Its been a wonderful thing to see how many folks want to have the Brer Rabbit stories for their very own.  However, we literally cannot keep them on the shelves.  No matter how frequently we place orders, they’re simply not printed often enough for us to keep a full selection in stock.  What a problem to have, eh?

On Friday evening of last week we finally received a box of this beauty, which we had been waiting on for a few weeks.  We put them out, and by 3pm on Saturday, all were gone.  Like, 18 books.  Bonkers!

To solve this problem, we’re considering printing our own with Lain serving as author and illustrator and me serving as “person who tells Lain what to do.”  He does have a publishing history, after all.

This is all to say: if you want a book, tell us now!

A woman calls to ask questions about visiting your museum.  She’s surprised her friends want to visit, given all the controversy surrounding the place, but is intrigued by their interest.  She’s on board, seemingly, but hesitant.

With me so far?  Sounds pretty typical if the museum in question is the Wren’s Nest, which would be a fair assumption.  Onwards!

The woman, as your conversation continues, is very, very up-front about the fact that she doesn’t like the person your museum honors.  In fact, she seems to, uh, hate him.  Still, she appears to like the idea of coming in to have a verbal throwdown, if nothing else.

Someone has an ill opinion of Joel Chandler Harris… or, uh, someone else?!  Wouldn’t be the first time.

As she goes on, it becomes clear that the things she hates about this historical figure are, you know, completely false.  It’s obvious why she would hate this guy, based on the history she knows, but it’s completely misinformed.  And she is SURE of its validity.

Do you correct her?  Or do you do what it takes to encourage her to come to the house of someone she hates, but on false pretenses?

I have a lot of respect for Joel Chandler Harris and like to defend him.  Usually, the easiest way to do that is to give accurate information. “No, Joel Chandler Harris didn’t write Song of the South — he had been dead for 38 years,” and so on.

But her claims were so out of left field that there would have been no defending.  Examples:

• JCH’s otherwise ignored illegitimate child whose existence is proven by his mention in Harris’ will (this sounds like how his (non-existent) will claimed that he wouldn’t let African-Americans enter the Wren’s Nest)

• The forsaken history of Atlanta’s wealthiest freed slave (who wasn’t the same as Atlanta’s actual wealthiest freed slave)

 It would have just been me telling this woman, as nicely as possible, that she was completely wrong.

I want her to come to the museum, not only because we like visitors and the entrance fees they pay (let’s call it like it is, folks), but because the legacy of Joel Chandler Harris is an important one.  We take the educational component of our mission for, like, serious.

So what do you do?  Throw JCH under the bus to get someone in the door, assuming the tour will set them straight?  Or correct them immediately, knowing they may be so put off by your perceived “attitude” that it justifies their stance?

Go on, I’m listening.

(Photo courtesy of neuftoes)

The theater, located in Athens, is now accepting donations through the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation to help offset construction costs.  If the commenters are to be believed (and given the history of commenters at the AJC, this is at best hazardous), this partnership has gotten some major panties in a bunch.

Recently, there have been a few for-profit businesses (Paste, Wordsmiths (RIP)) that have asked for donations to keep themselves alive.  The mixing of profit with non-profit tactics really ticked some people off.

Yet we, as a non-profit, ask for donations to stay alive all the time.  Really, it’s pretty much all we do.  And to date, not one person has yelped, “Well, I NEVER!” in response.

Now, I know there are inherent differences (like tax-exemption).  But how severe are those differences from the viewpoint of the Average Joe who’s happy to see both the Wren’s Nest and the Georgia Theatre in his neighborhood?  Should he not financially support the theater because it’s for-profit, even though the end result is essentially the same for him?

I know the simple logic is “Well derr, Amelia — you support the theater by giving them money to see shows they put on.  Idiot.”  But that’s hard to do when the theater is all “non-functional” and “charred.”

In the interest of full disclosure, I have donated my hard-earned pennies to for-profits, but not all that asked.  And with a lot more deliberation than when I’ve donated to non-profits.

What do y’all think?  Would you donate to the Georgia Theatre?

We were lucky enough to meet all sorts of important people.  Our tour guide was one such important person — Daily Lifestyle Reporter and all-around champion, Jamie Gumbrecht.  She’s peeking out below on the left.

While I do not have any more pictures, I can and will regale you with a few stories.  Ready?  I hope so.

Asking the Tough Questions

Jamie and the gang walked in on a meeting between Julia Wallace, Editor-in-Chief, and James Mallory, Senior Managing Editor.  Mallory introduced himself by saying (in essence), “This woman is in charge and currently stomping all over my suggestions.”

Wallace asked the gang if they had any questions.  Here’s how it went:

WREN’S NEST EDITOR: So, what do you think of the AJC redesign?

AJC EDITOR: What do you think about it?

WREN’S NEST EDITOR: It reminds me of USA Today.

AJC EDITOR: Is that a good thing?

WREN’S NEST EDITOR: (pregnant pause) No.

It’s a tad surreal to see the Editor of one of the most respected newspapers in the country defending her decisions to a high school junior.  Apparently the AJC editors should consult the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company editors before moving forward with anything else.

