Mid Atlantic Folk Arts Outreach Project

The Foundation seeks to strengthen the region’s folk and traditional arts infrastructure through the exchange of artistic excellence and best practices through the Folk Arts Outreach Project. 

The program supports projects in which folklorists and local artists travel from their home communities to host sites in other states or jurisdictions within the mid-Atlantic region to share their work with fellow traditional artists, folklorists, and the public. All projects, which typically take place over a three-to-four day period, are developed collaboratively among participating artists and folklorists. Grants are made to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for travel–related expenses and professional fees of program participants, and must be matched on a 1:1 basis.

Foundation Folk & Traditional Arts staff works to initiate dialogue between potential projects participants, and assist in shaping project design to foster effective communications and maximize the experience for artists, folklorists, host organizations, and members of the host community.  For more information, contact 410/539-6656 x 107 or sally@midatlanticarts.org.  The Mid Atlantic Folk Arts Outreach Project is made possible through support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Foundation has provided support for the following Folk Art Outreach Projects:

Embroiderers’ Exchange and Gathering
November 28-30, 2011
The History Center in Tompkins County (Ithaca, NY)
New York Folklore Society (Schenectady, NY)

Vera Nakonechny of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Ithaca-based Hungarian embroiderer Eniko Farkas were featured in a project that explored both the textile arts and the refugee experience in America.  Together with host folklorists Ellen McHale and Lisa Overholster of the New York Folklore Society and visiting independent folklorist Amy Skillman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the group discussed textile preservation and exhibiting as well as teaching methodologies.  A meeting with refugee Karen weavers from Myanmar (also known as Burma) and staff from the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees focused on working with artists in local immigrant communities.  The project also featured a public exhibition of the participating artists’ work that attracted over three dozen textile artists to Ithaca’s History Center.

Photo: Embroiderer's Vera Nakonechny (left) and Eniko Farkas (right) discuss technique while Vera's husband Yury looks on. Photo by Sally Van de Water.

Appalachian Trail in Music:  A Look at Different Folk Traditions Along the Appalachian Trail
August 11-15, 2011
Old Songs (New Cumberland, PA)
SPTDQ (Montreal, Canada)

The first international exchange conducted by the Folk Arts Outreach Project took place in the Gaspésie region of Québec, Canada.  The Société pour la Promotion de la Danse Traditionnelle Québécoise partnered with New Cumberland, Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Folk Music Society to explore traditional dance music from their respective regions.  The project brought Matt Brown, an old-time Appalachian fiddler from West Chester, Pennsylvania, together with David Boulanger, a Québécois fiddler specializing in the “crooked tunes” of French Canada.  The two artists shared their distinctive regional styles, techniques and repertoires, and conducted a public performance in the small seaside village of Jean Duval of the University of Montreal acted as host ethnomusicologist.  Read French-language press coverage here and here.  Read Susquehanna Folk Music Society Executive Director Jess Hayen’s blog about the project here. See the promotional poster here.

Photo: Fiddlers David Boulanger and Matt Brown perform at the harbor in Grosses-Roches, Québec.  Photo by Sally Van de Water.

Blues in the Blue Ridge
June 3-5, 2011
Blue Ridge Music Center (Galax, VA)

The project brought together renowned, traditional blues guitarist and singer Nat Reese of Princeton, West Virginia, harmonica player Phil Wiggins of Tacoma Park, Maryland, and singer and guitarist Emily Spencer and the Whitetop Mountain Band from Whitetop, Virginia.  The artists gathered to share their respective repertoires and life experiences as musicians of different styles, generations, genders and ethnicities.  The project took place at the Blue Ridge Music Center in southwestern Virginia, and complemented the opening of the Center’s new “Roots of American Music” exhibit.  The project included a public forum with the artists, entitled “Talking About the Blues,” a harmonica workshop conducted by Phil Wiggins, and a public concert featuring all the musicians moderated by the project’s folklorists, Dr. Barry Lee Pearson of the University of Maryland and Dr. Gregg Kimball of the Library of Virginia.

Photo: Phil Wiggins and Emily Spencer in Galax, VA. Photo by Sally Van de Water.

