NEWSLETTER

Eastern Shore of Virginia Barrier Islands Center

Spring 2013

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Heart of the Community, Soul of a Culture

Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Art & Music on the Farm

It’s a Rural Renaissance at the

Barrier Islands Center

on Virginia’s Eastern Shore

Admission is $10 for adults in advance● $15 on day of show ● Children FREE!

Tickets are available at the BIC, Rayfield’s Pharmacies and The Book Bin.

Virginia’s Musical Traditions...notes from Gregg Kimball

Virginians are central to America’s musical heritage. Few states can boast iconic performers

such as the Carter Family, Ralph Stanley, John Cephas, and the Golden Gate Quartet, all of

whom helped define quintessential American styles such as Bluegrass, Country, Blues, and

Gospel. Virginia’s traditional musical heritage is rich in place as well as styles, such as old-

time dance music from Galax, to a traditional urban-style gospel group from Richmond.

These are examples of local communities preserving unique cultural ways and traditions.

Church, home, workplace, and street corners all served as points of musical interchange.

The Art & Music on the Farm festival highlights these traditions by presenting torchbearers

of traditional music. Like those before them, they learn from neighbors, family, and friends

and have the music in their bones; and like their mentors, they are passing that legacy on to

others. These are living, breathing traditions, full of an energy and power that have made

the rest of the world take notice. Enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to see such a

remarkable group of performers!

The New Ballard’s

Branch Bogtrotters: Around a dozen years ago, a

group of musicians from the

Galax, VA area formed a

new band. This group, The

New Ballard's Branch

Bogtrotters, took their name

in part from the original

Bogtrotters of the 1930s and

also because band leader Dennis Hall lives on Ballard's Branch. Rounding out the Bogtrotters lineup

are: Eddie Bond on Fiddle, Dennis Hall on guitar, Josh Ellis with clawhammer banjo, Jesse Morris on

Bass, and Leon Frost on mandolin. Old-time music is alive and well and continues to attract fans of all

ages. The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters remain a leading force in carrying the traditional music of

the Virginia/Carolina Blue Ridge into the new millennium.

Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith: Gregg and Mary are musicians who take a special interest in the history and context of roots music.

Their concerts always contain a wide variety of material culled from old recordings, forgotten ballads,

and vintage favorites that take on a new sparkle when they are dusted off, polished up and performed

with vim and vigor.

Gregg Kimball is both an accomplished musician and a historian

with a passion for collecting old 78 records. This makes for a

fascinating repertoire and a wealth of knowledge about the music he

performs. Gregg plays several instruments, including six-string,

twelve-string, steel guitar, fiddle, accordion and banjo. He has

performed throughout the region at festivals, clubs, and cultural

events, most often with the blues trio Sheryl Warner and the

Southside Homewreckers. Currently a

historian for the Library of Virginia, he

frequently organizes educational programs

to accompany musical performances, including Old Dominion Songsters, a

tribute to Virginia's blues heritage and Blues in the Schools programs.

Mary Smith is a traditional singer from central Virginia. Her father,

Ronald Smith, was an avid collector of traditional American folk music, old

time Country and Western, Bluegrass and Gospel. It was a natural step for

her to take up the guitar and her interest in the ballads of Mexico. Mary is

an active member of the folk community in Richmond, Virginia, and is co-

founder of Richmond Folk Music, a monthly concert series dedicated to

traditional folk music.

Gaye Todd Adegbalola (Ah - deg - bah - lola): Gaye is a Blues Music Award winner and a former Virginia

State Teacher of the Year. She recently combined those

talents to produce an interactive children's CD, "Blues in

All Flavors," which recently won a Parents' Choice Gold

Award for 2012. She has performed worldwide with Saffire

- The Uppity Blues Women and as a solo/duo

artist. She has 15 CDs in international distribution,

including 4 on her own Hot Toddy Music label.

She sees herself as a contemporary griot (a storyteller,

historian, poet and musician) -- keeping history alive, delivering messages of empowerment,

ministering to the heartbroken, and finding joy in the mundane.

Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes: Gospel legends Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes of

Richmond, Virginia - whose career in gospel music spans

well over 55 years - captivate audiences with their big

sound and rapturous dancing. Maggie began playing the

piano and singing at an early age and exhibited a great love

for church and for the ministry of the gospel. She has five

children who helped her and her husband preach in the

rural areas outside of Miami. It was from these humble

beginnings that the Ingramettes were formed. Sister

Maggie Ingram and The Ingramettes were soon a sought

after group to sing at churches, gospel festivals,

auditoriums, church conferences, and other places throughout Florida.

