Heart of Vashon: Telling our Story

HEART OF VASHON: telling our story is a new community project that aims to weave a narrative celebrating the collective story of our community. All Islanders are invited to share personal stories – written or spoken – that illuminate the spirit of this place, stories that speak to our sense of identity and connection. Coordinated by Mary G.L. Shackelford and Shirley Ferris, the call is out now for your stories!

From what’s submitted, Shirley and Mary will create scripts for seasonal performance readings to celebrate the spirit and the character of this place we know as Vashon, the first to be held at Blue Heron in January 2016. Stories may be submitted electronically in writing or by MP3 or you may arrange to have your story recorded. All stories will be read and then archived at Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum.

“Consider stories about the land itself,” Shirley says, “about seasonal activities, family rituals, special places, personal experiences. We believe in the power of stories to honor a land ethic, preserve culture and strengthen relationships. We want to hear what living on Vashon means to you – stories that illuminate the exchange of giving and receiving, the reciprocity of work and play, giving birth and growing old, raising children and animals, losing loved ones, tending our gardens, walking in the woods and living in the presence of water and stars. We are motivated by the yearning to connect and share in community, bringing the notion of love to the center of public discourse. We’d like to express our deepest values and reflect a sense of belonging and resilience.”

“Sharing story builds, shapes, defines and creates community; it is an old way of bringing people together to celebrate who we really are,” Mary adds. “Our desire is to bring forward the stories that mean the most to us, stories of the heart. We’d like to share what moves us, what connects us to community, to land, to nature, to spirit, to each other. Listening and telling, inquiring into the foundational glue that holds our collective story on Vashon builds our capacity to pull together, to navigate the change that is coming.”

Since moving here from Virginia in 1978, Mary G.L. Shackelford has been active in the community and in love with the land ever since. Mary was part of helping create our community art center at Blue Heron. In the 80’s, she initiated VAA’s Literary Arts Series that ran into the 90’s under her direction. She is delighted to return to those roots, working with Shirley on this project. Mary is a writer, storyteller, nature girl and back-porch musician.

Falling in love with Vashon Island at a high school leadership retreat in 1962, Shirley Ferris later found her way back to make it her home. Island life has proved a worthy container for her work, words and wonder. Since retiring from teaching/counseling, she appreciates time to travel, write, explore nature, and enjoy family and friends. Participating in community, from the early days of Community Council and VAA Literary Arts to more recent board work with the Land Trust and the Scholarship Foundation, she is excited to embrace a project that combines love for people and their stories with a deep sense of the spirit of Vashon.

HEART OF VASHON: telling our story is co-sponsored by VAA, VMIHA, VoV and AIF. Email heartofvashon@gmail.com for submission guidelines or more information.