Ballad Singers’ Summit
May 11-14, 2011
Old Songs, Inc. (Voorheesville, NY)

The project highlighted a capella ballad singing with artists Elizabeth LaPrelle of Cedar Springs, Virginia and Colleen Cleveland of Brant Lake, New York.  Cleveland, a fifth-generation ballad singer, is custodian to an extraordinary song repertoire including Irish, Scottish and English ballads.  LaPrelle, a generation younger than Colleen, sings old Appalachian mountain ballads native to her home in southwestern Virginia.  During the exchange the two artists compared their respective regional styles, shared their experiences, discussed ways to reach new audiences, participated in a live-audience radio broadcast, and gave a standing-room-only public concert.  Old Songs, Inc., an organization dedicated to the preservation of folk and traditional music and dance, hosted the project.  Folklorist Margaret “Peggy” Yocom and poet and scholar Susan Tichy of George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia acted as visiting folklorists. 

Photo: Sandy LaPrelle, Elizabeth LaPrelle and Colleen Cleveland in Voorheesville, NY. Photo by Sally Van de Water.

Old Traditions Reconsidered:  Painting on Glass in Two Middle Atlantic Communities
April 12-14, 2011
Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center (Millville, NJ)

The project paired stained glass artist and painter J. Kenneth Leap of Runnemead, New Jersey with New York-based Haitian-American Vèvè (religious symbols commonly used for Haitian Vodou rituals) creator and glass bottle painter Kesler Pierre. The partnership allowed for the exploration of the art of glass painting as represented through two distinct cultural traditions.  After meeting with each other and the project folklorists, Leap and Pierre shared their work with the public in all-day presentations and demonstrations.  WheatonArts & CulturalCenter in Millville, New Jersey hosted the project, with Director of Education & Cultural Studies Iveta Pirgova acting as host folklorist.  Amanda Dargon, Education Director of City Lore in New York City was the visiting folklorist.  

Photo: Ken Leap and Kesler Piere at Wheaton Arts, Millville, NJ. Photo by Sally Van de Water.

Will to Adorn:  Masters of the Dress Arts
November 28-December 4, 2010
Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (St. Croix, USVI)

Artists, designers and researchers from New York City, Washington, D.C. and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in a series of exchanges and public presentations highlighting the aesthetics of African-American and African-Caribbean identity as expressed in dress.  The exchange included studio visits, artist presentations, and documented interviews with local artists.  Over 20 artists showcased their work in formal presentations during the week’s events.  Key participating artists included: Jade D. Banks of Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center (New York, NY); Nekhena Evans (Brooklyn, NY); Alfred Haynes (St. Thomas, USVI); Petra Matthews, Sandra Michael, and Joan Sealey (St. Croix, USVI); and Januwa Moja (Washington, DC).  Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye, Cultural Specialist and Curator at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritageacted as visiting folklorist.  Virgin Islands Council on the Arts Executive Director Betty Mahoney hosted the project, which took place in the towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted on St. Croix.  Documentary materials including photographs, audio and visual recordings are archived at the Smithsonian Institution.

Photo: Participants in Will to Adorn Project, St. Croix, USVI. Photo by Sally Van de Water.

Latino Traditional Arts in Baltimore
September 18-24, 2010
Creative Alliance at the Patterson (Baltimore, MD)

Maryland Traditions and Creative Alliance partnered to host an exchange pairing Baltimore-based folkloric Mexican dance troupe México Vivo with Mariachi Son de América of Falls Church, Virginia.  The exchange focused on specific dances and music from the Mexican states of Jalisco (where the mariachi tradition was born), Veracruz, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Chiapas, and improvisation between dancers and musicians. The exchange included closed workshops for the artists, a free public dance master class, and a concert  celebrating the bicentennial of Mexican independence at the Creative Alliance’s theater in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore.  Visiting bilingual independent folklorist Paulina Guerrero facilitated the project.

Photo: Ballet Folklorico México Vivo and Mariachi Son de América performance at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (Baltimore, MD). Photo by Sally Van de Water.


