NEWS

UPDATED APRIL 2010

Despite the slow and cold winter, we are in the midst of a very busy Spring. It is much welcome here in the mountains. We are busy playing music, teaching music, and making some artwork.

There are some brand new 2010 Paintings now included on the website. These paintings are currently in an exhibition at the Jefferson Community and Technical College downtown Art Gallery, located in the VTI building. It will run through April 15th.

Our Next big showing after that will be during Merlefest at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro North Carolina on April 29- May 2, 2010.

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2010

MARCH 4-7th is KENTUCKY CRAFTED at the FAIR and EXPO CENTER in LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY. I will be unveiling my newest bach of 2010 Paintings,
this will include the Charley Kinney Portrait some of you may have heard about.
We are also working on our schedule for 2010, and it looks to be another busy one if we can just get over all this weather

Some dates already confirmed are...

April 29- May 2 Merlfest 2010.. I will once again be set up in the Heritage Arts and Crafts tent.
March 15- APril 15 SOLO EXHIBITION at Jefferson Community College's Downtown Campus
April 12-15 – KCTCS Spring Festival APPALACHIA/AFFRILACHIA. Featured presenter and performer.
April 16-17 Hillbilly Days at the Pike County Artisan Center. Performing with Rich and the Po’Folk on Saturday afternoon at the Artisan Center.
April 23rd – COWAN CREEK MOUNTAIN MUSIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISER in Louisville Kentucky at the James Lees Presbyterian Church on Frankfort Avenue.
April 24th – Whitesburg Art-walk. That says it all.
JUNE 6th - 11 Hindman Settlement School Family Folk week, I will be teaching Knott County Banjo.
June 21-25 Cowan Creek Mountain Music School

These are just some of the Major dates expected for the year, we have several other dates we are still working out the details for.

This has been one harsh winter, It has hurt in the realm of our Pick and Bow Lessons for sure, which is normally our bread and butter for the off months of January and February.
But on a positive note, not teaching banjo fiddle and guitar lessons means more time devoted to the studio.
This winter was also a good chance to get started on a Haywood Art book project. Not only will the book showcase many of the new paintings I am and will be working on this year, it will also feature, on CD, some of the greatest unknown (yet known to me), and known musicians from the area.
There will be more posted about this project soon, and if you want to participate or would like more information, just give me a holler on the old email.
We also got a new addition to the confluence within the last month, that being Nathan Hall. Me and Nathan go back a long way. He is a good old Floyd County boy like myself.
Nathan will be kickstarting East Kentucky Biodiesel from the boone Motor building in Whitesburg, he will also be helping start some sustainable agricultural projects here on the farm in Knott County.

For more information or booking, send us an email or give us a holler.

UPDATED DECEMBER 09

The Holidays are a chance for us to catch up on things that need to get done around the house, farm, and studio. It also allows us to reflect on the passed years work. I think it went Okay despite the recetion. we keep truckin along.

There is a collection of new paintings on the site. These would be paintings that were completed since Summer of 09.

The Banjo Bill peice will be included in an Exhibition called Kentucky Visions at the Capital during the legislative sessions in early 2010.

GENERAL MORGAN PLAYS A STOLEN FIDDLE is now available as a limited edition print.

More to Come.....

UPDATED SUMMER 09

Well folks you haven’t gotten a big email like this from us since about April of this year and there is a good reason. Due to being so busy I’ve really only have a few times a year that I am able to sit down an update the website stuff. So….I am going to shoot to update only when there is a significant change being made or something significant that needs to be added.

TAKE ME BACK TO EAST KENTUCKY opened in May and was a great success. We had a great turnout to the opening, WOODY PINES performed, as did the TRAVELIN SNAKES, and the CLACK MOUNTAIN Honkey Tonk band. We also got rid of a few pieces that were fresh out of the studio at the time of the show. The next gallery showing will be in SEPT 1-OCT 18at the APPALACHIAN CENTER at BEREA COLLEGE. It will be on display thru the CELEBRATION of TRADITIONAL MUSIC, also in BEREA, where I will be performing and work shopping the old time banjo music of SOUTH EAST KENTUCKY, focusing on specific styles from FLOYD, KNOTT LETCHER, and PERRY counties.

In the very near future, I will exhibit once again at the MOREHEAD FIDDLER’S CONVENTION. This is one of the events I look forward to most every year. My good friend BRETT RATLIFF has done a terrific job organizing the convention since it’s inception back in 2006.

MARS FEST will be getting underway AUGUST 21-22, 2009 from the top of Pine Mountain just outside of WHITESBURG. There will be artists, musicians, free camping, swimming, workshops, and more. Give me a holler and I’ll hook you up with some tickets.

As many of you know the WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES will be taking place in 2010 in LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY. ALLTECH, the official sponsor has contacted us about doing an event this year to promote the 2010 games. So mark your Calendar for OLD TIME STRING BAND DAY, OCTOBER 10th 2009 in WHITESBURG, KENTUCKY. We have a few great performers scheduled to come down and do some workshops as well as perform. I will be posting more about this in the coming weeks.

