During her fellowship year she is working on a novel set in the 1970�s and the present in Alabama.
George Lindsey, Alabama State Council on the Arts� 2005 Distinguished Artist Award Recipient
02-28-2006
Rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing television legend and Jasper native George Lindsey about his roots, his career and his current activities. Mr. Lindsey is the recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts� 2005 Distinguished Artist Award.
African American Gospel music scholar, Dr. Horace Boyer. Boyer
02-21-2006
A rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey interviewing African American Gospel music scholar Dr. Horace Boyer. Boyer visited Alabama in 2004 to lead a music workshop in Lowndes County in conjunction with an event honoring Civil Rights martyr Jonathan Daniels. In the radio interview Dr. Boyer discusses Alabama's rich musical heritage, his own musical roots, and how he came to edit the African-American hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Marcus Johnson, Director of the Bay City Brass Band of Mobile
02-14-2006
Rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey interviewing Marcus Johnson of the Bay City Brass Band of Mobile. They discuss brass band history and music in the Mobile Mardi Gras tradition.
02-07-2006
Rebroadcast of Barbara Edwards interviewing Jazz musician Eric Essix about his work with the rural schools touring program and his work as a musician
Alabama State Capitol Rotunda Four-Book Shape-Note Singing 2006
01-31-2006
This program promotes the 9th annual Capitol Rotunda, Four-Book, Shape Note Singing to be held in the Alabama State Capitol Rotunda on Feb 4th starting at 9:30 AM. Included in the program are descriptions of the four different Alabama shape-note books used in the singing and recorded musical examples from past Rotunda singings.
James and Rachel Bryan
01-24-2006
Rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey interviewing James Bryan and Rachel Bryan, a father-daughter, old-time music duo from Mentone. James Bryan is one of Alabama's best-known fiddlers. He grew up in Northeast Alabama, the son of an old-time musician. James continues this musical legacy with his 17 year-old daughter Rachel. On this program, listeners will hear the Bryan family talk about their music, as well as perform a number of tunes, with James on fiddle, accompanied by Rachel on guitar.
American Gospel Quartet Convention
01-17-2006
Steve Grauberger interviews George Stewart producer of the American Gospel Quartet Convention about the 14th annual convention beginning 12-17 and ending 12-21-2006. Also included are interviews with Roscoe Robinson and Ricky McKinney from last year's convention. Gospel quartet musical examples are included.
Rosemary Johnson and Caron Thornton
01-10-2006
Joey Brackner interviews Rosemary Johnson of the Alabama Dance Council and Caron Thornton of the Alys Stephens Center about the upcoming Alabama Dance Summit. The Alabama Dance Summit is Alabama's premiere dance event. Presented by the Alabama Dance Council each January, the Summit is a time of study, exploration, exchange and personal renewal for the state's broad fellowship of dance students, teachers, performers and audiences.
Artists Craig Wedderspoon and Melissa Tubbs
01-03-2006
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts interviews two Alabama artists whose work has recently been exhibited in the Alabama Artists Gallery. Craig Wedderspoon is a sculptor and a member of the art faculty at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Melissa Tubbs is a Montgomery artist who specializes in pen and ink drawings of architectural structure and detail. Both artists talk about their techniques, choice of materials and approaches to making and teaching art.
12-27-2005
Rebroadcast of Anne Kimzey, interviewing participants of the Alabama Community Scholars Institute. Kimzey speaks with Joyce Cauthen director of the Alabama Folklife Association that sponsors the Community Scholars Institute. Anne also interviews three of the community scholars: Lori Sawyer of Atmore, Ana Schuber of Tuscaloosa, and Diane Gerard of Mobile.
Prison Arts & Education Project of the Center for the Arts and Humanities at Auburn University.
12-20-2005
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews faculty of the Prison Arts & Education Project of the Center for the Arts and Humanities at Auburn University. Director Kyes Stevens and Auburn art professor Barb Bondy discuss poetry, drawing and photography created in Tutwiler Prison for Women, Frank Lee Youth Center, Elmore Correctional Facility, two work release units, and the L.I.F.E Tech facility of Pardons and Paroles. Work from the program has been on exhibit at the Alabama Artists Gallery in Montgomery and at Gulf ArtSpace in Fairhope.
Sounds of the Season at the Alabama State Capitol Dec. 12th to the 16th, 2005
No admission to attend
12-13-2005
This is the second of two programs to promote the ongoing Sounds of the Season performance series continuing from Dec. 14th to the 16th, 2005 in the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery at the Old Archives Chamber located on the 2nd floor of the South Wing. In this program the music of Bobby Horton (performing Dec. 14), soprano Bessie Hunter-Shelton (Dec 15th), and The Tribe of Judah chorus (Dec 16th) is featured.
