Why We Cowee

Cricket Woodward

This week we sit down at the Cowee School with Cricket Woodward.
A long-time resident of the western US, Cricket Woodward currently lives in North Carolina near her family and just down the road from Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. "I love how the folks at Cowee hold community rooted in nature and creativity of all types."
Cricket's degrees are in biology and graphic design, and in a way, that sums up the myriad of seemingly disparate jobs she's worked, including skinning birds, fixing computers, guiding by horseback, assisting a veterinarian, framing art, building websites, playing music, designing and proofreading books for independent authors. And, like her father, Doug Woodward of Franklin, NC, she's been a photographer all her life — including work in portraits, events, products, art and photojournalism.
Now that she's nearly retired, Cricket creates more music and art. The band she's part of in NC, Bloodroot, is known for their sweet harmony vocals. And she keeps adding various forms to her multi-media art: handmaking prints and bookforms, weaving, sumi ink, metal, art photography … that's why she calls herself an "ampersand person." 
For her, it's all about exploring and capturing the essence of connection: humans to each other and all beings of our world. She seeks the how and the beauty. The why and the awe.
lynnwoodwardphotography.com
 

Angela Faye Martin

This week we sit down at the Cowee School with Angela Faye Martin. She is the co-owner of Alarka Expeditions, a musician, and the writer & narrator of the acclaimed film THIS IS SPARKLEHORSE. She lives and works in the Cowee community.
For more about Alarka Expeditions: goalarka.com/
To listen to and support Angela's music: angelafayemartin.bandcamp.com/
To watch and learn more about THIS IS SPARKLEHORSE: sparklehorsefilm.com/

Amanda Drozd

This week we sit down at the Winding Stair Farm Nursery with Amanda Drozd.
Amanda Drozd is a Midwest transplant loving her new chapter in Appalachia. She is a poet, Tarot enthusiast, and manages the Winding Stair Nursery where you can find her singing to plants and texting customers recipes. 

Ben Banick

This week we sit down at the Cowee School with Ben Banick.
Ben is naturalist, musician, and craftsperson who grew up exploring and being inspired by the woods in the North Carolina piedmont. He now lives in the Burningtown community and works for the Bartram Trail Conservancy as well as doing freelance historical carpentry and building work. 
For more on the Bartram Trail Conservancy: blueridgebartram.org
Music:
"Julieanne Johnson" - Ben Banick
"Swifts" - Angela Martin

Brent Martin

This week we sit down with Brent Martin.
BRENT MARTIN is the executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy and the owner of Alarka Expeditions in Franklin, North Carolina. He is the author of several books, including George Masa's Wild Vision and A Hiker's Guide to the Bartram National Recreation Trail in Georgia and North Carolina.