Archive for June 26th, 2008

I spent Saturday and Sunday back in my hometown celebrating my mother’s retirement after 30 years as executive director of Mississippi Cultural Crossroads. We had an Open House in the MCC Gallery, featuring snippets from 18 years’ worth of Peanut Butter and Jelly Theater shows and spent time honoring the organization’s current and former board members, quilters, and actors/actresses. Here are some shots I took of the program.

Here is Felicia Harried (right), the MCC Board President, introducing Tara Wren-Douglas, the new executive director. Tara began participating in MCC programs in middle school and continued through high school — serving as an actress with Peanut Butter and Jelly Theater and an editor of the oral history magazine I Ain’t Lying.

Here are Malinda and Albert Butler, both of whom taught my sisters and me (she taught chemistry and physics and he taught Mississippi History and civics). Albert served on the MCC board. He also served the county for years as a supervisor.

Here is Nancy Batton Butler, another former Board Member, sitting with her daughter Beth, who was a Peanut Butter and Jelly Theater actress and later an employee and photographer with MCC. Nancy retired recently from her job as the town librarian.

Both of my sisters came home for the event, too. Here they are pictured with school friends.

Emilye with Rosie Coleman Thomas, who was an actress in the first troupe of Peanut Butter and Jelly Theater.

Jessica with Jackie Martin whose mother Elizabeth served on the board.

The Mississippi Arts Commission welcomed me to its Artists Roster. You may remember I wrote earlier this year about the application and panel review process. I am pleased to be included in this select group of artists. I will be included among the dramatic and literary artists. One of the primary benefits to being included on this roster is that schools and nonprofits may use grant funds from the Mississippi Arts Commission and other local arts agencies to pay my fee for programs or workshops. I am looking forward to being out and about with Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator in the fall when school starts up again.