What do math lectures have to do with living off the grid in the Ozarks? For Sarah Moore Chyrchel, math and mountains are key players in her recent productions.

Creating video course materials for mathematics faculty is Chyrchel's most recent project as faculty multimedia liaison at the Faculty Technology Center. But when she's not working one-on-one with faculty creating multimedia, Chyrchel produces her own films.

Chyrchel was recently recognized in the 2013 NATAS Mid-America Student Achievement Awards for her documentary film Witch Hazel Advent, The Story of an Ozark Poet. The documentary follows the life of John Rule, Chyrchel's grandfather, a poet and peace activist living off the grid in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Throughout the film, Rule's poetry provides depth and insight into his unique lifestyle and the natural world where he lives.

Sarah has been making films for over a decade. She took classes at the Film Arts Foundation in San Francisco, where she learned experimental techniques, shooting on Super 8 and 16mm film. After producing several short experimental films, she entered the Walter J. Lemke department of journalism at the University of Arkansas. In 2009, Chyrchel was an Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship recipient. Chyrchel completed her master's degree in journalism with an emphasis in documentary filmmaking, with Witch Hazel Advent as her thesis project, in 2012.

Watch the Witch Hazel Advent trailer. Examples of Chyrchel's work with the Faculty Technology Center are available at the IT Services video page. Chyrchel can be contacted at skm01@uark.edu.