Release date: Aug. 29, 2007
Contact: Elaine Justice at 404-727-0643 or elaine.justice@emory.edu

Storyteller Jim Weiss to Enliven 'Cradle of Christianity'

Master storyteller Jim Weiss will be in residence at Emory University's Michael C. Carlos Museum from Sept. 25 to Oct. 13, where he will delight children with his award-wining performance style and hold workshops on his craft for teachers and storytelling professionals. His visit, focusing on stories from the Old and New Testaments, will bring a child's perspective to the exhibit "Cradle of Christianity: Jewish and Christian Treasures from the Holy Land," continuing at the Carlos Museum through Oct. 14.

School groups may schedule a tour of "Cradle of Christianity" with Weiss, who will bring to life historical figures behind the artifacts, from King David to Alexander the Great. For the full schedule of Weiss' performances, tours, workshops and master classes, and to reserve space for one of these events, visit the exhibit's public programs and events Web site.

"What fascinates me most about Bible stories is that the people we meet in them are average people," says Weiss, "not Hollywood stars or Olympic athletes, but normal people who are suddenly thrust into astonishing situations. Imagine what it would be like to be sitting on your porch one day and to hear God call your name."

A storyteller for more than 25 years, Weiss has produced 38 recordings for children through his company Greathall Productions, Inc. He specializes in historical tales and classical literature, such as Shakespeare, Greek myths and the Bible. His work has won dozens of national awards, including the Parents' Choice Foundation Gold and Silver Awards, the Oppenhiem Best Audio Award and the Booklist Editor's Choice Award.

Weiss' recordings of biblical stories are non-denominational, and used in churches, synagogues, schools and homes around the world.

King David, who appears in a mosaic floor fragment in the exhibit, "is one of the most vivid and clearly painted characters in the Bible and a favorite of children," Weiss says. "When somebody comes along and defeats a giant, it's very gratifying for children of a certain age."

Weiss cites Ruth as his own favorite biblical character. "I love the fact that Ruth puts herself out to help her mother-in-law, and then becomes blessed. She gets her happy ending. And then we find out that, over the course of 1,000 years, she's related to King David and the family of Mary, the mother of Jesus."

The ancient art of oral storytelling goes beyond entertainment, Weiss says, by instilling a love of great literature in children and sparking family conversations about larger issues. "It's through stories that a culture communicates its deepest beliefs," he says.

Children's reading comprehension scores also soar when children develop listening skills associated with hearing a story told, says Weiss, who will give an evening seminar on Thursday, Oct. 4 especially geared for elementary, middle school and high school teachers.

Other upcoming events surrounding "Cradle of Christianity" include a Sept. 6 talk by scholar Elaine Pagels, best-selling author of "The Gnostic Gospels," and a "Zero Church Project" concert by the singing group the Roches on Oct. 11. For full details on these and other events, visit www.carlos.emory.edu/cradle

Click for a complete listing of news releases on the "Cradle of Christianity" exhibit.

Emory University is one of the nation's leading private research universities and a member of the Association of American Universities. Emory is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. Emory is ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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