The 2009 paintings have finally been updated thanks to my good friend, BRETT MARSHALL. An excellent photographer who has also done work for the TRAVELIN SNAKES, and the BLIND TIGER STRING BAND. You can find his website at Snapshot -n- Tweeners

I also want to make special mention of my wife Kelli’s who is currently keeping a blog of all our going on s up little doubles. Visit her at A Mountain Mama-Kelli B. Haywood

UPDATED APRIL 2009

Howdy!
I finally got to off my feet and updated my internet stuff. Including uploaded songs to the Appropriate Myspaces the Haywood banjo page includes Solo pieces as well as some Rich and the Po'Folk Cuts that Features singing by Rich Kirby and Roy Tacket.

I guess the Big News is the Solo Exhibition coming up at Summit City with performances by the Travelin' Snakes and The Clack Mountain String Band. We're really bustin' tail to get it done.

Next week However you can catch me playing with Brett's Blind Tiger String Band at Summit City Thursday the 16th Followed by a weekend in Pikeville for the Hillbilly Days ART and OLD TIMEY MUSIC SHOWCASE.

Then it's off to the big MERLEFEST where I'll be a demonstrating Heritage Crafter, so if you go to that come and find me.

And another Killer thing is my wife KELLI HAYWOOD has been awarded the GURNEY NORMAN PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION, and will have a piece published in KUDZU REVIEW. She has also recieved a grant to do research for a Novel that'll send us down into Georgia for a few days. She also has an online blog at http://eastkentuckygal.wordpress.com where she documents our life in Knott County.

Also the 2009 link page is slowly being updated, there are a couple of things up right now, but once the Solo exhibition is finished there will be more images for your viewing pleasures. Also click on the Dates link to see the full schedule that is constantly being updated for 2009.

Also to mention, I'll be teaching that two finger banjo pickin class at Cowan Creek Mountain Music School this year. The Class is called singing with the Banjo. There'll be two and three finger techniques as well as advanced overhand techniques. http://www.cowancreekmusic.org/

UPDATED JANUARY 2009

Well here it is 2009, we're froze in up the holler here and would rather be out sledding or doing something besides set in front of this computer. But you got to do what you got to get the word out about things.

Not only have I been busy makin art these past 6 months on Little Doubles Creek, I've been pickin' alot of music.
I some how managed to wind up playing in two old time groups, THE TRAVELIN SNAKES, and RICH AND THE PO'FOLK, after pledging to play solo for a while. So I've been playing with them, planning shows, and doing some recording. The Snakes have been in the studio, and are looking to get a few live recordings together for an album.
The Po'Folks are working me in, we've been going and playing pretty regularly. The Po' Folks were invited back to the Bristol Rhythm 'n' Roots Reunion for 2009.
You can get to the music by clicing on the music link above.

As far as art, well, the remainder of January through Valentines Day, I will have an exhibition at the Pike County Artisan Center in Downtown Pikeville, KY. February 6th will host a reception with a performance by the PAKWAY HANDLE BAND, and my new group, THE TRAVELIN SNAKES.

The APPALACHIAN ARTISAN CENTER is now carring most of my prints from 2008 as well as postcards and banjo CDs.
To make a long story short we have several things coming up this year.

TO GET A COMPLETE LISTING OF DATES, PLEASE CLICK ON THE SCHEDULE or MUSIC LINK ABOVE.

UPDATED OCTOBER 2008

If you haven't noticed, the website has undergone a bit of a change, and continues to undergo a bit of a change.
It had come to our attention that many of the new browsers operating under new systems or whatever would not support the frames feature of the old page, which I guess is now obsolete, so we had to reconstruct it a bit.

What else is new...the KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY has commissioned HAYWOOD to create some paintings for use in the promotion of their performances of Jack Tales as part of the museum theatre. THe paintings may also be available as prints and postcards in the near future. The First Painting in the series is entitled JACK AND THE ROBBERS. Which you can get a look at by going to our 2008 painting page.
The next in the series will be HAYWOOD's first Christmas themed painting called JACK HUNTS CHRISTMAS.

Despite the ECONOMIC turmoil, we keep rolling along. We had a successful show in BRISTOL, we did miss the DOC BOGGS festival because of sickness.
Coming up we got an event at ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE here in KNOTT COUNTY on OCT. 11th called OUR APPALACHIA DAYS. HAYWOOD will be displaying his artwork, as well as performing a saturday morning Gospel set with friend and local KNOTT COUNTY FELLOW, RICHARD BOWERS.

Since moving back to the mountains HAYWOOD has become seriously involved with the APPALSHOP'S TRADITIONAL MUSIC PROGRAM, he has been teaching banjo lessons at LETCHER ELEMENTARY school every Wednesday from 3:15-5:15pm. As well as working with the COWAN COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP in organizing and promoting East Kentucky music in the region.

