Whether it is a story about growing up in Allagash or learning about basketmaking on Indian Island, Maine is a storied place. The Story Bank project, a collaborative venture between Cultural Resources and the Maine Folklife Center, hopes to record the histories, talents and voices of people from all over the state.
In June, 2008, twenty-two people from all over Maine, attended the first Story Bank Institute at the University of Maine, Orono.The four-day institute trained participants on how to collect, document and present local stories. Taught by a team of documentary specialists and folklorists, Story Bank participants learned fieldwork techniques, audio and video recording, digital photography, archiving and developing public presentations.
As part of Story Bank, 5 Institute participants, who have been documenting their community’s history and local culture will present their stories at the upcoming American Folklife Festival in Bangor August 23 & 24.
Saturday, August 23
12:30 Hispanic culture in Maine with Greater Bangor Advocates for Hispanic Culture with Maria Sandweiss and Joanna Cuervo
1:30 Shell fish stories with Brenda Cummings (Bath) and Nancy Dewey (Deer Isle)
3:00 Wabanaki Basketry with Pam Cunningham (Hampden)
4:00 Allagash Stories with Chace Jackson (Allagash)
Sunday, August 24
12:30 Fort Kent Mills Rugmakers with Kathleen Mundell
1:30 St. John River Batteaux making with John Connors and Chace Jackson (Allagash)
2:30 Working the Woods with Rangeley Woodcarver Rodney Richards and Jo Radner
3:30 Stories from the Madawaska Weavers
Story Bank is also interested in hearing your story. Bring a friend, a loved one or just yourself to the Story Bank RV, which will be parked near the Folk and Tradition area and sign up, for an interview. At the RV, a facilitator will guide you through the interview process and handle all the technical aspects of the recording with the help of Salt Institute’s Rob Rosenthal. At the end of your 30-minute session, you will have an audio CD of your interview. Inspired by StoryCorps, Story Bank is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
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