The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) will host a free storytelling presentation by John Dashney on Saturday, April 26th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Callahan Museum. This event, as part of APH’s “Bards and Storytellers” annual series, not only celebrates APH’s 150th anniversary, but also celebrates the historical traditions of entertainers with vision loss.

In the tradition of the great storyteller, or Seanachie (as he was called in Ireland), John Dashney uses no props, puppets, costumes or any other multimedia gimmicks. Instead, he relies upon what a reviewer in the Salem Statesman-Journal called “a rich powerful voice and an effective stage presence.”

Grouping his listeners about him, John will spin Whoppers and Tall Tales from the fabric of his imagination, using a powerful memory, vocal variety, inflection, timing and gestures to create the image in the mind of the audience. In this way, each listener will be able to create his or her own mental pictures of the scenes and characters – thus becoming an active participant in the story, rather than a passive onlooker.

John Dashney has experience working with students in grades K-12, including students with physical, cognitive, mental, and emotional disabilities. His own handicap, blindness, demonstrates to students that nothing is impossible for those who try.
     
This event is free to the public, but space is limited.  Please make reservations by April 25.  Call (502) 899-2365, or e-mail mhudson@aph.org.  Visit www.aph.org/musuem for more information.

John's storytelling talents have taken him to venues in seven countries on four continents, featured performances at five major international festivals and over a thousand appearances at more than 700 different schools throughout the English-speaking world. He was also featured in the Regional Showcase at the 1993 National Storytelling Conference and again in 2004. John holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oregon. He has also won a fellowship from the Oregon Arts Commission, the Ned Freeman Literary Award from the American Council of the Blind and Dialogue Magazine's award for Best Story of the Year. For more information visit www.wicklewoodbooks.com/jDashney.html.