Sounds of the Season at the Alabama State Capitol Dec. 12th to the 16th, 2005
No admission to attend
12-06-2005
This is the first of two programs to promote the upcoming Sounds of the Season performance series to take place Dec. 12th to the 16th, 2005 in the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery at the Old Archives Chamber located on the 2nd floor of the South Wing. This radio show features music of the Mariachi Garibaldi (performing Dec. 12), storytelling of Kathryn Tucker Windham (performing Dec. 13) and the music of Bobby Horton (performing Dec. 14)
11-29-2005
Georgine Clarke interviews Georgette Norman about the upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Holguer Pimiento
11-22-2005
Anne Kimzey, folklorist for the Alabama State Council on the Arts interviews Colombian singer and guitarist Holguer Pimiento, who now lives in Birmingham. On the program he discusses his musical background and performs a variety of Latin-American musical styles, including the tango, cumbia, and bolero.
Gay Powell Hanna, Society of Arts in Healthcare
11-15-2005
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, interviews Gay Powell Hanna. Dr. Hanna is executive director of the Society of Arts in Healthcare, Washington, DC. The Society of Arts in Healthcare is an interdisciplinary membership organization dedicated to the integration of the arts into healthcare. The arts are becoming an established part of our nation's healthcare system. Dr. Hanna will share with the listening audience examples of healthcare arts integration programs and discuss the importance of these partnerships.
11-08-2005
In the second of two programs Steve Grauberger interviews participants of the 2004 Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention about convention history, song writing and publishing, piano playing, and singing schools. Music examples are also included. This and the previous program help promote the 75th Annual Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention held at Shocco Springs near Talladega on Nov 11 to the 13th 2005.
11-01-2005
Steve Grauberger interviews participants of the 2004 Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention about convention history, song writing and publishing, and singing schools. Music examples are also included.
Author Charlie Rose
10-25-2005
Randy Shoults interviews Auburn University professor and author Charlie Rose about his writing career and new novel. Rose reads excerpts of his work.
Dr. Jim Brown and National Heritage Award Recipient John Henry Mealing
10-18-2005
Original 37min WVSU program MP3
Folkways radio program by Anne Kimzey on Gandy Dancers (real media)
Folklore
researcher and history professor Jim Brown of Samford University narrates
an interview with "Gandy Dance Caller" John Henry Mealing who is
a National Heritage Recipient. The ASCA show is edited from the original
Samford University WVSU Radio Production done the 1980s.
For more on Gandy Dancers.
Gandy Dancers film on
folkstreams.net
10-11-2005
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, conducts an interview with Dr. Sherrie VanPelt, Executive Director of VSA Arts Alabama. During the interview Dr. VanPelt discusses the various programs/services offered by VSA Arts Alabama.
10-04-2005
Joey Brackner interviews television legend and Jasper native George Lindsey about his roots, his career and his current activities. Mr. Lindsey is the recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts� 2005 Distinguished Artist Award.
Debbie Bond and Alabama Blues Project BluesCamp
09-27-2005
Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, conducts an interview with Debbie Bond, Executive Director of the Alabama Blues Project. The Alabama Blues Project is a non-profit organization, located in Tuscaloosa, which focus on the promotion, documentation and presentation of the Blues.
09-20-2005
Yvette Daniel, Performing Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Sara Elyse Sanford a 2006 Performing Arts Fellowship recipient. Sara is a company member of the Alabama Dance Theatre (ADT) where she began as a student dancer seven years ago. In 2001, she attended the Alabama Governor�s School of Arts and Technology and won Dance Magazine�s full scholarship to the National Craft of Chorography. Sara soon advanced to the ranks of choreographer at ADT where her work as an emerging choreographer earned her repeated recognition at the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA).
09-13-2005
Joey Brackner interviews Matt Arnett of Tinwood Media and quilter, Arlonzia Pettway during the opening of the Quilts of Gee's Bend Exhibition in Mobile 2003. This is a rebroadcast to promote the same exhibition running from September to December 2005 at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn.
08-30-2005
Georgine Clarke interviews two crafts artists who have studio space in York Alabama, glass artist Linda Munoz and basket artist Mary Jane Everett who is recipient of an individual artists award from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Artists Rachel and Tony Wright
08-23-2005
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager interviews Rachel and Tony Wright, two artists living in Mobile. Rachel exhibits her work widely, using a variety of materials to express her contemporary art forms. She is also involved as a frequent curator for exhibitions at Space 301. Tony is a ceramic artist on the art faculty of the University of South Alabama and is a leader in the state craft community.
Black Belt Roots Festival
08-16-2005
Joey Brackner,
visits the 2004 Black Belt Roots Festival in Eutaw, Alabama. He talks with
festival organizers, craft artists and a Fayette County step group that
performed at the recent event. Repeat from 2004 to promote 2005 festival to
be held Aug 27-28.
