For Immediate Release
Contact
Wanted: Mining Poets, Singers & Storytellers
The hard-learned lessons, humor, tragedies and issues of work in the mining
occupation have long been the subject of poetry, stories, songs and visual
art by
mineworkers and their families.
The Western Folklife Center, a non-profit arts organization headquartered in
Elko, Nevada, is seeking active writers and performers of traditional and
contemporary work reflecting the mining experience for an event highlighting
Mining Traditions at the Millenium, (or whatever name we want to use)
scheduled
in Elko on November 13, 1999.
Most known for its research and presentation of traditions of ranch culture,
including its Cowboy Poetry Gathering event in Elko in late January, the
Western
Folklife Center is dedicated to the documentation and presentation of
traditional
arts in the western states. Little attention has been devoted to the
expressive
culture of people working in the mining occupation and the Center,
headquartered
in one of the largest gold producing areas of the country, is looking forward
to
finding out what is being produced in today’s western mining country.
Reciters, poets, storytellers and others located through this initial survey
will
be highlighted at a special event in Elko, Nevada, November 13th that will
include an evening performance and a Saturday afternoon program of poetry,
music
and stories, with open mike sessions for others wanting to participate. A
small
exhibit of traditional art and craft created by miners that reflect a mining
theme will also be a part of the program at the Western Folklife Center.
Interested individuals are asked to submit a biographical sketch detailing
their
mining experience and examples of their work by September 22. Poets should
submit written as well as recorded examples of their poetry; musicians and
storytellers should submit a recorded example of their music and storytelling;
and visual artists should submit slides or photographs of their work. Artists
will be notified by October 5 if they are invited to be a scheduled
participant
of the Elko program
Send submissions to: Mining Traditions Program, Western Folklife Center, 501
Railroad St., Elko, NV 89801. For more information contact Meg at
775-738-7508.
E-mail address: westfolk.org
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