Exhibition at Dairy Barn offers 'Inspirations'
By Susannah Elliott, Entertainment Editor
March 3, 2006 | 7:40 p.m.
In conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts, the USDA Forest Service and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage have created an exhibit that showcases the role our nation’s forests play in every aspect of the arts. Wayne National Forest, the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center and the Northeastern Research Station of Delaware, Ohio work to bring this exhibit to Athens, where people can view the exhibit in the AEP performance wing on the second floor of the Dairy Barn.
Throughout the exhibit, which features several examples of nature-inspired art, “Inspirations from the Forest” highlights the shifts in styles of that artistic work throughout the history of America. It follows more than a dozen artists, from poets to photographers, and reveals how their relationships with nature affect their work. The Smithsonian quotes poet Gary Snyder, for instance, as saying that “the natural world is a community I want to be a part of, because I have more respect for myself when I’m engaged with it.”
Other artists visitors meet are those like quilter Michelle Ryan or woodturner Walt Thies. Woodworking and quilting are two vastly underestimated art forms that have especially strong roots in areas like southeastern Ohio. The Dairy Barn’s exhibit is unique because it features two locally-made examples of fine woodworking skills, as well as two large decorative quilts.
One of the quilts visiting the Dairy Barn for this exhibit is the Centennial Quilt, designed and crafted by Wayne National Forest’s employees and their families and friends. The quilt commemorates a hundred years of the U.S. Forest Service through squares that represent aspects of Wayne National Forest and its surrounding area. Another quilt featured is Teresa Trulock’s U.S. Forest Service centennial quilt. The Wyoming native explained that “every inch of it tells a story about the pride of people working for the Forest Service.”
The 72-year-old Wayne National Forest forges an unusual connection between the “Inspirations” exhibit and southeastern Ohio. A welcome addition, then, is the successful documentary “A Forest Returns,” which was released last September. “A Forest Returns: The Success Story of Ohio’s Only National Forest” is told by gifted storyteller Ora Anderson, a co-founder of the Dairy Barn and part of the movement to establish Wayne National Forest.
“A Forest Returns” also features a soundtrack written and performed by Bruce Dalzell, a local celebrity known to OU students for organizing the Front Room’s Open Mic Nights. The documentary has won several awards, including Best Documentary at the 2005 Appalachian Film Festival.
Throughout the exhibit, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage emphasizes keeping traditions, leaving legacies and conserving the natural resources we’re fortunate enough to have. The goal is to encourage pride in cultural traditions and involvement with local arts communities. The best way to encourage these things may be through the community’s children, who will probably benefit the most from the exhibit.
There are some interesting activities for adults, as well. “Forest Foods, Medicines & Materials Then & Now” will be presented at 1:30 p.m. on March 4 and will be followed by a viewing of “A Forest Returns.”
The exhibitions are currently on display at the Dairy Barn and can be viewed from 12 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Dairy Barn is closed on Mondays. Visitors can also purchase the DVD of “A Forest Returns” in the gallery shop. For more information, call (740) 592-4981.
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For more information, visit the “Inspirations from the Forest” Web site: http://www.folklife.si.edu/explore/Features/inspirations.html
Visit Dairy Barn’s Official Web site at: http://www.DairyBarn.org