AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN - Volume 24, Spring 2007
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AFS
P UBLIC P ROGRAMS B ULLETIN
Volume 24, Spring 2007
PUBLIC PROGRAMS SECTION OF THE AMERICAN FOLKLORE SOCIETY
Published by the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at
Western Kentucky University
AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Section Members:
The 2007 Public Programs Bulletin includes thirty-four program reports, a slight decline
from last year, but still a substantial overview of public folklore activities in the United
States during 2006-2007. The Bulletin has retained more-or-less the same format since it
came to Western Kentucky University in 1998 (although it “went electronic” in 2001);
any suggestions for changes or improvements are always appreciated.
As always, the success of the Bulletin depends on time and effort of folklorists and others
who contribute to it. I would like to thank Jonathan Philpot, Drucilla Belcher, Michael
Ann Williams, Tim Lloyd, Brent Bjorkman, Sue Eleuterio, Christina Barr, Mike Luster,
Jens Lund and all contributors for help with the Bulletin.
The deadline for the 2008 Bulletin will be February 15, 2008. We will post notices as
the date approaches. In addition to program reports and tributes to departed colleagues,
we welcome short articles, critiques, manifestos, or commentaries on current issues.
The Bulletin will continue to be published in both hard copy and electronic formats.
This year, there were some good-natured comments that the call for Bulletin
contributions was not distributed widely enough. We will try to post the 2008
announcement in a wider variety of places, but would also appreciate it if public program
section members and others who receive the announcement could help to publicize it.
Any suggestions on ways to solicit more contributors to the Bulletin would be
appreciated.
Contributions to future issues can be e-mailed, mailed on a flash card or CD, or mailed as
hard copies. Photos are welcome and can be sent in electronic or hard copy format, or
downloaded from the web. We prefer photos to be sent separately, not as part of your
text; don’t forget captions and credits. Be warned that unusually large photo files are
sometimes bounced back by our server.
You can contact me at: Tim Evans, Dept. of Folk Studies and Anthropology, Western
Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd. #61029, Bowling Green, KY 42101-
1029.
Email: Tim.Evans@wku.edu. Phone: (270) 745-5897. Fax: (270) 745-6889. Web:
http://www.wku.edu/fsa.
Tim Evans, Western Kentucky University
The electronic version of this Bulletin is available at
http://afsnet.org/sections/public/ppbulletin.cfm.
Cover Photo: Cambodian court dancer Somaly Hay dances at the opening of the
Weavings of War exhibit. Submitted by Lynne Williamson.
CONTENTS
Letter From the Editor…………………...…………………………………..1
1
AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
Conveners’
Report……………………………………………...…………….3
Regional Reports
Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern
Cultures….…………...…………..6
Mountain West Center for Regional
Studies…………………………….…….7
Southern Arts
Federation………………………………………………….….8
State Agency Reports
ARKANSAS………………...…………………………………………………………….1
1
CONNECTICUT……………………………………………………………………..…..1
2
FLORIDA…………………………………………………………………………….…..1
6
GEORGIA……...……………………..………………………………………………….17
IDAHO…………………………………………………………………………………...20
IOWA…………………………………………………………………….....…………….2
2KENTUCKY……………....……………………………………………………………...
23
LOUISIANA…......................................................................................................................
.............29
MAINE…..............................................................................................................................
..............32
MASSACHUSETTS.............................................................................................................
.........…33
MICHIGAN….......................................................................................................................
.............34
MISSISSIPPI….....................................................................................................................
..............42
MISSOURI…........................................................................................................................
..............44
NEBRASKA..........................................................................................................................
.........…45
NEVADA…...........................................................................................................................
.............47
NEW
JERSEY...............................................................................................................................
….50
NEW
YORK...................................................................................................................................
…52
OREGON…...........................................................................................................................
............55
PENNSYLVANIA.................................................................................................................
.....…..57
2
AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
SOUTH
DAKOTA….......................................................................................................................60
UTAH…................................................................................................................................
...............60
WASHINGTON…................................................................................................................
............68
WEST
VIRGINIA….........................................................................................................................
78
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AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
CONVENERS’ REPORT
AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS SECTION 9/05-8/06 expenses: $2,462.00 (Bulletin,
CO-CONVENERS’ REPORT awards)
8/31/06 balance: $18,037.99
Christina Barr, Mike Luster, Section Co- Note: Administrative fees from AFS for
conveners 2005 still need to be deducted
AFS Public Programs Section Annual Report from AFS:
Meeting Report Sue and Peter reported that the Public
Friday, October 20, 2006. Sector Documentation project has been
extended and will be completed by
The AFS Public Programs Section spring, 2007.
Annual Meeting held its annual meeting
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, Committees: Reports and New
October 20th. Appointments
It was noted that each committee needs
Co-Conveners Peter Bartis and Sue three members, with one member
Eleuterio welcomed everyone and remaining on to serve as the new chair.
nominated Christina Barr and Mike
Luster as new Section Conveners for a 2006 Program Committee: Chair
3-year term. They were ratified by a Alysia McClain, Ross Fuqua and Carol
voice vote. Christina was presented with Spellman.
a gavel to assist her in keeping order 2007 Program Committee: Chair
during rowdy discussions and to thank Alysia McClain, Ross Fuqua, Carol
her for her dedicated service in Spellman, Steve Kidd
managing the PPS Auction.
2006 Archie Green Student Travel
Awards Award Committee: Co-Chairs, Tamara
Christina Barr, Botkin Committee Kubacki and Betty Belanus
member, introduced Elaine Thatcher, 2007 Archie Green Student Travel
this year’s Botkin Award Recipient. Award Committee will be co-chaired
Tamara Kubacki, Co-chair of the Archie with the Graduate Student Section.
