Our Storytelling Trek Blog #5

NABS Talking: On The Road with Ilene and Queen

Documenting Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellows

By: Ilene Evans

Editor: Karen "Queen Nur" Abdul-Malik

Naomi Hodge-Muse, MidAtlantic Arts Recipient

Sitting in My Mother’s Chair

It was over the river and through the woods to Koehler Holler– literally. We twisted along the winding roads that cut deep into the hills of old Virginia. At the top of the ridge, we drove cautiously in and around the new road construction. This was a new experience for Queen Nur who was driving at the time. Huge machines, lifts and dozers carved away the hillside. There were concrete barriers which formed walls to hold back the newly exposed mountainside. We were so high that Queen commented that mountain tops were no longer in front of us, seen by looking up from afar, we were really in the mountains now! I imagined Naomi growing up in the foothills and loving the ridge running, challenged by the stony inclines, risking life and limb. She loved the excitement of ridge running and still does. Though now she will brave the trips with her friend, Valeria, just to get an ice cream from her favorite hillside town.

We drove into the quaint town of Martinsville, Virginia to Blackbox Theatre, a community playhouse right downtown. The company prides itself in hosting guests like one of their alumni, Naomi Hodgge-Muse , for special projects. We were greeted at the front door by Co-director, Gracie Agnew, who shared the theater's history and guided us in to our camera setups.

Naomi's program was composed of excerpts from her book co-authored by Christopher Brooks. Presenting a 35-minute powerhouse performance she bookended her Black Appalachian storytelling concert with spirit-filled musical performers .

The collection of tales feels like Naomi went out to the garden with a big basket and started picking and pulling in her harvest. The basket was so full with memories, her family’s memories, her neighbors’ memories, and the journey of friends from long ago until now. Her artisim laid a table with a spread so nourishing it left everyone wanting more. We witnessed a masterful storyteller, minister, teacher, healer, and hostess of Koehler Holler dazzingly deliver timeless tales from the 1900 until today.

Naomi's, "Sitting in My Mother's Chair," hosted a standing room only audience. Artifacts became living treasures, as the stage was set in legacy with the chair, a refurbished painting of her grandmother and an original landscapte oil painting of the hollow. The oral lyricism blending with the vibrancy and the rich details made us feel like we were right there by the old cabin. Naomi's recognition of winning the NABS' BASF Award and her new book brought people from far and near to hear the tales in person. It was a winning combination.

The State Senator of Virginia, William Stanley presented Naomi with an official commendation from the Senate . The commendation recognized Naomi’s National Associaiton of Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellows Award funded by MidAtlantic Arts and her service to the community. Senator Stanley proudly announced that it was signed unanimously by the members of the Senate. The award has helped her share her story with neighbors and friends within and without the state.

After the program Naomi invited the guests to her home for a reception. Her cousin, Jackie, arranged all the food and festivities. Young and old dug into the treats in the sunroom which also serves as a gallery for her many paintings and art works. Salads, chicken wings, cakes, cookies, and lemonade awaited. Cheerful chatter and reminiscing continued for the rest of the afternoon.

Naomi took me aside and said, “The name of that painting is “Oh, Crap!” Can you tell why?” I was at a loss and said, “No, why?” She said, “You’re coming up the hill and you see the wolf and the bear. What do you say?..” I responded. “Oh, Crap!” Indeed. Naomi’s sense of humor infuses all her conversations and helps take the edge off some of the hard stories that she has to tell.

My take away from our time with Naomi:

Mission: Uplift the community

Message: We all have gifts to share and each of us is a gift from God

Motto: Never give up!

With grants for NABS due that night, Queen Nur and I had to close our visit and hurry onto the next stop to assure the proposals made it in time. So off into the night we drove and then on to Berea to see Hasan Davis and his son, Malcom.

3, 6, 9 - What’s on your mind? Black Appalachain Storyteller Fellows are blowin’ my mind!