Photos from 2003 festival
Poet Andrew Hudgins
08-09-2005
Alabama Writers' Forum executive director Jeanie Thompson interviews 2005 Harper Lee Award-winning poet Andrew Hudgins, who spent his teenage and early adult years in Montgomery and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The author of six collections of poetry and recipient of numerous other awards, Hudgins reads from several poems in his new collection Ecstatic in the Poison Thompson asks Hudgins to talk about being a Southern writer and his work as an essayist.
Black Belt Design founder Marilyn Gordon and designer Lillie Mack
07-26-2005
Georgine Clarke interviews Marilyn Gordon and Lillie Mack, artists with Black Belt Designs in York, Alabama. This program, affiliated with the Coleman Center is designed to teach residents of the area to design and create clothing. The pieces are stitched from re-cycled blue jeans and African mudcloth. Among other locations, the textiles have been shown in New York and in a special exhibition at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
07-19-2005
Steve Grauberger interviews Hank Willett, former director for the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture about the new CD release Wiregrass Notes Revised: African American Sacred Harp Singing from Southeast Alabama This is a reissue of the historic 1980 LP with added material from the original reel-to-reel recording. Sacred Harp singing from the CD is featured on the program.
07-12-2005
In a continuation of the previous program Steve Grauberger interviews storyteller, writer, and 50-year veteran radio personality Bob Sanders of Auburn�s WAUD. Bob reads stories from his publication Friends, Family and Frontier Country: Growing Up in West Alabama, a compilation of articles taken from his weekly newspaper column Esoterica for Everyone.
07-05-2005
Steve Grauberger interviews storyteller, writer, and 50-year veteran radio personality Bob Sanders of Auburn�s WAUD. Bob reads stories from his publication Friends, Family and Frontier Country: Growing Up in West Alabama, a compilation of articles taken from his weekly newspaper column Esoterica for Everyone.
06-28-2005
Rosemary Johnson Executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council interviews Charles Mason, professor of composition at Birmingham Southern University, about his receiving the prestigious Rome Prize for musical composition that carries an eleven month residency in Rome Italy.
06-21-2005
Georgine Clarke interviews two artists working with the Coleman Center in York, Alabama. Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. is a printmaker who has created posters and other materials for many events and organizations in the state. His work has also been collected by such museums as the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Carl Pope is a nationally recognized artist who was selected for exhibition in the 2000 Whitney Biennial, an important showcase of contemporary art, in New York.
06-14-2005
Anne Kimzey, interviews participants of the Alabama Community Scholars Institute. Kimzey speaks with Joyce Cauthen director of the Alabama Folklife Association that sponsors of the Community Scholars Institute. She also interviews three of the community scholars: Lori Sawyer of Atmore, Ana Schuber of Tuscaloosa, and Diane Gerard of Mobile.
06-07-2005
Performing Arts Program Manager Yvette Daniel interviews Arts Council Board Member Ralph Frohsin about his work with the Alexander City Jazz Festival. Included is information about the 2005 festival held June 10-11.
05-31-2005
Joey Brackner, Director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews folklorist Fred Fussell about his many years documenting the rich folklife of the Chattahoochee Valley.
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts Director Michael Panhorst
05-24-2005
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager, interviews Michael Panhorst, Director of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts at Auburn University. The discussion covers the Museum's Permanent Collection, which includes The Advancing American Art Collection of paintings purchased in 1948 by Auburn University when they were auctioned by the State Department as war surplus. The 40,000 square-foot modern building incorporates eight exhibition galleries, a gift shop, a restaurant, and an auditorium.
Shane Porter of the New South Jazz Orchestra
05-17-2005
Joey Brackner interviews Shane Porter, Alabama State University music professor and member of the New South Jazz Orchestra (NSJO). Porter discusses the repertory and educational goals of the newly developed instrumental group and of the NSJO members that consist primarily of jazz educators from Universities in the State of Alabama. Music from the NSJO's new CD is featured.
05-10-2005
Rosemary Johnson Executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council interviews Catherine Gilmore, President of the Metropolitan Arts Center, and Terry Wexler of Southern Dance Works about their collaboration in Honda America's Dream Lab Project that encourages creativity in children through rhythm and dance. Wexler also talks about her work with sit-down dancers.
05-03-2005
Gina Clifford, director of Design Alabama, interviews Cheryl Morgan, Professor at Auburn University and Director of the Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, about Your Town Alabama Workshop. Your Town Workshop is an intensive two-and-half day event that includes: lectures, case-study presentations, and interactive group problem solving scenarios involving community planning and design work in a hypothetical small town.
Margie and Enoch Sullivan, 2005 Alabama Folk Heritage Award recipients.
04-26-2005
Folklife Specialist, Steve Grauberger interviews Margie and Enoch Sullivan of the Sullivan Family Band at their home in St. Stephens about their lives and ministry of gospel bluegrass music. Includes musical examples.
04-19-2005
ASCA folklorist Joey Brackner interviews preeminent Alabama historian Dr. Wayne Flynt about his new book Alabama in the Twentieth Century. In the interview, he outlines the significant cultural contributions of Alabamians during the late century. Wayne Flynt is the Distinguished University Professor of History at Auburn University.
