Open Air; Black History/Woodcarving

The opinions expressed in the following program did not necessarily reflect the views of the Mississippi educational network or of its staff. Jack Schweitzer for open air this afternoon on Segment one we're going to be talking about Black History Month celebration in Yazoo City on Segment 2 woodcarving. My guests on this first segment today are Marjorie Brown chairman of Black History Month 1996 planning committee city. Glad to have you on the program Ms. Brown and also Mr. Clarence Brown Black History Month 1996 planning committee member from the city. Glad to have you here sir. Thank you. Glad to be here. I'd like to pose the first question to you Ms. Brown if I may the Black History Month Committee it organized

well in May of 1995 we became residents of Yazoo City in November. Ninety three and after becoming residents we noticed that in 1995 there was during February of 1995. There seemed to be a lack of interest or. Excitement about Black History Month. And we discussed it among ourselves quite frequently and we wondered you know like why was this happening. And then we started talking to different friends and acquaintances about it and we said well you know maybe we should even have a proclamation. And we were encouraged by the residents say well you know ask the mayor he'll probably do it. So that's how we got started we asked the mayor for a proclamation for Black History Month and then we decided that maybe we should do some other activities which included.

With me I might mention that. My wife after talking to these people quite a few people in the neighborhood. We compiled a list of things that probably should have been done during Black History Month. And she presented these items to the city council as her city and they unanimously agreed that those things should be done. And being voted on. And well yes this is good. So let's get right back to Marjorie so Marge can make it happen. And that's basically what happened about that. OK you know the Black History Month committee obviously felt the tremendous need from all of what you were stimulating conversation along that line. I'd like to ask you this because who is responsible for organizing the Black History Month citywide celebration. Well my husband and I initially excuse me

and then we invited several teachers and other members of the community whose who had shown an interest and we sort of formed a committee. It was just a committee without any president or vice president or what have you. But since I had been the one to go to city council and present this to city council I was designated as a chairperson. So I would have to say that I am the one. Now let's get down to some of the activities planned. What will be happening. Oh beginning Monday the 29th of January we will have the proclamation by Mayor McGaha at 9:00 a.m. in the morning. That's tomorrow morning yes on Saturday February 3rd. We will have an art exhibit at the African Oaks cultural center and we will have four exhibitors for there. Also on that same day at 3 p.m. We will have a gospel

explosion and we will have several choirs the to mass angelic choir the Kaisers singers the Sunshine Band from Oak Grove Church. The Blind Boys of Jackson and also the Ebeneezer Children's Choir. We will also have four ministers from different denominations to present a short speech on the 4th of February at 7:30 in the morning. We will have a prayer breakfast and at the LTI Miller Center in Yazoo City and there in that breakfast we will be shown slides of old churches and we will also have a gospel metally to be sung by Reverend Hiram. Hiram Jameson on February 9th the professional men and women are invited to speak during the school

hours eight years of city high school. The 10th of February which is a Saturday there will be this day will be designated to the youth and we will have activities. We will set up different booths to talk about crime prevention social etiquette. We hope to have a pro athletic person to be present. We also plan to have a talk on economics and finance show entail just various. Various subjects we're going to have to include teen pregnancies on the reproductive system so that at least the people that come will be exposed to having been exposed to what happens if you get pregnant. We don't have something like that. And just today it's going to be fear with exposing young children to all the

things that can they can do or things that they shouldn't do and how to plan a future for themselves. Basically I'd like to pause just for a moment if I may to give a couple of phone numbers you at home please run grab a pencil and paper right now if you will. I have two telephone numbers not to call in right now. This is the calling program. But for further information concerning the wonderful celebration that's going to be taking place up in Yazoo City you may phone Marjorie Brown at 1 6 1 7 4 6 9 6 7 8 or you may call and Bullard the executive director of Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau at this number 1 6 1 7 4 6 1 8 1 5. It is a month long celebration that's what we're talking about. This will be extended throughout the entire month of February.

