The Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf · Eric James Wolf

Interview #001 Mary Hamilton - Working on Our Work Weekends.

April 11, 2007·58 min·5 clips

Mary Hamilton reveals how folktales are ancestral messages that captivate all children in storytelling.

This episode features host Brother Wolf interviewing acclaimed storyteller Mary Hamilton about her creative process and community workshops. Mary Hamilton is a nationally recognized storyteller from Kentucky with numerous awards and festival appearances. She is particularly known for co-creating the "WOW! weekends," or "Working on Our Work" retreats, held in western Kentucky. The conversation explores the purpose and structure of these weekend retreats for artists and storytellers. Mary Hamilton discusses performing at major events like the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee, and the Hoosier Storytelling Festival in Indianapolis. Her work is also listed in the prestigious Kentucky Performing Arts Directory. She shares her philosophy that folktales are ancestral messages and that all children inherently love stories. The episode touches on her performances for diverse audiences, from university students to families at libraries. A key insight is the belief that storytelling is a vital teaching tool that requires maintaining a childlike openness. Mary Hamilton emphasizes the personal tenets of knowing yourself, following your passion, and living with grace as foundational to her art. The host expresses deep admiration, calling her a "beautiful soul" and feeling honored by her presence. The discussion suggests that her retreats are designed to help artists refine their craft in a supportive, communal setting along the river. The tone is warmly conversational, reverent, and inspirational, focusing on artistic mentorship. Listeners interested in folk arts, creative workshops, or personal artistic development would find this episode valuable. Those seeking highly structured narratives or debate-driven content might find it less engaging.

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