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Our Appalachia Exhibit

2024 Our Appalachia Exhibit Winners

For the first annual ALAS Festival, to honor Roger May's participation as a keynote speaker, local school districts were tasked with creating a photography exhibit that depicts what students view as their Appalachia as a callback to May's own crowdsourced project. Students had to write a short paragraph to explain their intent with the image and the teacher leader also wrote a paragraph to explain the cohesiveness of the exhibit they put together from their pool of student photos.

Winning School District: Warren Local High School

Teacher Leaders: Emmy Stormes & Robby Allen

Outstanding Student Winner:

Spencer Campbell, Warren High School

Contributing Student Winners:

Tate Jonas, Warren High School
Cooper Gregory, Warren High School
Kazden Valentine, Warren High School
Reagan Kegley, Warren High School
Addyson Sullivan, Nelsonville-York High School
Audrey Roberts, Nelsonville-York High School
Julia Smith, Nelsonville-York High School
Lily Paris, Nelsonville-York High School
Trevor Orsbon, Nelsonville-York High School

The full exhibit is currently on display at the Nelsonville Public Library.

Within the Branches

Vincent, Washington County, Ohio
September 24, 2024
Spencer Campbell

In my Appalachia roots grow deep into my home, crossing along the riverbank, trees holding sworn initials. Within the clear skies my dad makes a promise upon the sun to take me back, once the laughter clears from the bridge and the old folks hold open the doors; it's gone real quiet. It's almost like warm backs of fur against frayed doors are no different than the golden heaven my grandpa lives in, a smell of honey staining my knees in the creeks of a sweeter summer. Of course, in a contrary to the winter I swore I saw an angel in the silhouette of lightning against my parents' bedroom windows. I'm ringing the church bell once more, letting her know she's welcome here, it's been long and I've almost forgotten that she's never left, a divine spirit in the early mornings that the preacher speaks of sitting right next to me, helping me tie her oven up with a shoe string and singing soft songs of an older beginning. Giving me the forgiving I was promised, down from the clouds, this angel has green eyes and old hands, this angel has a heart baptized within virtue. Here I am unscared, unwrithed, just enough within the branches.

Our Backyards

Vincent, Washington County, Ohio
September 24, 2024
Tate Jonas

The picture captures my pond in Cutler, Ohio. People in this region who take care of animals, tend to create a personal bond between the natural wildlife and our beautiful landscape. We are very biodiverse with wildlife, which allows people to have various pets and animals which makes the Appalachian region unique. Working with animals helps signify agricultural traditions and makes our lives more enjoyable. Me and my family have raised ducks for fun, and for 4-H, to take to our local county fair. I have been raising them for about 6 years now. Throughout these years, I have always had a lot of fun and enjoyed the times with these animals. As I stated before, you establish personal relationships with these animals that remain with you for life.

One-Stop-Shop

Vincent, Washington County, Ohio
September 24, 2024
Cooper Gregory

My photo represents Appalachia by showing a small business known as a one-stop shop. This store is called Seamans, owned by Charlie Seaman. The store was founded in 1983. The
owner knows everybody who walks through the doors and is as nice as can be. Everybody knows everybody. This town has a population of 2,151 people and most of the land around is farmland. The schooling in this town is the best around in the area. This town is special because of the culture around here. It is very religious with a church every few miles, and there is also a Dollar General every few miles as well. But these are a few things about this small town in Appalachia called Barlow, Ohio.

My Roots

Vincent, Washington County, Ohio
September 24, 2024
Kazden Valentine

My Appalachia means to me my roots growing up in the foothills of the Appalachia. I’ve been enjoying the nature of the Appalachia by hunting and fishing them since I was young. All my family is from here so I spend a lot of time with them, especially talking about the time before me and my family's history in the coal mines of West Virginia. Appalachia is special to me because I’ve been raised in the ways of the past by learning how to can and hunt with a muzzleloader. I know this part of the country can be thought of as poor, but it could never be poor because of the people that live here.

Hard Work

Vincent, Washington County, Ohio
September 27, 2024
Reagan Kegley

I think I see Appalachia through this photo because it just reminds me of hardworking people and I feel like there are a lot of hardworking people here. This means a lot to me because this is my dad’s garage and he has worked hard his whole life and firewood is one of the things that has taught me about hard work. This is important because I have spent a lot of time here my whole entire life and I feel like there is a lot of this kind of stuff in Appalachia. This is what the Appalachian area means to me.

Cedar Falls

Logan, Hocking County, Ohio
June 1, 2024
Addyson Sullivan

I chose a picture of Cedar Falls to capture the beauty that Appalachia is full of, not the stereotype that people have made for the Appalachian region. Appalachia is not all trash. This is one of many beautiful pictures taken in Appalachia, and the tourists that are attracted to our amazing scenery everyday. Cedar Falls was created due to the erosion of the rocks over the centuries, then ended up how it is now.

Sunset Valley

Racine, Meigs County, Ohio
July 4, 2023
Audrey Roberts

I took this picture because it shows that there is still beauty in old small towns. Yes, Racine has some old run down buildings but there is so much more to see there. The people are always kind and welcoming. This picture is taken on the pathway down to the riverfront, behind the old cross family store. There is so much beauty, history and great stories to be told about Racine. In my opinion, it is the best place on Earth.

Cloaked in Softness

Glouster, Athens County, Ohio
November 25th, 2023
Julia Smith

This photo was taken in my backyard on a foggy morning. I chose this photo because I think foggy mornings are beautiful and refreshing. It shows that even gloomy mornings that have a spookiness to them can still be calm and beautiful. Even though I do consider this photo spooky, I don’t think it’s unwelcoming, just like Appalachia. Sometimes the people, culture, and towns can be a little scary, especially to outsiders, but underneath that single story there are kind welcoming people.

Contemporary Road

Glouster, Athens County, Ohio
September 18, 2024
Lily Paris

Juxtaposition (n.): the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with
contrasting effect.
The old and the new merge together to break stereotypical barriers. The old red covered bridge stands tall next to the posted HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. Some say that
Appalachia is stuck in the past of the world before internet and its connections between people. I wanted to capture that these were all just thoughts of those outside the hills, and not reality. Reality serves as a home for the people of Appalachia. From the old farmer who crosses the red bridge every morning to feed his cattle, to the old farmer feeding his family with the news over phone calls.

Forest Fishing

Nelsonville, Athens County, Ohio
September 25, 2024
Trevor Orsbon

This image shows the true beauty that Appalachia has. I took this image by the Hocking River and I was fishing with my friend while he cast his line and I noticed how beautiful this place is and wanted to capture that moment. It also has a slightly darker feeling of loneliness and solitude and that's partly how I feel about Appalachia in general; a common stereotype people have is that this is a lonely place, which is true in a way, but because of the overgrown nature of this place, it’s very easy to get lost in when you take a moment to enjoy it and just cast a line. Appalachia is an escape from the modern world.

Optional Lesson Plan

Download the document to the right for a 1-2 day optional lesson plan to introduce your students to the Looking At Appalachia Project.