MAGNOLIA – Dr. Jamie Brandon, research station archeologist and assistant professor of anthropology at Southern Arkansas University will be featured in an upcoming program on the Arkansas Educational Television Network. “Silent Storytellers,” an original documentary produced by AETN, will premiere on the network at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11.
“Like many others, I used to drive by cemeteries and not give them a second thought, but by becoming aware of some the people who are passionate about preserving cemeteries and listening to their stories, I have had a true awakening,” Hop Litzwire, who co-produced, directed, edited and filmed the documentary, said. “I now realize that without an appreciation of our cemeteries, we disconnect ourselves, historically and culturally, from our communities and ultimately from our society as a whole.”
Filmed over two years and co-produced by AETN’s Casey Sanders, “Silent Storytellers” explores the cultural, artistic and personal stories cemeteries provide to the surrounding communities. Guided by author and cemetery researcher Abby Burnett, “Silent Storytellers” visits cemeteries in Boone, Crawford, Franklin, Hempstead, Johnson, Lawrence, Newton, Pulaski, Searcy and Sevier counties and features tombstones with tales of murder, family heirlooms and folk-art inspired carvings.
“The number one thing that interests me in cemeteries is the sense that you’re walking into an area filled with stories if you can just extract them,” Burnett said.
“Silent Storytellers” also features information about the best techniques for preserving, repairing and maintaining tombstones, presented by Elizabeth Norton of Norton Fine Arts Conservation.
Along with Brandon, several others will be featured in the documentary. They include Mica Balcom, Stone Preservation Specialist, Norton Fine Arts Conservation; Dr. Juliet Morrow, Arkansas State University Jonesboro; Dr. Jami Lockhart, University of Arkansas, Archeogeophysical Research, Arkansas Archeological Survey; Fayth Hill Washington, Scott Cemetery Preservationist; Norman Johnson and Phyllis Rogers, Paraloma Cemetery Association Volunteer; Randy Smith, liaison for Fairview Cemetery; and Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis and Carla Coleman, Preservation of African American Cemeteries.
“In my 20 years as executive producer at AETN, I have no hesitation in saying that ‘Silent Storytellers’ is one of the most unique, creative and beautiful films we’ve ever produced,” AETN Director of Production Carole Adornetto said.
Visit www.aetn.org/silentstorytellers for behind-the-scenes clips, additional interviews and downloadable information about tombstone cleaning.
“Silent Storytellers” will repeat on AETN Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 14, at noon, and on AETN-2 Sunday, March 21, at 6:30 a.m.
Funding for “Silent Storytellers” is provided by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, a division of the Arkansas Department of Heritage.