Green Committee, introduced this year’s Chair Tamara Kubacki, Betty Belanus,
Archie Green Student Travel Award Amy Mills (Amy@nwfolklife.org), Greg
Recipients: Susan Pepper, Appalachian Hansen (Ghansen@Astate.edu)
State University and Lori Walkington,
Cal State San Marcos 2006 Botkin Prize Committee: Chair
Gwen Meister, Christina Barr and Tim
Treasury Report Evans
The Section’s balance as of 9/1/06: 2007 Botkin Prize Committee: Chair
$17,105.00. Tim Evans, Christina Barr, Jens Lund,
9/05-8/06 revenue: $3,394.99 and Elaine Thatcher
(memberships, auction).
Please Note: The 2005 Auction proceeds 2006 Auction Committee: Chair
of $1,842.00 were donated to the Christina Barr, Deb Bailey, Julie
Southern Arts Federation to benefit Throckmorton, Terry Brewer
artists and arts organizations in 2007 Auction Committee: Chairs:
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, Alysia McClain, Julie Throckmorton
which were affected by Hurricanes Meunier
Katrina and Rita. Members: Sue Eleuterio, Meg Glaser,
Debbie Fant, Tamara Kubacki, Craig
Miller
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AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
Barry and the folks at the NEA
Independent Folklorist Travel Stipend encourage everyone to celebrate the
Award - Committee Members: Riki National Heritage winners in 2007
Saltzman, Carol Edison, Elinor Levy, public programming. All grants will be
Deb Bailey and Jens Lund. It was done via electronic filing in 2007. State
moved to transfer administration of this arts agencies may be able to help
award to the Independent Folklorist applicants.
Section. The motion was approved.
Travel stipends will be $500. American Folklife Center: David
Taylor reports that Story Corps is going
2007 Independent Folklorist Travel strong and has generated many new
Committee: Sue Eleuterio, Laura collections. The AFC is working on a
Marcus, Jens Lund film series on WWI with Ken Burns that
is connected with the Veterans Oral
Reports from National Organizations: History Project. They are also piloting a
radio series on XM radio with Bob
Smithsonian Institution Center for Edwards using collections from the
Folklife and Cultural Heritage: Center. The 2007 symposium will be a
Richard Kurin reported that the budget tribute to the Seeger family. There are
was flat this year; the Smithsonian lost three new Trustees for the Center: Bill
1,500 content positions. The Center for Ivey, Charlie Seeman and Kurt
Folklife and Cultural heritage is working Dewhurst.
on more collaborations. The 2007
Festival will focus on “Roots of New Business
Virginia” and the Mekong River.
Folkways Records had its best year ever Maida Owens presented on folk culture
with 4.2 million in sales and several at the National Main Street Conference.
Grammy nominations. She recommended that folklorists
present annually at this conference. She
Fund for Folk Culture: Betsy Peterson recommended creating a template for
reported that the FFC has moved to folklorists to use for presenting at
Austin, Texas. The FFC has an artist conferences.
support program with fellowships of
$5,000 that they plan to make nationally The suggestion was made that the
available this year. The FFC’s new section pay for conference attendance.
contact information can be found in the Stipends for travel were discussed.
directory in the back of this Bulletin. Barry Bergey pointed out that TAG
money can be used for conference
National Endowment for the Arts: attendance. It was pointed out that
Barry Bergey reported that 2007 is the section table fees include two free
25th Anniversary of the National registrations for AFS. A
Heritage Fellowships. Esther Martinez, recommendation to pay the registration
a Fellowship winner, was killed in an fee for the auction coordinator was
auto accident returning home from DC. approved.
Barry gave a eulogy at her funeral—she
had tremendous support and respect in There was a motion to create a Public
her community. Program Section listserve. It was
approved.
Three other Fellowship winners passed
away in 2006—Henry Townsend, Etta The 2006 Programs committee
Baker sponsored several forums and two
and Don Walser. It gives us notice of professional development sessions. Two
how fragile our field can be. of our sessions were in the same time
slot. In the future, the program
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AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
committee and host committee should
try to avoid this.
The PPS Auction followed the meeting.
6
AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
REGIONAL
THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF Midwestern folklorists, but also for a
UPPER MIDWESTERN CULTURES national audience. Our archival work
continues through 2007 with funding
Ruth Olsen from the National Endowment for the
Arts. Seasoned archivist Karen J.
The Center for the Study of Upper Baumann will be furthering Nicki’s
Midwestern Cultures (CSUMC) has work, working with CSUMC cluster
continued its important work in 2006, faculty member Janet Gilmore to loft
despite budget cuts and staff losses. more guides for the region’s folk arts
and folklife project collections and
We were very sorry to lose two staff designing a relationship with University
members this year. Nicole Saylor, our of Wisconsin-Madison’s University
archivist, has moved to Iowa. Graduate Archives to enhance the storage,
student Jocelyne Bodden, our newsletter preservation, and access of various
editor, finished her library degree and regional collections.
found employment in Montana. We
certainly miss these two wonderful co- With support from the Wisconsin
workers. One other staffing change for Humanities Council, CSUMC director
us is that Jim Leary has temporarily been Joe Salmons led a successful outreach
relieved of his co-directorship of project on “Wisconsin Englishes,” an
CSUMC. As director of UW’s Folklore exploration of the varieties of English
Program, among many other spoken in the state, which included the
responsibilities, Jim deserved a much- development of a website:
needed break. The stalwart Joe Salmons http://csumc.wisc.edu:16080/wep/. The
continues as CSUMC’s director. project will be expanded this summer
and fall with talks around the state and
Nonetheless, their work continues! Over additional web resources, again with
the past year, Nicole Saylor worked on a help from the Wisconsin Humanities
survey funded through the National Council.
