Sounds and Verses from Home
In the summer of 2019, girls in 8th and 9th grade explored farms, histories of the land and landscapes, and growing methods in Brush Creek and Spring Creek. Using documentary photography, making cyanotypes, digitizing family archives, conducting oral histories and creating a video of their poetry and soundscapes, the group worked in a range of mediums to tell stories and learn more about the area. The work was presented in the 10th Annual PAGE Exhibition on July 25th, 2019.
These Interdisciplinary Labs were facilitated by Jonna McKone, Teaching Artist.
View a Behind the Scenes Video
Created by Jonna McKone
Poetry from the Blue Ridge Mountains
Directed by Madison Catrett and Megison Hancock (Duke University)
Following in the footsteps of Appalachian poets such as bell hooks and Wendell Berry, participants wrote poetry inspired by their natural surroundings, the five senses and emotional connections to their homes. During visits to the farms, the girls developed gestural movements and wrote poems about their identities in relationship to place.
Combining the girls' written work, recordings of their poems, images of the area, gestural videos and soundscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the girls created a video and poetry installation shown at the 10th Annual PAGE Exhibition on July 25th, 2019.
Experience a Soundscape Video
In addition to poetry and photography, a group worked to develop questions and gather oral histories from members of three farming families in the area. They also collected soundscapes in these places, practicing careful listening to gather unique sounds of nature and quiet in the area.
Video created by Rachael Zimmerman Ray, Rhea Carter, and PAGE students