Storyteller Mike Miller-Sammy The Story Chair-Artist Alyssa Pabst
(Columbia, SC) - Would you like to sit in a chair that can inspire a story? The State Museum now has that
special chair and that chair's name is Sammy!
On January 11, 2003 Storyteller Mike Miller, from Charleston, SC, donated the museum's storytelling chair
and told the story of "Sammy the Story Chair" at the Stringer Discovery Center. The chair was designed by
Storyteller Mike Miller and painted by over 14 young people from elementary school to college.
The primary artist was a freshman from Charleston County School of the Arts, Alyssa Pabst.
The purpose of this chair is to promote the power of storytelling in our communities,
especially among our youth.
"South Carolina has a rich heritage of storytelling and in recent years there has been a decline in this
tradition." revealed Storyteller Mike Miller. "Many storytelling groups, such as the National Storytelling
Network, the Southern Order of Storytellers and the recently formed, South Carolina Storytelling Network,
have taken on the challenge of promoting the power of storytelling."
Mike Miller, known as a "Full Contact" Storyteller & Professional Silly Person has been on the road
since 1996 transforming audiences with unique, energetic, and fun business and family storytelling programs.
From statewide festivals to radio, and TV stations across the nation, Mike has entertained preschoolers to
CEO's, and all kinds of groups in between.
Mike encourages the art of storytelling by offering free stories, storytelling articles and a free newsletter called
"The Storyteller" at his web site: www.greatstoryteller.com.
Visitors will have a chance to view and sit in the chair at The State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information,
call (803) 898-4952 or visit the museum's web site at www.museum.state.sc.us