Historical Publications and Records
Commission (NHPRC). Saylor Associate director Ruth Olson, with
corresponded with and traveled to Anne Pryor and Debbie Kmetz of the
repository sites throughout the Upper Wisconsin Arts Board, received funding
Midwest, in an effort to identify and from the UW Foundation’s Ira and Ineva
describe multi-format ethnographic Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea
materials documenting traditional Endowment for “Here at Home: A
culture in six states (Illinois, Iowa, Cultural Tour for K-12 Teachers.” Our
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and first cultural tour around the state lasted
Wisconsin). Saylor produced a detailed eight days and proved a roaring success.
final report, which is currently Our second tour takes place this June.
undergoing a final editing before it is
made available through the CSUMC
website and the Archival Resources in Currently, in a collaboration with the
Wisconsin website, where Saylor helped Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts
loft CSUMC’s Public Folk Arts and and Letters, Ruth Olson is working on a
Folklife Projects of the Upper Midwest new art exhibition, “Wisconsin’s People
collection guides in Spring 2006 (see on the Land,” of paintings and
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI photographs of families and individuals
Archives.CSUMC). We think these will involved with agriculture in the state.
be tremendous resources not only for The exhibition will feature text panels of
interviews with the artists and the people
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AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
represented in the art, and will run from when I first started in this business. As a
April 3 through May 20. Some great very green state folk arts coordinator, I
programming will accompany the fiercely defended my folk arts territory
exhibition, including a panel on native from all possible infringements. Of
foodways with Rhonda Funmaker (Ho course it was a different time—folk arts
Chunk) and Paul Smith (Oneida) during weren’t as entrenched in the state arts
a conference on rural life to be held in scene as they are now—and I also had a
May. director who saw the NEA grant that
brought me there as a ticket to an
Two Folklore graduate students have additional staff person, folk arts be
great projects featured on the web: damned. I resisted with all my might.
Hilary Virtanen’s virtual exhibit “Heikki
Lunta: Not Just Talking About the Today, working in an academic setting
Weather: Tradition, Social Change and but with a public programming mission,
Heikki Lunta” can be found on I embrace the opportunity to explore
CSUMC’s Web site at culture through many lenses. But the
http://csumc.wisc.edu/exhibit/HeikkiLun situation is much better than it was back
ta/index.htm. Carrie Roy’s project “Folk in that first job. For one thing, I’m the
Figures: A Survey of Norwegian and boss now, and I can set the direction for
Norwegian-American Artifacts” can be the center and include a large dose of
found in the University of Wisconsin folkloristic approaches in much of what
Digital Collections at we do. In addition, the university
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Ar atmosphere encourages exploration and
ts.FolkFigures. Take a look at their expansion. Arts councils always felt too
work! restrictive for my wide-ranging interests
and desire to do more projects than
administration.
Ruth Olson, Associate Director
901 University Bay Drive However, my public administration
Madison, WI 53705 background has proven to be beneficial
TEL: 608/262-8180 to the university—I have been able to
FAX: 608/265-4640 advise students on career options, teach
reolson3@wisc.edu grant writing workshops and oral history
www.wisc.edu/csumc workshops, and provide a different
perspective for faculty members working
on various types of research.
I don’t know how other public folklorists
working in universities feel, but I find it
MOUNTAIN WEST CENTER FOR to be a great fit for me and my interests.
REGIONAL STUDIES I wouldn’t be happy in a traditional
academic position, but the public within
Utah State University the academic works well. Here’s a short
Elaine Thatcher run-down of what we have been doing.
The Joys of Working in Multiple The Mountain West Songfest &
Disciplines: As director of a university Symposium, taking place every two
humanities center, I find myself working years, continues to be our biggest
across disciplines more often than not. It project. For 2006, we presented a
has proved to be a very hospitable number of Native American artists from
climate for me, and the position I take Idaho, Utah, and Arizona, along with
now in regard to how I spend my time is commissioning and premiering a new
the complete opposite of the one I took song cycle written about the Zion
National Park area and its history by
8
AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
Utah composer Phillip Bimstein. The SOUTHERN ARTS FEDERATION
Songfest provides an opportunity to
connect the dots between traditional arts, Teresa Hollingsworth
fine arts, popular arts and place, since
we try to place our main focus on the Cultural Connections
places and groups living in the Interior SAF is pleased to present the first United
West. The next Songfest, in 2008, will States tour of Grupo Siquisiri, a son
have a theme of Songs of Faith and jarocho ensemble from Tlacotalpan,
Healing. Veracruz, Mexico, April 25-May 8,
2007. The tour is in conjunction with
We are partnering with other NEA’s Cultural Connections project.
departments in two major oral history The five-piece ensemble and dancers
projects: one on Latinos in this region, will be accompanied by
and the other on land policy and use. In ethnomusicologist, Rafael Figueroa
the first, we will be working with a Hernández. The five-state tour includes
Latino planning committee and training performances and educational
community members to interview their programming as follows: University of
neighbors. This project is the brainchild West Alabama (Livingston, AL), Ballet
of folklorist/ archivist Randy Williams. & Theatre Arts Performing Arts
The second project will involve Companies Theatre (Gilbertown, AL),
interviewing many of the important Global Education Center (Nashville,
scientists from USU and other TN), Clayton County Performing Arts
universities who have influenced land Center (Jonesboro, GA), Newberry
and water use policy over the last 50 Opera House (Newberry, SC),
years. We will also be talking with University of South Carolina (Columbia,
scientists who took their understanding SC), Rialto Center for the Performing
of the arid West to third world nations Arts (Atlanta, GA) and Beaufort County
through programs like USAID and the Arts Council (Washington, NC).
