Our Appalachian Story

So what are the folk arts & what defines them? Scholars, art historians & critics have been in debate over this definition for decades. A generally accepted, overall umbrella distinction, concludes that it is any self-proclaimed artist with zero academic training. An untrained artist. By that definition, we’re all artists (which you’ll soon learn is my argument with never-ending conviction).

However, the tricky part in attempting to define the folk arts, lies within the lack of need for one. Once it’s defined, does the folk art still exist?

We’ll discuss the paradox in attempting to define the folk arts this week on the blog, featuring one of my all time favorite artists, the late Reverend Howard Finster.

Here’s a real treat. A true, old fashioned Appalachian stack cake recipe like they’d take to Dinner on the Ground. This was given to a friend over 40 years ago. Give it a try!

How did we go from the Decoration Days of old to our current Memorial Day activities? The answer is always the same: food. Read the blog in the link below to find out more.

It’s Mental Health Awareness month and our latest blog post is one Appalachian family’s story about how one generation’s struggle can impact the next in a myriad of ways. Check out “A Tender Lens, Part I” to learn more.

Growing up my nickname was, “Elsie”, playfully named by way of my father, after my great grandmother. Being the only redhead in my family since my paternal great grandparents, the nickname seemed fitting to everyone around me. I’m told we had a lot in common, Elsie & I. We were both redheads, fairly stubborn & had a tendency to slam the car door. (My father still reacts with a, “Damn, Elsie!”, everytime I exit a car). My actual name is Lauren Concepcion, born Lauren Greer. I am from Birmingham, Alabama, raised in the Roebuck/Eastlake area, & am rather proud of that. I grew up a city girl, never quite knowing where I fell (being both from the city, but distinctly southern) & not knowing much of Appalachia, though my family was very much from the region. By the time I came along, however, we had been city dwellers for far too long. With the exception of certain nuances, particularly on my father’s side, Appalachia became lost in translation. I think this can be said of many people, & their descendants, that were disconnected from Appalachia. Descendants who’s families moved inward toward the larger cities, but grew up feeling the phantom tether. This project is somewhat of a rediscovery for me & one that I, perhaps serendipitously, found while meandering down the path of folk arts. This path landed me smack dab on the doorsteps of my two co-founders & reunited me with an understanding & sense of self that I didn’t fully know I needed, or was missing.

I wear many hats. I’m a mother, avid gardener, an dabbler of many trades, a dreamer of a million more & most passionately, a wood-burning artist.

I am the last of our founders & the hat I wear for OAS is one for the folk arts. We have built the foundation for this little project on the three pillars of humanity: stories, food & art. We can’t wait to share this journey & for those perhaps like me, reconnection.

My initials are now LC & to bring this introduction full circle, coincidentally (or not), sounds a lot like, “Elsie”.

Like a lot of us, my grannie was a force in our family like no other. Check out our latest blog post to learn about the impact she has had on my life and feel free to share stories about your own grannie in the comments!

Hi! I'm Jana and I'm another founder of Our Appalachian Story. I was born and raised in Gadsden, Alabama. I am a writer, family historian/archivist, and folklife educator. Growing up, I heard a lot about being southern. But I noticed that when I visited south Alabama, I felt and sounded like an outsider. Even Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” said North Alabama was “Full of liquor Interests, Big Mules, steel companies, Republicans…and other persons of no background.” As a sixth grader, I wondered what that meant. I also heard about my great grandparents’ grandparents who had lived in the mountains of western North Carolina and northern Georgia. I heard about how they settled in the mountains of North Alabama even before it was called Alabama. I heard about how they lived and who they were. It became apparent that I wasn’t just southern. I was from southern Appalachia. In all the conversations I heard around me, very few were about Alabama's place within Appalachia and the context it could bring to those conversations. I met two fellow Appalachian women and an idea was formed from our long conversations about our experiences growing up in different areas of this region. That idea became Our Appalachian Story. I hope you will help us by sharing your stories, too!

Did you get a chance to read Wednesday’s article? Now let’s do my (Lindsey’s) very favorite kind of Appalachian history research—in the kitchen! Give this recipe for beaten biscuits a try! Feel free to save and print the recipe for your own recipe binder. I suggest starting a new one specifically for Appalachian foods as there are plenty more to come! Make sure you’re following along!

Biscuits—the food of the rich or the only option for the poor? The answer might not be what you think! To read all about the history of the biscuits, go check out today’s blog post!

Hi there 👋🏻
I’m Lindsey, one of the founders of Our Appalachian Story. Born and raised in the coal fields of West Virginia, I have a different perspective of life in Appalachia when compared to the other founders of OAS. I believe this geographic diversity will better help us bring together the many people, practices, and traditions of Appalachia. That is the goal, after all! A little bit more about me— my husband and I are lifelong residents of West Virginia, but we moved to North Alabama about a year and a half ago for work. I wear several different hats (see: aprons) these days. One you might be interested in is that I am a folk artist, hand carving wooden utensils using traditional methods and local Appalachian hardwoods. Another is that I am a folk school instructor, teaching students the traditional ways of cooking in Appalachia. In fact, I’m the resident Appalachian foodie here at OAS so more often than not I’ll be talking to you about all things food. I hope you’ll follow along. Even more, I hope we will one day get the chance to sit across the table from one another, break bread, and share Our Appalachian Story with one another.

Did you know? Of the 67 counties in Alabama, 37 are included in the Appalachian Region by the ARC. From Lookout Mountain in Dekalb and Etowah counties to Flagg Mountain in Coosa County, the Appalachian mountains and region span a large area of the state. Large cities such as Huntsville and Birmingham and countless smaller towns and communities make up this place we call home. Follow to find out more about what we're doing to bring awareness to our Appalachian traditions and heritage in Alabama and how you can contribute!

Map, "Appalachian Counties Served by ARC", (arc.gov)

Our Appalachian Story is for everyone with a connection to Appalachia, especially those with ties to Alabama. It is the story of many different cultures and practices that share one commonality: our home.

Our Vision: To reunite North and Central Alabama with the history and heritage of the Appalachian region at large.

Our Mission: To seek the recounted stories of the culturally diverse people, practices, and traditions of Appalachia with the goal of perseveration, celebration, and education.

Our Core Values: Participate in the stories. Practice curiosity. Preserve the stories. Praise diversity. Promote cultural respect.

Follow us to learn more in the coming days about who we are and how you can participate!

Our Appalachian Story updated their website address.