04-12-2005
This week ASCA folklorist Joey Brackner interviews Alabama's curator of historic song - Bobby Horton. Best known for his CDs of Civil War era music and membership in the popular band Three On a String, Mr. Horton also discusses his family's musical heritage and his work composing songs for numerous Ken Burns' documentary films. Bobby Horton is a recipient of a 2005 Governor's Arts Award.
04-05-2005
Diana Green interviews Martha Lockett, Executive Director for the Alabama Institute for Education in the Art, about the teaching artist training program. Diana also interviews two of the artists in this year's program, storyteller Deborah Ferguson and musician\songwriter Russell Gulley.
Country Musician and Songwriter Cast King and apprentice Matt Downer
03-29-2005
Anne Kimzey interviews musicians Cast King and Matt Downer from Sand Mountain.� Guitarist and songwriter Cast King and his former band The Country Drifters recorded with Sun Records of Memphis in the 1950s.� Matt Downer, a young musician, has been working with Mr. King for a few years to learn his guitar style and to record his music and life history.�� During the program Mr. King performs three of the approximately 500 songs he has written in his lifetime.
MK Matalon Curator of Space One Eleven in Birmingham and Annie Butrus, Arts Council fellowship recipient
03-22-2005
Georgine Clarke interviews two people associated with Space One Eleven, a contemporary arts center in Birmingham. In the first segment, M.K. Matalon, Curator of Visual Arts at Space One Eleven is discussing the Center's focus on art exhibitions and current displays. In the second segment, Annie Butrus, a recipient of an individual artist fellowship from the Arts Council, talks about her recent exhibits at Space One Eleven. She also explains her new body of work and how it is created.
Arts Council Chair, Bernice Price
03-15-2005
Executive Director Al Head interviews State Arts Council Chair Bernice Price about her career, her work with the Arts Council, and her interest in arts education. She presently serves as chair of The Arts Committee for the Montgomery Chapter of The Links and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Symphony, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and Leadership Montgomery. In December, 1998, she served as a member of the Music Education and Access Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts.
03-08-2005
Gina Clifford, executive director of DesignAlabama, interviews a number of residents from Winfield, located in northwest Alabama, about their city and all the wonderful work they do to preserve their towns history and sense of place. In this interview you will meet, Natalie Maddox, Winfield Main Street Director and some of the city's residents who have interesting stories to tell about Main Street, Junior Main Street, the PastTime Theater and the city itself.
John Northrop, Director of the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) in Birmingham
03-01-2005
Diana Green interviews John Northrop about ASFA, its programs and students as well as the Arts Are Core initiative advocating the expansion of arts education in the State's public school system.
Heritage Award Winner Jerry Brown Traditional Stoneware Potter
02-22-2005
Joey Brackner interviews Jerry Brown about the process of pottery making at his shop in Hamilton Alabama
Margaret Lynne Ausfeld, Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
02-15-2005
Georgine Clarke inteviews Margaret Lynne Ausfeld about new construction, upcoming exhibitions, events, and permanent displays at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
02-08-2005
Anne Kimzey interviews Marcus Johnson on the Bay City Brass Band of Mobile. They discuss brass band history and music in the Mobile Mardi Gras tradition.
Dean Mosher
02-01-2005
Repeat of Al Head, Executive Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviewing Dean Mosher, about his painting career. Mosher is recognized for historically accurate illustrated scenes. Some of his paintings are on permanent loan to the U. S. Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland.
John Scalici- Druming Circles
01-25-2005
Deputy Director for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews John Scalici about his work with Drumming Circles. Scalici's "Get Rhythm!" program is a unique, concept-based presentation, which focuses on the universal language of rhythm. His program integrates elements of math, science, history, and social studies and also provides a fresh, unique approach to cultural diversity.
Andy Meadows- photography teacher at Booker T Washington Magnet, Montgomery
01-18-2005
Ryan Hora and Mary Louise Thrower, Booker T Washington (BTW) Magnet students interview fellow students as well as their photography teacher Andy Meadows
6th of ASCA's Holiday Presentation of Alabama's Musicians: The Heim Duo
01-11-2005
This husband and wife duo, Annette and Bret Heim, combine the flute and classical guitar in an exquisite, intimate experience. Their ability to bring their audience into their performances ensures repeat request and performances. They present compositions by living American and British composers of note in an audience-friendly way. Their performance at the National Czech and Slovak Museum was described as "absolutely astonishing."
5th of ASCA's Holiday Presentation of Alabama's Musicians: Sharon Bounds with Chuck Reeves and The Gary Waldrep Band
01-04-2005
Sharon Bounds hails from Northport, Alabama. At the age
of eighteen, Bounds won the Alabama State Championship, and has won the
Mississippi State Championship four times. Bounds plays a variety of
styles from Texas and Cajun to country and bluegrass. Bounds is
accompanied by Chuck Reeves, a national recording artist and member of the
Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
The Gary Waldrep Band is featured in
the second half of the program. He is joined by his sister Susan, Bill
Everett, and Donna Townsel.
