Amanda and Allen Rigell (aka Count This Penny) inaugurated our Boundless: Artists in the Archives program, composing songs inspired by our special collections.
Photo by Bonica Ayala
Knoxville singer-songwriter duo Amanda and Allen Rigell, known as Count This Penny, are the first artists to partner with the University of Tennessee Libraries to create a work of art that celebrates the unique materials in the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives. Initiating our Artists in the Archives program, the Rigells explored the papers of Wilma Dykeman and James R. Stokely Jr. housed in our special collections and translated their reflections into song.
Count This Penny debuted their original compositions at an open performance in Hodges Library and later released the digital recordings online. The UT Libraries pressed and mailed copies of a limited-edition 45 RPM vinyl record in our annual publication to Library Society members.
Amanda and Allen created the “Boundless” title to our Artists in the Archives program. Given the scope of our special collections and the depth of our local talent pool, the program is indeed boundless.
