ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
This museum kills fascists
By Julie Wenger Watson
TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa has been
the proud home of the Woody
Guthrie Center since 2013,
collecting, exhibiting, and
archiving all things Woody
Guthrie-related in the heart
of the Tulsa Art District near
the corner of Brady & Boston.
With education, outreach
and performance the WGC is
keeping this folk hero’s legacy
alive and relevant.
“Each museum is a different
experience, and we want this
one to be a hands-on, singing,
dancing trip into the history
of American music,” said
Jerry Wofford, Education
and Public Programs Manager
for the WGC. “At our core,
our mission is to educate and
inspire.”
Towards that end, the WGC
offers after school and
summer programs for school-
aged kids.
“We have students with some
music proficiency come
together to form bands, to
learn how to play as a group
and to write songs,” Wofford
noted. “We have had several
students come through the
programs now, and they’ve
had the chance to play for
crowds, record their own
songs and keep the band
together after the program
ended. That will start again in
the spring.”
The museum itself appeals to
kids of all ages.
“The interactive elements of
the Woody Guthrie Center
make it an exciting place for
kids,” Wofford said. “When I
lead tours for elementary and
middle school students, we
like to make sure everyone
gets a chance at the large,
interactive map wall, the
songwriting stations, and to
hear the few dozen Guthrie
songs at the music bar. I
like to trace their favorite
current musicians back to
the influence of Guthrie and
others in the era. Drawing
those connections helps to
keep Woody’s influence alive.”
third Saturday of every
month, it’s a chance to
hear music like you can’t
hear anywhere else,” he
noted. “We’ll also host
an exhibit that features
many items from the
collection of Marty
Stuart, which opens in
January.”
WGC will celebrate its
5 th Anniversary weekend
in April with a week of
activities, free music
on Guthrie Green and
programming in the
Center’s theater.
For more information,
visit woodyguthriecenter.
org.
Wofford is looking forward to
2018.
“We’re continuing our
monthly unplugged
songwriter series, featuring
local musicians sharing their
songs and stories. On the
www.thecurrentbuzz.net
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