Heart of the Community, Soul of a Culture

2014 Heart of the Community, Soul of a Culture [email protected]/757 -678-5550/www.barrierislandscenter.com Welcome! Many of you know how much I love to welcome a new visitor here at the BIC. With the upcoming release of Watermen, I think back to the providential events that brought us together with James Spione, the talented director of all three films, seven years ago...Jim was spending summer vacation with his in-laws at their home in Willis Wharf and had registered his son Sam for our new Pirate Summer Camp. After dropping Sam off, Jim decided to look around the museum. We think it was the best decision he’s ever made. Jim and I began chatting about the BIC, the Eastern Shore and the world. Gradually, I learned that Jim had created a documentary film about his family’s dairy farm in New York. I could also tell that he had fallen in love with the rugged beauty of the Shore. Light bulbs began to pop in my head, so I quickly brought Sally Dickinson, our Education Director, out to meet him. After Jim left that day, Sally and I googled his film, American Farm. As we suspected, it was beautiful, and we hatched our plan. Sally had been working on oral histories of Hog Island, and she had a hunch that video could be a perfect medium to capture the pride of place and precious memories of the last inhabitants of Hog Island for posterity. We pitched the idea to Jim, and within 3 months, he had completed the interviews and was editing what would become Our Island Home. The movie surpassed our wildest imaginations. We thought that by capturing the oral history vignettes on film, we could add depth to our exhibits. But we had no idea that the film would strike a chord with so many people, including PBS TV stations and their viewers. And so, we went back to Jim for a second film, Spirit of the Bird. Since then, Jim has been nominated for an Academy Award for another documentary, but has still found time to work with us on Watermen. We hope you’ll enjoy this third documentary just as much as the earlier two. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to greet visitors here at the BIC. You just never know who will step foot in here next… Hope to see y’all soon, ! The Barrier Islands Center is proud to announce the upcoming premiere of its newest documentary: Watermen. The film explores the history and culture surrounding fishing in the waters of Virginia’s seaside and Chesapeake Bay. Academy Award-nominated Director James Spione has once again created a beautifully textured documentary that gives voice to the people, lifestyles and traditions that make up the unique fabric of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Offering intimate glimpses into the lives of the hardworking men and women who struggle to make their living on the water, Watermen also traces generations of families and communities which have evolved around fishing. Despite hardships and an uncertain future, the film richly captures the fierce pride and enduring optimism of the Eastern Shore’s watermen. Art and Music on the Farm Saturday, May 24th from 10-4 p.m. Cost: $5 for adults. Under 18 yrs. FREE. Rain or shine - Please, no coolers. Start off your summer with a glorious celebration of Virginia’s rich heritage of art and music at one of the loveliest venues on the Eastern Shore. The Art and Music on the Farm festival offers fine art and treasures from local artists and artisans as well as traditional roots music played by celebrated musicians from across Virginia, all in an inviting, family-friendly setting. Sip wine, peruse the eye-catching art, delve into the history of Virginia musical styles, enjoy funnel cakes, or plan a fun summer garden. You will find something to tickle your fancy! There’s even an art activity for the children! Everyone will revel in the toe-tapping, hand-clapping sounds of mountain stringband, chantey singing, folk, gospel and bluegrass from five highly acclaimed Virginia bands. And there is also an exciting opportunity to participate in intimate workshops hosted by the performers and learn even more with interpretations by music historian Gregg Kimball and state folklorist Jon Lohman. The BIC is able to bring these high caliber musicians thanks to the Virginia Commission for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Fast-Track grants. In addition to the music, the Farm will be filled with some of the finest art in the region: over 40 artists and artisans will have their paintings and crafts for sale. There will also be flowers, plants, food and beverages (including local wine, beer, soft drinks and iced coffee) available for purchase. So mark your calendars and bring your friends and family for a fun-filled day of delights on the Farm! The Music: Wayne Henderson and Helen White: Wayne Henderson is a musical legend known worldwide for both his lightning- fast “pinch picking” guitar style and the beautiful guitars, mandolins, and banjos he crafts in his shop in