World Bank; current land managers; and
land users like snowmobilers, hikers, Folklorists in the South Retreat
picnickers, and more. We are partnering celebrates 20th anniversary
with Special Collections and Archives To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
and the Department of Environment and annual Folklorists in the South Retreat,
Society on this project. we will gather at the Palm Key Nature
Getaway in Ridgeland, SC, April 20-22,
We also continue to administer 2007. This year’s theme, Tradition in a
scholarships, internships, a faculty Contemporary World, will include
fellowship, teachers’ workshops, an presentations by Scheri Smith,
annual book award, and other projects. Neighborhood Reporter for the
These are important, but the special Louisville Courier-Journal; Alejandro
projects like the Songfest and the oral Baez, Multimedia Developer for ETV;
histories are what keep me interested in David Dombrosky, SAF Program
coming to work each day and enjoying Director for Contemporary Arts & New
what I do. Initiatives; and a roundtable discussion
with South Carolina traditional artists
Elaine Thatcher Beckee Garris (Catawba potter), Mary
Utah State University Graham Grant (Gullah basketmaker),
0735 Old Main Hill and Gale McKinley (white oak &
Logan, UT 84322-0735 fishtrap basketmaker) lead by Stephen
(435) 797-0299 Criswell from the University of South
fax: (435) 797-3899 Carolina-Lancaster. On Saturday
elaine@hass.usu.edu evening, legendary Piedmont Blues
artist, Drink Small, will perform.
9AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
been mined to develop the exhibit. The
NEA American Masterpieces Initiative exhibit features an audio component,
SAF is proud to announce the creation allowing museum visitors to experience
and tour of a new exhibit through music samples from the featured artists.
American Masterpieces, an initiative Folklorist and ethnomusicologist Laurie
of the NEA. Tradition/Innovation: Sommers serves as the exhibit curator.
American Masterpieces of Southern Rhythm & Roots premiers at the Dixie
Craft & Traditional Art will serve as a Carter Center for the Performing Arts,
celebration of the contributions of June 14 in Huntington, TN.
master craftspeople and traditional
artists in the South. Steeped in Traditional Arts Advisory Committee
tradition and continuity, both of these Al Head, Executive Director of the
art forms have served as an important Alabama State Council on the Arts, is
bridge to the region's cultural history serving as our committee chair.
and a conduit for economic Committee members include Bob Gates
development. Works by 60 traditional (Kentucky Folklife Program), Susan
artists and contemporary craftspeople Roach (Louisiana Regional Folklife
from SAF’s nine partner states Program/Louisiana Tech University),
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Bob Stone (Florida Folklife
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Program). Stephen Criswell (University
North Carolina, South Carolina and of South Carolina-Lancaster), Adrienn
Tennessee) will be accompanied by a Mendonca (Georgia Folklife Program)
rich array of artist interviews, stories, and Sally Peterson (North Carolina
and background information on the Folklife Program) were recently
master artists and their process. appointed to the committee for three-
Project curators are Jean McLaughlin year terms.
and Kathleen Mundell, and education
curators Martin Rollins and Judy Teresa Hollingsworth
Sizemore. The exhibit will premiere at Program Director, Traditional Arts &
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art Accessibility
in New Orleans, LA, then tour to one Southern Arts Federation
museum in each of SAF's other 1800 Peachtree St., NW
partner states between January 2008 Suite 808
and December, 2009. Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 874-7244 x. 14
New Southern music exhibit thollingsworth@southarts.org
Rhythm & Roots, Southern Music www.southarts.org
Traditions is the first SAF exhibit to
feature music and musicians from the
South, one of the region’s most
recognized and important forms of
heritage and culture. Utilizing text
panels, artifacts, fieldwork and historic
photographs, and sound recordings (both
fieldwork and commercial recordings),
the exhibit provides context for music
traditions and their relationship to
community and a deeper understanding
of the historical, social, ethnic, religious
and artistic connections and evolutions
that have generated and kept diverse
musical traditions alive. Numerous
folklorists and folklife collections have
10AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
STATES
A RKANSAS development of a statewide cultural
resources database.
ARKANSAS FOLKLIFE PROGRAM There is a long history of research and
presentation of folklore in Arkansas. In
Mike Luster creating the new position, the Arkansas
Folklife Program continues to build on
The Arkansas Folklife Program at research completed on topics as diverse
Arkansas State University continues to as old-time and bluegrass music, blues,
serve the people of Arkansas through local and personal narratives, foodways,
funding support from the National and other folk arts.
Endowment for the Arts.
The results of research on the state's
The new statewide folklife program, a traditions and tradition-bearers will be
collaboration with the Arkansas Arts presented to the public through
Council, began in 2005. Initial efforts educational programs, media projects,
focused on the Delta region of eastern concerts, the Delta Blues Symposium,
Arkansas and on establishing a network and other events coordinated by ASU
of statewide individuals and and the Arkansas Arts Council.
organizations. The focus for the current
year is on the Ozarks region and on the
11AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
I have established an internet discussion encourage the creation of a folklife
list, ArkFolkNet interpreter position at the Ozark Folk
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArkFolk Center and to examine their collections.
Net/) to enable those interested in
Arkansas traditions to share information
and a companion list and organization
for the Coalition for Ozark Living
Traditions (COLT). We have also
nominated three outstanding Arkansas
traditional artists for the National
Heritage Fellowship, a Pine Bluff blues
musician CeDell Davis, Mountain View
potter, basketmaker, and ballad singer
Sheryl Irvine, and Newport rockabilly
legend Sonny Burgess. Arkansas has not
had one of its citizens honored with the
award since 1985.
I have also begun working to create new
programming for the Delta Blues
Symposium in 2006 including a
performance of Latino musicians from
the Delta and a Blues-in-the-Schools
program. The Blues-in-the-Schools
program will continue for the 2007 Delta
Blues Symposium and will be offered
over the course of two days to students Grupo de Danza, photo by Mike Luster
in West Memphis. The program is being
coordinated by ASU Heritage Studies I am also conducting a series of
doctoral student Simon Hoskins. interviews with Arkansas musicians and
other artists to both further that
Much of my work involves traveling to understanding and to enhance the
inform others about ASU, including its archives at Arkansas State University.