4th of ASCA's Holiday Presentation of Alabama's Musicians: Henri's Notion
12-28-2004
Henri's Notion creates a musical mix of traditional Celtic and American music as well as their own compositions that have a rhythm and voice reflective of their Southern heritage, which lends a pleasing familiarity to the music.
3rd of ASCA's Holiday Presentation of Alabama's Musicians: Carver School Choir and Alabama School of Fine Arts Chamber Players
12-21-2004
The award winning George Washington Carver School Choir is directed by Mr. Henry Terry of Elba. The choir has performed at festivals and events throughout the United States. It has earned recognition as one of the country�s foremost high school vocal ensembles and is known for its accurate interpretation and performance of music by African American Composers. Alabama School of Fine Arts Chamber Players are talented instrumentalist in grades seven through twelfth performing a repertoire consisting of standard orchestral and chamber music from the late Renaissance through Twentieth Century, light classics and familiar selections from Broadway to ballet. The Chamber Players have provided orchestral accompaniment for a variety of musical theatre productions, hospitals, churches, and concerts.
2nd of ASCA's Holiday Presentation of Alabama's Musicians: Una Voce Cantamus
12-14-2004
Formed in the summer of 2000 is modeled after nationally renowned groups who brought Renaissance music to the foreground and introduced classical vocal music to the masses. The purpose of the group includes: the enrichment of the Alabama music scene, education of the community, achievement of musical excellence, development of cultural diversity and the pleasure of its members and audiences. Rebecca Taylor was invited to serve as musical and artistic director of Una Voce Cantamus in January 2001.
1st of ASCA's Holiday Presentation of Alabama's Musicians: The Four Eagles, African American Gospel Quartet Singing
12-07-2004
A full program of music of The Four Eagles Quartet a capella gospel group is presented from a program originally recorded during the "Sounds of the Seasons" performance series held at the Alabama State Capitol building in 2002.
11-30-2004
Joey Brackner interviews University of Alabama professor Robert Halli about his new book, An Alabama Songbook: Ballads, Folksongs, and Spirituals. The book is based upon the research of Byron Arnold who collected folk songs throughout Alabama during the late 1940s. Actual field recordings made by Byron Arnold are featured during the program.
11-23-2004
Anne Kimzey interviews African American Gospel music scholar Dr. Horace Boyer. Boyer visited Alabama in 2004 to lead a music workshop in Lowndes County in conjunction with an event honoring Civil Rights martyr Jonathan Daniels. In the radio interview Dr. Boyer discusses Alabama's rich musical heritage, his own musical roots, and how he came to edit the African-American hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Don Brown and John Chambless Architects
11-16-2004
The second program featuring Gina Clifford, Executive Director of Design Alabama, interviewing Don Brown and John Chambless. This program highlights in detail actual projects and proposals found in the master plan such as the Biscuits Baseball Stadium, the Convention Center and plans for other housing and development on the riverfront.
11-09-2004
Gina Clifford, Executive Director of Design Alabama, interviews architects Don Brown and John Chambless of Brown-Chambless Architects, Montgomery. Don and John have both played an integral role in the development and movement to change and revitalize the riverfront and downtown Montgomery. The first of two interviews in this series highlights the basic of creating a master plan for a community such as design principals, economics and garnering public support for the project.
10-26-2004
Joey Brackner, visits the 2004 Black Belt Roots Festival in Eutaw, Alabama. He talks with festival organizers, craft artists and a Fayette County step group that performed at the recent event.
10-19-2004
Georgine Clarke interviews talks with two art program directors from far corners of Alabama. On the first segment of the program is Barbara Broach, Director of Museums in Florence, Alabama, who discusses restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright House as well as festivals and exhibition opportunities at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts. The second segment is Robin Fitzhugh, Director of the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope who talks about activities in a community recognized for its artists and art events.
10-12-2004
Joey Brackner interviews singer/songwriter and folklife researcher Russell Gulley about his musical career and new CD Back to the Swap. Musical examples are included.
10-05-2004
Rebecca Ryals interviews Arts Fellowship Award winner, Demondrae Thurman, professor of Music at ASU and member of the low brass quartet named, Sotto Voce. Musical examples are included in the program.
09-28-2004
Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviews a variety of people during the 2004 Fiddle Fest held at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama in Troy
Fred and Svetlana Kimbrough
09-21-2004
Repeat of Rebecca Ryals interviewing Fred and Svetlana Kimbrough about their life and work at the Ballet and Theatre Arts School of Gilbertown Alabama
09-14-2004
Folklife Program Manager Joey Brackner interviews Nancy Gonce discussing a wide range of cultural issues from the Florence/Muscle Shoals area. The W. C. Handy Festival, the George Lindsay/UNA Film Festival at the University of North Alabama and a Federally-funded Heritage study are among the topics covered.
