Our goal from the outset with facilitating and hosting Beyond the Clock was to create connections for rural, place-based cultural workers and artists - regardless of location or physical boundaries - that help them sustain work that often feels physically, socially and emotionally isolating. Our perspective is that rural arts and culture workers often oscillate between the need to belong in their community (to be part of the culture of that place) and the need to intentionally not belong and lead the way in embracing new culture, values and attitudes. Operating in this space requires vulnerability, courage, discomfort, self love, and grace. We invite and model these qualities and approaches when we gather this community virtually. Our objective is to curate and offer a space that gives sustenance to rural practitioners so they can remain in their communities as bridge sitters and can continue to lead rural communities forward towards vibrancy, equity, beauty and love - embracing all that is good from our past with all that we want to become.
The collective gatherings have proven to help practitioners process and express their feelings, share their voice, generate ideas, and solicit breakthroughs for the challenges we face in day-to-day practice of advancing missions and contributing as a vital, valued community member. Hear more from the hosts of Beyond the Clock in this short video created by the Rural Assembly and check out our Beyond the Clock Blog for deeper dive interviews with a number of our featured guests.
About the 2025 Beyond the Clock resident Artist: eliza blue
Eliza Blue is a writer, folk musician, and rancher living on the short grass prairie of western Dakota. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, and NPR’s ‘All Songs Considered.’ 19 different print publications carry her weekly column about life on the prairie, and she has written and produced seasonal audio ‘postcards’ from her ranch for South Dakota Public Broadcasting and Prairie Public Radio.
Her first book, Accidental Rancher, was chosen as the Siouxland One Book 2023. Her second book, Little Pasture on the Prairie, was released by the South Dakota Historical Society Press in June 2024. Eliza hosted and produced a Midwest Emmy-nominated show celebrating rural art and culture for PBS called ‘Wish You Were Here with Eliza Blue’ for three seasons, and she is the founder and director of the Kithship Collective, an organization devoted to innovative, ecosystem-specific storytelling.
Learn more about Eliza Blue at: www.elizablue.net