Yes it is next and we plan events every weekend. Some type of event and the reason that we're doing this is number one we understand that it is not a help the community. If the majority the population which is black. Feels that the minority in the population in the city has accomplished everything and and they are the ones that are most productive and we feel that that the black people in Kansas City as well as the white people in the city should be exposed to the compliments and participation of black people. We also feel that our children must be exposed to these accomplishments whatever ancestors done in Yazoo City. They have developed as a city as a county. It's an agricultural community. We have done practically all the manual labor concerning picking cotton chopping cotton and your neighbor building roads. We've got all those things and those are major accomplishments

that I don't think that our people realized that they are accomplishments and playing a major role in the development of the city. Yes you county. We also plan a parade which is latter part of the month. So that will be the 23rd of February 23rd that Friday at 6:00 p.m. The city high school band will participate. The junior high school band. Several sorority and fraternal organizations. And we will also honor the World War Two black veterans. And the reason that we're doing the black veterans is that when they return from World War Two came home they were told to pull off their uniforms and go back to the field. The establishment at the time refused to honor them in any way. So this gives us an opportunity

to honor the black matters of the city and county during this parade. And the final event is a blues concert that we will be having at the has is it has a city school auditorium and that will be done by a group which is known as a blues tour. They come in and they interact with the school and they also put on a concert. When will that be take. They might be taking place. They will come in on Friday the 23rd and they will go into the school. They will choose members from the school band to participate in the concert and they will also set up booths and give a way blues paraphernalia and sort of give a history of the blues that was done in the Delta Mississippi Delta. Now they're going to include five schools. OK. They're going to go to and give them a brief history of the blues in addition to the concert

that they're going to. Going to have. But that concert will be taking place at what that concert will take place on the 24th of February. As you see the junior high school auditorium. OK. Well it's an impressive array of things that you've got planned for the entire month. Yes I also forgot to mention that during the parade Representative Bennie Thompson will be a guest also at this parade. And we also plan to have a reception for him at the American Legion. And that will also be to honor the veterans of World War Two special celebration after 50 years after 50 years and say Welcome home. We're glad that you participated. We applaud your accomplishments in World War Two and just a couple of things I'd like to mention about World War Two that

people might not know the Tuskegee Airmen. These were fliers in World War Two. They never lost a bomber during World War Two. He never lost a bomber during World War Two. And there's another group called The Black Angels. I'm sure that probably no one has heard of them but these people spearheaded Patton's attack during World War Two. They were responsible for liberating a lot of the Jews during World War Two and they were called black angels. Actually the term for them was liberators. And I'm sure that all of you have heard of the Red Ball Express where Rand Paul expressed was exclusively black. Soldiers except for the officers in their company. They were the one that limit all of the supplies to the front during World War 2 in Europe. I would also like to take a minute to thank all of the participants who will be entering floats into our parade. We have the

Thomas Christian School Academy the Yazzie Development Corporation and also the alternative school. And we will have a float for the veterans. They plan to make a float for the veterans to ride during the parade. And we didn't mention it didn't mention it. Our theme for this celebration is past present and future. So we'll have all of them represented during the parade. I want to thank you both for coming in and sharing about this exciting months. Coming up Black History Month especially in the city here regarding your wonderful city with its extremely interesting past and present. What's so fascinating about it and all of it just it seems like it's all tied together somehow at all. Well we've been working very hard to make it come together. I'm certain it will be a grand success and we think that the city will grow and we think we'll grow together. Thank you very much for coming in. Thank you. Thank you.

In a moment the second segment of open air. My guests on this second segment open to air. Our Joe Andrews. He's president of the Pearl River wood carvers. Welcome to the show you say. And Don Reinhart he is a woodcarver. Glad to have you here. Thank you Jack. And Willis Johnson chairman of the annual Pearl River woodcarver his show and competition. Glad to have you here. Thank you Jack. We're going to be talking woodcarving. How did you get involved in it. We'll start with you Joe. Well Jack it's kind of a short story and a long story. I had an accidental for the approximate 12 years ago. You sit around you watch all the TV program read all the magazines and all of a sudden you decide you don't like to do this anymore. So I ordered me a book on woodcarver and I said I said What are you going. I said I will try to carve something you know something new to do. So this is the way I got started. I don't recommend that you break your leg to get stoned. That's the way

