Pippin - Fall/Winter 2008-2009 Pippin1 Vol.14, No.2 The Newsletter of the Storytellers School of Toronto Seeger Sings Again (in Canada) By Lorne Brown They were the most eagerly sought after of tickets. No advance public- ity, no media release, no advertise- ments. Good old-fashioned word of mouth (or maybe word of e-mail) and magically the news spread. “Pete Seeger’s singing in To- ronto! Pass it on!” “He’s singing in Hugh’s Room with his grandson! Pass it on!” Now how on earth could this happen? Mr. Seeger is 89 years old and vowed some years ago that his touring days were over. “I’m so busy at home with chores, answering mail, that I never think of leaving the (Hudson) valley,” he said, “My banjo’s hanging on the wall and if anyone vis- its I can take it down and play it.” As usual, Pete is being too modest. Peo- ple dropping in include the Boss him- self, Bruce Springsteen, who made a recording with Pete. And banjo vir- tuoso Tony Trischka, who did like- wise, thanks to the mini-digital re- corder. But the question remains: how could this happen? Well, it seems that Pete’s grand- son Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, with his Pete Seeger at age 88 photographed on 6-16-07 at the Clearwater Festival 2007 by Anthony Pepitone folk rock group the Mammals on ma- ternity leave, recently performed a concert with his grandfather and Guy Davis at the A Note From the Editor Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Li- brary and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. A new name, a new home, new a new one. That’s evolution for you. "We had a really good time," said Rodri- times. Sometimes it is born out of necessity and guez-Seeger. "We got home and Grandpa Yes, the times they are a- other times it is born out of wisdom and was bouncing off the wall with excitement. changin’. We are witnessing a demand for a greater vision. 'Let's do that again,' he said." the end of one chapter in the “Storytelling Toronto” is our official (Continued on page 3) life of our organization and the beginning new name which is a little easier to get your tongue around than the old moniker. Seeger Sings Again ................1 A Feast of Festivals ...............10 It also suggests a greater scope of en- Book Nook .........................6 Some Thoughts on Appleseed .....12 compassing more than our work in the INSIDE Peace Theatre Camp 2008........7 Stories Going ‘Round ...............13 schools – a name that originally did very Harmony Project ...................8 Centre for Digital Storytelling ....13 well to describe our original vision. But National Aboriginal Day ...........8 Travel, Folklore & Family..........14 we have grown. A Storytelling Journey ............9 Listings ..............................15 Fall Gathering and AGM ...........9 (Continued on page 2) 2 Pippin - Fall/Winter 2008-2009 (Continued from page 1) The last edition of Pippin got lost in PIPPIN is the newsletter of The Just looking at this edition of Pippin we the midst of summer frolic and I am as Storytellers School of Toronto. can see that we have expanded beyond the guilty as anyone else for not making it hap- borders of the greater megalopolis. We pen. What can I say, there’s something The Storytellers School of are working as peace activists, as healers, about those lazy, hazy days of August that Toronto is a registered, non- as folklorists as musicians and more. We puts my mind on vacation. I’d much rather profit organization that are taking our stories to festivals, gather- be metaphorically fishing rather than provides a creative home for ings, fairs, events, parks and of course, to strapped to my computer. We’ll want to a community of storytellers, the schools. look at this seasonal distraction for the listeners, and story-explorers. Our mission We bid a bittersweet fairwell (at least future. is to inspire, encourage and support for the time being) to Appleseed Quar- Thanks to all of our contributors storytelling for listeners, tellers and those terly. Pippin continues to be our brag rag this time ‘round. Without you there would who have not yet heard. Since 1979 we have and makes no pretense about being the be only blank pages. Let’s keep the pages been providing courses and workshops; holding gatherings, festivals and events to intellectual read that AQ provided for so dancing with your news. celebrate and present the art of many years. storytelling; supporting the creative work of storytellers; and producing publications about storytelling and storytellers. **NOTA BENE** Pippin Editor AWARDS PUT ON HOLD Deborah Dunleavy The Alice Kane and the Anne Smythe CITY DEDICATES [email protected] Awards will not be presented this year. NEW PARK IN With the economic downturn our invest- Design/Layout HONOUR OF chris cavanagh ment with the Arts Endowment Fund has been affected. In