Participation Type
Performance
Session Title
Traveling the Dark, Lovely Places: A New Appalachia In Words and Music
Session Abstract or Summary
Presenters Sam Gleaves, Silas House, and Karen McElmurray look at the ways art can be used to accurately articulate the truths about diversity and unity (or lack of it) in our region by performing selections from their new novels and songs. All three presenters will explore the citizen of New Appalachia as a traveler not only of the global world but also as someone who is constantly trying to strike the balance of what it means to live in and work as an artist of New Appalachia. Through their work they will discuss issues of discrimination and unity, diversity and Otherness, as well as talking about the impact of religion and politics on the region. This session seeks to take a deep look into the complexities of being a citizen of New Appalachia, a region that is changing and varied in its degrees of unity and diversity. All three presenters will end with a conversation between themselves and the audience.
Presentation #1 Title
Traveling The Dark, Lovely Places: A New Appalachia in Words and Music
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Presenters Sam Gleaves, Silas House, and Karen McElmurray look at the ways art can be used to accurately articulate the truths about diversity and unity (or lack of it) in our region by performing selections from their new novels and songs. All three presenters will explore the citizen of New Appalachia as a traveler not only of the global world but also as someone who is constantly trying to strike the balance of what it means to live in and work as an artist of New Appalachia. Through their work they will discuss issues of discrimination and unity, diversity and Otherness, as well as talking about the impact of religion and politics on the region. This session seeks to take a deep look into the complexities of being a citizen of New Appalachia, a region that is changing and varied in its degrees of unity and diversity. All three presenters will end with a conversation between themselves and the audience.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Silas House is the nationally bestselling author of five novels, one book of creative nonfiction, and three plays. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Times and a former commentator for NPR's "All Things Considered" whose work has been widely published. House serves on the fiction faculty of the MFA in Creative Writing at Spalding University and as the National Endowment for the Humanities Chair at Berea College.
Presentation #2 Title
Traveling The Dark, Lovely Places: A New Appalachia in Words and Music
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
Presenters Sam Gleaves, Silas House, and Karen McElmurray look at the ways art can be used to accurately articulate the truths about diversity and unity (or lack of it) in our region by performing selections from their new novels and songs. All three presenters will explore the citizen of New Appalachia as a traveler not only of the global world but also as someone who is constantly trying to strike the balance of what it means to live in and work as an artist of New Appalachia. Through their work they will discuss issues of discrimination and unity, diversity and Otherness, as well as talking about the impact of religion and politics on the region. This session seeks to take a deep look into the complexities of being a citizen of New Appalachia, a region that is changing and varied in its degrees of unity and diversity. All three presenters will end with a conversation between themselves and the audience.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Sam Gleaves is a traditional musician, singer and songwriter from Wytheville, Virginia. His debut album of original songs, titled Ain't We Brothers, is a collection of stories from contemporary Appalachia speaking about love, working people and the home place. Produced by Grammy winning artist and activist Cathy Fink, the recording features a number of guest musicians including Janis Ian, Tim O'Brien, Laurie Lewis, Tyler Hughes and Donavan Cain. Gleaves earned his undergraduate degree in Folklore at Berea College and currently serves as a VISTA at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center.
Presentation #3 Title
Traveling The Dark, Lovely Places: A New Appalachia in Words and Music
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
Presenters Sam Gleaves, Silas House, and Karen McElmurray look at the ways art can be used to accurately articulate the truths about diversity and unity (or lack of it) in our region by performing selections from their new novels and songs. All three presenters will explore the citizen of New Appalachia as a traveler not only of the global world but also as someone who is constantly trying to strike the balance of what it means to live in and work as an artist of New Appalachia. Through their work they will discuss issues of discrimination and unity, diversity and Otherness, as well as talking about the impact of religion and politics on the region. This session seeks to take a deep look into the complexities of being a citizen of New Appalachia, a region that is changing and varied in its degrees of unity and diversity. All three presenters will end with a conversation between themselves and the audience.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Karen Salyer McElmurray is the author of the novels Strange Birds in the Tree of Heaven and Motel of the Stars, and the memoir Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother's Journey, as well as co-editor (with Adrian Blevins) of the anthology Walk Till The Dogs Get Mean: Meditations on the Forbidden from Contemporary Appalachia. She is a recipient of an NEA Fellowship and a National Book Critics Circle Notable Book citation. She teaches at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Gettysburg College.
Traveling The Dark, Lovely Places: A New Appalachia in Words and Music
Presenters Sam Gleaves, Silas House, and Karen McElmurray look at the ways art can be used to accurately articulate the truths about diversity and unity (or lack of it) in our region by performing selections from their new novels and songs. All three presenters will explore the citizen of New Appalachia as a traveler not only of the global world but also as someone who is constantly trying to strike the balance of what it means to live in and work as an artist of New Appalachia. Through their work they will discuss issues of discrimination and unity, diversity and Otherness, as well as talking about the impact of religion and politics on the region. This session seeks to take a deep look into the complexities of being a citizen of New Appalachia, a region that is changing and varied in its degrees of unity and diversity. All three presenters will end with a conversation between themselves and the audience.