Heritage Studies program, as well as the
Arkansas Folklife Program. In October, I For more details about the Arkansas
organized and spoke at the Talking Folklife Program or to suggest leads or
Ozarks Symposium at Black River topics, please contact me at 417-938-
Technical College in Pocahontas, and 4633 or via email at Luster@aol.com.
worked with that community on the To subscribe to “ArkFolkNet” send an
development and presentation of their email message to ArkFolkNet-
Sesquicentennial celebration. With subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Sonny Burgess and the Pacers, I
presented a pair of Homegrown Concerts J. Michael Luster, PhD
at the Library of Congress and the Arkansas State University
Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in PO Box 102
October. I have also traveled to speak at Mammoth Spring, AR 72554
the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival
in Helena, the Searcy Co. Historical
Society, the Arkansas Historical
Association, and the Missouri Folklore
Society, to name a few. I have also
worked with the Office of State Parks to
present a heritage and history workshop
to teachers of Mammoth Spring, and to
12AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
C ONNECTICUT into each other’s activities and initiatives
as well. For instance, both Angel Ortiz
and Lydia Perez (a fine bomba dancer)
CONNECTICUT CULTURAL have been recommended for the
HERITAGE ARTS PROGRAM/ Massachusetts Cultural Council’s
INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY Explorations in Puerto Rican Culture
project for educators in the Springfield
RESEARCH (ICR) Public Schools. The public presentations
that we require each team to give have
ranged from huge events such as the
Lynne Williamson Lowell Folklife Festival, to intimate
family gatherings. I particularly
Writing up our activities each year for remember one of these, where master
this newsletter has almost become an Hmong singer, shaman, and cultural
annual report! Here are some highlights leader Pa Koua Vang from RI supervised
of 2006: his CT student Peter Xiong in the
wedding ceremony. Pa Koua Vang
The Southern New England passed away in February 2007, a great
Traditional Arts Apprenticeship loss to all of us.
Program continues its very successful
collaboration with the Folk Arts 2008 will mark the tenth year of these
programs of the Rhode Island State regional apprenticeships, and we will
Council on the Arts and the celebrate with a festival!
Massachusetts Cultural Council. In Year
nine, six master artists are teaching their The Laotian Traditional Arts After-
skills to apprentices (master artists in School Project – We have been able to
bold): stretch the NEA grant for the project to a
* Mai See Her (CT)/Mai Xiong (CT) second year, due to the enthusiasm of the
and Mai Yang (MA) – Hmong artist-educators and the commitment of
embroidery Lao Saturday School in New Britain.
* Joao Monteiro (RI)/Estrellas Dance Students are loving the classes in lam
Group (CT) – Cape Verdean music and singing, traditional dance, and even the
dance difficult khene playing. New dance
* Daniel Boucher (RI)/Nate Ouellette teacher Samantha Boupha has brought in
(CT) – Franco-American fiddling a new energy to the school as well as her
* Donna Hébert (MA)/Colette students from East Hartford, and master
Fournier (RI) - Franco-American khene player Boualy Rathsombath has
fiddling found an audience for a skill he thought
* Lorraine Hammond (MA)/Rachel was not appreciated any more. Teachers
Goss (CT) – Yankee work songs and and students have performed at several
ballads venues, including ICR’s Weavings of
* Angel Ortiz (MA))/Lydia Perez (RI) War events, Lao New Year celebrations
– Puerto Rican vejigante masks in 2006 and 2007, and they will visit the
Lao Buddhist Temple in western
I think Maggie Holtzberg and Wini Connecticut to participate in ceremonies
Lambrecht would agree that this there.
program has been a boon to each of the
states by locating new artists, bringing Connecticut Folk Art and Festivals
artists together, and providing Bus Tours - We formed a partnership
opportunities for them to teach and with Manchester Community College to
present their work across state lines. offer the second series of tours as a
The program encourages us to look continuing education course, and this has
throughout the region for artists that can proved to be a happy marriage with a
plug into the apprenticeship process and future, as the College is interested in
13AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
hosting more courses including our people; a fashion show of different tribal
community ethnography training and clan costumes; presentation of dance
workshops. The College sends out and song; and a community-prepared
65,000 brochures to residents of central feast with traditional foods. Hmong
Connecticut, helping to attract around leaders will speak to our group about the
twenty participants for each of three community’s history, and artists who
tours from that promotion. A core make the distinctive embroidered
audience is developing—older couples Hmong costumes will demonstrate and
who want interesting cultural sell their work.
experiences without having to drive, * 3/15/08 Franco-American
enter an unfamiliar community on their Traditions/Maple Sugar Festival - the
own, or organize food stops. I plan all tour will visit the Hebron Maple Sugar
the activities with artists and community Festival to learn how this New England
organizations (who are paid), provide the staple food is made and to meet local
tour-goers with a packet of background craftsmen, followed by a supper of beans
information, and arrange the traditional and ham and Franco fiddling at Chez
food – a central part of each tour. Ben, a popular Franco-American café in
Several of the day-trippers became part Manchester.
of the audience for our Weavings of War * 4/12/08 Eastern European Easter
events, and I bumped into some of them Traditions will visit the studio of
at a Tibetan exhibit they visited after internationally known iconographer
being on the Tibetan bus tour. Marek Czarnecki where he will discuss
his work and serve a Polish lunch.
Marek will accompany the tour to
Terryville’s St. Michael’s Church to
view its remarkable icon screen and
meet Father Paul Luniw, a master
Ukrainian pysanky artist.
* 6/14/08 Cape Verdean History,
Music and Dance - we will travel to the
recently reconstructed family chapel of
St. Anthony to hear about this historic
preservation project related to the history
of Cape Verdeans in southeastern
Laotian khene player Boualy Rathsombath
Connecticut. The festival supper will
shows the instrument to a bus tour participant.
feature Cape Verdean food and a
2006 completed tours, and tours performance by Estrellas, a local dance
proposed for 2007-2008 are these: group.
