Featuring: Beatrice Bowles
Delightful Storyteller; Avid Gardener; Friend of the Young (or Everyone)
“I guess I’ll never grow up!” Beatrice Bowles shared in an interview with John Chang back in 2016. She finds positive energy in children, nature, and creative people. She loved being playful with stories and often did programs at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. Being an avid gardener, it was a heavenly place with heavenly people.
She preferred an expansive view of how to view heaven and earth and was drawn to Creation Stories from around the world. She called it “going on a rampage” when she wanted to know more than the traditional Biblical version. She got her hands on stories from collections and research documents back in the 1970s. Translation projects were increasing the possibilities in this adventure.
Beatrice respected Spider Grandmother, a Hopi being that promoted storytelling. Even exploring her website that is still active despite passing in 2021, you see hints of this spider theme. She even published two books with spider themes. She saw spiders as the ultimate survivor. “They are tiny–like children are–and they’re smart,” Beatrice would explain to others. A full version about her view on spiders can be seen here.
Beatrice enjoyed dancing Tango and respected the narrative within it. She danced and laughed often, always absorbing the goodness of life.
She became a voting member of the Grammy’s. She completed an application, and it helped that she had already digitized her five audio stories. Being part of the Grammy’s allowed her to interact and celebrate the accomplishments of artists.
So let’s celebrate her as much as she celebrated others!
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You can see more details on Beatrice Bowles with the Story Artists Memorial.
Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.
I appreciate Beatrice Bowles with her journey to find the positive and the wonder of spiders. I had a “pet” spider in my basement room as a kid, but now I love spiders even more because what I have learned about Beatrice. She had such a craving for stories and sought the best books and research methods to honor and respect them. She had the curiosity of a child…a great compliment and what we all can strive for.
Beatrice Bowles still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.