If you are living in or around KNOTT and LETCHER COUNTY, you too can learn how to play GUITAR, FIDDLE, or BANJO from a faculty of fine OLD TIME MUSICIANS including ROY TACKETT, BRETT RATLIFF, and HAYWOOD.
These musicians have learned the music of East Kentucky first hand from some the last remaining OLD TIMERS of the Region.

So, if you're interested just come to the Letcher School Wednesday at 3pm and sign up.

Other upcoming events include a performance in Louisville at the 930 GALLERY and LISTENING ROOM Saturday OCT 18th at noon.

We will also be traveling to LOUISIANA for the BLACKPOT FESTIVAL where we will have booth once again. If you got a hankering for cajun music head on down.

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND takes us on over to MEMPHIS for their annual RIVERARTS FESTIVAL.

HAYWOOD is also working on new old material for his new EAST KY OLD TIME DUO, the TRAVELIN SNAKES. Who are looking to get rolling playing some shows this fall as well as doing some recording.

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

BIG REMINDER that you got until the 20th to vote for "One Gallon for a Two Dollar Bill"or"Old Kentucky Whiskey" (it's one painting with two names) by logging into www.themarkofgreatart.com then search for JOHN HAYWOOD and give it your number one vote.

I would also like to remind you that this coming weekend is the Bristol Rythm and Roots Reunion at the birthplace of Country music.
And speaking of music, there are several new music related paintings under the 2008 link to the left.
Also Remember to tune into Knoxville's WDVX on wednesday Sept 24th for an appearance on the Blue Plate Special, performing with my good friend Pokey LaFarge and Peter Piek.

Keep checking back here for more updates!!

EAST KENTUCKY ARTIST CHOSEN BY MAKERS MARK

In March 2008, the famous Maker’s Mark Distillery sent out a call for artist to create a piece especially for an exhibit called The Mark of Great Art. Knott County resident and artist, John Haywood was chosen from over 120 artists to be among the 54 from across the state commissioned. Haywood will reveal his oil painting entitled “Old Kentucky Whiskey” at the show opening on September 5, 2008 in the gallery of the distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.

The show will be comprised of 115 pieces of artwork that will be broken up into 8 mini-collections after the initial opening. The pieces will, then, travel to bars and restaurants in Louisville, Lexington, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, London, England, and Madrid, Spain where they will remain indefinitely. All who visit the Maker’s Mark Gallery between September 6-21 either in person or online (www.themarkofgreatart.com) can vote for their favorite piece. The three artists that receive the most votes will win monetary prizes from Maker’s Mark.

Haywood invites all to view “Old Kentucky Whiskey”. Other paintings and prints by Haywood can be seen by visiting his home studio on Little Doubles Creek, or online at www.haywoodart.com.

IN STORES NOW

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I was borned and raised in the east Kentucky hills in a holler called Risner. The only thing I've ever been good at is drawing and playing music. My papaw was a coal miner and old regular baptist singer who told me he didn't want me to work in the mines. He told me to get a good education, so that's what I did, and that's pretty much how I ended up in Louisville. But now we're back in good ol' East KY. I make my living painting, teaching, and playin' some banjo. So I really can't complain.

Updated August 2008

BIG NEWS! BIG NEWS!!!!

If you're reading this prior to the 22nd and 23rd you're invited to the MARS festival fundraising Party on PINE MOUNTAIN, which is more of a pilot for the first annual kickoff in 09.
See below for a poster with a complete list of performers.

The MAKER'S MARK commission will finally be unveiled to the public FRIDAY SEPT 5th at the distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.
The painting will be on display with others that were chosen for THE MARK OF GREAT ART exhibition. After the reception, the Art will be shipped to various establishments worldwide that are proud servers of this Old Kentucky Whiskey.

The GALLERY ON MAIN in Richmond Kentucky will host an exhibition of paintings that will open with a reception on Tuesday SEPT 9th.
I will also be performing, possibly with a few folks from PONTY's CAMPER

Please check our SCHEDULE for more show dates including BRISTOL's RYTHM and ROOTS REUNION and a special performance On KNOXVILLE's BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

There are also new 2008 PAINTINGS available for your viewing pleasure, they're all right there under the 2008 link. At www.haywoodart.com of course.

SUMMIT CITY CAFE, the nearly year old Food, Bar, Art Gallery, and Performance Venue in Whitesburg Kentucky will be bringing out some new T-shirts that feature a custom drawing that I did Just for them.

"Probably one of the most interesting things that someone said to me this year was 'Hey you're the trash artist.' I didn't understand what this person was talking about because I am a painter. This person later explained that I was the white trash artist. Now this stuck with me because a word like 'white trash' can carry tons of negativity. This statement brought to my attention the way others see themselves and the world. If my paintings are honest narratives, meaning they are based in reality, then maybe me and the people I paint are white trash. For me, my paintings celebrate Appalachian culture. This culture represents a freedom that can't be found in a society that values its citizens based upon educational or financial accomplishments. That's why the Appalachian people have been stuck with so many negative stereotypes."