The East Tennessee Historical Society, in conjunction with East Tennessee State University's Reece Museum, opened a new traveling exhibit Tuesday called "Vanishing Appalachia," which will run through June.
The exhibit features the work of photographer Don Dudenbostel, along with the field research of Tom Jester.
The two spent three years amongst the boozing moonshiners, serpent-trainers, rooster-fighting people of the Appalachian Mountains who still participate in traditional practices of that area.
Historically, these Mountain people have been classified as "hillbillies," says the East Tennessee Historical Society.
"By the mid-1900s, outside perceptions and inside realities about the people living in Appalachia were beginning to emerge," they write on their site. "Some people played to the popularized "hillbilly" stereotype for financial gain, launching successful singing/acting careers, building themed tourist attractions and marketing national products. Others sought to capitalize on the economic momentum created by the arrival of such federal initiatives as the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Manhattan Project."
Dudenbostel and Jester recognized that certain aspects of mountain culture were slowly disappearing, as investors and mining companies flooded the towns in search of coal, iron and zinc.
The two went to work, Dudenbostel diligently snapping photos to document the changes visually, while Jester supplemented the images with text that explained said cultural shifts.
Dudenbostel says he does not have any dreams of grandeur, and will not endeavor to save the disappearing mountain culture with this exhibit. He just wanted to document it because he found it worthwhile.
"I really had no concept over 50 years ago that time would change so quicky," he told Times News. "I just felt that it was important. Once this culture has disappeared, it's not returning."
The Reece Museum will be open for patrons to check out the exhibit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.
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