Faye's Story
Faye Wooden, a native Appalachian of
Cherokee descent, transports listeners of all ages
into worlds and times shaped by the power of
imagination. "Storytelling is an ancient art," she
says, "that awakens our senses and carries us into
new worlds. When I tell a story I want listeners to
be totally involved, to enjoy the trip."
Drawing on her own life experiences — banker, bear
trapper, herbalist; author, teacher, public speaker
— Wooden touches the fabric of people’s lives with
her hypnotic voice, a wide range of tales, and
haunting tunes from traditional mountain instruments
(bowed psaltery, lap dulcimer, and autoharp), as she
strives to preserve the spirit of her native
Appalachia. She has established herself as one of
the region’s premiere storytellers. She performs at
schools, churches, civic events, summer camps,
bookstores, and coffee houses; and is available for
family gatherings, corporate meetings, picnics, and
children’s parties.
Into every performance she weaves her theme of
connectedness — Laughter, Legends, Lessons, and
Life. Humorous stories unite her listeners in
laughter; ancient legends connect them with the
past; and valuable lessons from yesteryear offer
them guidance in seeking the right paths in life
today. Her poignant stories of American veterans
honor them by awakening her audiences to the spirit
and values that sustain our armed forces.
Previously trained in comedic and dramatic
performance techniques, Wooden earned a master’s
degree in Story Arts from East Tennessee State
University. She develops and directs oral-history
projects for organizations, communities, and
schools; and conducts popular storytelling classes
for schools, festivals, the University of Tennessee,
and the John C. Campbell Folk School in North
Carolina.
Wooden serves as liaison for the National Park
Service staff, school teachers, professional
tellers, and technicians who participate in the
weeklong, annual story festival, Haunting in the
Hills, at Big South Fork National River and
Recreation Area north of Knoxville. One of the
largest, free, storytelling events in the country,
it draws more than 9000 students (pre-K to 12) from
area public schools to an educational outreach
program comprising 50 assembly programs on the
weekdays. The Saturday concerts draw as many as 4000
more of all ages.
An active member of the Tennessee Storytelling
Association, the Southern Order of Storytellers, and
the National Storytelling Network (NSN), Wooden has
appeared in Jonesborough, Tennessee (where the
storytelling revival began in 1972) — at NSN’s
National Story Night and for the annual "St. Nick's
Nights" at the International Storytelling Center.
She is a performing member of the Jonesborough
Storytellers Guild and has been featured in several
prestigious storytelling festivals and other events.
|
|
