Archive for April, 2010

“I bin mixin’ up wid fokes now gwine on eighty year”

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“I bin mixin’ up wid fokes now gwine on eighty year, en I ain’t seed no tattler come ter no good een’.”

- Joel Chandler Harris, Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings

(Apologies to Slaughterhouse 90210)

Spring Break (Woo!) Storytelling Extravaganza 2010! April 6 – 9th! Woo!

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Remember what a great time we had with our Spring Break (Woo!) Storytelling Extravaganza last year?  Oh, you weren’t there?  Allow me to fill you in: so much fun.

Lucky for you, we’re ready to triumph once again!  Next week, from April 6th – 9th, we’ll be offering storytelling every day at noon. And!  To sweeten the pot, admission will be Buy-1-Get-1 Free!

We’re serious about how great this will be.  Want proof?

Check out this outstanding and totally legit poster from general good guy (and Vernacular cover designer) Zach. The illustration should look familiar — we featured Fritz Eichenberg’s awesome pieces a few weeks back.

Weather permitting, storytelling will be held outside.

We encourage y’all to bring a picnic lunch.  Tours will follow the performances or the lunches, whichever makes the most sense.  We don’t want to rush your digestion.

Lest you start whining about this being only for students, allow me to remind you, crybaby: it’s during your lunch break!  And boy are we MARTA accessible.

Hope to see you there!

I’m Not Really Leaving the Wren’s Nest in September

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April Fools’, y’all. I appreciate the kind words though, both in the comments and on our Facebook page.

I know some of y’all might not like April 1st foolin’, but let’s be real for a second — it’s probably Brer Rabbit’s favorite holiday, and we have to represent. Trickery is in our by-laws.

Let’s consider this a trial run for when I do leave the Wren’s Nest. Though given your reaction, maybe I should leave now. After all, Akbar always says: “Sit down while they still want you to stand.”

Previously:

• Disney to Release Song of the South on Blu-ray and DVD in 2009
• Atlanta History Center to Acquire the Wren’s Nest, Move it to Buckhead

I’m Leaving the Wren’s Nest in September

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The title pretty much says it all. I’ve accepted a job in Chicago, and they’ve graciously allowed me to phase out my duties here until just after the Decatur Book Festival.

When I started at the Wren’s Nest, my objective was to turn the organization around. Recall:

• • We didn’t have a website.
• • We didn’t have a brochure.
• • We had $112,000 in various debts to 19 different creditors.
• • We were only performing the Brer Rabbit stories 6 times per year.
• • We didn’t have any other programming.
• • The house — a National Historic Landmark — was kind of falling apart.

Today’s organization is very different from what I found in 2006.

• • We have a website courtesy of Lampe-Farley Communications. We also have a Facebook page and a Twitter account.
• • We have a sweet brochure courtesy of Huey + Partners.
• • We have only 1 debt now, and it’s a lot less than $112,000.
• • We performed the Brer Rabbit stories over 225 times each of the past 2 years.
• • We have a summer publishing program and are kicking off a middle school writing program next week.
• • We’ve put about $200,000 of work into the house.

Plus, people now know that the Wren’s Nest exists, which is helpful in terms of our survival.

In short, I felt like it was okay to start looking around for other jobs in fields where I’m better suited. I’ll always be involved at the Wren’s Nest in some capacity, but there are folks much better qualified for my position.

Over the next few months I’ll be working very closely with our board to develop a succession plan. Of course, I’ll keep y’all posted throughout the process.

It’s a little premature to thank y’all, but I want you to know that this blog and its readers have been such a great source of inspiration over the past few years. The Wren’s Nest is much better for your help, your comments, and your involvement. And I’m much saner for being able to have an outlet like this one.

So, thank you very much everyone. I really appreciate your help in making this organization viable again.