tiny Rugby, Virginia. Even Eric Clapton had to wait seven years to get one of Wayne’s guitars! Wayne has performed throughout the United States and the world, holds multiple first place finishes at the Galax Fiddler’s Convention guitar competition, and is honored each year at the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition. In 1995, he received the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Award, the nation’s greatest honor for those who practice traditional arts. Helen White is an award-winning singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Junior Appalachian Musicians program which introduces Appalachian children to their musical heritage. Wayne and Helen have been performing together for 15 years, with Helen providing a perfect backup to Wayne’s amazing guitar abilities. As a duo or as part of string bands, the pair has played at events sponsored by the National Center for Traditional Arts and the Presidential Inaugural Folk Festival. Art & Music on the Farm cont... Family of Praise: Family of Praise is a gospel group formed in 2012 under the direction of Ms. Cheryl Maroney-Beaver, granddaughter of Maggie Ingram. The ensemble has performed at numerous churches, festivals and community events, including backup performances for Maggie Ingram & the Ingramettes. Nominated to participate in the Virginia Folklife Program, Family of Praise is committed to community involvement and personal development through praise and worship. Springfield Exit: Linda and David Lay, along with David McLaughlin, make up Springfield Exit, one of Virginia's outstanding singer trios. The trio performs original songs in addition to their own arrangements of old standards, traditional songs and instrumentals pulled from country, blues, swing, bluegrass, and folk. They have performed to audiences from Vermont to Washington State, and on stages at the Library of Congress, the Birchmere, Floydfest, Winchester's Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the General Jackson Showboat, the Wildhorse Saloon, and the Opryland Hotel. Northern Neck Chantey Singers: A chantey is a song African-American fishermen used to sing as they worked along the eastern seaboard decades ago. Like many work songs, it's a tradition that went by the wayside when machines replaced manual labor. Today it’s being kept alive by a group of aging former fishermen in the northern neck of Virginia, the strip of land between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. The men, all in their 70s and 80s now, pass on that musical heritage to the delight of audiences. Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith: Dr. Gregg Kimball combines skills as a musician, historian, and published author to develop compelling programs and presentations on America’s traditional musical forms, such as gospel, old-time, and blues music. He has performed at many festivals and concert venues including the Washington D.C. Blues Festival, the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and with the Richmond Symphony. Mary Smith is a traditional singer from central Virginia, and is co-founder of Richmond Folk Music, a monthly concert series dedicated to traditional folk music. Both Gregg and Mary take a special interest in the history and context of roots music. Art & Music on the Farm cont... Festival Emcee - Jon Lohman: Jon is Program Director of the Virginia Folklife Program, part of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, based in Charlottesville. As the state folklorist, he works to document, present, and support Virginia’s rich cultural folkways through a variety of mediums, including audio and video documentation, exhibit design, public programming, and project development. He has presented at numerous festivals, including Floydfest, the Smithsonian Folklife festival, the national Folklife Festival, Merlefest, the Blue Ridge Folklife festival, and the American Folklife Festival. As of April 8th... Artists and Artisans Robert Bilicki ● Marty Burgess ● Mary Ann Clarke ● David Crane ● Diana Davis ● Buck Doughty Linda Ennis ● Gertraud Fendler ● Ann Hayden ● Susan Henderson ● Jane Kafigian ● Barbara Myers Bill Mytnik ● Thelma Peterson ● Maurice Spector ● Ten Good Sheep ● Kylis Winborne Vesna Zidovek and Vendors Food and Beverage Appleseed Porch and Garden Chatham Vineyards Wines Rita Hilton (flowers) Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Co. Iced Coffee Tankard Nurseries (plants donated for sale) Wendell Distributing Co. Beer KitchenSync Catering by Louise Oliver Otter Creek Catering by Debby Kozak Thank you to our 2014 Event Sponsors Accomack Title and Settlement, Inc. Adair Tyler - SunTrust Investments Atlantic Animal Hospital BoJangles - Onley Branscome Eastern Shore Burger Landscape & Design Chatham Vineyards Davis Disposal Bay Creek Drs. Savage, Sabol & Visser - Orthodontics ESLAND Eastern Shore Adventures Eastern Shore Animal Hospital H.M.

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