Auspicious Encounters

We settled in to learn all about InDesign from the lovely Melissa Angle, Senior Designer, who was nothing short of amazing.  I know this because even I could follow what she was demonstrating.  That, my friends, is saying something.  She was kind, generous (instructional packets!), funny, and patient.

On our way out we caught Pulitzer Prize winner Mike Luckovich in the midst of satirizing Jon and Kate, pen in hand and everything.  Half-finished illustrations are tops!

Here’s the finished product.

Finally, Managing Editor Bert Roughton asked the gang if they had read any good submissions yet.  One answered, “No.  The one I read was REALLY bad.”  I think he offered her a job on the spot.

Thank You

Can I just take a moment to appreciate the generosity of the (very important) folks who took time to hang out?  Good golly.  Melissa and Jamie, y’all have a box of cookies coming your way.  The rest of you can mooch off of them.

Thank you all again!

Behavior Problems

Unfortunately, our hosts at the AJC weren’t the only jaw-dropping element of our time there.

I know that my concept of manners and good social graces are different than those of a 16-year-old, and I have to judge appropriately.  On the other hand, would you walk into the AJC while eating french fries?  Would you think nothing of arriving 20 minutes late?  Of picking at your nails while the Editor-in-Chief spoke to you?  Sadly, I could go on.

I have no question that each and every one of our editors knows how to behave themselves when it’s called for.  So why didn’t they think this was one of those times?  It makes me uneasy about cashing in all of our favors for a gang that will appear not only disinterested, but ungrateful.

Sticky as Brer Rabbit Molasses, this situation.  Any advice, other than prolonged yelling and/or foot stomping?

]]> http://www.wrensnestonline.com/blog/wrens-nest-publishing-company-visits-the-atlanta-journal-constitution/feed/ 9 http://www.wrensnestonline.com/blog/disneys-princess-and-the-frog-pre-controversy-controversy-fun/ http://www.wrensnestonline.com/blog/disneys-princess-and-the-frog-pre-controversy-controversy-fun/#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:43:33 +0000 Amelia http://www.wrensnestonline.com/blog/?p=3868 Over the weekend, the New York Times published an article about Disney’s upcoming movie, The Princess and the Frog.  It will be Disney’s first ever animated film to feature an African American princess.  A big deal, to say the least.

Walt Disney Pictures

Naturally, the film is being viewed under a social microscope, and not necessarily for the better.

Everything from the film’s locale (New Orleans) to its characters’ screen-time percentage as frogs has been called out as racially problematic.  Hoo boy.

Critics have used examples from Dumbo and The Jungle Book (both available on DVD) to fuel racism charges.  According to Disney in the article:

The company responds that criticism of such well-worn examples — particularly of films from the ’60s and earlier — applies a 21st-century morality to movies made in sharply different times.

Yes, I thought that was worthy of bolding.  Probably because it sounds exactly like the logic we apply to Song of the South. Disney, don’t play favorites!

I haven’t seen The Princess and the Frog though I sure do plan to when it comes out.  I am awfully interested in how all of this develops, and not just as a casual observer.

What do y’all think of the criticsm?  Can Disney do right with ethnic characters?  Does criticism just come with the territory?  Is a cooling of the jets called for?  Do tell!

Update (9/18/09): Here’s an excellent article on, essentially, the trouble Disney may be getting itself into in trying to please too many critics with The Princess and the Frog and how that mirrors the path of Song of the South.  Enjoy!

The monsoon season that Atlanta has seen this spring slowed our roll a little.

Like the yellow, the trim color is a little bit different than before –

Some of the color difference is due to weathering, but some of it is also due to our historical paint analysis, completed after the house was last painted.

The paint job has made a tremendous difference.  Here’s what one back corner used to look like –

And here’s the same area now –

If you’re using your eyes, you might notice that we now have copper drain pipes.  If you’re using your brains, you might wonder if this is a risky proposition.

I’m here to tell you — it is!  Depending on the price of copper, theft can be a serious issue.

Before, we’d had a mix of copper and galvanized piping.  We decided to install the copper pipes after much deliberation.

If the copper gets stolen, it’ll be my fault.  We’ll replace ‘em with galvanized metal, and chalk it up to stupidity, idealism, or mismanagement.  All of the above is another option, but it’s one that I’m more comfortable with than not trying at all.

Here are some rather leading questions you may have –

1. Say, isn’t copper historically accurate?
2. I could understand installing copper in a swanky neighborhood like Buckhead, but in West End?
3. Isn’t this proposition a little bit like the moral dilemma Alexander Hamilton faced when dueling with Aaron Burr?

And here are my answers –

1. You betcha.
2. I don’t think that criminals discriminate; we probably shouldn’t either.
3. Maybe a little bit, yes.*  At least at the 1:40 mark.

Anyway, copper?  What copper?  Nothing to see here.  Just new paint.

* The Wren’s Nest does not condone binge drinking, not even for the sake of history or telling a good story.  Well, maybe this one time.