it all came about and then I got involved with a woodcutters about the last 10 years and made all of me except one unknown reason I didn't make it I just plain forgot about it you know. But now all these guys know something about woodcarving basically the way I get started is by following along somebody that I'll record not just these two guys but some of the other people that were involved that include that's not here anymore you know. OK. Don Reinhardt how did you get involved. Well I got started because I found an old decoy in a barn somewhere in Mississippi and was intrigued by the old decoys and clicked a few but they're so scarce and expensive now if you find the old ones. So I decided Well I'd make some of my own. And my wife said What makes you say you can do that because you think I can and pride one out so I started making decoys. Would that be cause and sets and got into the

realistic birds and wow other forms of wildlife and even whales. I just I enjoy the whole thing. All right. Willis Johnson how about you. How did you get involved. I started when I was a kid and you might say I was in the Boy Scouts at the beginning of the Second World War and they'd come and ask is could we make model airplane for identification purposes for gunners and pilots and so forth. How made Japanese Zeros. And then from then on until I got grown I kind of piddled with it in about 10 12 years ago with this club I got with it and started getting serious about it. Then we have a very interesting piece right here at my right hand who which one of you did this one here Jack Aakar that about three or four years ago that came out of a thank you card and it kind of caught my eye when I seen it. That's what is called high relief. Somebody says if you if you do that

kind of carving is one reason you do it you can't call around. But that type carving to me is a lot harder. You're dealing with depth perception makes it a little bit more complicated to carve because you make one mistake and you trash it. You know that's real heavy wood too. It's made out of basswood. That's one of the components of carbon basswood or Tupelo is the most sought after Wood the car. It's rather expensive but it's like any other had it all. Habits are expensive and they actually are. I think you want to talk about your annual Pearl River woodcarver show and competition I believe. Well if you can give us the breakdown on that yes or I'll give you a brief synopsis. It's February the 24th and 25th this year came and the last one to charity in a Sunday Sardi the show Russian 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m. and we would like to invite the people that come out and see what we have. The purpose of our show

and your show is to have a play for Mississippi woodcarver is to come together and have a place to show what art can be done with wood. We called it we call ourselves the artisans and wood and it's not just a trade it's an art code you have to know something about painting about carving about Engineer and how to make your habitat work. And some of the anatomy of the animal you're doing you need do your research. So it's and we like to show it off and and educate the public as to what we are doing just like any other artist. Well some of these pieces you have on the table here especially that one in the middle with the fish and then you have a dragon fly on top of one of the lances Joe's piece there. OK. Yeah. All of that base Jack. How are dead debt his show last year I want a blue ribbon on it how everything is wood I it except the stem that holds the lilies up and the even to the Shayol to our

car about whether they're not real change I carved out of wood. And now it turned out real nice to bluegill. I've got a bass working on now to the end of the show for this year but don't look like it will get it ready Jack. You're. I'm running behind. You've only got a few weeks left. The show is come and slip slip right. But. I enjoy what I do and fish is something and I know a little bit about as a kid. You know you always these bluegill to us what we were raised almost I was a fishing pole and a hook you know. Most of them weren't that big. You know they were like that you know about fanger side like you say if they were why did you three as we had Atum. Why did you take fingers. We would eat them. So that's the way that all came about being in native Louisiana. We make gravy. Well Don Rheinhardt which one is your piece. Well I did the whale the whale over here and a little rain down here at the end.

OK. The Owl and the bluebird is John Norris pieces from that area. Does a beautiful job in there. O'Malley's a specialty. Nice on the marble the wood is just pieces and we'll ask which one is yours here the little chickadees sitting on this pedestal that had a stone wall. And I have this mockingbird it is not complete. Oh OK. We are in the stage of painting he has got one coat of paint on it now. OK. So it's unfinished It's unfinished and the habitat is what we call the bases. It's going to be a magnolia. Liam was nine leaves and magnolia blossom is sold and it will probably go out of state. This looks just so real it's just almost a picture of the thing. That's what we all try our strive to do. Getting ready to take off and fly off somewhere

again a little bit about the the competition. Again I want to get those dates straight. What were they. February 24th 25th. OK. All right. And on the 24th the show was at 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on the 25th from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m.. And where will it be taking place. To Jim Ross museum right in Jackson Lakeland dry on Lakeland. I'd like to get a phone number in case anybody would like to get some more information about woodcarving that we're we don't have time to talk about here. You can call Don Rheinhardt at 1 6 1. The number is 8 2 5 2 5 8 8 8 2 5 2 5 8 8. And call down and he'll be willing to share a lot of information with you. Where are the competition.