* 3/25/06 Tibetan thangka painters,
weavers, and musicians in Old Saybrook Weavings of War: Fabrics of Memory –
along with shopping at a community The focus of work during the second
store; then Tibetan lunch in Middletown half of 2006 was undoubtedly this
* 4/22/06 Finnish American Heritage powerful exhibit and the associated
Society, Canterbury: Finnish weaving programming we developed around it.
and cooking demonstrations and the Curated and circulated by folklorists
history of the historic Finn Hall from the Michigan State University
* 5/28/06 Laotian Water Festival at Museum, the Vermont Folklife Center,
the new Temple in Morris, then lunch City Lore in New York City, and
and a dance performance at a Hartford independent scholar Ariel Zeitlin Cooke,
Laotian restaurant the show highlights traditional textiles
* 11/17/07 Hmong New Year: made by women from a wide variety of
activities to include the ball toss, a ethnic groups who have experienced
courtship ritual game among young recent war, strife, or forced exile.
Included in the exhibit are arpilleras
14AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
from Chile and Peru, story cloths from between audience members and the
the Hmong people of Laos, embroideries women, who very bravely told their
from Viet Nam and South Africa, rugs difficult stories and answered questions.
from Afghanistan, and more. It is a most It was hard for them, I could see. The
powerful exhibit, gorgeous to look at but Hartford Advocate newspaper was in
horrific to contemplate. In planning attendance and wrote a feature story on
interpretive events, we wanted to involve the event and the women.
members of local communities whose
cultures are represented in the exhibit, to My work was changed by experience of
tell their stories of the events depicted, hosting Weavings of War, collaborating
because having heard them I knew that with the project team and doing new
public audiences would find them fieldwork with these communities and
compelling and educational. A dynamic, their artists. Some of them have been
diverse project team organized nine partners and friends for many years, but
events during the course of the exhibit: we formed stronger bonds, and I learned
* The opening reception featuring how to develop events and activities that
speakers from the project team, expressed people’s very personal
Cambodian court dancer Somaly Hay, histories but also communicated their
and Afghan, Laotian, and Peruvian food cultures to the public. It’s a delicate
* A marketplace, with Hmong, process when dealing with subjects like
Peruvian, and Ukrainian artists selling war, trauma, torture and profound loss. I
traditional art work; held in conjunction found that audiences are hungry to know
with Hartford Open Studios Weekend about these experiences from those who
* A forum on Narrative Arts and lived them, and there can be a
Healing that included panels discussing therapeutic effect in personal narration,
art as a healing strategy; personal but there is also a need not to push
narratives given by Chilean, Hmong, and speakers too far. The relationships of
Laotian artists using the textiles on trust that folklorists develop with artists
display; and a presentation by over time can sometimes mean that they
psychologist Anne Brodsky on her work do go beyond their comfort limits, when
with Afghan women. we ask too much of them. ICR has
* An Afghan dinner and discussion “given back” to the Bosnian women by
with the owners at Hartford’s Shish setting up a room here where they can
Kebab House of Afghanistan weave, since their rug looms are too big
* La Peña Chilena, an arpillera to be set up in their houses. They can
workshop for children with music, make some income, if they can make
dance, and food from local Chileans some rugs.
* A poetry reading and musical
evening with writer Marjorie Agosín
and local traditional musicians, held at
La Paloma Sabanera coffeehouse
* A Peruvian dinner at La Casona
Restaurant, with music and dance and a
talk by scholar Olga Gonzalez-
Castañeda who authored an essay in the
exhibit catalogue.
* A Southeast Asian Festival
showcasing Cambodian, Laotian, and
Hmong textile artists, musicians,
dancers, and food
* A Bosnian Evening with food and
demonstrations of weaving by some of
the 700 war widows living in Hartford.
This event became an intense discussion
15AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
in this venture, we still plan to develop a
series of training workshops to assist
folk artists who want to present their
work in school settings or public venues.
This very recent initiative suggested to
us by the Connecticut Commission on
Culture and Tourism would provide
much-needed support to traditional
artists, so we will continue to work with
the Commission’s new Education
Program Manager and aim for a Fall
2007 start.
Lynne Williamson
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts
Program
Harun Sardar showing a war rug to guests at his Institute for Community Research
family's Afghan restaurant during a Weavings of 2 Hartford Square West
War event Hartford CT 06106
860/278-2044 x 251
New Initiatives for 2006-2007: Lynne.Williamson@icrweb.org
www.incommunityresearch.org
ICR Conference – the entire
organization is deep into the planning for
ICR’s second international conference to
F LORIDA
be held in Hartford from June 7-9, 2007.
Crossroads II: Community-Based FLORIDA FOLKLIFE PROGRAM
Collaborative Research for Social
Justice will bring together researchers, Tina Bucuvalas, Bob Stone
community partners, artists, activists,
students, educators, and hopefully Florida Ranching Survey
folklorists! Conference tracks focus on Each year the Florida Folklife Program
the promise, pitfalls, and best practices conducts fieldwork on a topic in
of community-based collaborative Florida’s traditional culture, and this
research to address disparities and year the theme is cattle ranching. The
inequities in the arenas of health, first cattle in North America arrived in
education, artistic and cultural Florida in the early 16th century, and the
representation, development, and the state is home to 5 of the largest 10 beef
environment. We expect that producing ranches in the nation. Yet, due
presentations will take forms beyond the to the overwhelming attention devoted to
usual paper sessions, to include western ranching, few know about
conversations, workshops, story circles, Florida's unique traditions. FFP will
posters, and performances. I will be present demonstrations of ranching
organizing panels with artists and traditions in the Folklife Area at the
community partners, as well as a Florida Folk Festival in May 2007. In a
marketplace featuring local traditional special 2-year effort, the FFP will
artists. Please join us – it’s never too late continue researching ranching next year
to register! in anticipation of a focus on Florida and
Louisiana traditions at the National
New Folk Artist-in-Education Cowboy Poetry Gathering at the
Trainings – placed on the back burner Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nevada
due to the retirement of our main partner in January/February 2010. FFP will also
curate a travelling exhibition, which will
16AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
be produced by the Museum of Florida Jay Johns and cow dogs. Photo by Bob
History and open there in 2009. The Stone.
