Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
HISTORY: 2002 WEEK OF STORYTELLING PROCLAIMED
Then President of Territory Tellers, Garland McWatters, State Representative Danny Moss, and President-Elect Bonnie Smith, posed in 2002 with the Governor's Proclamation of "Oklahoma Storytelling Week".
In 2003, Oklahoma State Rep. Danny Morgan, the state storytelling agency president, Garland McWatters, and storyteller Bonny Smith asked Gov. Brad Henry to designate the week of storytelling (Nov. 16-22, 2003) as "Oklahoma Tellabration Storytelling Week!" Storytelling," Morgan said,” is a valuable method of sharing American folklore and is an important means of contributing to Oklahoman's knowledge of the history of our state."
PHOTO Remembering outstanding moments in Oklahoma Storytelling: In 2003, the Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague, wanted to keep the ancient folk art of storytelling alive. At his request, Gov. Brad Henry signed a proclamation which designated the week of Nov. 16-22 as Oklahoma Tellabration! Storytelling Week. Representatives of the statewide storytelling organization, the Territory Tellers, accepted a copy of the proclamation from the Representative.
OKLAHOMA TELLABRATIONS (R)
Let me tell you about...."Tellabration!" (R) - A global celebration of storytelling held each November.
Each November storytellers around the globe celebrate storytelling in evening concerts in homes, halls, fields, theaters, bookstores, schools, and any place they can share their love of the art form. In 1988 a storytelling guild in Connecticut decided to offer a special evening of storytelling. It proved so satisfying that they planned more and soon they were happening all over the country! According to one source, Oklahoma's first "TELLABRATION! (R)," was held in 1992 at the Sooner Theater in Norman and was produced by storytelling librarian Letty Watt.
Some other producers included members of the state’s storytelling organization, The Territory Tellers: Letty Watt, Bob Bjorkland, Lois Hartman, Fran Stallings, Lynn Moroney, Rosemary Czarski, Marilyn Hudson, Bonnie Smith, ....
Some of the Oklahomans who contributed their talent to sharing stories in the state's "Tellabrations!" included: Ginger La Croix, Letty Watt, Theresa Black, Robert and Marie Harris, Barabra McBride-Smith, Patsy Packard, David Titus, Weckeach Bradley, Jared Aubrey, Bob Bjorklund, Lois Hartman, Kris Hunt, Peggy Kaney, Sam McMichael, Jo Etta Martneay Bryan, Whit Edwards, Debra Garnejkul, Connie Fisher, Vance Morrow, Sky Shivers, Steve and Pat Kardolff, Will Hill, Tina Saner, Emilea Moring, Kathryn Thurman, Marilyn A. Hudson, Chester Weems, Rosemary Czarski, Liz Parker, Bonnie Smith Jeannette Harjo, Stella Long, Shaun Perkins, Barbara Wright Jones, Susie Beasley, Jahruba Lembeth, Maureen McGovern, and others.
The poster is from the 2002 event hosted by the Pioneer Library System in Norman, Oklahoma. Featured tellers: Lynn Moroney, Jahruba Lembeth, Maureen McGovern and Marilyn A. Hudson.
Each November storytellers around the globe celebrate storytelling in evening concerts in homes, halls, fields, theaters, bookstores, schools, and any place they can share their love of the art form. In 1988 a storytelling guild in Connecticut decided to offer a special evening of storytelling. It proved so satisfying that they planned more and soon they were happening all over the country! According to one source, Oklahoma's first "TELLABRATION! (R)," was held in 1992 at the Sooner Theater in Norman and was produced by storytelling librarian Letty Watt.
Some other producers included members of the state’s storytelling organization, The Territory Tellers: Letty Watt, Bob Bjorkland, Lois Hartman, Fran Stallings, Lynn Moroney, Rosemary Czarski, Marilyn Hudson, Bonnie Smith, ....
