News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE FEBRUARY 15, 2007

SMITH CREATES PODCAST ON GEORGIA FOLKLIFE

T. J. Smith, Instructor of English in the Division of Humanities at ABAC, has created his first podcast of a series called “Living Traditions: Georgia Folklife.”

“The idea came from students in my English class,” Smith said. “I took my favorite family tales, legends and traditions they told and then worked with the students and family members.”

The first podcast Smith has created is about student Alex Collins of Fitzgerald. He has carried on the tradition of making wooden bowls on a lathe. He learned this carpentry skill from his father, who learned it from his father.

“The first podcast took two to three weeks to create,” Smith said. “The experience has been a good one so far. There have been some minor glitches in sound and with the microphone in the MacBook Pro, but the software is very user-friendly. It was a very enjoyable and easy experience.”

Smith was able to create his podcast with a grant he received. He plans to continue his work in Georgia folklore with student Lauren Mercer and her family’s cooking through generations.

“I really want to bring about what folklore is and how it affects community and culture,” Smith said.

Smith received his Associate in Art degree from Young Harris College, his Bachelor’s in Creative Writing from Georgia State University, and his Master’s in Folklore Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is currently working on his dissertation for his Ph.D. in Folklore Studies, also from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Smith is a grant panelist for the Georgia Counsel for the Arts. Anyone interested in grants involving folklife or any other grants should contact him at (229) 391-4952 or via e-mail at tsmith@abac.edu.

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