Summer Memories, 1

In everything we do this year, we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.

Ginny described the beginning of the Guild in 1975, and shared the newspaper announcement of the first open meeting --which was published in both the morning and the evening paper.

The old woman in Dana's story first got what she wanted --

and then what she deserved!

Summer jobs? Clayton has had them!

Hard work pays off in Patty's hilarious version of Obedient Jack.

Dakota shared an original story that we could imagine as an animated cartoon.

People! You are in for a treat when Faridah tells a tale.

No end to Christina's tale of "Never Ending Jack"

Laura organized Summer Tales (Yay, Laura!) and told a tandem tale with Ginny of "No News"

And we all had a fun time!

Thanks to the library for sponsoring us, to CATS for recording the event, to all the tellers - and especially thanks to the folks in the audience who laughed and gasped and clapped at just the right time.  

We are so grateful to still be sharing stories with you after 50 years!

If you missed the performance, remember that you will be able to watch it on CATS, the library's Community Access Television Services.   Check their listings at: https://catstv.net/index.php

 

Beginning our 50th Year

 We began our anniversary year in February with a splendid Wintertelling at the Monroe County Public Library.

Patty opened with a true tale "Amazing"

In Faridah's tale the giant crocodiles were outwitted by the tiny mouse deer.

In Ken's original tale all the colors of the world were stolen.

Dakota gave us a chilly tale with polar bear and arctic fox.

Jonathan's tale of transformations featured a most unusual hat.

A contemplative, serious note as Clayton sang of "Three Women".

And Kellen took us to the cold of a Russian winter with a folktale about animals trying to survive.

It's a Blue Ribbon --and that's the truth!

Indiana State Fair Liar’s Contest – by David Matlack

Part of me is morally opposed to storytelling contests. Contests determine winners and losers, and I believe that when a good story is well-told, there are no losers, only winners. But I understand the appeal of liar’s contests, and they are a great way to introduce audiences to storytelling and that great American art form, the tall tale.

So putting my ambivalence aside, I pulled out my best tall tale and headed up to the Liar’s Contest at the Indiana State Fair. August 7^th was opening night of the fair, and the state fairgrounds were packed. A steady crowd was filling the seats at the Pioneer Village stage as I nervously signed up. It was good to see familiar faces. Ellen Munds, director of Storytelling Arts of Indiana, was ensuring a smooth event; and Celestine Bloomfield, retired school librarian and storyteller extraordinaire would be the emcee.

The contest was divided in to a youth division and an adult division, and Celestine alternated between the youth and us four adults taking turns on the stage. All of the children wrote their own stories, and while some did not quite grasp the finer elements of a tall tale, they all did an admirable job. Some were downright delightful. Among the adult stories, there were two fish tales. One was particularly well-crafted and well-told, but he evidently far exceeded the time limit and was severely penalized by the judges.

I am no stranger to state fair competition…as four time Wayne County 4-H horse and pony showmanship and equitation champion, the state fair was an annual August ritual. But I was always out-horsed and out-classed and I could do no better than third. This year, when the winner of the Liar’s Contest was announced, a blue ribbon at the Indiana State Fair was finally mine. But as I said above, there are no losers with good storytelling – everyone in attendance, whether in the audience or on the stage, was a winner that night.

Plein Air Storytelling, or, The Guild Gets Out

While one of us was telling "Six Legged Stories" at the annual "Bug Fest" in Bloomington,

Another teller was masterfully entertaining groups at the New Harmony Arts and Music Festival.

And yet another storyteller was preparing to present tales for Cub Scouts out in the woods.

Summer is the time to take stories outside!