Some of the Oklahomans who contributed their talent to sharing stories in the state's "Tellabrations!" included: Ginger La Croix, Letty Watt, Theresa Black, Robert and Marie Harris, Barabra McBride-Smith, Patsy Packard, David Titus, Weckeach Bradley, Jared Aubrey, Bob Bjorklund, Lois Hartman, Kris Hunt, Peggy Kaney, Sam McMichael, Jo Etta Martneay Bryan, Whit Edwards, Debra Garnejkul, Connie Fisher, Vance Morrow, Sky Shivers, Steve and Pat Kardolff, Will Hill, Tina Saner, Emilea Moring, Kathryn Thurman, Marilyn A. Hudson, Chester Weems, Rosemary Czarski, Liz Parker, Bonnie Smith Jeannette Harjo, Stella Long, Shaun Perkins, Barbara Wright Jones, Susie Beasley, Jahruba Lembeth, Maureen McGovern, and others.
The poster is from the 2002 event hosted by the Pioneer Library System in Norman, Oklahoma. Featured tellers: Lynn Moroney, Jahruba Lembeth, Maureen McGovern and Marilyn A. Hudson.
A NIGHT WHEN THE (STORY) STARS SHINE!
A NIGHT WHEN THE STARS SHINE
In the early 1970's in OKC the local libraries (in The Metropolitan Library System) were dynamic supporters of storytelling. They hosted events, trained volunteers, and went out into the community to introduce Oklahoma City to the art of oral storytelling. Many of the first storytellers who charmed audiences emerged from the ranks of librarians and staff within the early libraries and systems.
They were thus ready when a formal event to celebrate story emerged with the OKC Arts Council's "Wintertales" in 1982. "Wintertales" proved a popular event and grew to become a significant part of the year for storytellers, educators, and listeners across the mid-central regions. It developed into workshops, family concerts, and event concerts with nationally known and local storytellers. Always supported and assisted by the Territory Tellers of Oklahoma who held an "Olio" (story concert) and hosted a reception for the tellers and audience. The momentum continued even as a new national event was being born known as "Tellabration!" (R).
This "global night of storytelling" only began in the mid 1980's but by 1992 the state organization, The Territory Tellers, was going strong hosting events across the wider metropolitan area of Oklahoma City and in metro Tulsa. It was originally conceived as an event to raise awareness that storytelling was not limited to children and the programs celebrated "adult" storytelling by returning to the complex, socially relevant, and thought provoking tales that once enthralled people of every culture. Subject matter was appropriate to adults with adult concerns, experiences, and dreams.
In 1992, the event was held in the St. Luke's UMC. Local tellers included: Ginger La Croix, Theresa Black, Robert and Marie Harris, Barbara McBride-Smith, Patsy Packard, David Titus, Weckeah Bradley and Jared Aubrey. However, by the late 20th century the event had evolved to include "family friendly" events and "youth Tellabrations."
In 2003, Oklahoma State Rep. Danny Morgan, the state storytelling agency president, Garland McWatters, and storyteller Bonny Smith asked Gov. Brad Henry to designate the week of storytelling (Nov. 16-22, 2003) as "Oklahoma Tellabration Storytelling Week!" Storytelling," Morgan said,” is a valuable method of sharing American folklore and is an important means of contributing to Oklahoman's knowledge of the history of our state."
In the early 1970's in OKC the local libraries (in The Metropolitan Library System) were dynamic supporters of storytelling. They hosted events, trained volunteers, and went out into the community to introduce Oklahoma City to the art of oral storytelling. Many of the first storytellers who charmed audiences emerged from the ranks of librarians and staff within the early libraries and systems.
They were thus ready when a formal event to celebrate story emerged with the OKC Arts Council's "Wintertales" in 1982. "Wintertales" proved a popular event and grew to become a significant part of the year for storytellers, educators, and listeners across the mid-central regions. It developed into workshops, family concerts, and event concerts with nationally known and local storytellers. Always supported and assisted by the Territory Tellers of Oklahoma who held an "Olio" (story concert) and hosted a reception for the tellers and audience. The momentum continued even as a new national event was being born known as "Tellabration!" (R).
This "global night of storytelling" only began in the mid 1980's but by 1992 the state organization, The Territory Tellers, was going strong hosting events across the wider metropolitan area of Oklahoma City and in metro Tulsa. It was originally conceived as an event to raise awareness that storytelling was not limited to children and the programs celebrated "adult" storytelling by returning to the complex, socially relevant, and thought provoking tales that once enthralled people of every culture. Subject matter was appropriate to adults with adult concerns, experiences, and dreams.
