Spring has sprung at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center and members of the campus and community have literary gatherings, storytelling concerts, and exhibitions to look forward to. These events are open to all ages and all members of the community at no cost, and each event showcases a different folklife tradition integral to our area. The first event is the Kestrel Celebration, a twice-yearly event that highlights contributors to Fairmont State’s Kestrel literary and art journal, on Friday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. Presenters will read their works of poetry and creative writing.
The following week, on Thursday, April 10 at 5:30 PM a public reception will be held to celebrate the opening of a highly anticipated new exhibition called Fire and Sand: 200 Years of West Virginia Glass. Curated by Dr. Marian Hollinger and Joeseph Valencic, the reception will feature a panel discussion with Tom Felt, Director, American Glass Museum in Weston, WV; Chip Turner, proprietor and chief glass artist, Appalachian Glass, in Weston, WV; Liz Pavlovic, glass artist who works with Blenko glass company; and Ellen Condon, descendant of the Rolland Family who founded the historical Fourco Flat Glass Company in Clarksburg, WV.
“We found that once we had announced the exhibition was in the planning stage, many West Virginia residents had some association with these industries and were pleased to share their knowledge and experiences with us,” said Dr. Hollinger. “Because of this, we have received a great deal of information and assistance for the exhibition. We are grateful to everyone who helped us.”
The exhibition is funded in part by a grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council, the official state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The following evening on Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m. the West Virginia Storytelling Guild takes the stage for their concert titled Crocus Pocus: The Magic of Spring. The Guild’s performance is free, but visitors are welcome to donate an attendance fee to help support the Folklife Center’s programming. These stories, appropriate for all ages, will usher the new season.
On Friday, April 25 local musicians are invited to grab their acoustic instruments and attend the monthly Old Time Traditional Music Jam from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The jam occurs on the last Friday of every month and doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Then on Saturday, April 26 from 1-3 p.m. the Folklife Center hosts Kari Gunter-Seymour’s literary gathering, the Women of Appalachia Project, which features women from the region reading original works of poetry and prose. The Women of Appalachia Project highlights women residing in, or having strong ties to, any of the 420 Appalachian counties. The goal of the organization is to create a strong community who share their experiences through writing, visual art, and music.
Finally, on Saturday May 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. all are invited to attend the Wartz ‘n All Dulcimer Jam. During this event, skilled acoustic musicians and novices alike swap songs, jam, and learn from each other in an informal and casual setting. Visitors can drop in at any time and there will be cardboard lap dulcimers to use for those who do not have their own instrument. Attendees usually take lunch around noon, then return for more merrymaking. Everyone within the community is encouraged to come watch, play, and learn!
The Folklife Center is located on the Squibb Wilson Boulevard on the Fairmont State University campus. For more information about this and other events, please email lydia.warren@fairmontstate.edu or call 304-367-4286.
