Who knew that the subject of fences could inspire so much chatter? Or so many opinions? Or so much work????




Jana has been great! creating bulletin boards that are in keeping with the subjects that are being discussed in the book groups or the speakers.
We've had Before Fences, now we have Behind Fences having to do with the Japanese-American internment camps. Rod Tatsuno was such a wonderful presenter. The film that his father, Dave, made while he was imprisoned at Topaz Camp is in the National Archive! We're so lucky to have people like Rod in our community.

Beth has created displays of books in the display case, too. I think we've introduced our patrons to books that they might never have seen had we not put them on display. Currently, the case contains photo books on cowboys, Indian rodeos, and the Latino contribution to the settlement of the "Wild West."

Damien Rodriguez spoke last night to a good sized crowd. I think it was good to have some of our patrons meet an educated Latino. I think it must be easy for most people to forget that we are all emigrants -- even those whose ancestral foreb

At the opening night party, May 23, 2009, we had a great time. The Lucky Stiffs performed "cowboy songs", the food, prepared by At your Service and our executive director, was wonderful. We enjoyed punch and a bit of wine. But most enjoyable was the way people responded to our exhibits. Leslie Rego's quilts are beautiful. All of the photographs that we're displayed are inspired.

I'm overwhelmed! Paul Leibhardt sent so many prints for the contemporary photo exhibit I don't know how we'll choose. They are all beautiful! The colors are rich and the images are amazing! Such generosity in allowing us to have his work on display reflects that kind of community in which we live.

The Royal Larkspur Play Group's production of August Wilson's Fences promises to be a spectacular event! June 19th will be the opening night party with dinner and theatre by invitation only. It's to be a fundraiser for the Community Library. Gary Hoffman is bringing a professional troupe of actors in from LA and Ben Benson (winner of the 2008 LA Drama Circle Award for best director) will direct! Gary believes that this will be the first production of Fences in Idaho. I think he may be right.

Three photos of the historical photo exhibit assembled by the Staff of the Regional History Department of the Community Library, Ketchum, Idaho. The exhibit reached about 800 students (allowing for those who never step foot in a library) for 2 two weeks 5 days a week. I include these photos to show that a traveling exhibit has to be flexible for the different venues in visits. Here in WRHS, it hung on the wall.
















And here, in the Hailey Public Library, it was front and back of a room partition, using t-pins to hold the photos in place. At the Wood River Middle School, the exhibit was on a cork board/white board and held on with push pins and tape. I like all of the poems and quotations we assembled.

The public showed a lot of interest in the reprints of the photos dating back to the 1880s. Some remember the old times, and some couldn't believe the Valley ever looked that way. The visitor numbers during the time the photos were on display at the Hailey Library were 4095.

Strange things we do for our craft

How many hardware people will hang up on me when I ask for Gaffers Tape? My ears are ringing.
It's not like I'm asking for something untoward...Maybe the economy has people in a grumpy mood. Thank you Mr. L.L. Green! Gaffer's tape is pricey! 4 rolls $97! Maybe I should have ordered it instead of shopping local.

After the hard winter, I'm seeing toppled fences all over the valley. Does a flattened fence still serve a purpose? What about those vinyl fences that warped in the sun last summer? No they don't need paint, but they look rather silly.

Aaron and Quil have Between Fences up on the Library's website, now. It looks very nice.

And The Beat Goes On

So much to do. Have to figure out how to get the banner to hang straight. The Smithsonian is Coming! Bought grommets, but have to carve out a block of time when I can work on it and make it fit the space.

Saw play reading last night. I think farce needs a full mounted production; timing is everything. Actors need the time to find their characters and their relationships with one another. Twelve hours rehearsal is just not enough time.

I must remember: "Simplify, simplify, simplify."

Getting 2 docents for 182 hours of the exhibit is proving quite a challenge, especially since we can't use any of the middle school or high school honors students -- we get the exhibit on finals week. Beth has done quite a job of filling the slots, we have at least one docent for each two hour slot. But security really requires two people. We'll get there.

Over the Hedge. What a fun animated film! Not just for kids. Like all good children's literature, it poses questions and makes people think. What does happen when human beings take all the land for themselves? Where will the woodland creatures go? What happens when our worlds collide?

I've heard seagulls called the "rats of the air", because they have adapted to human urbanization and suburbanization -- they eat our trash. We take the habitat from other animals, but ridicule and vilify those who can survive us. Hmmmm.

Wow! I'm wiped out! Met with refreshment committee for the opening party on May 23rd. Publicity is going well. Will be writing press releases constantly for the next six weeks -- speakers, films, book clubs, exhibits..."The devil is in the details."

The Citizens For Smart Growth completed its book club. Barbed Wire by Olivier Rezac and Trespassing by John Hanson Mitchell were very intellectually challenging (one of our number said that it was like being back in grad school), so it was nice to end on a light note with On Paradise drive by David Brooks.

I found a great photo in the archive taken out near Russian John's ranger station: ca. 1900 family vacation, two men, two women, two dogs and a young woman in coveralls. They are all admiring the deer the mighty hunter has brought to the cabin. The women look tired...
Looking at the picture, I can't imagine what they were trying to fence in or out. Maybe it's a corral for their saddle horses, but up there I'd think the mountain lions would make quick work of the horses if they weren't in a barn or a shed.

Things are really shaping up. The events are slated. Invitations are sent. The first speaker has presented her talk: /Fenced In or Fenced out: American Diversity in the 21st Century/. The Community School Art Show, Intolerance, was great! I have the brochure done and the publicity is coming together.

This is going to be great fun!

Wood River Middle School Photo Exhibit

Wood River Middle School installation of Between Fences local exhibit.

This is an exhibit of pictures taken from the archive from the Regional History Department of the Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho. The exhibit was developed in conjunction with the Between Fences touring exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution.

Hello World

This is the first feed of Between Fences.