In 1992, the event was held in the St. Luke's UMC. Local tellers included: Ginger La Croix, Theresa Black, Robert and Marie Harris, Barbara McBride-Smith, Patsy Packard, David Titus, Weckeah Bradley and Jared Aubrey. However, by the late 20th century the event had evolved to include "family friendly" events and "youth Tellabrations."
In 2003, Oklahoma State Rep. Danny Morgan, the state storytelling agency president, Garland McWatters, and storyteller Bonny Smith asked Gov. Brad Henry to designate the week of storytelling (Nov. 16-22, 2003) as "Oklahoma Tellabration Storytelling Week!" Storytelling," Morgan said,” is a valuable method of sharing American folklore and is an important means of contributing to Oklahoman's knowledge of the history of our state."
[Image design by Cullan Hudson, Fresh Eire Design. Used by permission]
Storytelling in Oklahoma City: 1960-2000 (work in progress)
STORYTELLING IN OKLAHOMA CITY: 1960-2000. (In progress)
“Storytelling” has been described as the writing of a book, the reading of a book aloud, the acting out of a book’s story, the creation of images to convey a story line, and the process of orally conveying a story. It is entertainment, it is a folk art, and it is theater… This fluidity of definition has resulted in more than a little confusion by journalists, publicists, and the public.
In 1943 columnist, Edyth T. Wallace queried if storytelling for small children had become a lost art. She urged parents and others to see that it did not disappear and recommended a book and a brochure she had found to provide tips for learning and sharing stories.[1]
“Story time starts at City Libraries” declared one OKC headline in 1965 about a “spring storytelling cycle being readied by the local system. They may have been influenced by the highly successful work of Augusta Brown in New York. Contextually it is apparent they meant the tradition story “reading” of a printed book to a group of children[2]. The next year, however, in “Libraries Slate Storytelling” it is pointed out that children would be given opportunity to “listen to the centuries old art of storytelling” implying it was focusing more on the oral tradition[3]. In 1972, Clair Jones, of the speech and theater department at OCU, conducted a workshop on Creative Dramatics and Storytelling” at the university.[4]
Storytelling found a regular home in Oklahoma, as elsewhere, in the annual summer break programs offered through local public libraries.[5]
While delighting children everywhere, storytelling was also being rediscovered as a viable and entertaining pleasure for adults. In 1973, the now famous Jonesboro Storytelling Festival in Tennessee was born proving that storytelling had a wider appeal than just for the nursery set.[6] It had proven itself entertaining to a wide age group, but it was also being suggested by academics that storytelling could be useful in many disciplines. In an AP story by George W. Cornell in November of 1973, Harvard theologian Dr. Harvey Cox expressed the need for theologians and the church to reclaim storytelling.[7]
The local library system of OKC, the Metropolitan Library System, continued its annual “storytelling workshops” at three libraries who repeatedly served as hubs in the 1970’s and 1980’s for such events: Southern Oaks, the Downtown library, and the Ralph Ellison branch. Presenters at these training events included Roxanne Rhodes, Donna Deniston, Karen Jones and others. In 1977, the MLS was even “looking for storytellers” to be trained to learn “book selection, storytelling techniques, and theme ideas” for preschool storytimes in area libraries.[8]
Into the 1980,’s storytelling continued to be encourage and promoted at OCU under Claire Jones and in the public libraries. It was also being introduced into retirement centers as well.[9] In 1982, Linda Levey, along with the OKC Arts Council, the MLS, and other groups launched a “storytelling festival” event aimed primarily at adult audiences and “WinterTales” was born. A year later, Levy, along with Lynn Moroney of the OKC Arts Council were sharing stories in a multi-arts venue called, “Festifall.”
In 1986, Ann DeFrange, local journalist, interviewed visiting storyteller Bob Wilhelm, a featured teller at that year’s “WinterTales”. The focus of the event was to be to revive “our native skills to communicate to other people.”[10] Oklahoma City, however, had been involved in reviving this skill for a number of years already.