The Ingramettes continue to grow as Ms. Ingram added her oldest granddaughter Cheryl Beaver to

the group. In 2013, the Ingramettes celebrated their 57th year in gospel music and Ms. Ingram

celebrated 63 years in the field of gospel music.

The group has received numerous awards from the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and the Mayor of the

City of Richmond. Today, in her early eighties, she continues to celebrate her life of service to God

and to humanity.

Opening Performer - Malvin Marshall - Eastern Shore gospel singer.

Jon Lohman - Festival Emcee:

Jon is Program Director of the Virginia Folklife Program, a part of the Virginia

Foundation for the Humanities based in Charlottesville. As the state folklorist, he

works to document, present, and support Virginia’s rich cultural folkways through a

variety of mediums, including audio and video documentation, exhibit design, public

programming, and project development. He has presented at numerous festivals,

such as the Smithsonian Folklife festival, the national Folklife Festival, Merlefest,

the Blue Ridge Folklife festival, and the American Folklife Festival.

Artists - Carole Böggemann Peirson, Helen

Bongiovanni, Bobby Bridges, Marty Burgess, Jennie

Budd, Brenda Clarke, Mary Ann Clarke, David Crane,

Diana Davis, Buck Doughty, Enjoy the Journey,

Gertraud Fendler, Fred Greenway, Ann Hayden, Anne

Holland, Jane Kafigian, Mama Girl, Thelma Peterson,

Jack Richardson, Guy Shover,

Bethany Simpson, Maurice

Spector, Dora Sullivan,

Richard Toft, Cameron Waff,

W. T. Wilkins, Windsor House.

Vendors: Abrakadoodle

art project (free to children), Appleseed Nurseries, The Bakery at Riverside

Farm, Copper Cricket Farm, Rita Hilton (Hostas), Myrtle Grove Nurseries,

Shore Bath Girls Co.

Food and drink will be provided for purchase by Chatham Vineyards,

Debbie Kozak Catering, Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Co., and The

Island Creamery. We will also have beer on tap.

Purchase your tickets today! They are available at the Barrier Islands Center,

Rayfield’s Pharmacies or The Book Bin.

Bay Creek Resort & Club

H.M. Terry Co., Inc.

J.C. Walker Bros., Inc.

Jones Zittrain Wealth Management Group of

Merrill Lynch

Ocean Cove Seafood

Michael & Dee Sterling, Vandeventer Black, LLP

WHRO

Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management

Wolcott River Gates

Adair Tyler - SunTrust Investments ● Anonymous ● Atlantic Animal Hospital ● BB&T

Branscome ● Bundick Well & Pump ● Burger Landscape & Design ● Chatham Vineyards

Coldwell Banker Harbour Realty ● Davis Disposal ● Doyle Family

Drs. Savage, Sabol & Visser - Orthodontics ● Eastern Shore Adventures

Eastern Shore Animal Hospital ● Eastern Shore Dog ● Eastern Shore Events & Rentals

Eastern Shore Signs ● H.W. Drummond, Inc. ● Leatherbury-Broache & Co. PC

L.J. Kellam Construction ● Pierson Comfort Group ● PNC Bank ● Rayfield’s Pharmacy

Shooting Point Oyster Company ● Shore Bank ● State Farm Insurance - Bart Holland

Tankard Nurseries ● The Insurance Market ● Tidewater Insulators ● Tommy Arnold, Inc.

Weichert Realtors, Mason-Davis ● Wendell Distributing Co., Inc.

Willie C. Randall of Edward Jones

Thank you to our 2013 Sponsors

“My First Field Trip” Almost every Wednesday morning for the 2012-2013 school

year, the BIC has been alive with the pleasurable sounds of 4

and 5 year olds making music, dancing, and creating pieces of

art. This semester alone, 73 students from Occohannock

Elementary, Pungoteague Elementary, and Broadwater

Academy will have come for 291 “visits.” This is in addition to

the 41 students from Kiptopeke Elementary who came in the

fall for 164 “visits.”

Highlights in Art - taught by Abrakadoodle instructor

Charlene Huh:

Winslow Homer was an American artist in the

1800s that lived and painted in New England.

Many of his watercolors focus on water, such as

pictures that depict stormy skies, boats, and rough

waters. Students created their own paintings

learning watercolor technique to create ocean

colors while also

developing fine motor

skills by special tearing

of paper to create the ocean waves.