Honoring and Presenting Old-Time Music in the Virginias
June 25-27, 2010
Blue Ridge Music Center (Galax, VA)

Two exemplary string bands, Gandydancer from West Virginia and The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters from Virginia, came together to explore the distinctive development of folk music traditions from their respective states.  This project demonstrated the historic roots of old-time music in West Virginia and Virginia, how this legacy exists today, and provided insight into its future.  Erynn Marshall, folklorist at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Virginia, served as host folklorist, and West Virginia folklorist Gerry Milnes consulted on the project.  The groups gathered for jam sessions, presented a public panel discussion, and performed an outdoor ampitheater concert.  All sessions were documented with the recordings archived at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Photo: Members of Gandydancer (WV) and The New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters (VA) meet for a jam session at the Elk Creek Fiddlers' Convention.  Photo by Erynn Marshall, Blue Ridge Music Center.



From My Village to Yours:  African-American and Bulgarian Folk Music across Communities
March 18-20, 2010
Susquehanna Folk Music Society (Harrisburg, PA)

Two improvisational artists, Pennsylvania-based jazz, blues and gospel artist Don Johnson and Bulgarian musician Valeri Georgev, from Washington, D.C., explored the music intrinsic to the social fabric of their respective communities.  In both cases, the music is improvisational, participatory, and social.  The project included informal exchange of musical techniques and styles, presentations on their respective musical traditions, and public performances.  In the final concert of the project, the principal artists performed with each other’s respective groups, The Don Johnson Project and Lyuti Chushki (“hot peppers”), prior to a joint performance by the combined ensembles.  Dr. Kalin Kirilov, a faculty member at Towson State University’s Department of Music, facilitated the partnership, and Susquehanna Folk Music Society in Harrisburg hosted the project.  Dr. Lisa Rathje, Cultural Specialist at Institute for Cultural Partnerships, served as host folklorist. 

Photo Credit: Sally Van de Water

Will to Adorn:  Masters of the Dress Arts in the US Virgin Islands, New York, and Washington, DC
March 11-14, 2010
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (Washington, D.C.)
Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (St. Thomas, USVI)

Artists, designers and researchers from New York City, Washington, D.C. and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in a series of exchanges and public presentations highlighting the aesthetics of African American identity as expressed in dress.  The exchange included workshops, studio visits, and oral history interviews with local artists.  Participating artists included Jade D. Banks (New York, NY), Januwa Moja-Nelson (Washington, DC), and Alfred Haynes (St. Thomas, USVI).  Dr. Diana Baird N’Diaye, Cultural Specialist and Curator, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, advised the fieldwork team.  Virgin Islands Council on the Arts Executive Director Betty Mahoney hosted the project, which took place on St. Thomas.  Glenn “Kwabena” Davis, Director of Cultural Education, USVI Department of Education, acted as host folklorist.

Photo Credit: Jade D. Banks

Traditions Shared: German Sawdust Carpets and Guatemalan Alfombra de Asserin
April 30–May 2, 2009
Arlington Cultural Affairs (Arlington, Virginia)
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area (Homestead, Pennsylvania)

Father and son Charles "Skip" and Michael Culleiton of Holy Martyrs’ Parish in Tarentum, Pennsylvania traveled to meet and work with members of Alfo-Conce, a Guatemalan community group based in Arlington. Both create works of art, known as sawdust carpets and alfombra de arracin (literally, rice carpets), by laying dyed sawdust, rice, beans, and other vegetable materials in outdoor installations.  After meeting and collaborating on designs for their public presentations, the Culleitons and Alfo-Conce conducted a master class at Washington and Lee High School (Arlington, VA) and created an outdoor display at the Arlington Court House Plaza, next to the busy Arlington Farmer’s Market. 

Photo Credit: Sally Van de Water

Drawing on the Past to Forge a Future on the Family Farm
April 1-3, 2009
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance (Towanda, PA)
Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (Canton, NY)

Artists, folklorists and staff from Northern Tier Cultural Alliance and Traditional Arts in Upstate New York were brought together to explore artistic expression on the family farm.  Pennsylvania-based willow basket maker Patty Dillman and Sue Bullock of Back Achers Farm traveled to meet with their New York counterparts and discuss producing, marketing, and sustaining their art work within the specialized context of rural farm communities.  New York participants included herbalist Jane Desotelle, black ash basket weaver Jim Chase, storytellers Bill and Sal Smith, soap-maker Carrie Sweredoski and farming tradition bearer Andy Weaber. The artists also demonstrated their traditional arts to local high school students engaged in an intensive art and agriculture curricula. 