exhibition will subsequently be shown in
conjunction with the presentations at the Florida Folk Heritage Awards
Western Folklife Center. The Florida Department of State will
present three 2007 Florida Folk Heritage
FFP Receives NEA Folk Arts Awards for at the 2007 Florida Heritage
Infrastructure Grant Month Awards Presentation and
The Florida Folklife Program was Reception in Tallahassee. The award
awarded a $30,000 grant for 2006-2007 recognizes authenticity, excellence, and
from the National Endowment for the significance in traditional arts. The
Arts to continue its Statewide Outreach awards will be presented to Jean-Marie
Program—which includes the annual Denis, also known as Jan Mapou
fieldwork survey, Apprenticeship (Miami), Tomás E. Granado (Webster),
Program, Festival Outreach and Almann Ulysse (Miami). Mr. Denis
incorporating folklife into events such as is a highly respected advocate for
the Florida Folk Festival and Florida Haitian culture and language; Mr.
State Fair, the Music from the Sunshine Granado is an excellent Mexican
State CD project, and upgrading our American norteño accordion player; Mr.
website. Ulysse makes outstanding Haitian fè
koupé metal sculptures. The deadline
Folklife Apprenticeship Program for the 2006 Awards is September 15.
The Florida Folklife Apprenticeship
Program, funded in part by the National Music From the Sunshine State CD
Endowment for the Arts, provides an Project
opportunity for master folk artists to FFP is currently producing the Music
share their technical skills and cultural From the Sunshine State CD, which will
knowledge. The six teams for 2006- be drawn from the Florida Folklife
2007 include master artist Aida Program's highly successful MFSS radio
Etchegoyen/apprentice Aida Rodriguez series. The CD will present selections
(Puerto Rican bobbin lace), Stefanos from each of the eight program topics:
Goras/Konstantinos Maris (Greek Fiddling, Mexican , Old-Time and
nisiotika violin), Doris Graves/Harold Bluegrass, Pacific Island, Sacred, Blues,
Woodall (chair caning), Paul Cuban, and Caribbean musical genres.
Groff/Sarah Kelly (Irish concertina), The album will include a booklet
Margaret Horvath/Anna Balogh, Klara illuminating the artists and traditions
D’Andrea, Zita Horvath, Zsuzsanna presented through the recordings, many
Szikora (Hungarian embroidery), and of which have not been otherwise
Edward Keeney/Matt Berntson (Irish available to the general public. The
fiddling—Donegal style). The deadline MFSS CD Album presents a rich variety
for the 2007-2008 Apprenticeship of musical traditions from diverse
Program is May 15. cultural groups found throughout the
state from Key West to Pensacola.
Voices of Florida
Last year FFP distributed Voices of
Florida, an 8-part radio series of
community portraits with an emphasis
on folklife. Besides reaching an
estimated audience of 242,400 to date
over public and commercial radio
stations, the series continues to be
available through the websites of the
17AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
Florida Folklife Program, Folkvine, and 2006 brought us many reasons for cheer.
the Florida Humanities Council. We not only managed but also
significantly grew our “normal” grant-
making activities with the Traditional
Tina Bucuvalas, Bob Arts Apprenticeship grant and the
Stone Folklife Project grant. We created &
Florida Folklife Program finished two major projects, including a
Bureau of Historic statewide traditional arts database survey
Preservation and the organization of our long-
500 S. Bronough standing folklife and traditional arts
St. archive. We also applied for a Folk &
Tallahassee, FL 32399- Traditional Arts Infrastructure
0250 Component grant with our annual State
(850) 245-6333 or (800) 847- Partners application to the NEA
PAST (outcome TBA). Future plans include
(850) 245-6437 the creation of a Traditional Artists
fax Roster, conducting statewide meetings
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/preservation/fol and strategic planning for the TA
klife/ program, the creation of a folk &
tbucuvalas@dos.state.fl.u traditional arts statewide non-profit
s organization, and continued work with
mangoton@bellsouth.net the TA Archive.
SFY2007 Grantmaking: Georgia’s
G EORGIA state fiscal year runs from July 1st to
June 30th annually, and SFY2007 runs
from July 1, 2006 through June 30th,
GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE 2007. This is the first fiscal year in
ARTS which new management has been able to
grow the program, and the growth was
The Traditional Arts Program of the phenomenal.
Georgia Council for the Arts continues Traditional Arts Apprenticeships:
to grow and prosper after being revived The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship
in February of 2005 with the hiring of grant of the Georgia Council for the Arts
part-time folklorist Adrienn Mendonca. is funded in part by the National
Here’s her report: Endowment for the Arts, and ensures
Georgia’s living traditions remain
Well, it’s been a few years since I last vibrant, visible parts of community life
reported to you, and so much has by pairing qualified Master Artists with
happened since then. I missed the 2006 Apprentices to learn a folk or traditional
filing deadline, no surprise to me as it’s art form. Grant funds support the costs
been overwhelming to manage a of teaching, and the TAA grant is the
growing program on a part-time only GCA grant provided directly to
schedule of 20 hours per week; however, individual artists.