There is a legend in Tahiti about Tohu and how he

painted all the oceans' fish in beautiful colors and

patterns. These colorful patterns were called tattoos or

“Tatu” and are done using a technique of placing tiny dots

of paint on the surface. Students made their own fish

using their handprints based on the ancient art of “Tatu.”

Children learned about the importance of lighthouses

for coastal areas. They were introduced to Edward

Hopper, known for his paintings of lighthouses. Using crayons and watercolor resist,

students made their own interpretations of these beacons of light.

Music, Sing & Play - with Martha Giles

The students learned a variety of American

songs and stories and were introduced to an

assortment of musical instruments from around

the world. Music teacher Martha Giles’ overall

objective is to provide each child with a

successful and joyful musical experience.

In addition, the goal is for students to:

gain confidence in the use of their own

singing voices

be introduced to music concepts, including

the musical alphabet and direction (up and

down the musical scale)

learn a variety of traditional American songs

gain ability in following verbal directions

learn to imitate rhythm with body and with

rhythmical instruments (e.g., clapping hands,

stomping feet)

be introduced to other cultures through

musical instruments (e.g., dung-chen from

Tibet, frog rasps from Thailand,

glockenspiels from Sweden, bells from India)

successfully experience playing rhythm instruments and melodic instruments

increase ability to focus attention

increase willingness to wait patiently to take turns

be introduced to classic children's stories told in song (e.g., Goldilocks and the Three

Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk)

increase listening skills

“My First Field Trip” was made possible by PNC Foundation, Gwathmey Foundation, and

the Beazley Foundation. Abrakadoodle art teacher Charlene Huh offers the children

quality art education together with Martha Giles’ first-class musical instruction.

One thing is for certain, nothing livens up a place more than young children singing,

sharing, clapping, drumming, and painting.

If you ever have time on a Wednesday morning,

please stop by and see for yourself some thrilling learning

taking place in this historic white building on the side of the road.

It will be sure to bring a smile to your face and a tap to your toes!

What’s going on at the BIC...

Flatfooting Dance Workshop taught by Bill

McLothlin: This class will get the whole family ready

for the Art and Music On the Farm festival in late May!

Participants will learn flatfooting, an old time dance

style closely associated with traditional string band

music in that the dancer’s feet barely leave the floor.

This dancing style is a popular and important part of

Virginia’s musical heritage, particularly on the eastern

slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For a toe-tapping,

swinging good time, bring your kids and learn some

new dance moves!

Tuesdays April 30, May 7, 14, 21

6-7 p.m. for children and adults

FREE!

CPR Class

Class participants will learn primary

and secondary First Aid for adults/

infants, ADI, and CPR with instructor

Andy Dunton. Class size is limited to

12 people. Cost: $40 (covers all books

and materials).

Wednesday, May 29th

5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Barrier Islands Center

Speaker Series

“Rise and Fall of Virginia’s Eastern Shore’s Charter Fishery” by George Reiger, a writer on conservation issues who lives in Accomack County, traces the history of charter/recreational fishing focusing on two seaside towns, Wachapreague and Chincoteague, over the past century. Reiger is the former conservation

editor of two nationally circulated

magazines, “Field & Stream” and

“Saltwater Sportsman,” and was the

author of Wanderer on My Native

Shore and The Striped Bass

Chronicles. Thursday, May 16th

at 5:30 p.m. - FREE!

Save the Date!

Art & Music on the Farm

Saturday, May 25th

Five-Day

Summer Camps!

BIG Abrakadoodle CIRCUS CAMP

(ages 3-5 years)

June 24 through June 28th

9:00 a.m. - Noon

pre-registration required

Cost: $125

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...welcome to

the greatest camp on earth! The circus is coming

to town, Abrakadoodle style! Stretch your creative

muscles as you design out-of-this-world costumes.

Clown around with circus paintings and circus

faces. Tame clever circus animal sculptures.

Swing along to create a balancing trapeze artist!

Be the ringmaster of your own imagination at the

Big Abrakadoodle Circus, complete with carnival

games, costumes, laughter, oohs and aahs, and

spectacular fun!

Dreaming of the Future Camp

(ages 5-9 years)

July 8th through July 12th

9:00 a.m. - Noon

pre-registration required

Cost: $125

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a super sleuth, a

super hero or heroine, racecar driver, architect or

space explorer - this is the Abrakadoodle camp for

you! Follow the clues to create an artist’s sketch of

the perpetrator. Learn about fingerprinting and

make your own special fingerprint art. Show your

super might in a photo illustration. There’s a little

competition - and fun, as you create and race your

own racecar. Put your imagination into overdrive

as you design a city for the future. Explore outer

space while learning about the Hubble Telescope.

