Woody Guthrie Foundation Programs:

Lectures / Multimedia Presentations

Exhibits

Other Programs:

Music Performances

Theatrical Performances

Films on Woody Guthrie

School Programs & Workshops

Woody Guthrie was one of the twentieth century's most important American figures. As a songwriter, singer, best-selling author, poet, social commentator, and champion of the disenfranchised, his influence on popular culture is still felt today. However, it was in the visual arts that Guthrie first began to express himself creatively. Early on, he displayed a flair for cartooning and caricature. Throughout his life he continued to paint, draw, sculpt, potter, letter, and design, often earning a living as an advertising designer, portrait artist, sign painter, illustrator, and landscape artist. He was as passionate about his artwork as he was about everything else he created and experienced. Rediscover this American icon.

Time: 1½ hours

For more information contact:
Anna Canoni / Programs & Events Coordinator
T: 914-241-3844 / E: acanoni@woodyguthrie.org

*All fees from this program go to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

This biographical program details Woody's life through the eyes of his daughter, Nora Guthrie. Nora shares the ideals and stories passed down from her parents. Juxtaposing Woody's lyrics, artwork, and prose with historic and personal family photographs, Nora gives us insight into who he was.

Time: 1½ hours

For more information contact:
Anna Canoni / Programs & Events Coordinator
T: 914-241-3844 / E: acanoni@woodyguthrie.org

*All fees from this program go to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

This presentation features "Legacy", a documentary directed by John Paulson and created specially for the Smithsonian Institute's Traveling Exhibits Services exhibit "This Land Is Your Land: The Life & Legacy of Woody Guthrie" which toured the U.S. from 1998-2001. Not available for viewing anywhere else, this documentary features Billy Bragg, Wilco, Ani DiFranco, U2, Bob Dylan, and many more special guests. Following the screening, we discuss Woody's legacy in the music community today.

Time: 1 hour

For more information contact:
Anna Canoni / Programs & Events Coordinator
T: 914-241-3844 / E: acanoni@woodyguthrie.org

*All fees from this program go to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

HOLY GROUND: the Yiddish Connection
Presenter: Nora Guthrie, Director of the Woody Guthrie Archives
Created by the Woody Guthrie Foundation / Curated by Nora Guthrie & Anna Canoni

In this program, Nora Guthrie discusses the artistic implications of Woody's relationship with his Jewish mother in law, Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt. The program includes a presentation of photographs, music excerpts (from the Klezmatics Holy Ground 2 disc project), writings, and artwork that illuminate their personal and creative relationship.

Time: 1½ hours

For more information contact:
Anna Canoni / Programs & Events Coordinator
T: 914-241-3844 / E: acanoni@woodyguthrie.org

*All fees from this program go to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

In this lecture/demonstration, the Curator of the Woody Guthrie Archives presents an overview of the Guthrie Collection and its history. In addition to showing slide images, audio/video clips, and selected artifacts from the archives, Mr. Arévalo will offer insights into working with this rare material and discuss the cultural significance of preserving Woody Guthrie's heritage.

Time: 1½ hours

For more information contact:
Jorge Arevalo
T: 212-541-6230 / E: jarevalo@woodyguthrie.org

*All fees from this program go to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

Over a twenty year period, Woody wrote thousands of songs. His most famous songs, This Land Is Your Land and the Dust Bowl Ballads, have forged Woody's identity as the quintessential American songwriter. For over 50 years, Woody has been known as the rugged individualist who traveled this country on rails, fighting for the rights of the downtrodden. But Woody was and is so much more. For several years, Michael Smith has been researching the source of the 3,000 lyrics in the Woody Guthrie Archives. And what he has found will amaze you. This lecture presents five rarely known Woody Guthrie songs and discusses how Woody came to write them and what he was trying to say.

Time: 2 hours

For more information contact:
Michael Smith
T: 212-541-6230 / E: msmith@woodyguthrie.org

*All fees from this program go to support the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

Who better to introduce Woody Guthrie's life and legacy to our youngest citizens than Woody's own granddaughter, Anna Guthrie Canoni!

Especially designed for elementary grade school students, Anna introduces Woody to the next generation. Working with family photographs, Woody's art and children's songs, and personal anecdotes, Anna brings Woody's story to life for young children. Anna works with small groups of students for 30-40 minute gatherings. Teachers are invited to view our online Teacher's Curriculum as preparation for this program.

For Booking Information contact:
Anna Canoni / Programs & Events Coordinator
T: 914-241-3844 / E: acanoni@woodyguthrie.org

Exhibitions curated by the Woody Guthrie Foundation are made available as a public service. Exhibit fees provide support to the Foundation in the areas of new research and public programs.