The groundswell of a storytelling renaissance continued and blossomed from the seeds of the folk music movement in the early 1960’s. The nations approaching bicentennial, when all things in the communal past were revisited, and re-discovered, saw a revival of many “folk arts” and storytelling was one of those. Just as the Jonesboro Storytelling Festival provided an impetus in the 1970’s, the development in 1988 of an “evening of storytelling” called “Tallabration!” would do the same for the next two decades. [see entry on the history of the event in Oklahoma).
Some segments of Oklahoma society needed little effort to “rediscover” storytelling, since they had kept the flame of custom in their cultures. Oklahoma’s rich palette of ethnic groups included Asians, Native Americans, Europeans, and African-Americans. This meant that a vital, often untapped and sometimes unappreciated, treasure of knowledge, instruction, and history was waiting to be shared. Te Atw, the Chickasaw storyteller was one early notable individual. In 1996, Tulsa based Miscogee Indian, Wilburn Hill noted he had been brought up to be a tribal storyteller.[11]
[1] Wallace, E.T. “Is Storytelling for Small Children Becoming a Lost Art?” The Oklahoman (Jan.14, 1943:6).
[2] “Storytime Starts at City Libraries” The Oklahoman (Feb.9, 1965: 26).
[3] “Libraries Slate Storytelling” The Oklahoman (Jan. 25, 1966: 38).
[4] ‘First Workshop Today” The Oklahoman (Sept. 30, 1972: 7).
[5] “Libraries Sets Special Events for children.” The Oklahoma (June 2, 1972: 37).
[6] “History of the Festival” at http://www.storytellingcenter.com/festival/history-fest.htm
[7] “Christianity Needs To reclaim Storytelling”. The Oklahoman (Nov. 23, 1973:94).
[8] “Libraries Looking for Storytellers.” Te Oklahoman (Aug.19, 1977:22).
[9] “Retirement Home Plans Storytelling as Regular Activity.” The Oklahoman (Aug. 3, 1982: 42).
[10] “”Storytelling Art Form Worth Keeping Forever.” The Oklahoman (Jan. 26, 1986: 96).
“Storytelling” has been described as the writing of a book, the reading of a book aloud, the acting out of a book’s story, the creation of images to convey a story line, and the process of orally conveying a story. It is entertainment, it is a folk art, and it is theater… This fluidity of definition has resulted in more than a little confusion by journalists, publicists, and the public.
In 1943 columnist, Edyth T. Wallace queried if storytelling for small children had become a lost art. She urged parents and others to see that it did not disappear and recommended a book and a brochure she had found to provide tips for learning and sharing stories.[1]
“Story time starts at City Libraries” declared one OKC headline in 1965 about a “spring storytelling cycle being readied by the local system. They may have been influenced by the highly successful work of Augusta Brown in New York. Contextually it is apparent they meant the tradition story “reading” of a printed book to a group of children[2]. The next year, however, in “Libraries Slate Storytelling” it is pointed out that children would be given opportunity to “listen to the centuries old art of storytelling” implying it was focusing more on the oral tradition[3]. In 1972, Clair Jones, of the speech and theater department at OCU, conducted a workshop on Creative Dramatics and Storytelling” at the university.[4]
Storytelling found a regular home in Oklahoma, as elsewhere, in the annual summer break programs offered through local public libraries.[5]
While delighting children everywhere, storytelling was also being rediscovered as a viable and entertaining pleasure for adults. In 1973, the now famous Jonesboro Storytelling Festival in Tennessee was born proving that storytelling had a wider appeal than just for the nursery set.[6] It had proven itself entertaining to a wide age group, but it was also being suggested by academics that storytelling could be useful in many disciplines. In an AP story by George W. Cornell in November of 1973, Harvard theologian Dr. Harvey Cox expressed the need for theologians and the church to reclaim storytelling.[7]
The local library system of OKC, the Metropolitan Library System, continued its annual “storytelling workshops” at three libraries who repeatedly served as hubs in the 1970’s and 1980’s for such events: Southern Oaks, the Downtown library, and the Ralph Ellison branch. Presenters at these training events included Roxanne Rhodes, Donna Deniston, Karen Jones and others. In 1977, the MLS was even “looking for storytellers” to be trained to learn “book selection, storytelling techniques, and theme ideas” for preschool storytimes in area libraries.[8]
Into the 1980,’s storytelling continued to be encourage and promoted at OCU under Claire Jones and in the public libraries. It was also being introduced into retirement centers as well.[9] In 1982, Linda Levey, along with the OKC Arts Council, the MLS, and other groups launched a “storytelling festival” event aimed primarily at adult audiences and “WinterTales” was born. A year later, Levy, along with Lynn Moroney of the OKC Arts Council were sharing stories in a multi-arts venue called, “Festifall.”
