FROM: Shelby Adams
SENT: Thursday, May 15, 2008 9:40 AM
TO: Karen Welch
SUBJECT: Film Introduction
Karen,
It was delightful to talk with you yesterday. Hope to see you and your family on June 8th in Lostcreek.
I've reviewed the letter I sent before and have copied below.
Paul Paletti has forwarded me your e-mail. As you probably know Paul helped host a wonderful venue of my black and white photography works in Louisville at Paul's gallery end of June last summer. Where I concurrently delivered the keynote address to the national photography conference sponsored by "View Camera Magazine". There was much interest and enthusiasm at the opening of the exhibition where I unexpectedly was asked to do an informal gallery talk. My slide lecture at the conference site covered over 35 years of my photography in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, that presentation lasted over an hour with a question answer period lasting another hours time. The attendance and interest both locally and nationally was inspiring.Regarding your request of my attending your showing of the film, "The True Meaning of Pictures," I wish to share with you some of the film's background. The shooting for the film was made in the summer of 2001 over a six-week period. Practically none of that material was used in the final edit. The film was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in the fall of 2002. I did approve and sign off on the final edit with reservations, compromise and legal consultations. It was never the film I was told, I was having made or had agreed to.All my Appalachian friends and subjects in film did see their parts in film and OK'ed before final production. Something I insisted on before hand, the same manner in which I make my photographs and books. The subjects had viewed and had copies of the film on VCR since the fall of 2002. In the winter of 2004 a satellite TV broadcast Co. aired the film with scheduled show dates and broadcast times twice a week through out the mountains over a six-week period. The film was broadcast for 12 scheduled showings that winter, or more. At that point the film came alive for my people. I received phone calls while the film was airing, with people saying, "I'm watchin' you on TV right now! The hog killin' reminds me of my youth growing up, etc". The mountain people loved seeing themselves on TV. In their homes on a VCR, it didn't get such a response. People called me for example, when three families would get together watching the film on satellite TV in a neighbor's home, as everyone in the mountains do not subscribe to satellite network. This is the history of the film's venues in Kentucky, as I know it.The film is now eight year's old. I wanted you to know the background. I've never actually done a venue with just the film, always as a component part of an exhibition or workshop. Looked at your sight and find your Museums work with folk artist wonderful. I'd be happy to discuss the possibility with you of a visit and film discussion. My subjects response to critics in film would I think be of interest to your audience.The one critical response in film, different mountain people had a negative response to was A.D. Coleman's comment, that he would not want to meet one of Shelby Lee Adams's subjects in a dark alley, in the mountains. My people took offense to that comment, sayin, they would not want to meet any of his people in a dark alley in NYC. The University of Kentucky professor's comments, which I was more concerned did not revoke any response. When I prompted and ask about his comments, many people said, he is sayin what people have always said about us, all our lives, it doesn't mean anything. The family I was most concerned about was the Childer's family response, at end of film. The Childer's family photographs were taken out of context in the edit usage of film, nothing I could get changed. Yet, They were the most positive, they felt vindicated, brought out of the closet, given a moment in the light where other 'Holler Dweller's' were not. This is their perspective. My uncle, Doc Adams was their family doctor for 50 year's and we are like family. Please read, "Mountain Voices" on my web site for further comments by Sophie Childer's. Rachel Riddle from the same interview, indirectly is speaking about film. Rachel will be at my party on June 8th, you could meet her. Feel free to take some of my subjects comments from 'Mountain Voice's.' Many other quotes are indirectly from film viewing by subjects. Hobert White, another example.Sorry, I'm in a rush to get my materials packed and off to the mountains on Monday. When settled, I'll be in touch about hotel in Hazard, we will all be staying at. 7th and 8th. Hope this is helpful. Can you send me exact spelling of name. Jerrico White?Thanks,Shelby
Shelby Lee Adams
Photographer
http://shelby-lee-adams.blogspot.com/