THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604170154
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Lynn Ruehlmann is a storyteller.
Mostly, she tells tales in school. She also talks to adult groups, is heard on radio, visits libraries and goes to festivals and churches.
By the time she has made those rounds each year, Ruehlmann has reached an audience of about 10,000.
Her next audience is tonight at Suffolk Museum as part of its exhibit, ``Art and Writing,'' co-sponsored by the Suffolk Art League.
The exhibit features 33 pieces of artwork by 19 artists, and accompanying contributions from 22 writers.
``The purpose of the exhibit is to show how a visual image can inspire someone to think creatively,'' said Lisa Mizelle, museum coordinator.
Allied special events include a film series on poetry, ``Voices and Visions,'' to be shown Sunday afternoons through May 5.
A creative writing class will be offered Saturdays through May 11. They are conducted by Wendy White, who works with writing programs at Virginia Wesleyan College.
There is a $40 fee for that. All other events are free.
Tonight, Ruehlmann will be performing ``Homespun,'' a story collage of personal and folk tales.
She got into storytelling after she did some acting, at one time receiving the PortFolio award as best actress in a comedy.
``I got to the point where I realized I couldn't make a living doing plays,'' Ruehlmann said. ``I began looking for other things to do.''
She began storytelling about six years ago.
``I practice on my kids,'' Ruehlmann said, referring to 13-year-old Ben and Mattie, 8.
She has become so expert a storyteller, she now conducts workshops.
``There are several storytellers in Hampton Roads,'' Ruehlmann said. ``They do it for the love of storytelling. Across the country, a lot of people are making careers of it.''
About 9,000 people come to Jonesborough, Tenn. one weekend every October, to get together with fellow storytellers.
``We don't use any books or cue cards,'' Ruehlmann said. ``We read and learn our lines like in a play, but we often use our own words.''
Television or no television, storytellers who appeal to the imagination remain popular.
Ruehlmann received the supreme compliment from an entranced fourth-grader who said, ``maybe someday, I will be like you.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Storyteller Lynn Ruehlmann
AT A GLANCE
What: Art and Writing exhibit
When: Through May 12: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Suffolk Museum, 118 Bosley Ave.
What: Storyteller Lynn Ruehlmann presents ``Homespun,'' personal
and folk tales
When: Tonight at 6:30
Where: Suffolk Museum
Free, including film series ``Voices and Visions'' at 2 p.m.
Sundays.
What: Creative writing class
When: Saturdays at 3 p.m., beginning this week. $40.
Where: Suffolk Museum
Call: 925-6311.
by CNB