The Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara in conjunction with Bonesteel Films will proudly host a premiere showing of a feature-length documentary on the life and influence of Carl Sandburg titled “The Day Carl Sandburg Died” on Tuesday, July 26 at the Flat Rock Playhouse. An informal reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. The documentary will follow at 8:00 p.m., and a brief question and answer session will conclude the evening.
Flat Rock’s own Paul Bonesteel, son of Pete and Georgia Bonesteel, spent six years researching and filming the documentary. “Connemara and Carl Sandburg’s life story made an impression on me as a boy, and since that time I always kind of knew I was going to make a film about him,” said documentarian Paul Bonesteel who grew up just several miles from Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. The film provides audiences exposure to a poet Bonesteel has admired since childhood. Sandburg’s view of the world, his feeling that we need to continually work toward democracy, and his respect for the common man are still relevant themes today and are captured as key elements of the film.
The documentary features interviews with Carl Sandburg’s daughter, Helga Sandburg Crile, Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger, Norman Corwin, and biographer Penelope Niven. In a very entertaining fashion, the film highlights Sandburg’s prolific contributions to poetry, history, journalism, folk music, children’s literature, and the enduring legacy of his ideas.
Bonesteel is especially looking forward to presenting his work at a venue near the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. “I’m really excited to share this story with this audience. There is so much about his life and career that people may not know about, it’s exciting. When the lights go down and everyones there to see your movie, that’s what it’s all about.” “The Day Carl Sandburg Died” premiered at the River Run International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on April 2 and in Asheville as part of Wordfest on May 3. Bonesteel draws on 20 years of experience in film, video and television and is a graduate of N.C. State University’s communication program. He has worked with N.C. Public Television and founded Bonesteel Films in Atlanta before moving the company to Asheville in 1997. Among his documentaries are the 2003 “The Mystery of George Masa” and the 2005 “The Great American Quilt Revival” both of which screened across the country on public television.
Proceeds from the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and this film screening support diverse and growing educational programming for youth, school groups and the visiting public at Carl Sandburg Home NHS. The Friends have been tremendous supporters of those areas where no other funding exists and teacher workshops, education resource materials, the annual student poetry contest, the annual folk music festival and the park’s junior ranger program are a few examples of recent contributions. Kathleen Hudson, the Friends’ President, says, “Especially noteworthy is that once more Carl Sandburg Home has had a writer at home.” This spring writer Jane Sadusky resided in the Historic Farm Manager’s House and served as the 2011 Carl Sandburg Writer-in-Residence. This was made possible by the generous support provided to the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara.
“The Friends have consistently been there in funding the site’s education programs and developing the Carl Sandburg Writer-in-Residence. Their support is critical to ensuring school groups, families and all who visit have an enjoyable and meaningful experience,” says Connie Backlund, park superintendent.
General Admission for the July 26th screening of the Sandburg documentary is $15.00 and $10.00 for students. Tickets will be available after June 7 at the Flat Rock Playhouse Box Office at (828) 693-0731.