09-07-2004
Randy Shoults, Community Arts Program Manager, interviews Jennie McBride, the Executive Director of the Mountain Valley Arts Council in Guntersville about their upcoming MOVA Festival. The focus of the interview is their nationally recognized songwriters competition. Information about this years Festival, how to enter next years competition (2005) and samples of music from the 2002 and 2003 competitions are included.
08-31-2004
Gina Clifford, director of Design Alabama, interviews Cheryl Morgan, Professor at Auburn University and Director of the Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, about Your Town Alabama Workshop. Your Town Workshop is an intensive two-and-half day event that includes: lectures, case-study presentations, and interactive group problem solving scenarios involving community planning and design work in a hypothetical small town.
08-24-2004
Steve Grauberger interviews Barbara Evans about the upcoming Okra Festival held annually the 4th saturday of August each year in Lowndes County. Evans talks about the festival and Annie Mae's Place. Music, and storytelling examples are included in the program (Photos of 2003 festival)
Arts Fellowship Award Winner, Marian Carcache
08-17-2004
Repeat of Literature Program Manager Randy Shoults interviewing Marian Carcache about her literary interests and about growing up in rural Russell County, Alabama. Carcache also reads examples of her writings.
08-10-2004
Anne Kimzey interviews James Bryan and Rachel Bryan, a father-daughter, old-time music duo from Mentone. James Bryan is one of Alabama's best-known fiddlers. He grew up in Northeast Alabama, the son of an old-time musician. James continues this musical legacy with his 17 year-old daughter Rachel. On this program, listeners will hear the Bryan family talk about their music, as well as perform a number of tunes, with James on fiddle, accompanied by Rachel on guitar.
Mario Gallardo and Darius Hill
08-03-2004
Georgine Clarke interviews two contemporary Alabama artists, Darius Hill, chair of the visual art program at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham and Mario Gallardo, instructor at Gadsden State Community College. Both are recipients of Individual Artist Fellowships awards given by ASCA based on excellence of work. Discussions during the program cover types of artwork, ways of teaching beginning artists, and impressions of the art environment in Alabama.
07-27-2004
Joey Brackner interviews David Ivey and Jeff Sheppard about the annual Camp Fasola held each year at Camp Lee near Anniston Alabama.
Interview with poet Marlin Barton and teacher Sandra Whatley-Washington about DYS "Writing Our Stories Project"
07-20-2004
Alabama Writers' Forum Executive Director Jeanie Thompson interviews teaching writer Marlin Barton and Department of Youth Services teacher Sandra Whatley-Washington about the innovative Writing Our Stories: Anti-Violence Creative Writing Program, now in its seventh year.
James Alex Taylor of the Birmingham Sunlights Gospel Quartet
07-13-2004
Repeat of Hank Willett's interview of lead tenor, James Taylor of the Birmingham Sunlights a cappella gospel quartet. The interview is about the group, their music and travels. Musical examples are included.
Dean Mosher
7-06-2004
Al Head Executive Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts interviews Dean Mosher, about his painting career. Mosher is recognized for historically accurate illustrated scenes. Some of his paintings are on permanent loan to the U. S. Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland.
6-29-2004
A repeat of Randy Shoults interviewing poet Tony Crunk. Crunk reads examples from his publication Living in the Resurrection
Contemporary Artists- John Phillips and Toni Tully
6-22-2004
Blacksmith and metal sculptor John Phillips and fabric artist Toni Tully talk to Georgine Clarke about their respective artwork.
Seasoned Performers of Birmingham Alabama
06-15-2004
Rebecca Ryals interviews writers and members of the Seasoned Performers about their organization.
Allan Pizzato, Executive Director of Alabama Public Television
06-08-2004
Arts Council Director Al Head interviews Allan Pizzato about APT's new "Arts and Letters" program that began airing statewide in Jan of 2004. Repeat from 2-10-2004
Russell Everett and Brad Morton Contemporary Artists.
06-01-2004
Georgine Clarke interviews Russell Everett and Brad Morton about their backgrounds and art works. Repeat from 2-17-2004
Fellowship Award winner, Bluesman Willie King
05-25-2004
Rebecca Ryals interviews Willie King at the Freedom Creek Blues Festival in Old Memphis near Aliceville, includes musical examples.
Lee Sentell
05-18-2004
Arts Council Director Al Head interviews Lee Sentell, Director of Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel.
Georgette Norman, Director of the Rosa Parks Museum
05-11-2004
Georgine Clarke interviews Georgette Norman, Director of
the TSU Rosa Parks Museum and Library in Montgomery. The discussion ranges
from the permanent collection of the Museum to on-going activities for
children,
musical presentations and temporary exhibitions. The program also looks
forward to the up-coming 50th anniversary celebration of the Montgomery
bus boycott and the 40th anniversary of the Selma march. A special feature
is a recorded music presentation by the Montgomery Gospel Trio.
