Alabama historian Dr. Wayne Flynt

Wayne Flynt This program is a rebroadcast of ACTC director Joey Brackner interviewing preeminent Alabama historian Dr. Wayne Flynt about his book Alabama in the Twentieth Century.  In the interview Dr. Flynt outlines the significant cultural contributions of Alabamians during the late century. Wayne Flynt is the Distinguished University Professor of History at Auburn University. This special radio series will air every Tuesday at 8:30 to 9:00 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

Performing Arts Program Manager Yvette Jones-Smedley talks to Sarah Walker Thornton, Artistic Director for the Cloverdale Playhouse in Montgomery, Alabama.

Performing Arts Program Manager Yvette Jones-Smedley talks to Sarah Walker Thornton, Artistic Director for the Cloverdale Playhouse in Montgomery, Alabama.   They discuss Thornton's background as an actor and director and various programs and projects currently at the Cloverdale Playhouse. This special radio series will air every Tuesday at 8:30 to 9:00 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

Anne Kimzey interviews Dr. Kirk Curnutt, chair of the English Department at Troy University, about the 11th annual Alabama Book Festival

In this program Anne Kimzey interviews Dr. Kirk Curnutt, chair of the English Department at Troy University, about the 11th annual Alabama Book Festival to be held Saturday, April 23rd in Montgomery’s Old Alabama Town. Dr. Curnutt will give a preview of the more than 40 authors appearing at the Book Festival plus special features such as the poetry tent and children’s area, as well as free workshops for writers. Alabamabookfestival.org This special radio series will air every Tuesday at 9:00 to 9:30 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

Anne Kimzey interviews author Bryn Chancellor

photo by Christy Whitney This week Anne Kimzey interviews author Bryn Chancellor, a professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Montevallo and a recipient of a 2015 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.  Chancellor reads from her new award-winning, short-fiction collection When Are You Coming Home? and discusses her writing and how receiving the ASCA Fellowship and the 2014 Poets & Writers Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award has affected her career. This special radio series will air every Tuesday at 9:00 to 9:30 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

William Cobb, recipient of the 2007 Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer

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This is a repeat of a 2009 program with Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers' Forum, interviewing William Cobb, recipient of the 2007 Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer. Thompson and Cobb discuss his novels and plays, and his book The Hermit King (from Livingston Press). This special radio series will air every Sunday at 2:00 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

Kevin Nutt, Folklife archivist for the Alabama Department of Archives and History, interviewing Birmingham native Andrew Nelson,

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To promote the ongoing exhibit of Shackelford photo exhibit at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery we are rebroadcasting Kevin Nutt, Folklife archivist for the Alabama Department of Archives and History, interviewing Birmingham native Andrew Nelson, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland at College Park, about an historic collection of glass plate negatives housed at the Birmingham Library.  This photographic collection was produced by the Shackelfords, an African American family from the Covin community near Fayette in western Alabama in the early 20th century. The Shackelfords offered photographic services to railway travelers as well as their neighbors.   Through Nelson’s research a close friendship developed with one of the family’s relatives, Annie Shackelford,  also from the Covin Community.  Together they produced a traveling exhibit of curated photographs called, “Both Sides of the Lens: Photographs by the Shackelford Family (1900-1935). In this interview Nelson tells the story of his meeting with Annie Shackelford. Also discussed is the Shackelford’s history as photographers and the cultural importance of the collection to Alabama history. This special radio series will air every Sunday at 2:00 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

Anne Kimzey interviews writer Brooke Bullman of Huntsville

Itunes Google+	This week Anne Kimzey interviews writer Brooke Bullman of Huntsville, recipient of a 2014 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. During the program Bullman discusses her daily writing discipline and reads an excerpt from her novel in progress. Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

Joey Brackner interviewing Ted Rosengarten

Ted Rosengarten

This show is a rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing Ted Rosengarten about his award winning book All God's Dangers: The Life of Nat Shaw and his book  A Portion of the People: 300 Years of Southern Jewish Life.

Listen first hand using the link below.

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Birmingham native Randall Horton talks with Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers’ Forum

Randall Horton

This week Birmingham native Randall Horton talks with Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers’ Forum about his week-long residency in Alabama that included visits to schools in Birmingham and Montgomery, and a featured appearance at the Alabama Book Festival in April. Horton’s visit was supported in part by a grant from South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. An award-winning poet, educator, editor, and organizer of literary events in Connecticut where he teaches at the University of New Haven,  Horton has published three collections of poems, the most recent of which is Pitch Dark Anarchy. He and Thompson discuss the current interest in historical poetry, his appreciation of working with youth in traditional and incarcerated settings such as the Forum’s Writing Our Stories program which he visited during his residency, and matching audiences and poets in successful literary events.  Horton reads two selections from his latest book.

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Executive Director Al Head interviews Geoffrey Sherman, Producing Artistic Director for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival

This week Executive Director Al Head interviews Geoffrey Sherman, Producing Artistic Director for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, about the current productionTimmon of Athens in performance until May 24th. This special translation by Kenneth Cavender written in contemporary English voice was originally commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and funded by the Hitz Foundation is receiving its world premiere at ASF.

Listen first hand using the link below.

