Jeff Chapman-Crane

Jeff Chapman-Crane, Artist and Appalachian Activist; Eolia, Kentucky:

“I’ve lived my whole life in Appalachia, the first 28 years or so in east Tennessee and the past 33 years in eastern Kentucky. It's not an easy place to live, but then I've never taken the easy way, don't think you learn much by following the path of least resistance.”

“Appalachia is a great place for an artist to grow up, with all its complexities, contradictions and contrasts. I hope the art I've created over 30 plus years helps shed some light on our collective experience and makes us aware of the important contributions Appalachian people have made and continue to make to the cultural life of our country and the world.”

Glen Simpson

Glen Simpson; Retired, Norfolk Southern Railroad: Musicianer, Old Time and New Time; From Williamson, West Virginia, Currently Residing in Hardy, Kentucky:

“I was listening to music before I was potty trained, I was 10 years old. Just joking, but I have been told that at the age of 6 I would perform on 2nd Avenue in Williamson, WV in front of G.C. Murphy's doing my Elvis imitation. I would sing Hound Dog and shimmy and shake, probably embarrassing my family but I was a ham that couldn't be cured. Family and music are my two loves and that will never change!”

Cheyenne Harris

Cheyenne Harris, Welder Fabricator and Division of Forestry Fire Fighter, Currently Lives in Lexington, Kentucky, From Isom, Kentucky:

“As I sit and think of where all I have been and things that I have done or yet will do I still cherish the opportunities that I had being born and raised in, to me the most beautiful place on earth, Appalachia. Growing up in the mountains was the best childhood I could have ever experienced. It was simply amazing I had it all and didn’t even know it. I am truly blessed to be a hillbilly.”

Clayton Leonard

Clayton Leonard, Age 90, Retired, Horse Van Builder, Car lover (Edsels), Bristol, Virginia:

“Bought my first Edsel new in 1959. It was green. Bought the one I have now in 1970. It’s an Edsel… Ford Edsel Corsair. It’s kind of a luxury car. The price on it was about $3,000 I believe, when I bought it new, something like that. Back then, gas was about twenty-five cents a gallon; you could get a Pepsi Cola or a Coke for about a nickel and a MoonPie for about that same amount of money. Time flies by so fast you know.“

“That (first) Edsel I was telling you about, I drove it up and down State Street and this girl, she was out there watching me all the time… I don’t know, one day she said she wanted to marry me, so I married her. She passed away in 2009. We had two daughters, my oldest also passed away in 2009.”