In 1986, Ann DeFrange, local journalist, interviewed visiting storyteller Bob Wilhelm, a featured teller at that year’s “WinterTales”. The focus of the event was to be to revive “our native skills to communicate to other people.”[10] Oklahoma City, however, had been involved in reviving this skill for a number of years already.
The groundswell of a storytelling renaissance continued and blossomed from the seeds of the folk music movement in the early 1960’s. The nations approaching bicentennial, when all things in the communal past were revisited, and re-discovered, saw a revival of many “folk arts” and storytelling was one of those. Just as the Jonesboro Storytelling Festival provided an impetus in the 1970’s, the development in 1988 of an “evening of storytelling” called “Tallabration!” would do the same for the next two decades. [see entry on the history of the event in Oklahoma).
Some segments of Oklahoma society needed little effort to “rediscover” storytelling, since they had kept the flame of custom in their cultures. Oklahoma’s rich palette of ethnic groups included Asians, Native Americans, Europeans, and African-Americans. This meant that a vital, often untapped and sometimes unappreciated, treasure of knowledge, instruction, and history was waiting to be shared. Te Atw, the Chickasaw storyteller was one early notable individual. In 1996, Tulsa based Miscogee Indian, Wilburn Hill noted he had been brought up to be a tribal storyteller.[11]
[1] Wallace, E.T. “Is Storytelling for Small Children Becoming a Lost Art?” The Oklahoman (Jan.14, 1943:6).
[2] “Storytime Starts at City Libraries” The Oklahoman (Feb.9, 1965: 26).
[3] “Libraries Slate Storytelling” The Oklahoman (Jan. 25, 1966: 38).
[4] ‘First Workshop Today” The Oklahoman (Sept. 30, 1972: 7).
[5] “Libraries Sets Special Events for children.” The Oklahoma (June 2, 1972: 37).
[6] “History of the Festival” at http://www.storytellingcenter.com/festival/history-fest.htm
[7] “Christianity Needs To reclaim Storytelling”. The Oklahoman (Nov. 23, 1973:94).
[8] “Libraries Looking for Storytellers.” Te Oklahoman (Aug.19, 1977:22).
[9] “Retirement Home Plans Storytelling as Regular Activity.” The Oklahoman (Aug. 3, 1982: 42).
[10] “”Storytelling Art Form Worth Keeping Forever.” The Oklahoman (Jan. 26, 1986: 96).
FIRST RECOGNIZED ARTIST WAS A STORYTELLER
FIRST RECOGNIZED ARTIST – WAS A STORYTELLER
Deemed a state treasure, her name meant "bearer of the morning" and her stories brought the dawn of a new era in the appreciation of the traditional arts in the life of Oklahoma. In the 1980's she was named Oklahoma's first cultural treasure and how fitting.
Roger Harris of the Oklahoma History Center has a synopsis of her life at
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/T/TE001.html and there is a page dedicated to her on the Chickasaw Nation website at
http://www.chickasaw.net/site06/heritage/250_951.htm .
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/T/TE001.html and there is a page dedicated to her on the Chickasaw Nation website at
http://www.chickasaw.net/site06/heritage/250_951.htm .
A recent stage production has been developed that honors this remarkable Chickasaw woman . Her story "Baby Rattlesnake" was published as adapted by Lynn Moroney http://www.ipl.org/div/natam/bin/browse.pl/A212
“art binds all people together”-- Te Ata
http://www.usao.edu/teata/storyofteata.htm
An auditorium on the campus of Oklahoma University of Arts and Sciences honors her as well
http://www.usao.edu/teata/whatsnew.htm
A book also covers her life. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Te-Ata/Richard-Green/e/9780806137544/?itm=2
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