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.

A New Teller for the Festival of Ghost Stories

 

                Jon Stevens, an Indiana University graduate student in Library Science, will be telling a story in his first public performance with the Bloomington Storytellers Guild during the 46^th annual Festival of Ghosts Tales on Friday, October 29^th beginning at 7:00 pm in Bryan Park.

                Stevens, who was raised in Westfield, Indiana, got his undergraduate degree in Education at IU and spent twelve years teaching high school in Shelbyville, then in Franklin, Indiana, prior to returning to graduate school.

                Intrigued with storytelling after taking a summer class in storytelling with IU Professor Christina Jones, Stevens found a natural outlet for his interest in ghost stories, monster stories and urban legends. He now works with Jones at the IU Education Library and has an opportunity to dig into the stacks in search of captivating tales.

                “As a teacher, I taught English and theatre classes, and I directed plays,” Stevens said. “Storytelling gives me the fun of looking up different folktales and making them my own.”

                Ghost tales are of special interest to him, and he had also taught classes on monsters and urban legends. He defines a ghost as some historical trauma inflicting itself upon the present -- pain or fear that is still relevant today and that people still connect with.

                “I think that these types of stories give us the ability to talk about our fears and societal concerns in a safe way”, he says. “I look forward to telling and participating in oral tradition.”

                Stevens will be telling an IU legend called, The Girl in the Yellow Dress, about a ghost said to haunt Read Hall dormitory on campus.

                “Different versions [of the story] highlight different fears”, Stevens says. “My version is about addressing current fears of violence against women on campus. The story plays into a young man’s obsession and jealousy.”

                Storytelling is about interacting with our past and keeping the past alive, Stevens relates.

                “When I taught, my students would say that we have no culture in Indiana! I would get them to listen to tales and help them to recognize their own cultural past.”

                The Festival of Ghost Tales featuring members of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild is sponsored by the City of Bloomington Department of Parks and Recreation and by the Monroe County Public Library. Bring your own blanket and lawn chair for this outdoor event. The event is best suited for adults, teens, and older school-age children. May not be appropriate for younger children. In case of rain, the show will take place at the MCPL Downtown location auditorium. Call 812-349-3754 for weather-related updates.

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!

Storytelling in Southern Indiana

The latest issue of 812 The Magazine  features a look at various styles of storytelling in our neck of the woods.   The section on "The Traditional Storyteller" features our own Stephanie:

Check out the article!

"GOODIES, GOBLINS, & GHOST STORIES"

It was a typically cold Autumn evening in Hope, Indiana for the "Goodies, Goblins, and Ghost Stories" event.  The town square was filled with chilly families out to celebrate the season.

The storytellers stayed warm in a cozy heated  tent with hot apple cider (and a few spiders).  

The tent was not only heated, it also was divided into separate sections so that we could tell tales appropriate for younger kids on one side and the scary ones for older kids and adults on the other side.

The audiences came in all sorts of costumes, and listened to some spooky stories --

some that made them shiver,

and some that made them laugh.

This was one festival that set up the environment for storytelling perfectly.

National Storytelling Festival

Dana was one of the lucky folks who made it to the National Storytelling Festival this year. She sent this report back to us:

 
Thursday.  On the road near the Appalachian mountains. It's still a 7 1/2/ hour trip...we're almost to Jonesborough.

How many remember these at a past Storytelling Festival: Doc McConnel's tall tales (Vienna sausages or the snakebit hoe handle) and checking in at the Christopher House on Main Street in Jonesborough?

A few of the Festival's 500 volunteer workers waiting for the crowd to arrive for Tim O'Brien's Thursday pre-festival concert.  

Best quote of the night:  "There are only 2 stories:  Someone goes on a journey, someone new comes to town."

Friday.  10 am.  The 41st National Storytelling Festival begins...after we wait for the train to pass 5 feet behind the Courthouse Tent.  Bring back memories for some of you?     Now it's 2:30.  So far, Bill Lepp, Donald Davis, Tim Lowry, Rev, Robert Jones, Geraldine Buckley...waiting to hear Ed Stivender!

Sheila Kay Adams.  One of my absolute favorite - an amazing storyteller who has also collected mountain ballads her entire life.  

Other tellers new to me that I'm enjoying:  Antonio Rocha, Tim Lowry,  Rev. Robert Jones, and David Novak.  

