ST. GEORGE — From gumball machines filled with elementary students’ artwork to vulnerable adults telling true-life stories on stage, this story just might have something for everyone.
Nostalgic to most adults, gumball machines used to be a fixture at the entrance of every grocery store in town. Some were filled with gumballs and others with tiny treasures in plastic capsules. Place a quarter or two in the slot and turn the knob to release the machine’s treasure.
Enter Coyote Tale’s Art-O-Matic – a repurposed gumball machine that sells unique crafts. For only 50 cents and a twirl of the knob, you can be the recipient of a capsule containing a one-of-a-kind, diminutive work of art created by a Red Mountain Elementary school student. Proceeds from the sale of the art will be donated directly to Red Mountain Elementary School, which will be used to purchase more art supplies for the students.
The project is funded by Coyote Tales Storytelling events, and founder Victoria Topham said funds were raised pre-COVID by a gourmet bake sale concession stand where she donated her upscale treats through her business, Petite Feast.
“During intermission, we sold them, and people were so so generous and giving us lots of money for cupcakes and cookies and brownies and stuff,” Topham said.
All proceeds from the bake sale were used to purchase the machines and art supplies to hold a special art experience for the fourth and fifth graders. During the class, the children sculpted and then painted figures inspired by their studies of the rainforest.
An array of miniature frogs, toucans, flowers and snakes are enclosed within the machine’s capsules. Additional capsules contain haikus written by students.
“All of it is an original work of art created by Red Mountain Elementary School students,” she said.
There are currently three gumball machines filled with art projects. One machine is located at the Datura Gallery in the Kayenta Art Village, another was unveiled at Red Mountain Elementary School on April 27 and will remain at the school. The third machine will be placed at another Ivins location soon.
Coyote Tales wishes to thank everyone who purchased baked goods and the Kayenta women who volunteered their time and expertise to help during the Red Mountain class.
About Coyote Tales live storytelling
Coyote Tales hopes to perpetuate the art of storytelling while entertaining the listener with a unique and intimate experience.
Each event is live and features open-mic-style storytelling with amateur and experienced storytellers that tell stories based on a theme. Prior to the event, storytellers craft their true, on-theme story and practice the telling. When the doors open, potential storytellers put their names in a hat in hopes of being chosen to share their stories. If chosen, the storyteller takes the stage to delight the audience. Stories must be true, told live and be within the five-minute given time frame.
With a degree in early learning, Topham is a one-woman show who established Coyote Tales on her own. Although it’s been a lot of work, she said she’s loved every minute of it.
“I think once people do it, once they understand what it is, they get it,” she said about storytelling. “They want to share. They like that connection.”
While living in Salt Lake City, Topham said she owned a restaurant that featured a menu with only made-from-scratch items. Oftentimes, she found herself staying overnight at the restaurant to prepare sauces and roast meats. She would listen to The Moth Radio Hour while she worked, a live storytelling show featuring people from all over the world.
“It just kind of made me feel like I wasn’t alone all the time,” she said. “They were like my friends, almost.”
When she and her husband retired and moved to Southern Utah, she felt inspired to start the same storytelling concept in the community. As the Kayenta Center for the Arts was preparing to open, she approached them about the event. Unmotivated by money and wanting to create a sense of community, she told them she would do all the work herself and the art center could keep ticket sales. Topham said every event held there has since sold out.
Coyote Tales has also expanded free outdoor storytelling events, which she said have included up to 225 attendees. And when COVID-19 hit, she didn’t let it slow down her mission. Instead, she held virtual events. No matter the venue, all stories are recorded for others to hear later and are available on their website.
“I’ve had storytellers who have passed away,” she said. “And I’ve been able to give those stories to their families.”
Cotoye Tales Storytelling will perform at the Ivins Heritage Days Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. The theme for that event will be “Wild.” The event is free to the public, is BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) and free drinks will be provided by Kayenta Homes and Properties.
“I’m always looking for more storytellers,” she said. “That is the challenge, is to find people that want to invest the time and practice the story. But every single person that has ever gotten on our stage has gotten off and said they would do it again.”
For more information on Coyote Tales, along with a calendar of upcoming events, visit their website.
Photo Gallery
Attendees of the Coyote Tales Storytelling event purchase crafts from a repurposed gumball machine, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Attendees of the Coyote Tales Storytelling event purchase crafts from a repurposed gumball machine, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Red Mountain Elementary school students make crafts that will be placed inside a repurposed gumball machine, Ivins, Utah, date unspecified | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Red Mountain Elementary school students make crafts that will be placed inside a repurposed gumball machine, Ivins, Utah, date unspecified | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Red Mountain Elementary school students make crafts that will be placed inside a repurposed gumball machine, Ivins, Utah, date unspecified | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Red Mountain Elementary school students make crafts that will be placed inside a repurposed gumball machine, Ivins, Utah, date unspecified | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Attendees enjoy the pre-party at the Coyote Tales Storytelling event that unveiled a repurposed gumball machine with student crafts, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Attendees of a sold out show at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta wait for the repurposed gumball machine to be revealed, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Attendees of a sold out show at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta wait for the repurposed gumball machine to be revealed, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Victoria Topham, the founder of Coyote Tales Storytelling, unveils a gumball machine filled with elementary student crafts, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Victoria Topham, the founder of Coyote Tales Storytelling, unveils a gumball machine filled with elementary student crafts, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Victoria Topham, the founder of Coyote Tales Storytelling, unveils a gumball machine filled with elementary student crafts, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by Alan Holben Photography courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Attendees of the outdoor Coyote Tales Storytelling event enjoy the show, location and date unspecified | Photo by George Kalantzes courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
A band plays at an outdoor Coyote Tales Storytelling event, location and date unspecified | Photo by George Kalantzes courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
Attendees of the outdoor Coyote Tales Storytelling event enjoy the show, location and date unspecified | Photo by George Kalantzes courtesy of Victoria Topham, St. George News
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