Nanci Ballew "Folk and Blues"

As a quick follow-up to my last post, allow me to review an artist I admire greatly. Some of you may be surprised to learn that local visual artist, Nanci Ballew, known for her paintings and drawings here in Fayetteville, is also a singer-songwriter. In fact, there doesn't seem to be much that Nanci Ballew doesn't do.

Despite physical setbacks which began back in her thirties with a near-fatal bicycle meets automobile crash, Nanci has never let us or her own creative nature down. Not one to give into the ogre of self-pity, or even the pain that accompanies the kind of accident from which she is still recovering, Nanci uses her creativity as therapy; physical, mental, and emotional. Last time she was in the hospital after kidney problems, the docs wanted Nanci to go to a facility for some extended physical therapy. She told them, in no uncertain terms, she needed to go HOME so she could continue her own therapy, thank you very much! Nanci went home, where she continued her healing.

She may seem fragile in appearance, but to underestimate her strength and endurance, her sheer commitment to the arts, would be a mistake. She would not allow you to live under this illusion long. Really, I never hear her complain. Ask carefully if you think she may need a hand with that guitar, or that portfolio, because she may give you "the look" which says frankly, "I don't need a hand. Go find someone who does."

Nanci Ballew is one of the most vibrant souls on planet Earth. This vibrancy is reflected in her new CD, "Folk and Blues," which will be featured at Nightbird Books on Sunday Sept. 18 at 6 pm. The third Sunday of the month is usually reserved for HOWL, an open mic celebrating women's voices. This Sunday we'll start early, with Nanci as our main feature and the release of her new CD. Nanci has long been a contributor at HOWL (her words out loud) and now, for the first time, we can take her songs home with us to play at our leisure.

Such all time favorites as "Medicaid Blues" are simply gaining in popularity as these "entitlements" are questioned more and more often. Seeing Nanci play and hearing her words will make you want to wipe the word "entitlement" right out of the political lexicon. She deserves everything she gets; dare I say she "earns" what little money she gets and all of her health care by continuing to create and to share her creativity with others. People like Nanci and many others are ignored as they go on contributing to a society who would easily overlook them. Well, not Nanci. She's not letting anyone forget about her. She is busy working her art and getting it out there.

You cat lovers will thrill to "Best Cat in the World." Not a cat lover myself, Nanci made me want to go and get one after I heard her love song to her furry friends. "The Spiral" has a wonderfully psychedelic sound that is certainly familiar to my age group. "Tree House" deals with the homeless, a group Nanci recognizes as people worse off than she is. And there is my favorite, the last song on the CD, "Listen to the Heart Beat."

Don't miss this opportunity to come and enjoy one of Fayetteville's truly unique and gifted personalities. She will give you hope. Her life lesson is one that is upbeat: strength and compassion for others in the face of your own adversity. Come, spend a little time with us this Sunday as we gather together at Nightbird and "listen to the heartbeat" of a little Ozark town filled with wonderful human beings like Nanci Ballew.