The Collection

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A small collection of Homer Ledford dulcimers. All made from roughly 1955 to 1970 in Winchester, Kentucky.

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“Manufactured by J. E. Thomas March 31, 1915 Bath, KY” This dulcimer was built exactly 100 years ago today by Kentucky’s own James Edward Thomas. A wonderful piece of history that I am very proud to own. It’s a unique experience playing an instrument the day it hits the century mark. I like to imagine that it sounds just as nice as it did when Mr. Thomas strung it up and played it for the first time on March 31, 1915. Here’s to another hundred!

-Will Sizemore March 31, 2015 Lexington, KY

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Massive dulcimer originally from an estate in Ripley, Ohio. Inside the dulcimer there is a hand carved inscription that reads "Made Dec 25 1939 J.H. Lee." The metal portion of the tailpiece is made from a bent bottle opener! Unfortunately there is a new fretboard, which was added by Homer Ledford in the 1980's. The original fretboard is still present due to the fact that the scroll, original fretboard, and tailpiece are all made from one solid piece of wood! This is an incredibly interesting instrument that comes with a million questions.

Pictured alongside the J.H. Lee dulcimer for size comparison is a dulcimer made by Mike Slone of Hindman, KY in 2013.

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Found this at an antique store in Louisville, KY. It is what appears to be the peg head for a pre-revival dulcimer or possibly even a scheitholt (German predecessor to the mountain dulcimer). I say that because it has four pegs and appears to have been very narrow. Though there are examples of narrow pre-revival dulcimers with four strings, most had three. However, there are quite a few more examples of scheitholts with 4+ strings. I have no idea where this may have originated, but it is definitely a piece of a 19th century instrument. I wish I had more of the parts.

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I was fortunate enough to be asked to help curate an exhibit of mountain dulcimers for the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming this weekend in Hindman, Kentucky. Builders included in the exhibit are:

James Edward Thomas, Jethro Amburgey, Morris Amburgey, Art Stewart, Bob Young, Homer Ledford, John D. Tignor, Warren A. May, Douglas Lindsey, Mike Slone, and a few early unidentified instruments, one of which is an early Virginia style dulcimer with "1812" carved on the inside of the instrument.

If you are in or around Eastern Kentucky this weekend (November 6-9, 2014) please stop by and visit the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming. This is a wonderful event put on by a whole crew of amazing people! Don't forget to stop by the workshop and pick up one of Mike's dulcimers or Doug's guitars!

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Acquired an old scheitholt today. These things were brought over by German settlers and are believed to be the precursor to what we now recognize as the mountain dulcimer. Here I have photographed it alongside my 1915 Ed Thomas dulcimer and an old minstrel era banjo from my collection.

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Join us at 21c Louisville: 08.20.14 | 7pm | Gallery 2

This August 21c is excited to present two exclusive film screenings: Atis Rezistans: The Sculptors of Grand Rue, directed by Leah Gordon and an Art21 Exclusive featuring Kara Walker.

About Atis Rezistans: The Sculptors of Grand Rue:

Directed by Leah Gordon, this award-winning documentary investigates art in Haiti. Grand Rue is the main avenue that runs through downtown Port au Prince, Haiti. At its southern end is a community that has an historical tradition of arts, crafts and religious practice. Contemporary Haitian artists Celeur, Eugène, Claude and Guyodo all grew up in this ghetto atmosphere of junkyard make-do and artistic endeavor. Their powerful sculptural collages of have transformed the detritus of a failing economy into bold, radical and warped sculptures. Their work references their shared African & Haitian cultural heritage, a dystopian sci-fi view of the future and the transformative act of assemblage. The monumental works they have created are liberally scattered around the slum community, transforming the clamorous area into an organic art installation. This multi-layered film is a portrait of a neighborhood both materially poor but culturally rich, and a meditation of the links between sex, death and creativity as expressed through the Vodou spirit Gede, that influences all their work. (2008)

2009 April:: Puerto Rico Ethnographic Film Festival (prize winner), San Juan 2009 May:: World Nomads Film Festival, Maysles Institute, Harlem NY 2009 June:: Mercredis, Musee de l’Homme, Paris 2012 Sept:: In Extremis, Fowler Museum, UCLA, USA (in exhibition) 2012:: Kafou: Haiti, Art & Vodou, Nottingham Contemporary, UK (in exhibition) 2012:: Taboo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (in exhibition) Art21 Exclusive:

In this episode of Art21 Exclusive, Kara Walker reflects on her early success and offers advice to the next generation of artists. Walker received widespread attention after being included in a group exhibition at The Drawing Center in New York City in 1994, not long after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. Walker remained in Providence until she “felt ready” to make the move to New York. However, “When I came to the City,” she says, “I felt like my newly forming ego and sense of self was just torn to shreds.” Now a professor in Columbia University’s MFA program, Walker sees the many challenges that young artists face today and encourages them to take responsibility for changing negative conditions in the art world. Walker is shown in New York City installing cut paper silhouettes and framed paintings at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. in 2013 and visiting the gallery’s booth at the 2014 Frieze Art Fair, where she is accompanied by her mother. Credits: Producer: Ian Forster. Consulting Producer: Wesley Miller & Nick Ravich. Interviewer: Ian Forster. Camera: Ian Forster, Nick Ravich, Rafael Salazar & Ava Wiland. Sound: Ava Wiland. Editor: Morgan Riles. Artwork Courtesy: Kara Walker & Sikkema Jenkins & Co. Additional Photography Courtesy: Andrea Guermani & Kara Walker. Special Thanks: Scott Briscoe, Cindy Daignault & Frieze Art Fair. Theme Music: Peter Foley. Art21 Exclusive is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; 21c Museum Hotel, and by individual contributors. About Art21:

Over the past decade, Art21 has established itself as the preeminent chronicler of contemporary art and artists through its Peabody Award-winning biennial television series,Art in the Twenty-First Century. The nonprofit organization has used the power of digital media to introduce millions of people of all ages to contemporary art and artists and has created a new paradigm for teaching and learning about the creative process. In addition to its PBS-broadcast series, Art21 produces short-format documentary series, viewable on multiple online platforms. The Exclusive short-format video series – with almost 200 episodes to date released biweekly on Art21.org – highlights featured artists from the Art21 roster using a blend of both new and previously unreleased footage. Join us at 21c Louisville: 08.20.14 | 7pm | Gallery 2

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Junk store find:

Original etchings by Auguste Delatre after Jean-Honore Fragonard and Francois Boucher. Delatre also printed etchings for Millet, Corot, and Whistler.

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Resurrected from the junk heap. Don't ever throw these old things away, I don't care how many pieces they are broken into.

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(From left to right)

Made in 1915 by J.E Thomas - Bath, KY Made in 1935 by Jethro Amburgey - Hindman, KY Made in 1967 by Jethro Amburgey - Hindman, KY Made in 2013 by Mike Slone - Hindman, KY Made in 2013 by me - Lexington, KY Made in 2002 by Homer Ledford - Winchester, KY Made in 2011 by Warren A. May - Berea, KY Made in the 1970's by an unknown maker - NC

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"Manufactured by J. E. Thomas March 31, 1915 Bath, KY"

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