Chance encounter from the past

This week I received the most wonderful gift....an email from a man that use to visit his Grandmother who was a neighbor to Mel and Louise.

It confirms so much.

The email from Randy Smith.

 

 

A special thanks to Randy Smith for taking the time to reach out.

 

A Magical, Inspirational, and Healing...Gathering

On October 5, a Gathering was held at the Listening Device with a talk about what I have found out thus far regarding the Listening Device and the lives of Louise Taylor and Mel Mann.

Artist talk

 

After the talk there was a time for those attending to share a story, poem, life event in regards to love and loss. There were many very moving moments. It felt very healing....cleansing. I am sure Louise would have been happy to have people around her Listening Device...a symbol of both profound grief and undying love.
 

                                                Priscilla Smith's moving performance

Tom Trimm's story of his relationship with his Mother

 

Michael Duffy's tribute to his Sister

 

Lyn Adler's story and poem of love lost.

 

Lisa Alembik touching on Pablo Neruda's "Love is so short, forgetting is so long".

 

Virginia Sowell's poem of wishes

 

Thanks to all who attended on this perfect Autumn day. The Listening Device installation proves to be the perfect place to examine life and all it's complexities and turns.

 

 

Making time to sit and listen

Had a good time at The Listening Device.

It was great to actually have some time to sit and listen. I recommend "eyes closed".

Came across an anonymous quote this week that seemed fitting for this installation, "One only dies when their name is no longer spoken".

While there, many curious people came by with really good questions.

 

 

Scott Burland came down to scope the place out for a possible performance next Sunday.

Scott using his good ear

 

Betty even dropped by for a visit. Photo and dog courtesy of Walter Heape.

 

Hope to see everyone there next Sunday, October 5 from 4-6. Please RSVP at the Facebook event page listed on the previous blog post 
 
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A gathering at The Listening Device is planned.

A gathering at The Listening Device is planned to honor the life of Mel Mann. Mel was known locally as a great poet that often tackled issues taboo for the times in regards to race, sexuality, and civil rights.

I really want to publish some of Mel's poems on this blog but have not been able to locate any thus far.

Would love to see you at "the gathering". Please gather your favorite nostalgic poem and follow the link below to "join" this event.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1575256682702624/ 

Here come the Visitors and more rain.

This has been a very exciting week at The Listening Device with many visitors sending messages expressing their interest and sadness in the life of Louise Taylor.

Several school groups also visited the site as the rains continue to drench Atlanta.

A midday class visits The Listening Device and had a lot of questions.

 

I spread wheat straw at the site due to ground conditions and I am a bit concerned about the chair.

Someone did a stacked stone piece on the chair.

 If this weather pattern continues I might have to remove Mel's chair for archival reasons and replace it with a more weather resistant chair. I will have that answer in the coming weeks.

                                               
 

Art on the Beltline is officially open

Many thanks to all that have already sent such wonderful comments regarding their visits to The Louise Taylor Listening Device and Art on the Beltline just opened yesterday.

One visitor, Steve Saenz, wrote, "Wonderful story. I passed the listening device the day after it rose again and was intrigued. Now that I know the story, it is so much more meaningful. Thank you for keeping Louise and Mel's flame alive."

Flowers left on Mel's chair

 

The "device" is located just east of Dutch Valley Way off Monroe Drive on the Beltline...or 200 feet east of the Beltline 11.75 mile marker.

There will be events happening at the site over the next two months. I will post those times in the next weeks.

 

 


 

The Listening Device Rises Again!

 

Happy to report that as of today at 11 am, Louise Taylor's Listening Device has risen again.

It has been three years in the making and I am extremely happy that her invention can be seen by a whole new generation of people.

There are so many people that have been instrumental in this ongoing project. Louise Taylor. Mel Mann. B. J. Butler. Clara McClendon. Richard Crowe, Virginia Sowell. Lisa Alembik. Antonio Hernandez. Steve and Paulette Minor and the Art on the Beltline folks.

It has truly been a labor of love. May their story touch each who visits.

You Tube audio located at the site of me talking about the Louise Taylor Story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0kGGEq4ezQ 

 

Louise Taylor to be included in Art on the Beltline 2014

I am happy to report that "The Louise Taylor Listening Device" has been selected to be a part of the Art on the Beltline 2014 in Atlanta, GA.

It is important to know the original location where Louise constructed this structure is just down the tracks from the new site and near Piedmont Park....a place where she and Mel spent some of their best days together and where their ashes were scattered.

I am busy, with the help of my assistant, reconstructing this "device" utilizing salvaged original materials with new stabilizing materials.

The opening for Art on the Beltline 2014 is September 6.
The work will be up through November 2.
The piece will be located off Monroe Drive near the entrance to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Piedmont Park.

I will post more information as time nears.









 

Their final resting place

 

Lake Clara Meer played an important role in the lives of Louise Taylor and Mel Mann.

 

Lake Clara Meer is located in Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta.

 

It was often the site of many protests attended by Mel in the 1960s.

 

Louise and Mel would often come here to clear their minds, write, picnic and swim. It became their "spot".

 

When the time came to sprinkle their ashes, it was an easy decision by their friends that this is where they would want to remain.

 

 

Midtown Atlanta has changed so much since their deaths. However, Piedmont Park remains a melting pot and a place for everyone. The heart of Atlanta.

Kennedy, Alabama Roadtrip

After receiving the audio mail from Louise Taylor's best friend, Clara McClendon, last week..... I had to go see where Louise spent so many years.

Kennedy, Alabama is in Lamar County on the Mississippi state line. It is a small railroad town where Louise went to high school and taught until she moved to Atlanta in 1968.

The town seemed almost abandoned the day I was there.

 

A corner of the main intersection in Kennedy.

 

 

The town Post Office. 

 

 

Another view of the main intersection.

 

 

Kennedy High School sign. The school closed in 1983 and was demolished. The school was constructed the year after Louise's birth.

 

 

The old high school gymnasium that is now used for storage.

 

 

 

One of the original school buildings that still remains.

 

 

Memorial bench in front of the old school building dedicated to the Class of 1948. The year Louise finished college at Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Mississippi and started teaching at the Sunnyside School in the south end of Lamar county.

 

 

Former Kennedy High School baseball field.

 

The Clara McClendon audio

I cannot believe it is finally here. I have waited two years to hear from Louise Taylor's friend, Clara McClendon. Today I received this audio email from her. It gives such insight into her life. Thanks so much to Clara and to Alice Linn for making this connection happen. https://soundcloud.com/tshardy-1/the-clara-mcclendon-audio

News from Alice Linn

It is so hard to believe just how fast the year is going by.

I received a wonderful email today from Alice Linn telling me that she had gotten a call from Clara McClendon and that she would be contacting me in the coming weeks.

Alice stated that Clara now lived out west and had tried to put all this behind her but she had been having dreams of Louise the last few nights and felt it was time to reach out to me.

I am very excited about hearing from her, Louise's best friend.

I cannot believe I started this blog two years ago and it has taken me this long to locate these people. I am very grateful that they are still living and wanting to tell their stories.