the past interest on DR. RITA COX Book Reviewer this investment was used for the awards. Rheba Estante Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 14 Park- Unfortunately the fund has actually lost dale-High Park), representatives of the Listings value recently making it necessary to City of Toronto, prominent Torontonians Marylyn Peringer postpone the awards. and community members joined Canadian Program Leaders icon Dr. Rita Cox to dedicate a new park Festival Artistic Director: Brian Hetherington BARNS UPDATE: in her honour on Wednesday, October 22 Course Coordinators: Marylyn Peringer, Lynda Howes at 14 Machells Ave. Directory Committee: Bruce Carmody (Chair), Exciting news! Although plans are Laurie Malabar, Heather Whaley still in the works for our actual move, we Dr. Cox joined the Toronto Public Appleseed Quartlerly: Brian Hetherington (Editor-in-Chief) are picking up the keys to our new home Library in 1960 as a children’s librarian Website: Bruce Carmody on Nov. 1st. The official opening cere- conducting storytelling sessions at the [email protected] mony for Artscape Wychwood Barns will local branch in Parkdale. As chief librar- be on Thursday, November 20. After ian, a role she took on in 1974, Dr. Cox Board of Directors 2006-2007 instituted literacy programs, promoted that the Barns will be open to the public. Karen Blair (Treasurer) At the time of Pippin going to the print- multiculturalism throughout Toronto, and David Gladstone pioneered the library’s Black Heritage Brian Hetherington (Past-President) ers, a special event was slated for No- Michael Lobraico (President) th vember 15 . and West Indian Resource Collection. In Katherine Ramkhelawan Storytelling Toronto is planning to 1998, the collection was renamed the Hildy Stollery Paul Robert (Secretary) hold an event to celebrate the move and Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection. Molly Sutkaitis raise some money to help offset moving It has become one of the most compre- expenses. You are all invited! More in- hensive collections of its kind in Canada. Managing Director formation will be available soon. Jody James © The Storytellers School of Toronto 720 Bathurst St., Suite 500A Toronto, ON M5S 2R4 Phone: 416 656-2445 Fax: 416 656-8510 Email: [email protected] Website: www.storytellingtoronto.org Pippin - Fall/Winter 2008-2009 3 Seeger Sings Again (in Canada) cont’d (Continued from page 1) “First Night Out”. There was the Seeger Hampson and her daughter were there, A Canadian tour was quickly arranged – van parked outside Hugh’s Room. The mar- along with other friends and relatives. Montreal (River’s Edge Community Church), quee billed tonight as the “Seeger Family Larry, a table mate, said that Pete Seeger Toronto (two nights in Hugh’s Room), King- Concert” That would be Pete, grandson Tao was just ahead of him when he came in. ston (the Grand Theatre) and Ottawa Rodriguez-Seeger, and “honorary cousin” “There was Pete Seeger with his banjo!” he (Library and Archives Canada). No airplane Guy Davis, son of actor/activists Ossie and kept repeating, like some teenage girl talk- travel; they would drive in a van. No large Ruby Davis. ing about the latest heartthrob band hero. venues, only small intimate ones. The tour Already Hugh’s Room was filling up with In fact, the whole room seemed to be filled would be a benefit for the Unitarian Ser- diners. People waited in line, some carrying with old friends and relatives. It was “Old vice Committee of Canada, which assists banjos, which I thought strange. Turns out Home Week”, with Toronto’s folk commu- farmers in developing countries. ($35 000 they were hoping Pete would sign them af- nity out in full force, all feeling, truth to was raised!) The tour sold out immediately. ter the show. He didn’t; he went up one tell, somewhat teenage-ish. So I find myself arriving with my wife flight of stairs to the Green Room and There was banjo wiz Arnie Naiman and on the evening of July 7, 2008 at Hugh’s down another and out the door to his van. his singing wife Kathy Reid Naiman. They Room. The problems I had with a kidney Eventually we got seated at Bram Morri- were sitting so close to the stage I sug- stone - which caused me to cancel all sorts son’s table, a table for nine directly in gested Arnie could re-tune the 5-string of gigs, including one in Saskatoon – had front of the stage. Unfortunately, Bram banjo lying on a chair on stage. Tao’s banjo, finally passed, so to speak, and this was my and Ruth were unable to attend, but Sharon (Continued on page 4) Washington, D.C. Pete Seeger, noted folk singer entertaining at the opening of the Washington labor canteen, sponsored by the United Federal Labor Canteen, sponsored by the Federal Workers of American, Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).” Photograph by Joseph A.