News Release

February 2, 2001

Free preview slated for Living Voices performance

A free preview of the Living Voices performance of "Journey from the Dust: A Story of the Great Depression" will be open to the public at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2 at the Mary Craig Auditorium of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

The Living Voices performances are multi-media pieces that incorporate live performance, video and discussion to bring history to life for students and audiences. They are sponsored locally by the Beyond Tolerance Center, operated in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

"Journey from the Dust" shares the story of America’s families confronted by the stock market crash of 1929 and the Dust Bowl. Struggling to keep his family together, one young man experiences the loss of his home, the separation of his family, and economic prejudice.

The performance illustrates an American tragedy and the courage to survive, raising issues of racism, separation, and homelessness. Living Voices offers a creative and personal approach to understanding these issues and applying their significance.

Previous Living Voices performances have ranged from coverage of Nazi Germany and the Civil Rights movement to the Japanese internment camps and Irish immigrants.

Students from more than 30 schools will view the newest performance during March and April. The public has been invited to preview the performance, free of charge.

Further information is available from the Beyond Tolerance Center, 569-3873.