The Worldwide Importance of Marble
Vermont marble graces buildings across the United States, in Europe, Asia and India. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the industry drew skilled immigrants from Italy, Poland, Sweden, Ireland and elsewhere. A one-hour documentary will explore the history of marble quarries, the carvers who created lasting monuments and the cultural contributions of those who came to work. Not just a local story, the Vermont Marble Company had offices across the country, from Georgia to Alaska. The film will also survey the myriad and surprising ways Vermont marble has become a necessity in contemporary everyday life. Interweaving tales of owners, managers, quarriers, carvers and their families will create a narrative mural of courage, ambition, creativity and sacrifice.
The Movie
The program will entertainingly inform viewers of the facts, raise their awareness about people and places that have faded from public view yet have left lasting imprints, and educate about the economic contributions of marble manufacturing. The film will have a live premier in Vermont, be broadcast on Vermont Public Television and offered to all PBS stations. It will also be a key component of an educational resources kit available to teachers region-wide.
Geologists and historians will provide the factual framework. In addition, enlightening and inspiring stories will be gathered from those who made it all happen and their descendants. Vignettes will be created that highlight various aspects of quarry work: tools used during different periods, the role draft animals played, and how things changed with the arrival of railroads, electricity and greater mechanization. The role of family and home life will also be portrayed. How did immigrant women interact within their new communities? Italian, Irish and other immigrants brought not only their skills and willingness to work tirelessly but intrinsic elements of their cultures, too. The documentary provides an important opportunity to focus and communicate primary research on this neglected area.
The producer has demonstrated skill in creating a rich visual experience that captures the attention of viewers’ of all ages, while sharing information about topics they never knew they might be interested in. She will weave together compelling interviews while using fascinating archival photographs and film footage, plus modern video documentation of quarrying, artistry and related cultural events. By combining culture, daily life and industrial history, the broadest possible audience will be drawn to the stories.
An enduring tribute, the Dimensions of Marble documentary will bring well-deserved attention to the worldwide importance of marble, past and present. It will also focus a long overdue spotlight on men and women of yesteryear who were essential to a period of booming economic growth and whose descendants have become part of Vermont’s lasting ethnic diversity.
The Worldwide Importance of Marble
Vermont marble graces buildings across the United States, in Europe, Asia and India. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the industry drew skilled immigrants from Italy, Poland, Sweden, Ireland and elsewhere. A one-hour documentary will explore the history of marble quarries, the carvers who created lasting monuments and the cultural contributions of those who came to work. Not just a local story, the Vermont Marble Company had offices across the country, from Georgia to Alaska. The film will also survey the myriad and surprising ways Vermont marble has become a necessity in contemporary everyday life. Interweaving tales of owners, managers, quarriers, carvers and their families will create a narrative mural of courage, ambition, creativity and sacrifice.
The Movie
The program will entertainingly inform viewers of the facts, raise their awareness about people and places that have faded from public view yet have left lasting imprints, and educate about the economic contributions of marble manufacturing. The film will have a live premier in Vermont, be broadcast on Vermont Public Television and offered to all PBS stations. It will also be a key component of an educational resources kit available to teachers region-wide.
Geologists and historians will provide the factual framework. In addition, enlightening and inspiring stories will be gathered from those who made it all happen and their descendants. Vignettes will be created that highlight various aspects of quarry work: tools used during different periods, the role draft animals played, and how things changed with the arrival of railroads, electricity and greater mechanization. The role of family and home life will also be portrayed. How did immigrant women interact within their new communities? Italian, Irish and other immigrants brought not only their skills and willingness to work tirelessly but intrinsic elements of their cultures, too. The documentary provides an important opportunity to focus and communicate primary research on this neglected area.
The producer has demonstrated skill in creating a rich visual experience that captures the attention of viewers’ of all ages, while sharing information about topics they never knew they might be interested in. She will weave together compelling interviews while using fascinating archival photographs and film footage, plus modern video documentation of quarrying, artistry and related cultural events. By combining culture, daily life and industrial history, the broadest possible audience will be drawn to the stories.
An enduring tribute, the Dimensions of Marble documentary will bring well-deserved attention to the worldwide importance of marble, past and present. It will also focus a long overdue spotlight on men and women of yesteryear who were essential to a period of booming economic growth and whose descendants have become part of Vermont’s lasting ethnic diversity.