The LPSH on June 22nd will honor Juneteenth and feature local artist, poet, and former educator Jake Webster. Webster will read Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan and lead the group in a discussion and poetry exercise. This is an ALL-AGES story hour, meaning all are welcome to come experience this moving, incredibly important book.
This is open and free to the general public but registration requested.
The LPSH is not a fundraiser, it’s a consciousness raiser! Ruthmere invites a member of the community to read an age-appropriate children’s book to children and their families. But this is a story hour with a specific purpose. These stories are reflections of each reader’s distinct background, and communicate the values of diversity, unity and liberty.
Every child receives a Lincoln Penny souvenir in a keepsake jacket as a reminder of why this experience is important.
This LPSH is supported by Indiana Humanities with a One State / One Story grant and Event Sponsor Centier Bank.
About Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan:
Newbery Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, Ashley Bryan offers a moving and powerful picture book that contrasts the monetary value of a person with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away.
Imagine being looked up and down and being valued as less than chair. Less than an ox. Less than a dress. Maybe about the same as…a lantern.
This gentle yet deeply powerful way goes to the heart of how a slave is given a monetary value by the slave owner, tempering this with the one thing that can’t be bought or sold: dreams. Inspired by the actual will of a plantation owner that lists the worth of each and every one of his “workers,” the author has created collages around that document, and others like it.
Through fierce paintings and expansive poetry, he imagines and interprets each person’s life on the plantation, as well as the life their owner knew nothing about—their dreams and pride in knowing that they were worth far more than an overseer or madam ever would guess. Visually epic, and never before done, this stunning picture book is unlike anything you’ve seen.
From our reader, Jake Webster:
"Jake Webster, sculptor, mixed media artist, and spoken word performer. My work speaks about my community and the environment in which I live. I use the tradition of direct carving in wood and stone and apply a contemporary attitude by creating art with whatever is at hand to tell a story.
"On August 10, 2015, I was featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary 'Dreaming in Public'. It was aired on PBS. The documentary was produced by Grass Roots Media. The film is about making a living as artists in the Midwest.
"I always begin my sculpting process by writing poetry. Poetry is the fastest way for me to get an idea from my head to paper. Now that I got the idea down on paper, the sculpting begins. As a child growing up in Mississippi before I learned to draw and paint, I would sit up and cry because so much was happening around me and nobody was recording it, so I would write it down knowing that one day I was going to learn how to MAKE ART.
"When you come to view my sculptures and to listen to my poetry there are two things you must know, 'Art is never anything you want it to be' always ask questions and 'beauty is never in the eye of the beholder' always ask questions."