For booking information on all exhibits contact: Anna Canoni
T: 914-241-3844 / E: acanoni@woodyguthrie.org

This is an exhibition of selected visual works by renowned American folk musician and activist Woody Guthrie. Curated and designed by Steven Brower and Nora Guthrie, fifty-two high-quality reproductions of political cartoons, pen and ink illustrations, watercolors, children's art, and oil paintings represent various stages and developments in Guthrie’s life as a visual artist. With images and text drawn from the eponymous publication, “Woody Guthrie Artworks, The Journals, Drawings, and Sketchbooks of an American Original” (Rizzoli 2005), the exhibit unveils a previously unexplored aspect of this American icon.

• 52 wall-hung art panels
• 2 canvas prints
• 5 biographical text with photo panels
• 7 exhibit text with photo panels
• 1 oversized photo of Guthrie.
• 1 credits text panel

• 15 photographs, framed; outside dimensions are 16x20 (mat board opening is 11x14))
• A panel that introduces Woody Guthrie to the audience
• Interpretive text to accompany the artwork

An active voice for the rights of the working man, Woody Guthrie was a strong advocate of labor unions. The series of art, “This is the Hand” is a brilliant commentary on the worker’s world and a powerful justification for worker’s unions. This poignant artwork is available for display.

The exhibit includes:

• Interpretive text to accompany the artwork
• A panel that introduces Woody Guthrie to the audience
• 19 works of art (reproductions)

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Surprising new lyrics from the Woody Guthrie Archives set to music and performed by THE KLEZMATICS.


Woody Guthrie lived in Coney Island, Brooklyn, across the street from his mother-in-law, the Yiddish poet, Aliza Greenblatt. They shared their dreams and their art, their neighborhood and a family.

For booking information contact:
Dan Efram
Tractor Beam
E: dan@tractor-beam.com
P. O. Box 1591
New York, NY 10276

“About all a human being is, anyway, is just a hoping machine”
–Woody Guthrie

Passionate, spirited versions of both Woody’s well-known and more obscure songs performed by three of New York’s Hudson Valley’s most critically- acclaimed singer/ songwriters. Woody’s words and music are more relevant then ever and these three musicians perform the songs as if they were brand new. A mixture of poignant, reflective moments, hootenanny sing-alongs, and old-time jamming, plus readings and stories from Woody’s writings.

For booking contact:
Fred Gillen Jr.
T: 914-271-0919
E: fredgillenjr@yahoo.com
W: www.fredgillenjr.com
P.O. Box 250
Verplanck, NY 10596

This Annual FREE summer festival takes place in Woody’s home town of Okemah, Oklahoma. Musicians from around the country gather to celebrate Woody’s life and musical legacy. This festival is organized & funded by the Woody Guthrie Coalition, founded by Woody's sister, Mary Jo Edgmon.

For more information, visit: www.woodyguthrie.com

This annual two day festival celebrates Woody's life in Pampa, Texas from 1929 - 1936. Local and guest musicians pay tribute to Woody at various venues around town all weekend long. A walking tour includes a stop at the Harris Drug Store where Woody learned to play his first guitar.

For information contact:
Loralee Cooley
T: 806-669-3241
E: woodyguthrie_pampatx@fastmail.fm
W: www.pampastribute.org

An exuberant musical celebration of America, Woody Guthrie's American Song tells the life of the rambling folk singer through his words and music. After its debut in 1989, the musical has traveled all over America to rave reviews.

The New York Times said it "manages to find both the high beauty and the earthly humor of Guthrie's love affair with America." (12/9/98)

The musical follows Guthrie as he travels from the Dust Bowl to California and east to New York City. It includes over two dozen songs, including THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, SO LONG IT'S BEEN GOOD TO KNOW YUH, PASTURES OF PLENTY, HARD TRAVELIN', and BOUND FOR GLORY.

This musical is available for theaters to produce.

For Booking Information contact:
Peter Glazer / Department of Theater
101 Dwinelle Annex #2560
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
T: 541-643-4342
E: prg@berkeley.edu

SCHOOL PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS

Pastures of Plenty can be excerpted and included within our other programs.

For Booking Information / Press Kit contact:
Livia and Bill Vanaver / Vanaver Caravan
T: 845-256-9300 / F: 845-256-9400
W: www.vanavercaravan.org

In this musical workshop, Anne Price and Steve Suffet explore a few of Woody Guthrie’s lesser known songs, such as 66 Highway Blues, Peace Call, and Way Over Yonder in a Minor Key. Some were recorded or published in Woody’s own lifetime; others were discovered among his effects after his death. Several of the latter were found as lyrics only, and have been set to music by musicians such as Billy Bragg. All deserve to be recognized as the gems that they are.

For more information contact:
Steve Suffet: Suffet@att.net
41-05 47th Street
Sunnyside, NY 11104
T: (718) 786-1533
W: suffet.home.att.net
W: www.anneprice.com