Sudha Raghuram
05-04-2004
Anne Kimzey, Folklife Specialist for the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, interviews Sudha Raghuram a dancer in the Indian classical tradition of Bharatanatyam (Bah-rah-tah Nah-tee-yahm). She is a master artist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts' folk arts apprenticeship program. In the interview, Sudha describes this ancient dance form and tells about teaching it here in Alabama.
Jim Hilgartner and Donna Estill and the Alabama Writer's Symposium
04-27-2004
Randy Shoults, Community Arts, Literature and Design Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews Jim Hilgartner and Donna Estill about the 2004 Alabama Writer's Symposium event held each year in Monroeville.
Jerry McCain
04-20-2004
Repeat of Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviewing Jerry McCain about his life and music career at his home in Gadsden Alabama. Musical examples are included in the program.
04-13-2004
Steve Grauberger interviews Everisto Hernandez leader of the Montgomery based Mariachi Garibaldi. The Mariachi also provides music for the program in the ACTC studio.
04-06-2004
Barbara Edwards interviews Jazz musician Eric Essix about his work with the rural schools touring program and his work as a musician
Fred and Svetlana Kimbrough and the Ballet and Theatre Arts School of Gilbertown Alabama
03-30-2004
Rebecca Ryals interviews Fred and Svetlana Kimbrough
3-23-2004
Georgine Clarke inteviews Simeon Coxe Director of Gulf ArtSpace in Fairhope, David McCann of Space 301 in Mobile and Bobby Welch, Director of the Mary G Hardin Cultural Arts Center in Gadsden. These spaces provide changing exhibitions of contemporary art works, giving opportunities for artists to show new work in a variety of media, including electronic pieces, installation and themed presentations. They differ from museums in that they have no permanent collections.
3-16-2004
Georgine Clarke, interviews Troy State University Art Department Chairman Jerry Johnson and faculty member Ed Noriega about the University's unique art program. The discussion includes information about how a student may apply to the art program, as well as a description of past student exhibitions and community outreach.
Tommy Moorehead and the Art Project on Cheaha's Pinhoti Millennium Trail
3-09-2004
Randy Shoults interviews Tommy Moorehead, Director of the Heritage Hall Museum in Talladega about the sculpture created for the entranceway to the Pinhoti Trail at Cheaha State Park in Delta, Alabama. The arch contains designs of vines and vegetation that are native to the area.
David Ivey and Tim Eriksen
3-02-2004
A repeat of Joey Brackner interviewing David Ivey and Tim Eriksen about Sacred Harp Singing in the Movie Cold Mountain. Musical examples are included in the program
Erik Jambor and Martin McCaffery
2-24-2004
Georgine Clarke, Visual Arts Program Manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, interviews two individuals working with production and showcasing film in Alabama. Eric Jambor is executive director of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham. He discusses elements of the event as well as a filmmaking competition for high school students. Martin McCaffery, director of the Capri Theatre in Montgomery talks about the nature of independent film and answers questions about quality children's films, and film as art.
Russell Everett and Brad Morton Contemporary Artists.
2-17-2004
Georgine Clarke interviews Russell Everett and Brad Morton about their backgrounds and art works.
Allan Pizzato, Executive Director of Alabama Public Television
2-10-2004
Arts Council Director Al Head interviews Allan Pizzato about APT's new "Arts and Letters" program that began airing statewide in Jan of 2004.
Joe Schenk former director of the Mobile Museum of Art and Esther Hockett director of the Wiregrass Museum of Fine Arts
2-03-2004
Joey Brackner interviews Joe Schenk and Georgine Clarke interviews Esther Hockett about their respective regional Alabama art museums.
Arts Fellowship Award Winner, Marian Carcache
1-27-2004
Literature Program Manager Randy Shoults interviews Marian Carcache about her literary interests and about growing up in rural Russell County, Alabama. Carcache also reads examples of her writings.
1-20-2004
teve Grauberger interviews Doug Back on the history of Classic Banjo. The program includes musical examples from Back's new CD releases, The Banjo Goes brow and The Big Trio Reprise on the Belmando label.
Dora Little and Gaynel Dixon
1-13-2004
Deputy Director Barbara Edwards interviews Dora Little and Gaynell Dixon about the Legislative Club and their project selecting student art from around the state to display in the State House throughout the year.
Rosemary Johnson, Director, Alabama Dance Council
1-06-2004
Rebecca Ryals interviews Janie Alford, 2004 dance fellowship recipient and Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council who talks about the upcoming Alabama Dance Summit.
Joe Bob and Deborah Traylor Traditional Crafts
12-30-2003
Anne Kimzey interviews Joe Bob Taylor about willow furniture making and his wife, Deborah, about traditional rag-string rug making at their home in Randolph County.