Build and name your own star!

Mystery Museum Hunt

(ages 8-12 years)

August 12th through August 16th

9:00 a.m. - Noon

pre-registration required

Cost: $125

Get ready to uncover a mystery each day of this

inspirational camp. The children will transform

themselves into detectives at work as they journey

around the world in search of great masterpieces.

We will walk the halls of some of the most famous

museums found in the United States, Europe, and

the Far East. AS we travel, students will discover

artists who created their work using a variety of

styles and media ranging from pop artist Jasper

Johns to the magnified work of Georgia O’Keeffe.

As a special activity to begin each day, children will

join in a museum hunt to uncover clues and pieces

of a puzzle that will lead to our featured artist.

We're excited about what we've been able to do, and we couldn't have done it without

membership support!

Become a Member TODAY!

Membership Types

Individual........................................$25 Family..............................................$50 Sustaining...........................................$100 Business..............................................$200 Sponsor...............................................$500 Patron..............................................$1,000

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

E-Mail:

Amount Enclosed:

Please fill out this form and return with payment to: The Barrier Islands Center

PO Box 206, Machipongo, VA 23405.

Or you can join online at www.barrierislandscenter.com

Wow, You did it!

The challenge was on, and YOU met it!

The Barrier Islands Center board of directors

initiated a capital campaign in January 2011 to invest in

this vibrant museum and cultural center. Supporters

dug deep to build an endowment for the Center’s

educational programs and community outreach, and

raise capital funds for renovations to the historic

property.

Then in December 2011, the Center was named

recipient of the $1 million Batten Endowment Challenge,

made possible by philanthropist Jane Batten and

administered by Hampton Roads Community

Foundation. Mrs. Batten also challenged us to match

dollar for dollar every new endowment gift up to

$500,000.

The goal was to raise $2.6 million, and YOU

helped raise over $2.8 million! The Barrier Islands

Center not only exceeded its goal, but is the very FIRST

of ten organizations to meet Mrs. Batten’s challenge.

Soon the Center will publish an alphabetical

listing of Campaign donors. If you have not yet made a

gift, there is still time. You can feel great about investing

in an Eastern Shore treasure that will be here for

generations to come!

For more information or to get on the list, please contact

Laura Vaughan at 757-678-5550 or

barrierislandscenter@live.com

BIC Babies!

Rowan Isla

Dates to Remember

Tuesdays, April 30, May 7, 14, 21

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Flatfooting Dance Workshop

***

Saturday, May 11th - 11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

Dogs on the Farm

An Event to Benefit SPCA Eastern Shore

***

Thursday, May 16th

5:30 p.m.

“Rise and Fall of Virginia’s Eastern Shore’s

Charter Fishery”

***

Wednesday, May 29th

5:00-9:00 p.m.

CPR Class

***

Monday-Friday, June 24th-28th

9:00 a.m. - Noon

BIG Abrakadoodle CIRCUS CAMP

***

Monday-Friday, July 8th-12th

9:00 a.m. - Noon

Dreaming of the Future Camp

***

Monday-Friday, August 12th-16th

9:00 a.m. - Noon

Mystery Museum Hunt

Call the Barrier Islands Center for information

regarding available cruises:

Morning Coffee - Ice Cream - History - Sunset -

Wine Tasting - Cocktail

(also available for private parties)

757.678.5550

PTSTD STD

Non-Profit Org.

US Postage

PAID

Permit #206

Machipongo, VA

The New

Ballard’s Branch

Bogtrotters Traditional music

of Virginia/North

Carolina Blue Ridge

Gregg Kimball &

Mary Smith Lively mix of

traditional music from

Mexico

Gaye Todd

Adegbalola

Award-winning

Blues artist

Maggie Ingram

and the

Ingramettes

Gospel

Start off your summer with a glorious

Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend

May 25th

10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

celebration of Virginia’s rich heritage

of art and music at one of the loveliest

venues on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The festival offers some of the finest

art in the region. You will be amazed

at the day’s rich variety of traditional

music and you’ll have a chance to

learn more with interpretations by

music historian Gregg Kimball and

Jon Lohman.

Admission is $10 for adults; $15 on

day of show; 17 and under free.

Tickets sold at the Barrier Islands

Center, Rayfield’s Pharmacies and

The Book Bin.

Barrier Islands Center

PO Box 206

Machipongo, VA 23405