Kayenta presents “In Her Own Hand: The Life and Letters of Mary Hallock Foote”
Two related workshops follow
By Merrie Campbell-Lee
On Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m., The Center for the Arts at Kayenta will host a performance of the play “In Her Own Hand: The Life and Letters of Mary Hallock Foote.” Two related workshops will take place Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“In Her Own Hand: The Life and Letters of Mary Hallock Foote” presents Foote through her letters to friend Helena deKay Gilder over their 50-year correspondence. Mary Hallock Foote was the first woman to write about and draw the old West. Her distinct historical voice lends authenticity to Western historical fiction; her perspective as an educated woman experiencing the physical harshness of early mining camps has proven to be extremely valuable to our current understanding of the culture and heritage of that era. In addition to her illustrations, novels, and short stories, Foote wrote hundreds of eloquent letters whose intimate details shed light on women’s Western experience. Foote was fictionalized in the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner.
Nancy Rushforth, associate professor of humanities and integrated studies at the University of Utah, edited and arranged the play, which she also performs with Dr. Kim Abunuwara. Kim’s acting credits include the movie “Footloose” and numerous stage shows. Cheryl Collins, a local artist and women’s art supporter, played a key role in bringing the play to Kayenta from Salt Lake City.
Foote’s art and illustrations of the west will be on display, bridging the 19th to 20th centuries and the continent from west to east.
Two workshops to inspire and empower take place Sept. 16.
From 11 a.m. to noon, Abunuwara will present “From the Margins,” which will explore writing and performance as a tool for social change and using existing texts as a springboard to honest and constructive exchange.
Nancy Rushforth will present “Names Unnamed” from 1 to 2 p.m. Learn about and celebrate the remarkable women from past centuries whose talents, passions, and achievements are finally being recognized.
Tickets are $15 for the play ($8 for students) and $10 for each workshop ($5 for students) or $30 for all three. Tickets may be purchased at kayentaarts.com or by calling (435) 674-ARTS.
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