Mode of Program Participation
Community Organizing and Educational Programming
Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Extreme Appalachia Meets Extreme India: Creative Arts Empowering Rural Women
Session Abstract or Summary
Though living on opposite sides of the world, the indigenous tribal groups of India and the peoples of rural Appalachia have much in common. Both occupy marginalized positions and experience social discrimination in their nations, and have long histories of extractive industries in their homelands. Both remain rich in natural and human resources, cultural heritage, and human spirit, and yet often face seemingly insurmountable challenges in achieving the economic security that allows for a life of dignity and fulfilled purpose. While women are often regarded as the keepers of traditional knowledge among these populations, they are also frequently excluded from full participation in key socio-cultural, political, and economic contexts. This session will explore the role that the creative arts can play in enabling rural women to navigate these contradictions, and seeks to foster dialogue around practical and effective strategies for improving the lives of similar populations of women around the globe.
Presentation #1 Title
Presenter 1 (and Convener): “Can We Paint and Sing our Way to Empowerment in the Mountains?”
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Drawing on oral histories of Eastern Kentucky women artists working for social change and her work with the Eastern Kentucky Arts Project, art historian Joy Gritton will provide an introduction to the diverse ways in which the arts are being used to address challenges related to the health, economic security, social welfare, and education of women and girls in the Eastern Kentucky region. These initiatives include workshops, exhibits, classes, and sales opportunities sponsored by the Grayson Gallery and Art Center, Appalachian Heritage Alliance, Kentucky Art Tribe, Haldeman Community Center, and the Olmsted Girls Project.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Joy Gritton is founder of the Eastern Kentucky Arts Project and teaches art history at Morehead State University, where she also coordinates the Interdisciplinary Appalachian Studies Program. She is currently completing a book on Allen Eaton.
Presentation #2 Title
“Artistic and Cultural Traditions of Odisha: Opportunity and Challenges for Rural Women.”
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
Sociologist Chinmayee Satpathy will provide an introduction to the struggles tribal women face in the region of Odisha, India, noting the similarities and differences between the ways the arts have impacted rural women’s experiences of continuity and change in India and Eastern Kentucky.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Chinmayee Satpathy is an Indian sociologist who has worked across the government, academic, and non-profit sectors to document the lives and challenges of rural women in India for over 15 years. Her record of Post-Doctoral awards with the Indian Council of Social Science Research and UNESCO are testaments to her commitment to the betterment of women’s lives across the globe. She will be a Fulbright scholar in residence at Morehead State University during the spring semester, 2017.
Presentation #3 Title
“Art, Film, and Giving Voice to Rural Women in Eastern Kentucky.”
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
Visual Artist Lacy Hale will share her own personal experiences of empowerment as an artist growing up in Knott County, while also discussing programs she has coordinated that have opened up opportunities for women in the region. These include the Jenkins Community Mural Project, the EpiCenter Arts, and the Appalachian Media Institute.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Lacy Hale is a visual and mural artist whose work often intersects with the public and women in the region. She has worked to found a number of regional arts groups that serve women, including EpiCentre Arts (which recently received a Rauschenberg Foundation grant), Appalachian Women of the Art, and East Kentucky for Arts Education. Hale hosts a radio show on Appalshop’s WMMT, “Art Matters,” and currently serves on the Appalachian Artisan Center and Kentucky Arts Council boards.
Presentation #4 Title
“Song of the Mountains: Developing Regional Pride Through Traditional Music.”
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
Musician Sarah Morgan will discuss the power of music in her own life (starting at age 7), but also the potential she has witnessed as a teacher of folk music to youth in the region to build confidence, regional identity, and pride in Appalachian culture.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Sarah Morgan is an award-winning folk singer, mountain dulcimer teacher, and performer. Morgan has taught at traditional folk music conferences and programs across the country, including the John C Campbell Folk School, Western Carolina University, Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp, and the Academy for Creative Thought after school program in Rowan County, Kentucky. Morgan is pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Traditional Music, with Appalachian Studies and Arts Entrepreneurship minors.
Presenter 1 (and Convener): “Can We Paint and Sing our Way to Empowerment in the Mountains?”
Drawing on oral histories of Eastern Kentucky women artists working for social change and her work with the Eastern Kentucky Arts Project, art historian Joy Gritton will provide an introduction to the diverse ways in which the arts are being used to address challenges related to the health, economic security, social welfare, and education of women and girls in the Eastern Kentucky region. These initiatives include workshops, exhibits, classes, and sales opportunities sponsored by the Grayson Gallery and Art Center, Appalachian Heritage Alliance, Kentucky Art Tribe, Haldeman Community Center, and the Olmsted Girls Project.