Joyce Cauthen Director of the Alabama Folklife Association
12-23-2003
Folklife Progam Manager Joey Brackner speaks to Joyce Cauthen, Executive Director of the Alabama Folklife Association (AFA) about the history, recent, and future projects of the AFA including the upcoming Alabama Community Scholars Institute 2004. Musical examples are included in the program.
Literacy Award Recipient Tony Crunk
12-16-2003
Randy Shoults interviews poet Tony Crunk. Crunk reads examples from his new publication Living in the Resurrection and new, yet unpublished work.
12-09-2003
Joey Brackner interviews David Ivey and Tim Eriksen about Sacred Harp Singing in the Movie Cold Mountain. Musical examples are included in the program
12-02-2003
Joey Brackner interviews Ted Rosengarten about his award winning book All God's Dangers: The Life of Nat Shaw and his newly published book A Portion of the People: 300 Years of Southern Jewish Life
Paige Wainwright and Vaughn Randall of Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark of Birmingham Alabama
11-25-2003
Visual Arts Program Manager Georgine Clarke interviews Paige Wainwright, Metal Arts Curator of Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark about their Metal Arts Program. In the second half of the show, Georgine interviews Vaughan Randall, artist in residence at Sloss and recipient of an independent artist fellowship in sculpture from the Arts Council.
Blues Harmonicist Jerry (Boogie) McCain
11-18-2003
Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviews Jerry McCain about his life and music career at his home in Gadsden Alabama. Musical examples are included in the program.
11-11-2003
Jonathan Katz, Chief Executive Officer of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) speaks to Arts Council Director Al Head about the history and goals of NASAA.
11-04-2003
Kevin Nutt, of CaseQuarter Records talks about his research on early blues recording artist Ed Bell from Greenville, Alabama. His recent Tributaries article on the subject can be obtained at Alabamafolklife.org
Student Artist, Mathew Austin and his teacher P. Hope Brandon, National Secondary Teacher of the Year
10-28-2003
Deputy Director Barbara Edwards interviews student award recipient Mathew Austin and his teacher P. Hope Brandon
James Alex Taylor of the Birmingham Sunlights Gospel Quartet
10-21-2003
Hank Willett interviews lead tenor, James Taylor of the Birmingham Sunlights a cappella gospel quartet. The interview is about the group, their music and travels. Musical examples are included.
Heritage Award Winner Jerry Brown Traditional Stoneware Potter
10-14-2003
Joey Brackner interviews Jerry Brown about the process of pottery making at his shop in Hamilton Alabama
10-07-2003
Visual Arts Program Manager, Georgine Clarke interviews Sara Ann Gibson, Executive Director of the Kentuck Art Center in Norport, and nationally renowned folk-artist, Charlie Lucas
9-30-2003
Steve Grauberger interviews Stanley Smith, John Etheridge, and Bill Aplin,elected officers of the Sacred Harp Book Company (Cooper revision), includes Sacred Harp singing examples.
9-23-2003
Randy Shoults interviews Jay Lamar Director for the Alabama Center for the Book about their annual Gala Dinner and the Storytelling Festival the next day.
9-16-2003
Rebecca Ryals interviews Willie King at the Freedom Creek Blues Festival in Old Memphis near Aliceville, includes musical examples.
9-9-2003
Rebecca Ryals interviews David Stephens, includes examples of his work.
9-02-2003
Center Director Hank Willett interviews Gary Waldrep at his home in Kilpatrick, inclues music examples of the Gary Waldrep Band.
8-26-2003
Program Manager, Rebecca Ryals interviews Art Music composer Monroe Golden, includes musical examples of his work.
8-19-2003
Folklife Specialist, Steve Grauberger interviews Margie and Enoch Sullivan of the Sullivan Family Band at their home in St. Stephens, includes musical examples.
8-12-2003
Deputy Director Barbara Edwards interviews Sara Strange about K-12 arts education programs within the purview of the Alabama Department of Education
8-05-2003
Folklife Specialist Anne Kimzey interviews Joey Brackner about the Folklife Master Apprenticeship program that he administers.
7-29-2003
Rebecca Ryals interviews Dolores Hydock about her skills as an actress and storyteller, includes examples of her storytelling skills.
Author Joe Dan Boyd talks about Judge Jackson and the Colored Sacred Harp
7-22-2003
Joey Brackner interviews Joe Dan Boyd about his book on Judge Jackson, the man who published the "Colored Sacred Harp" tunebook in the 1930's, includes musical examples of African American songsters.
Fellowship Award Winner Michael Angell
7-15-2003
Rebecca Ryals inteviews modern music composer Michael Angell, includes musical examples of his work
Gee's Bend Quilters
7-8-2003
Joey Brackner interviews Matt Arnett of Tinwood Media and quilter, Arlonzia Pettway at the Mobile Museum of Art during the opening of the Quilts of Gee's Bend Exhibition