Photo Credit: Jill Breit/TAUNY

Annapolis Maritime Museum and the Whittington Family Singers
January 29-31, 2009
Annapolis Maritime Museum (Annapolis, MD)
Whittington Family Singers (Port Norris, NJ)

The rich heritage of African-Americans working in the oyster industries of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays was explored and celebrated in this Folk Arts Outreach Project. The Whittington Family Singers of Port Norris, New Jersey met with staff at the Annapolis Maritime Museum and members of the local Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Gospel Choir to share vocal traditions, oyster shucking techniques, and food customs gleaned from years working in their respective maritime communities. Visiting independent folklorist and author Dr. Rita Moonsammy of Tabernacle, New Jersey worked with museum staff to share best practices in presenting folk arts and occupational traditions before a public audience. In separate public presentations, the Whittington Family Singers enthralled spectators with demonstrations of oyster shucking, oyster recipe preparation, and an inspired gospel concert performed with the Mt. Zion Gospel Choir. 

Photo Credit: Sally Van de Water

Go Tell It on the Mountain:  A Musical Journey Across Cultural Divides
April 13-15, 2007
Virginia Folklife Program (Charlottsville, VA)
Ethel Caffie-Austin and Quandora Hornbuckle (Mount Hope, WV)

Different gospel music traditions within the Appalachian regions of Virginia and West Virginia were explored in a project coordinated by independent folklorists Carrie and Michael Kline and Jon Lohman of the Virginia Folklife Program.  The project, which took place in Clintwood, Virginia, paired The Mullins Family with pianist Ethel Caffie-Austin, West Virginia’s “First Lady of Gospel Music” and fellow gospel singer Quandora Hornbuckle.  Activities included an opening night dinner at the Ralph Stanley Museum, a Saturday community workshop, an evening public performance by the participating artists as well as local gospel musicians, and a Sunday church service where both groups of artists sang.  Jon Lohman acted as host for the outreach project, and the Klines recorded the workshops and performances.

Photo Credit: Douglas Manger

Migrations: Shorebirds & Carving Traditions along the Jersey and Delaware Shores
October 14-15, 2006
Jersey Shore Folklife Program at Tuckerton Seaport (Tuckerton, NJ)
Delaware Folklife Program (Rehoboth Beach, DE)

Jaclyn Stewart of Tuckerton Seaport accompanied South Jersey decoy carver Fred Reitmeyer to Delaware State Parks to present a modified version of the Jersey Traditions folk art education program.  The program took place at the Indian River Life Saving Station at Delaware Seashore State Park, where shorebird and horseshoe crab preservation programming is currently in place.  Michael Miller, folklorist for the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation coordinated and hosted this outreach initiative with assistance from Jim Hall of Delaware Seashore State Park.  Hall worked with regional carvers in Delaware to enhance the program and artistic exchange.

Photo Credit: Douglas Manger  


Ties That Bind: History and Culture of Rural North Woods Communities
September 15-16, 2006
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance (Towanda, PA)
Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (Canton, NY)

Northern Tier Cultural Alliance of Pennsylvania hosted visiting folklorist Jill Breit from Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and two traditional artists from New York’s northern tier:  legendary Adirondack basketmaker/storyteller/musician Bill Smith, and New York champion fiddler Don Woodcock.  With Breit providing introductions and background, Smith and Woodcock gave performances at Troy Elementary School East and at the annual Pennsylvania Heritage Festival.  The trio were also special guest participants at the 9th Annual Artist Gathering sponsored by the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance.  The yearly meeting serves as a forum to discuss challenges faced by artists working in the region.

Photo Credit: Douglas Manger
 

As Farmers and Foundrymen: Italians and Italian-American Culture in Western Pennsylvania and Southwestern New Jersey
September 14-17, 2006
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area (Homestead, PA)
Down Jersey Folklife Center at Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center (Millville, NJ)

Julie Throckmorton, Cultural Resources Specialist with the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, accompanied Italian-American mandolinist Egidio “Jimmy” Faiella  to Festa dell Arte: A Celebration of Italian and Italian-American Arts and Culture at Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center in Millville, New Jersey.  Throckmorton gave a paper presentation, “Musical Experience of the Italian-Americans in Western Pennsylvania: Preservation and Adaptation,” and also provided audiences with background information on Faiella during his performances.  Dr. Iveta Pirgova, Director of the Down Jersey Folklife Center at Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center hosted the project.

Photo Credit: Douglas Manger