Storytelling has been part of the human experience throughout its history, and though it may have become a lost art with the advent of technology, the Hamilton Public Library was host to a special celebra
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
HAMILTON — Storytelling has been part of the human experience throughout its history, and though it may have become a lost art with the advent of technology, the Hamilton Public Library was host to a special celebration of the spoken word known as Tellabration on Nov. 24.
Tellabration, administered by the National Storytelling Network, is an annual weekend of benefit storytelling that has been held since 1988.
Proceeds of the event, which was sponsored by the Garden State Storytellers’ League, benefited the Patrick S. Biddulph Foundation for Leukemia Research and the Hamilton Township Library Trust Fund.
Stephen Tatrai, a GSSL storyteller for 20 years and Hamilton resident, said he enjoys the impact of storytelling.
”Telling a story explains what life is all about. Story explains life,” said Mr. Tatrai, who has been substitute teaching in the Hamilton Township School District since his retirement from Johnson & Johnson.
”Storytelling is a lost art. That’s why I do it so much,” he said, referring to its role in human history.
”Everything was oral tradition,” he added. “We’ve lost the myth and mythology.”
Folk musician Charlie Zahm was also on hand to provide storytelling through the prism of music and song.
”I’ve always loved story songs, songs that have all the elements of music, but also bring a listener along in a story,” Mr. Zahm said. “You can touch on history. It can tell you how love was lost or battles were fought,” he said. “It can tell you about travel and exploration.”
Mr. Zahm, who has performed at the event for five consecutive years, reflected on the differences between spoken and musical storytelling.
”(Music) oftentimes has a chorus and the people can participate,” he said, noting that 80-year-olds still remember songs from their youth. “It has a melody that you can remember or hum to yourself later.”
Other featured guests at the event included Gerald Fierst, a writer and teacher, who provided a workshop that demonstrated New Jersey common core state standards in English and literacy arts as well as performing arts for teachers and others involved in education.
Also performing at the event was Ingrid Bruck, former director of the Long Branch Public Library, who has long maintained a passion for stories and storytelling.
The event was co-produced by GSSL founder and past president Gwendolyn Jones and Carol Satz. Ms. Satz is a retired educator from the Hamilton Township Public School District.
Ms. Jones said the philosophy of the GSSL is that “stories are the fabric of universal life.”
”They embrace all emotions, all times, and all places. No other form of art has been accessible to all, and practiced by all, throughout the ages,” she said. “Storytelling is not a lost art. It is an art in a state of exiting re-emergence.”
GSSL meetings and workshops are frequently held at the Hamilton Township Library. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 10:30 a.m.
For more information call 609-499-0107, 609-890-3378 or email [email protected].

