Question one: Have you always been interested in poetry and was there a particular moment in your life when you decided to get more serious about writing?
I think my interest in poetry began in my childhood, my Dad used to read “Stopping by A Woods on A Snowy Evening” by Frost to us and that is the earliest experience of a poem I can remember. I began to write poetry in my early years in the late 80’s as an Undergraduate, there was a kind of renaissance for me in my 20’s. Joy Harjo always called it the roaring 20’s in her life, I think she may have been right about that. After studying poetry a while I became interested in Poets like William Blake and Jim Morrison, who combined their poetry with art and music as well. I began to illustrate my poems with painting and to add them to the music we were creating in the bands I was a part of at the time and I have been working on that since then.
Question two: You are associated with an art studio called Studio Appalachia. A quick look at Studio Appalachia’s website and one can see there’s a lot going on. Different projects involving poetry, music, and other art. But, let’s talk about it more in depth. First the basics: Are you the founder of Studio Appalachia, when did it start and why?
I am a co-founder of Studio Appalachia along with our long-time drummer and sound engineer Doug Eagle V. back in 1999. We had been in several bands at that time and decided to try to build our own studio to record and make art in. It has become a collective over the years of many Musicians, Artists and Poets in Western Virginia and beyond.
Question three: Is there a particular project that came out of Studio Appalachia that you are most fond of? Or, at least one of your favorite projects? What’s it all about?
Back in 2018 we created the Dark Horse Poetry group as a way to encourage poetry and the arts in Appalachia and beyond and to support Coal River Mountain Watch in Southern West Virginia ( a group dedicated to ending mountaintop removal coal mining and the damage it does) I wanted to give Appalachian Poets an Inclusive place to share their work as well, so we began to e-publish local authors and artists.
Question four: What’s the latest? What’s going on right now at the studio?
I just took a beautiful snowy walk here this evening. I am working on several new paintings and poetry projects and our bands Spectral Arts and Project Morning Star have gallery exhibits and live broadcasts from our Studio coming up as well as our usual recording and rehearsals.
Question five: Because it’s prominent on the website, who is W.C. Harris?
W.C. Harris is my Great Grandfather and a Poet and Itinerant Preacher from Pax West Virginia. I have published many of his poems in a book titled VA West VA available on Amazon and electronically at http://vawestva.blogspot.com
Question six (optional): Is there a poem of his you wouldn’t mind reciting now?
Memory & Retrospect
"1-
Life's retrospect brings to one and all
A maze of joy and sorrow;
And things we count as joy today
Oft brings a sad tomorrow.
2-
Back thru the corridors of time
Along the way we came,
Fond memory points to scenes sublime
And scenes that bring us shame.
3-
Since only once we pass this way
Why spend our time lamenting.
For life, while in this house of clay
Means sinning and repenting.
4-
Alas for him who does not feel
Each day he needs a savior:
And daily pleads with Christ to heal
And pardon ill-behavior.
5-
The blood that reached and cleansed today
Has lost no power tomorrow:
That fount was opened wide for aye,
A balm for sin and sorrow."
*Pastor Walter C. Harris
Long Branch West Virginia
June 29, 1934
Question seven: A project that caught my eye from the Studio Appalachia website is the Appalachian Restoration Project. Tell me all about that.
I have lived in the Eastern Edge of Appalachia in Western Virginia for most of my life. I agreed with Prof. Patrick Gainer of West Virginia, who fought to overcome years of hillbilly stereotyping by those outside Appalachia. The reason I believe we need to reclaim our identity is it has been taken from us by those that wish to exploit and damage the region, redefinition should follow. *The Appalachian Restoration Project was created after several frustrating email conversations with a California filmmaker that continued to portray Appalachians in stereotypical ways in his work, and saw no problem with it. The Appalachian Restoration Project attempts to reclaim and redefine Appalachian identity from within.
Question eight: Is there anything else you want to mention about the studio, a particular project, your poetry? The floor is yours!
I have been working on a poetry project since 1987 called Project End of Days, I think it is a summation of my poetry and art and music since that time. When I began writing I did not have a computer and I hand wrote all of my poems in countless notebooks. It has taken several decades to archive all of it but it is slowly being done @ www.projectendofdays.blogspot.com Thank you also Poe for creating an inclusive and inviting place to share poetry at Poetic Post and now with this special Podcast. You are giving Poets a wonderful space to share and the time to be heard.
2/14/2022