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Storyteller Joseph Trimble

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Joseph Trimble at Coosada Elementary School Yvette Jones-Smedley interviews storyteller Joseph D. Trimble. Joseph, a 2013 recipient of a Theatre Fellowships from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, recounts a short tale of many from his repertory about Anansi the Spider, and shares tips to budding storytellers. This special radio series will air every Sunday at 2:00 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:   WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy) WRWA 88.7 (Dothan) WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix   City)  This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/radioserieslist.aspx If you have been listening to, and enjoying this radio series, please send your comments to: barbara.reed@arts.alabama.gov Listen first hand using the link below. MP3 Download/Stream

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Jonathan Katz

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Jonathan Katz

This week Executive Director of the Arts Council, Al Head, talks with Jonathan Katz, long-time director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies about issues of national interest and relevance including congressional funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. Other topics include the public value of the arts, the impact of the emerging digital revolution on the arts and the current emphasis on arts education. Katz was in Alabama recently speaking at a statewide leadership institute for directors of arts organizations. 

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Jessica Peterson proprietor of theSouthern Letterpress

This week on Alabama Arts radio, Visual Arts program Manager Elliot Knight talks with Jessica Peterson. Jessica is the proprietor of theSouthern Letterpress shop in downtown Northport and is recipient of a 2014 ASCA Visual Arts Fellowship. Listen to Jessica talk about the process of letterpress printing, her own creative philosophy, and what projects she will be working on over the next year. 

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Braxton Schuffert, Original Drifting Cowboy

Braxton Schuffert

Alabama musician Braxton Schuffert, a country singer and songwriter who was one of Hank Williams’s original Drifting Cowboys, died on April 26 at the age of 97. This program is a rebroadcast of his 2011 interview with folkorist Deborah Boykin.  Mr. Schuffert talks about his early life, his experience performing on WSFA radio and his long friendship with Williams, which began when Schuffert made a delivery to the boarding house run by Hank's mother. He also describes the experience of co-writing a song with Williams and talks about his own compositions.

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8th annual Alabama Book Festival 2013

2013 Alabama Book Festival

This week Anne Kimzey interviews Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers’ Forum, about the 8th annual Alabama Book Festival to be held Saturday, April 20th in Montgomery’s Old Alabama Town.  Jeanie will give a preview of the more than 40 authors appearing at the Book Festival plus special features such as the poetry tent and children’s area, as well as outreach activities for students and teachers.

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Adam Vines, 2013 ASCA Literature Fellowship recipient.

Jeanie Thompson, executive director of the Alabama Writers’ Forum,interviews poet Adam Vines, 2013 ASCA Literature Fellowship recipient. Thompson talks with Vines about his latest collection of poems,The Coal Life, which was a 2012 finalist for the Miller William, Arkansas Poetry Prize. Exploring the rich metaphors of several generations of his coal-mining family, Vines uncovers his personal connection to Alabama’s landscape. Vines also talks with Thompson about his recent trip to New York City to visit museums and pursue his interest in ekphrastic poems (poems about works of art). He and Thompson also discuss how poems are made, what makes poetry “poetry,” and how poets contribute to the community of writers. Originally from Birmingham, Vines is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he co-edits The Birmingham Poetry Review. (more)

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Individual Fellowship Recipient Jess Marie Walker

ASCA intern Summer Upchurch interviews Individual Fellowship Recipient Jess Marie Walker about her life as an artist and an educator. Inspired by nature, music, and the art of public installation pieces, Jess Marie's background varies as much as her interests. Her work is highly collaborative and has been brought to fruition by HoWaYaDa, an artist collective, and by Pretty Much Collective. Her pieces range from a large-scale collaborative and interactive musical piece (where artists play kettles, rocks, and whatever is on-hand) to a smaller-scale collaborative piece celebrating the beauty of line-drawing and mountains. Her experiments with sound, form, and public exposure have been hosted in museums in Birmingham, Minneapolis, Long Island, Brooklyn, and Fairhope, among others. She currently lives in Montevallo with her youngest son. (more)

Alabama Arts Podcast, Patricia White, co-founder of Slash Pine Press

Summer Upchurch, an intern at the Arts Council, interviews Patricia White, co-founder of Slash Pine Press, an organization housed at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Slash Pine Press started as an independent printing press, the brain child of Patti White and Joseph Wood. Now, the program is run by four staff members: Patti White, Joseph Wood, Lucas Southworth, and Brian Oliu. Now in its fourth year, Slash Pine achieves its goals through a community-centered internship program that can be taken as a class at the University of Alabama. Each semester two instructors and ten interns stitch one to three poetry chapbooks (handmade books sent to the program as manuscripts), plan several community events such as poetry hikes (art installations in which readers and listeners walk over several miles together, stopping at intervals to read poetry outdoors), and participate in creative exchanges with other universities’ creative writing students. The program functions as an English or Writing class, but dedicates itself to community engagement and poetic education.
 (more)

http://www.arts.alabama.gov/actc/1/20120805pattiwhiteslashpine.mp3

Alabama Arts Radio, Poet Abraham Smith

This week Anne Kimzey interviews poet Abraham Smith of Tuscaloosa, recipient of a 2012 Literary Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.  A 2004 graduate of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Alabama, Smith is an instructor of English at the University and the assistant editor at Slash Pine Press. During the program he reads a few of his poems and talks about the influences of his rural Wisconsin childhood on his writing.  He will be giving public readings of his poetry on April 21st at the Alabama Book Festival in Montgomery and April 27th at the Alabama Writers Symposium in Monroeville. (more)

Alabama Arts Radio Podcast, Wiliam Ferris

This program is a 2006 rebroadcast of Joey Brackner interviewing folklorist William Ferris of the University of North Carolina about southern culture and his experiences as director of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss.
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