Is it only for Mississippians or. No sir we. It's mainly for place to Mississippi artists to show their wares make contacts but we invite woodcarver from all over. Last year we had would cover from eight different states come down and display their wares and enter the competition against us. Some us and we become one of them. The competition stuff though isn't stiff. It is if we have three judges and they work independently we have an artist that is a judge we have. We call him on anthologist. Studies for the actual likeness and the other artist is I mean a judge is a piece of wood he's a wooden art world champion world champion woodcarver. So therefore we get all three aspects they come together and make the selection. Well how do you get your inspiration. This is open to any or all all three of you. How do you get your inspiration like that you all are all of a sudden say well I want to carve around.

How do you do it. That's it just comes in. We want to do so and so we get the urge to say to me I don't know about these other guys. I'm working on four or five different projects at one time. I'll be working on this and I may get tired of it and I'll lay it down go do something else so I won't ruin it and just work around until I finish it up. You know when you do some other plays around for a year or so you'll do something for a while and then just let it oh yeah put it aside and I operators usually maybe three or four months. I will do anything. And then there will be two or three weeks I'll go to bed at night. I just work on the water in the morning and get up the next morning and go at it again and burn myself out I guess. And then let it die. This is the great part about it. Of course I am retired and it's not compulsory you don't have to do it you do what you want to when you want to. And I have the time that I can take these odd hours to work for a living but

I'm only working on getting some of those that are the other two you retired he's working right. Well how about you Joe. Tell us how do you get your inspiration for some of this. You get a lot of inspiration but the things that other people do. I take to wildfowl carbon magazines that I get a lot of inspiration by seeing what other people are trying to do and how they go about doing it. And we try to do them. You know you see what they do and you say I believe I can do that but do it a little bit better. And of course I still have the first piece that I have a card that looks terrible. Know we all do. One of my neighbors dug it out of by 10 or 12 years ago now and I try to get it back from which you will then have it back I said I'll get another one you know because it looks so bad that you just don't want nobody to see you. Well has anybody here tackled a particular project that just was so difficult you just don't know.

Well it's got to go. I have just completed within the next two weeks will be totally completed lifesize bald eagle his wingspan is six foot nine he chooses and the primary wing feathers and the tail feathers did them individually and inserted them like real bird he is. And I got him coming up out of the water with bats in his claws. And what I'm like finishing is making this splash. Where is the fish coming out. And I've been working on and off that for six years now. Six years Jack he works. To think of this I will give you a regular job and this is your sideline hobby. And you know I travel and I carry my work with me on the road and I sit there in motel room. I make a good miserable night. Man I love you don't need. But that's what I spend my time at night when I'm on the road is doing carbon and how close are you to finishing that big sculpture.

I'm within within two weeks two weeks. What's going to. You're going up you're going to bring it to the show it will be a show of my entertaining competition. And I would like for you to come out and see gosh I'd love to see that. That's that it really it sounds exciting not just because it's huge because some of these tiny birds here are just as fascinating in their own way. That's true because they look like they're ready to fly. The question if you just got enough guts to start something like that takes several years away from finish that whole lot. Yeah. I hope just a great big crowd comes out to the show and I want to thank you all for coming in and telling us all about it. Woodcarving It's fascinating. It is fascinating. It's it's a nice fascinating pastime. Thank you. Thank you all. We've probably got to the end here. For. Some of us some interest. If you have any questions or comments. Right write to open your

Mississippi educational television. Thirty eight twenty five. Ridgewood from. Jackson Mississippi 3 9 2 1 1. Open air is a production Mississippi educational television. Oh. Oh. Oh