Drums, shakers, and drum beaters were created with the help of Native American Grey Wolf, which provided Shama house with kits containing cedar, hides, feathers, fur, beads and horsetail hair. Contributed Photo

Culture is a tough bird to pin down, and I’m talking turkey here. Is it art? Is it heritage? When we celebrate Thanksgiving next Thursday, 300 million U.S. citizens will share a uniquely American cultural event.

But what, exactly, is culture?

Culture is where people live, and how that place impacts what they eat. Caribou in Alaska, poi in Polynesia — you get the picture. Culture includes the ways that people communicate. Culture is a mutually agreed upon set of taboos, as well as unique celebrations.

Culture is a life-size statue of Steve Prefontaine, carved with a chainsaw from a single log.

Culture is a study of Sevenmile Creek: its sands, insects, grasses, fish.

Culture is the restoration of a pioneer mining camp, sparking questions about the past and feeding answers to the future.

In 2001, Oregon created a way to explore and expand culture. It’s called the Oregon Cultural Trust, and next year it will send a check for $10,472 to Coos County. In April, the Coos County Cultural Coalition will distribute that check, along with donations already received, to people who want to create culture. Or promote culture. Or identify, display, preserve, or improve access to culture. This has been the work of the Coos County Cultural Coalition since 2005. Last year, $11,083 was awarded and county residents found themselves on the receiving end of colorful brochures, live concerts, community workshops and ongoing research. It was a good year for grant applications: balanced, and with a tight focus on Coos County.

It can be even better next year. This land of water and trees, dunes and winds has attracted a certain kind of resident. The area seems to breed independence and reward self-sufficiency — two essential components of art, and a strong basis for culture.

Last year, the Coalition funded a drum workshop for the members of Shama House. Director Catherine Pennington reports that the experience was “spectacular.” Twenty-five members of Shama House (a place of employment and empowerment for people living with mental illness) partnered together to build and decorate 10, 15-inch drums with drum beaters.

“If I could, I’d rewrite that grant again,” Pennington said. “We’ve looked into building flutes ... Most who participated initially stated that they were not artistic. Yet, everyone really loved the drum work. If they could, they’d just keep building them.”

And why shouldn’t they? Here in Coos County we have Rhythm Village, a gifted and active African drum and dance troupe. Deborah McAndrew uses rhythm in her Circle Time Music classes for very young children — would she be interested in acquiring some drums or shakers?  Is there someone out there who’d like to develop a Coos Drumming Consortium? Maintain a calendar of drumming events; book workshops; build drums for outreach with performances at assisted living residences and local schools? Request an interface between local drummers and next summer’s Oregon Coast Music Festival?

This sounds like a grant application to me. Next week when we tuck into our turkey, let’s ponder the nature of culture. There’s money for those who make art in Coos County. And funds for the identification of heritage. And support for the study of our land.

Let’s get to it. Pass the gravy, please.

Teri Albert reviews art and artists for The World. She can be reached at malbert3@verizon.net.