After the tour, he handed me a CD’s worth of Brer Rabbit stories that he recorded. Here, take a listen –

Stephen Allman – The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story

[Dear subscribers, please check out the actual post for the audio.]

I was surprised to find out that Stephen isn’t a professional storyteller.  The production quality is great, he has a wonderful voice, and he can tell a good story.  The folks that heard his versions here were disappointed he didn’t have CDs for sale.

Stephen was struck by the Brer Rabbit stories he heard as a child, often told to him in Gullah or Geechee dialects.  So unlike our storytellers, Stephen has employed dialect in these versions, like Joel Chandler Harris did when originally recorded the stories.

To some, this is the most controversial aspect of Harris’s work.

The argument goes something like this — Harris’s use of dialect is insulting and stereotypical, especially from someone who has essentially hijacked and homogenized an important portion of African-American culture.  He stinks.

Stephen Allman – The Briar Patch

[Dear subscribers, please check out the actual post for the audio.]

To others, employing dialect is one of the most important parts of Harris’s work.

Their argument goes like this — Harris carefully preserved a vital part of culture, speech, and history, while also becoming one of the first Americans to present black culture to a wide audience with respect.  He should have a halo when you picture him.

What do you think of Stephen’s stories?  Think we should sell his CD at the Wren’s Nest?

What about the dialect in the stories?  Does it make you smile?  Does it make you cringe?

Does it matter that Stephen is white?  Would your perception be different if he were black?  Is the presentation politically correct or politically incorrect?  Does that matter?

Previously:

• Is Uncle Remus Racist?
• Gullah Geechee in the Economist and the Super Bowl Pandas

The goal is to use this space — well, technically the space below — to continue the discussion of successful practices in the current economy that began at Monday’s Town Hall meeting.

For example, Alex Trouteuad of Spry PR highlighted a great marketing trick that had worked well for the brain geniuses at Synchronicity Theatre.

The main questions we’re looking to answer are:

• Which specific strategies work for your arts organization in this economy?
• Which strategies don’t work?
• What can the Atlanta community do to help your organization?
  
• Did you think that the MAACC event was helpful?
  

Hopefully, these answers will create an ongoing dialogue for members of the arts and culture community.  It’s so great to be able to learn from everyone else’s experiences, and I would love for the discussion to continue.  (Here.)

And, if you’re bored enough, you can even read other posts on our blog.  Let’s just hope things don’t get that bad.

The event was hosted by the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition.

Over 160 representatives from arts and culture organizations attended.  A panel of experts spoke about how cultural groups can use more strategery in current economic times.*

Big-time speakers included –

Karen Beavor, President & CEO
Georgia Center for Nonprofits

Mary Pat Crouch, Vice President
Coxe Curry & Associates

Penny McPhee, President & Trustee
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Shirley Mitchell, Senior VP, Market Development
Bank of America

All of the speakers were effective, encouraging, and (very importantly) concise.

The audience then shared their own success stories (following one man who, apparently after wandering into the wrong meeting and tuning out the entire presentation, spoke about traffic issues and asked us to make a change.  Buddy, I’m flattered you think I have that kind of pull!).

Not everything was applicable to the Wren’s Nest (our HR department is actually a squirrel out back), but what didn’t apply to us was made up for by the $1 beers, which always apply to us.  And let me tell you, arts and culture folks really know how to knock 1 or 2 back.

But enough about us.  We want to hear from you.  Please, choose a question below and answer it in the comments.

• Which strategies work for your arts organization in this economy?
• Which strategies don’t work?
• What did you think of the event?

Don’t be shy!  We’re waiting with bated breath.

*They stink.

Just before the King Tut saxophone solo, the satire really stung me.  Steve Martin sings, “He gave his life …for tourism.”

That line really made me think about what we do at the Wren’s Nest.  Well, that one and “he’s my favorite honky.”

It’s hard to ignore the fact that the Wren’s Nest staff (especially us bloggers) are not unlike what Steve Martin satirizes above.  See–

• “Kids!  Read Brer Rabbit stories.  We’ll give you a tshirt!”
• “Dads!  We have Brer Rabbit golf balls in our gift shop.  They’ll keep you out of the Briar Patch!”
• “Internet!  We have this goofy blog (and now a Twitter account)!”

Sometimes it’s tricky to balance (a) a mission that requires commitment to historic preservation, (b) the need to bring in earned income, and (c) the waning attention span of the public in an increasingly competitive and wired world.  In other words, it’s easy to forget that we’re here to preserve the heritage of African-American folklore and the legacy of Joel Chandler Harris.

Ideally everyone would come clamoring in for tours of an historic home to hear the Brer Rabbit stories, especially since they are such a unique and indispensable part of American culture.  Too bad it doesn’t work that way.

So, I guess my question is this — when we’re competing for tourists and field trips with the likes of the Aquarium and the Coke Museum, are our gimmicks really that bad?

Better yet, have you seen any other museums that’ve successfully raised awareness on the cheap without sacrificing their integrity?  We didn’t have much integrity to begin with, so I guess we have a leg up there.