An American Tradition

The moment finally arrived and the unveiling of An American Tradition took place, earlier this evening. After two years in the making it was difficult to realize that it was done – that my experience was over. But moreover was – as I put it to Stephnie during an earlier conversation, “it was time to launch the rocket.” Tonight was the moment when all the casual talk, of the project, was meaningless. It was the time when, as my mother would always say: “when the rubber meets that road.” It was, like the launch of a rocket, after months of work the moment of truth was staring me straight in the face.

The evening was my opportunity to share the culmination of this project with my wife, and my two youngest sons, Fletcher and John. Seeing them, sitting in the audience, reaffirmed how truly blessed I am. This evening was also an opportunity to acknowledge, and thank, all of those who played such a critical role in bringing everything together. Most of all, it was the opportunity to share this incredible story with others.

The evening began with an opening lecture, along with a video and slideshow. At the end of the presentation Jamie Head, and his wife Tammy, approached the stage and I stepped back to turn the podium over to her. To my astonishment, they were approaching to present me with a gift – one that has immediately found a prominent place on my walls.

I had mentioned, in a previous post, that Terry presented me with two “sticks” as I left the field for the last time. I was deeply touch, and moved, by the gesture. Tonight was equally moving and significant. They presented me with a framed tobacco leaf – a beautiful, and perfect, tobacco leaf, hand selected by Jamie Head. I stood on the stage unable to speak, for fear that the emotion I was feeling would break loose.

The Head Family has been one of the greatest Godsends, not only with regard to this project, but to me, personally, as well. I don’t know if I will ever be able to express my true gratitude in words. The project would not be what it is, if it weren’t for the Heads. They opened, for me, a world I knew nothing about, and invited me in – without judgment. They gave me free rein, within their domain, and allowed me complete access to their life.

So many times, when I am working on a project such as this, my subjects will try to put on a facade. The Head family never did. They were genuine throughout, and allowed me to capture that reality. The showed me, and now many others, what is still possible, and how important this vanishing way of life truly is.

Once again, An American Tradition is about the traditions of tobacco farming, and the traditions of family. As I stepped back, in the gallery tonight, I saw the family dynamic full on. As I met sons and daughter in laws, and even the new babies, the pride of the “family” shone through brightly. They are the Heads of Stroudsville, and they always will be.

Outside the museum, hanging as an eight foot banner for An American Tradition, is the color image of Hughes Head – the patriarch of this family, sitting in his chair stripping tobacco. Nothing could be more representational of the story that hangs inside.

In closing this chapter of this project, I want to thank The Head Family, once again, for their generosity, their honesty, and their willingness to let me in. To Hughes, Jamie, Terry, Johnny, Jerry, all the boys – and to Tammy P., my life is better for having known you all.

11.11.10 / 9:25 p.m. What a wonderful way to bring this project to a close, for me. I spent the afternoon filming six interviews for the short video to open the lecture, and another to accompany the exhibition. I shot the interviews, one on one. Each subject sat in an old wooden dining chair, painted white but cracked from years of sitting in the stripping barn. Above them were dark brown tobacco leaves hanging from the rafters, freshly fired and cured. The floor of the barn was cleaned of all burnt saw dust and wood from the firing, but the heavy smell of smoke remained – permeated in the tobacco, the rafters, and the walls of the barn.

As I stood on the periphery of the barn, staring inward, I was struck with the thought of how much time my subjects have spent within its walls, and high in its rafters. As I glanced from time to time, at the dark blackened bark that still clung to the unhewn rafters, I reflected on how many loads of tobacco have been cured over the decades. All in all it seemed like the perfect place to film the interviews – even though nothing of what I have described is visible in the footage.

Tomorrow I will retrieve the last two prints for the exhibition, then begin the editing process for the film. In a few hours less than a week, I will have the great pleasure of turning this project over to those who have been my subjects. I have have the privilege of honoring them, and their families.

The journey is nearly complete…

The time is dwindling rapidly until the opening of An American Tradition, one week from today. There is still much to do; one image is being reprinted, while another is being added to the collection. In a few hours I will be off to the stripping barn to film the interviews, then back home to edit. Fourteen framed prints have already been delivered to the museum, as of this past Monday, to await their rightful place on the museum’s walls.

Yesterday we were elated to learn that a reception, for the opening lecture, has been underwritten. Since the museum was having the official opening on Thursday evening, for members and special guests, their reception was slated for that event. Through the generosity of Bryce and Jody Sanders, a full catered reception will honor this special evening.

And as irony would have it, a small conflict has presented itself – one that brings a smile to my face as it exemplifies the American Tradition theme. It seems that Joe Burns High School football team is on their way to the championship playoffs, and may very well have a game the night of the opening lecture. My understanding is that it has been quite sometime since this opportunity has presented itself. Also, it seems that a few of my “star” subjects, were also “star” players, back in the day – for Joe Burns High School. Need I say more:)

Regardless, it will be an evening of celebration – and an opportunity to reveal a great story through images and words.

This evening Stephnie and I had the great pleasure of spending time with Keith and Tammy Medley. Stephnie had been in contact with Keith, over the past several weeks, feeling that he was the perfect person to create the soundtrack for An American Tradition.

Keith’s work is truly phenomenal, but meeting him in person, along with his wife Tammy, solidified, for me, that he was indeed the perfect person for this role.

Keith’s background has tobacco at its roots, and his understanding of this project was completely on target. But far more important, than all of that, is Keith and Tammy’s core as human beings. They came into our home, and illuminated it a little more, just by being here. We spent several hours on the deck, eating dinner, savoring every morsel of dessert, all the while engaged in conversation that remained without boundaries.

I look forward to the possibilities of what this soundtrack brings to the project. As I said to Keith, the soundtrack is one piece that I cannot give to the work, yet it is as essential as the images I create.

Over the next four weeks I will be bringing this project to its fruition – at least its initial fruition. Interviews will be filmed. Editing, printing, matting, and framing will ensue. This time has flown by, as I knew it would, and I am beginning to feel the trepidation of it all. It has become far greater than me, which is as it should be. And now the final piece is falling into place.