"Jukeboxes & Jackalopes" -- the photographic companion

Writer Julianne Couch and photographer Ronald Hansen dropped by the Arts Council this afternoon to show off their new book.

"Jukeboxes & Jackalopes: A Photographic Companion to Wyoming Bars & Backways" was hot off the presses when Julianne and Ron sidled into the WAC. The large format book features Ron's color photos of the state's distinctive bars, accompanied by Julianne's captions. It's published by the Wyoming State Historical Society, and features an intro by noted historian Phil Roberts.

This is a follow-up to Julianne's "Jukeboxes & Jackalopes: A Wyoming Bar Journey," published by Pronghorn Press in Greybull. It features a lone photo of each out-of-the way bar with essays by Julianne. I've heard Julianne read several of these essays. The bars serve as catalyst for the essays, as her writing begins at the watering holes but ranges further afield into history and geology and her own life. She received an Individual Artist Professional Development grant to help defray costs of research and site visits. Now don't laugh. Research can take many forms, especially when you're dealing with small-town Western traditions such as saloons and bars -- and their patrons. As Julianne notes in the intro to the new book:

As another traveler once said, "A town in Wyoming consists of a post office, a gas station, and a bar."

In some of the locales chronicled by Julianne and Ron, a bar is all that remains. Just take a look at Steelman's Brite Spot in Hiland. It includes a bar and convenience store, the only shops in this town of 10 residents.

Just take a look at the Longbranch Saloon in Hawk Springs. You can't, not in person anyway, because it burned down after Julianne's visit for her first book. Rebuilding plans are supposed to be underway.

I urge you to take a look at the book. You can buy it in Cheyenne at City News and the Wyoming State Museum Store. You can order copies from Julianne and Ron's Horse Creek Studio. Get more info at http://www.myspace.com/wyojulianne

And here's a terrific idea. Bring Julianne and her books and her expertise to your community for a presentation. You can do this through a WAC Arts Across Wyoming grant. Julianne is one of our fine roster artists. An AAW grant can help pay her fee and travel costs. Why not do that now, while it's fresh on your mind. Go to http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/Grants/EApps.asp

--Michael Shay

Fund to Find Craig Arnold has hired independent search-and-rescue team

Here's the latest update from the FIND CRAIG ARNOLD Facebook page:

5/5 9:18 a.m. EST: Thanks to the money raised through The Fund to Find Craig Arnold, we have been able to engage the help of an independent search and rescue team (1SRG) who arrived at Kuchino-erabu yesterday afternoon. The local authorities brought the team up to speed, and they immediately began searching; they believe they have picked up Craig's trail. They will be on the island until the 9th, looking, though obviously we all hope Craig will be found before then. However, the official search for Craig has been called off by the Japanese authorities. We need everyone's help contacting their local congressional delegation and asking their assistance in encouraging the Fukuoka consulate to engage local US military/DOD assets on the ground in Japan. They have been thinking about it and we need them to move forward with that as quickly as possible.

Contribute to the search fund at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5149253

New roster artist Julianne Couch

Julianne teaches writing and editing in the English department at UW. She is editor of the UW Alumnews and is a regular columnist for DailyYonder.com. Her first non-fiction book, Jukeboxes & Jackalopes: A Wyoming Bar Journey, details her tour of off-the-beaten-path Wyoming "watering holes." Her current project is a narrative non-fiction travel book about energy development in the U.S., titled Earth, Wind and Sky: A Power Trip. Julianne's workshops include how to blend "facts" from the here and now with aspects of memoir, and how to submit polished manuscripts and confident queries. E-mail: mailto:jcouch@uwyo.edu.
Website: http://www.myspace.com/wyojulianne.