In Robert Frost's poem the "Mending Wall" he wrote, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," and asks why "good fences make good neighbors." These famous Frost words are now visualized in a traveling Smithsonian exhibition, "Between Fences," at the Community Library in Ketchum from Saturday, May 23, through Saturday, July 4.
Regional history librarian Sandra Hofferber has been the lead organizer for the exhibition, which will have extended exhibitions with the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Hailey.
"The Smithsonian has an outreach arm, 'Museums on Main Street,' and every two years it puts together a traveling exhibit," Hofferber said. "Its main goal is to target communities of 20,000 people or fewer."
The library will use its lecture room for six kiosk exhibits on the history of fences in the U.S. and what fences represent, such as those at the Mexican and Canadian borders.
"We set up programming around the exhibit and the first thing we thought about doing was a historical photo exhibition of the region," Hofferber said. "The photos are emotionally evocative, fun and a trip down memory lane."
In addition to a speaker and film series at the library, Alfredo Rego has created another library exhibition of contemporary photo images. Some of the photographs are metaphorical interpretations of fences. Alfredo's wife, Leslie, has made four quilts to commemorate the exhibition as well.
Another event to celebrate "Between Fences" will be the production of "Fences" by Pulitzer and Tony Award winner August Wilson. The Royal Larkspur Play Troupe will present "Fences" on Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21, at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. A professional cast recruited from Los Angeles and Boise is directed by Ben Bradley, who received the L.A. Drama Critics award for Best L.A. Director 2008.
"Fences" tells the story of one African-American family's unyielding struggle to overcome hardship and achieve a dream deferred.
The Community Library will have the exhibit available anytime during regular library hours. An opening reception will be held Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 p.m. with entertainment, poetry reading and music by Keith Joe Dick, Jim Paisley and Fletcher Brock. For details call 726-3493 or visit thecommunitylibrary.org.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Community Library 'Between Fences' speakers and films
Speakers:
· May 26, Rod Tatsuno, "Movies and Memories"
· June 2, "Fences in the American West" with Arthur Hart
· June 4, Diane Peavey, "Fences of the West"
· June 16, "The New Immigrant Experience" with Damien Rodriguez
· June 18, Lisa Brady, "Don't Fence Me In"
Book and film discussions:
· May 27, "O Pioneers!" book discussion and film screening
· June 24, "To Kill A Mockingbird" book discussion and film screening
· July 2, "The Secret Garden," film screening
Cowboys riding the fence at the Sun Valley Horsemen Center ca. 1956. Part of the Gordon Dunlap Collection at the Community Library’s regional history library in Ketchum.
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