I am happy to say that we are well on
our way to a solid footing at the In SFY2007, GCA was proud to
agency’s program table. We have a announce that grant applications grew
strong Executive Director who has from a low of zero Traditional Arts
remained committed to funding and Apprenticeship (TAA) grant applications
growing the program, and we’re hoping in SFY2006 to 14 TAA grant
to make this position full-time at the applications in SFY2007. Of those 14
start of the next fiscal year in July of grant applications, seven apprenticeship
2007. Keep your fingers crossed! awards were made and include:
18AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
African American Hand Quilting, Atlanta Historical Society’s folk pottery
Marquetta Bell Johnson and apprentice festival entitled “Made from Mud,”
Rasheeda Parada Burston, Decatur, GA; Atlanta, GA: $7,500 in support of a one-
day folk pottery festival to include artist
African Folk Tales & Storytelling: demonstrations, exhibit and lectures—
J’Miah Nabawi and apprentice Lillian curated by Georgia State University
Grant-Baptiste, Savannah, GA; folklorist and professor John Burrison;
African (Nigerian) Talking Drum, Manga African Dance’s Osun Festival,
Adebisi Adeleke and apprentice Rita Atlanta, GA: $7,500 in support of an
Nimmons, Atlanta, GA; attempt to create authentic Yoruban
orisha costumes for an established
Blues Guitar, Mr. Roy Lee Johnson and event;
apprentice Frank Robinson, Jr., Atlanta,
GA; Reynoldstown Revitalization
Corporation’s African American
Kuchipudi—Indian dance, Sasikala Quiltmaking classes, Reynoldstown
Penumarthi and apprentice Reneeta neighborhood, Atlanta, GA: $5,000 in
Basu, Decatur, GA; support of ongoing community quilting
classes in an historically African
Gullah/Geechee sweetgrass basket American neighborhood, led by two
weaving: Herbert Jerome Dixon and well-known quilters, Mamie Highley and
apprentice Willis J. Hillery, Sapelo Pearl Walker, to help ensure a
Island, GA; community legacy remains intact with a
new generation of quilters;
West African Shentu and Kalangu,
Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt and apprentice Valdosta State University’s archiving
Allison Layne, Atlanta, GA. project, Valdosta, GA: $7,500 in support
of the archiving and digitization of
Folklife Projects: GCA also realized an folklorist & ethnomusicologist Laurie
improvement in the number and quality Sommer’s ten-plus year “South Georgia
of Folklife Project grant applications in Folklife Project,” which will culminate
SFY2007. The Folklife Project (FP) in a comprehensive website to include
grant is funded through a joint audio, visual and other folklife-related
partnership between the Georgia Council materials from this superb collection;
for the Arts and the Georgia Humanities
Council. Funds support the presentation, University of West Georgia’s Center for
documentation, and preservation of Public History, Carrollton, GA: $7,500
Georgia’s traditional arts. Funds from in support of the Center’s traditional
the grant are used for a variety of music programming with its “Regional
purposes, including festivals, concerts, Music Project,” and attendant archival
exhibits, cultural heritage tourism, projects & public programs put on by
resource inventories, documentary the Center, led by noted public historian
fieldwork projects, archiving, and Dr. Ann McCleary.
educational programs.
FP grant applications grew from a low of GCA Traditional Arts
two Folklife Project grant applications in Fieldwork & Database Survey:
SFY2006 to seven FP grant applications The Traditional Arts Database Survey
in SFY2007. Of those applications, five project grew out of a need for current
folklife project grants were made and contact information for both traditional
include: artists and the organizations that serve
them in Georgia. By 2005, GCA’s
traditional arts database was sorely
19AFS PUBLIC PROGRAMS BULLETIN SPRING 2007
outdated and in need of lots of attention certainly were not stored in humidity-
after five years of being shuffled and temperature-safe environments.
between non-Traditional Arts program
managers. Two separate and outdated finding aids
had not been updated in many years, and
We knew we needed to know who was did not include enough information to
out there and what they were doing, so make the finding aids relevant and
we began the process of creating an RFP accessible for researchers.
for contracted fieldworkers in late 2005.
$60,000 was allocated to a statewide Not so at the end of 2006, by which time
database survey to be conducted in the vast array of materials had been
Georgia’s 12 state Service Delivery organized, inventoried, catalogued, and
Regions (SDR’s) at a maximum cost of evaluated by independent contractor,
$5,000 per region. An RFP was issued folklorist and WKU graduate Julianne
in the last few months of 2005 and Carroll, who worked wonders with the
contract awards were made by April of miles of materials included in this 20
2006 to six contractors, including: Joel year old archival collection. A
Cordle, Fred Fussell, Caroline Herring, wonderfully detailed finding aid is now
Larry Morrisey, Tim Prizer, and Drs. available, as well as a full Executive
Norman Harris & Clarissa Myrick Harris Report detailing the content, breadth and
d/b/a One World Archives. depth of the collection. The archive
includes materials on multiple subjects,
The end result of this database project, including: folk tales & verbal lore;
which melded traditional fieldwork occupational folklife; music, dance, and
survey techniques with online research, other performance based traditions;
telephone interviewing, and plenty of material culture; visual arts traditions;
phone tag follow-up, was a 2,000+ and so much more. Fieldwork by Aimee
database of traditional artists and Schmidt, Art Rosenbaum, Annie
organizations throughout the state of Archbold, Janice Morrill, Maggie
Georgia, plus some great fieldnotes and Holtzberg, Susan Levitas, and a whole
suggestions for future work. host of other scholars and folklorists is
featured.
The Traditional Arts database will be
used to market our programs and grant Interested parties will be happy to know
opportunities, do further fieldwork we plan on posting the finding aid on our
toward identifying new communities and website sometime in the future, and we
potential partners, help us meet the will be establishing use policies for the
needs of our current constituents, materials, which we hope ultimately will
provide cultural, heritage and arts find a better home than what we can
organizations with a contact list for provide in the long run. While finding a
artists in their areas, and so much more. permanent home make take some time,
The potential for use is limitless and we the materials are also now available for
intend to use it! Keep posted for future scholars and researchers to use.
development!
Adrienn Mendonca
GCA Traditional Arts Archive Traditional Arts Manager
Project: Georgia Council for the Arts
GCA’s archive of traditional arts and Office of the Governor
folklife audio, visual and other 260 14th Street, NW, Suite 401
fieldwork-based materials was in sad Atlanta, GA 30318-5360
shape and disrepair at the beginning of (404) 685-2794 Phone
2006. Materials were haphazardly (404) 685-2788 Fax
stored, often in non-archival quality (404) 685-2799 TTY
formats set close to windows and amendonca@gaarts.org
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