Folk songs are an indelible element of cultures around the world. For Americans they describe our nation’s experience and traditions: exploring and settling (Davey Crockett), farming (Old MacDonald), slavery (No More Auction Block for Me), emerging industries like mining (John Henry), and urban life (The Wheels on the Bus, Take Me Out to the Ball Game). The first folk songs sung by young America were from the Old World, favorites brought by immigrants to a new life in the United States. The Fox Went Out On A Chilly Night a traditional, rollicking tune, was popular in England and America. It came from an oral story-telling tradition when it was written on the flyleaf of an English manuscript in the 1500’s. The first verse went: It fell ageyns the next nyght/ the fox yede to with all his myghte,/ with-outen cole or candlelight,/ whan that he cam vnto the toowne. It has since changed with the English language.

As a young girl Kathryn L. Grier frequently asked her father to play The Fox Went Out One Chilly Night on the family record player. She grew up listening to the song as sung by the legendary folk singer Odetta. Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1930, Odetta has sung folk, blues, work and protest songs throughout her 50 plus year career. Though she experienced the prejudice of the times, at thirteen she had begun serious voice and piano lessons and later studied opera at Los Angeles City College. While Odetta’s classical training guided her voice, she was introduced to the folk music scene and has emerged as the “Mother Goddess of Folk and Blues.” Her style and story inspired Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman and Jewel. Odetta is known for her contributions to American music, her dedication to the Civil Rights movement and other political causes.

Dreams worth pursuing have a way of sticking with us through life. Like young America singing old songs in a new place and Odetta pursuing her love of music, Kathryn L. Grier reached back, grabbed a favorite memory from her childhood and illustrated it to share with the rest of the world. She says, “I’ve been cutting and pasting since I was about three years old. My interest in the medium was renewed in my illustration classes at Georgia State University.” The Fox series contains over 30 different shades and patterns of cut paper.

Grier’s goal is to illustrate children’s books. She dedicates this exhibit to her friend and teacher, Alan Tiegreen, illustrator of Beverly Cleary’s Ramona Quimby series. 

~Erin K. Schovel

Associate Curator