About Art Menius

About Art Menius Art Menius received both the B.A. (1977 with honors) and M.A. (1982) in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following three and one-half years as an Interpretations Specialist for research at the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Menius entered the music field as a writer and production assistant for the Nashville Network bluegrass and old-time music series, “Fire on the Mountain.” In September 1983 he began publishing reviews and features about roots music for publications ranging from Bluegrass Unlimited to the [Raleigh] News & Observer. Other adventures along the way have included editing and desktop publishing books for the Forest History Society, promoting a live performance bluegrass radio series on 117 commercial stations, emceeing and stage managing at dozens of music festivals in USA and Canada, and serving as a consultant on the acclaimed film, “High Lonesome.” During 1985 Menius helped create the International Bluegrass Music Association. Late that year he became the new trade association’s first executive director. Menius returned to IBMA’s Board of Directors for two terms running from 1998 through 2004. He served on the board of directors of the Old-Time Music Group, publishers of the Old-Time Herald, from 1991 thorough 1998, including six years as president. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Folk Alliance International. In 1990 the North American Folk Music & Dance Alliance elected Menius the President of its first board of directors. In April 1991 he became its first manager, serving in that capacity until June 1996. Following a period as an artistic representative, Menius became Associate Festival Coordinator for MerleFest, the enormous outdoor folk festival presented by Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC. Following a decade there, Menius served as Director of Appalshop, the acclaimed Appalachian media and arts center in Whitesburg, Kentucky from July 2007 until March 2010. On November 2, 2011, Menius completed his work as Director of Development for Common Ground on the Hill. From 2012 to 2014 he served as Executive Director of The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC before semi-retiring to freelance due to health issues.

Book Review: Financing Our Foodshed | Ar

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Art Menius

Book Review: Financing Our Foodshed | Art Menius – Radical Localism: Empowering Communities http://bit.ly/hewitt_Book

Book Review: Empire of Sin by Gary Krist

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Art Menius

Gary Krist, Empire of Sin: Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans (New York: Crown, 2014)

Published just before Halloween last, Gary Krist’s Empire of Sin: Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans moves with novel-like page-turning speed despite being based in substantial primary historical research. Krist attempts to weave into one narrative an assortment of stories from NOLA during the three decades from 1890 to 1920.

Those expecting merely a history of Storyville, still America’s most famed red-light district almost a century after its demise in 1918, will be surprised to jump in with a story about an ax murder. In fact, Krist wraps the entire book around the still unsolved and still alleged serial killing spree of “The Axman.”

Within that frame, Empire of Sin hits its stride in the tales of Tom Anderson, the state assemblyman popularly called “the Mayor of Storyville” and of the early years of jazz from Buddy Bolden through Sidney Bechet and Kid Ory to Louis Armstrong. Never inserting dialog or scenes that are not documented in primary sources or memoirs of those involved, Krist offers stories as vivid as any novel. Nonetheless, he carefully connects the events to economics and politics and how those forces created and destroyed Storyville and sent jazz out into the world.

The shortcomings of Empire of Sin derive from its broad reach as true crime story incorporating a history of New Orleans during the Storyville era. Despite vast research, Krist leaves the identity of “The Axman” unresolved, more or less. “The Battle for Modern New Orleans” subtitle proves utterly overstated as what he traces is the battle for New Orleans of the 1920s. Only a couple of forced paragraphs trace the links between the times Krist studies to the tourist mecca that the Crescent City is today despite Katrina. That said, Empire of Sin is a gripping and enjoyable read.

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The Power of Just Doing Stuff – YouTube

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Art Menius

The Power of Just Doing Stuff – YouTube http://ow.ly/H3Dlq One of many extraordinary videos you can find at http://radicallocalism.com/radical-localist-video/

The Vocal Minority – IBMA Edition : Blue

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Art Menius

The Vocal Minority – IBMA Edition : Bluegrass Today http://ow.ly/GQgr2

Art Menius: A localist road map to 2015

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Art Menius

Art Menius: A localist road map to 2015 | My View | ChapelHillNews.com http://ow.ly/GLoN9 #radicallocalism

A Visit to Keith Arboretum

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Art Menius

Although his appearance and vigor belie his 82 years, Charlie Keith has been nurturing Charles R. Keith Arboretum since acquiring what was run down farm property in 1963. Located a few miles west of Calvander, a rural crossroads on the northwest edge of Carrboro, NC, Keith Arboretum contains some 4000 species from around the world.

The species come from Zones 1 through 9 providing an astonishing variety ranging from native North Carolina species to desert ones to trees from China, the mountains of Taiwan, and Labrador. Each bears a metal tag with its Latin name. You can learn more about Keith Arboretum, take a video tour, and make a donation to the small foundation created a decade ago to support it at http://www.keitharboretum.org/

Becky and I spent an amazing and fulfilling two hours following Charlie around the grounds. We heard the stories behind dozens of trees foreign and domestic, astonished at the diversity so near to the farm where my maternal grandfather grew up. Charlie continues to add new specimens, supplied by a network of colleagues and fellow collectors.