Saw Ellen Munds yesterday - hope she invites a few of my favorites to Indy soon.  Also ran into Bev Martin and met a lot of friendly storytelling fans from far and near.  Farthest - New Zealand.  

Thanks, Dana!  If you want to know more about the National Festival, visit : http://www.storytellingcenter.net/

Divafest - The Storytelling Stage

You know we love those Divas, especially when one is our own Stephanie Holman....

Yes, this year Diva Fest  in Indianapolis features a Storytelling Stage.  Here's an opportunity for you to hear original stories told by four wonderful women on Sunday, March 10, from 2 - 5 p.m.

The program will be at Indy Reads Books, 911 Massachusetts Avenue, and tickets are $12.00 at the door.

Stephanie will open the program at 2:00 with three of her original stories, collected under the title "Move It or Lose It."   We know listeners will enjoy the ride!

Wintertelling 2013

 It was a lovely evening for our annual Wintertelling event,
sponsored by the Monroe County Public Library (thank you, Sara, for setting everything up!)

People came in chilly from the cold night and took their seats in the auditorium, chatting to each other, and preparing to listen and be entertained.

As the storytellers took the stage one by one, I watched the audience react to each story --some stories brought smiles and chuckles, even a few belly laughs; some stories brought rueful head nods and sighs; some stories had people wiping away a tear.

Each teller presented their carefully crafted story like a jewel for the audience to appreciate.

 Applause to all who participated!  

It was a Wintertelling to remember.

The Festival of Ghost Stories

As the leaves flew off the trees on the last Friday in October, storytellers and audience gathered in Bryan Park for the annual Festival of Ghost Stories.

Temperatures dropped rapidly as night fell, but the audience was enthusiastic for chilling stories.

We heard from some new voices this year and some new stories from familiar tellers.

Cats (Community Access Television) of the Monroe County Public Library did film the event and as I understand it you can call and request a copy of the program (349-3111).

It was quickly too dark to take many pictures of the tellers, and the audience were just shadows huddled on the hillside.





You'll find a review at http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=83793&search=festival. Thanks, Jessica Williams, for taking the time to write about us!

And many thanks to this year's coordinator, Stephanie!

Hope to see all of you next year for another evening of spooky and supernatural tales!

The Spoken Word Stage at 4th Street

There were crowds Sunday afternoon on 4th Street

for the Annual Festival of The Arts & Crafts.


There were four blocks of booths

featuring the work of fantastic artists.



And in the middle of one street there was a stage.

Well, sort of a stage. A microphone and speakers.

A set-up for a series of spoken word performances.

The Bloomington Storytelling Guild was one.

Patty started us off with an Irish tale.

There was a nice shade for the audience, although more stood than sat.

Many folks browsing the fair stopped for a minute to listen.
We loved the overcast sky that gave everyone a respite from the recent heat and sun.




Mary even led a cheer for the thought of rain later on, while her story took place in an African drought.

Josh had a snoring story from Sierra Leone in which one character managed to sleep - but no one else did!

There was a tandem tale from Ginny and Dana - in which there was "No News".

Stephanie gave the audience a little voodoo, and wrapped everything up with a drop of honey.

After the formal tellings, the stories continued as they often do.

In Print

The new issue of "Bloom" is out -There's a lot to read in this anniversary issue!

Be sure to check out page 61:
Thanks to Stephanie and Mary for giving readers a glimpse of our group and thanks to the tellers who gathered to be photographed one evening after work.
Enjoy your copy of Bloom, and if you are reading our blog and want to join us in our various activities, please
email the Guild at:
btownstorytellers@gmail.com

Get them to JUMP

"Use different inflections of voice to add moments of fear or excitement to your story. In general, tell a story with intensity and direct contact.

At a certain point in the story where you know that the victim or person in the story might let out a scream - break your intensity with a sudden shout or scream.

With proper timing everyone listening will literally lift about two inches off their seats."
--from "Campfire Stories" by William Forgey, M.D.

Demonstrated by Stephanie at the library's "Summer Scaries" program.

The Storyteller in Motion

"...there do seem to be certain places in a story where simple gestures can effectively enhance an action being described or can clarify a meaning..."

(Ramon R. Ross in "Storyteller")

The audience listening to Patty agrees that gestures definitely enhance the tale!

If you go for a walk with a librarian...

If you go for a walk by the lake with a librarian,

you will be reminded of a story.

and if you are reminded of a story,

you will have to tell that story.





And if you tell that story,

everyone will have a good time!