Teresa Hollingsworth and Louisiana Bendolph presenting the quilt exhibition to the Shanghai consulate (quilts by Erick Wolfmeyer and Gwen Proctor Johnson)

No cultural expression is more synonymous with American traditional arts than quilt making. In this episode, I talk with SouthArts folklorist and senior program director Teresa Hollingsworth  about The Sum of Many Parts, a large exhibit of quilts made by 25 contemporary America artisans. Katy Malone joins the interview and explains her work overseeing and designing this exhibition, which opened in Shanghai in September 2012. Teresa and Katy tell how the program came into being and some of the unforeseen benefits of sharing this traditional art of quilt making with Chinese museum-goers. For example, the exhibit has presented several workshops for Chinese audiences lead by U.S. quilters and arts professionals, which offer meaningful cross cultural exchanges.

Traditional Navajo Ceremonial basket or wedding basket (Photo by Carol Edison, Courtesy Utah Arts Council)

Carol Edison tells us about her work with  Navajo basket makers in Utah, including Mary Holiday Black the legendary matriarch of the basket tradition.  An ancient artform, the Black and other families have both continued and revitalized a beautiful type of basket that is both ceremonially and economically important to their community.  Carol shares how she was introduced to this art form and how she researched the contemporary revolution of basketry among the Navajo. She also tells us about a new exhibition of these baskets on show at the Natural history Museum of Utah. “Weaving a Revolution: A Celebration of Contemporary Navajo Baskets” tells the story of the revitalization of the tradition and the emergence of this contemporary movement through more than 150 baskets made in the past thirty years. The exhibition catalog can be purchased from the museum store by calling 801-587-5784.

During our conversation, Carol mentioned the publication Willow Stories: Utah Navajo Baskets, which can be purchased from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums for $8.00 + postage/handling by contact Jean Irwin at 801-533-5760.

Agnes Black Gray with her story basket titled “Separation of the Sexes” (Photo by Carol Edison, Courtesy Utah Arts Council)

 

Baskets by Ida Pearl Davis. Photo by Robert Cogswell.

Tennessee and baskets seem to go together, but their relationship probably is not at all what you think. In this episode, I talk with folklorist Roby Cogswell, the director of Folklife at the Tennessee Arts Commission, about his research of the basket making tradition in Cannon County, TN.  This amazing craft has long been one of Tennessee’s best-kept secrets. We talk about his use of both fieldwork and genealogical methods to uncover the untold story of this long-standing white oak tradition. Roby recently published an article about Cannon County Baskets in the Tennessee Folklore Society’s journal, but nothing can compare to listening to him talk about his research.  However, as Roby would say, “don’t ask him the time, if you don’t want a history of watch making.” So, this episode is a little longer than usual, but I think is exactly the content that Artisan Ancestors listeners are looking for.

The Alabama in the Making traveling exhibition at the Johnson Center for the Arts. The exhibition features Pad powered kiosks with folklife content: (Photo/Jaine Treadwell, linked from troymessenger.com)

Look who is 30 episodes old! We are excited to reach this milestone, but are continuing to move forward at Artisan Ancestors. In this  episode we talk with the new Executive Director of the Alabama Folklife Association, Mary Allison Haynie, who has just released into the world a traveling exhibit that focuses on the traditional arts and people of Alabama. From chicken and goat stew to Mardi Gras float making, Alabama in the Making honors the people and traditions of Alabama. While looking at older traditions in the state, the program has embraced new technology using iPads to power display kiosks at the various venues where the show travels.

Maxine Stovall and Kathy Muhammed presenting a quilt at the Indiana State Fair.

In this episode, we talk about the the diverse meaning of objects. From Civil Rights quilts to Amish buggies, we explore how objects communicate various meanings. Using a semiotics approach we explore the difference between the various ways that objects serve as signs:icon, index and symbol. I share some observations from Peter Bogatyrev’s book, The Functions of Folk Costume in Moravian Slovakia, as a way of talking about the meaning of things. We then discuss how insiders and outsiders can see very different things when looking at the exact same object.

Frank Hohenberger’s photograph of “John Bohall at work” this image is linked from the Frank Hohenberger Collection at the Lilly Library at Indiana University.

A ton of information is embedded in historic photographs, especially when the images include artisans and handmade objects. In this episode of the Artisan Ancestors, I talk about my work identifying, organizing, and analyzing historic photograms. Focusing on my work with pictures of oak rod baskets from Southern Indiana,  I share how images can be read to reveal greater amounts of data than what might first be apparent. By looking at a collection of images over time, the researcher can understand shifts in feelings and attitudes about folk crafts. I reference my article, “A Picture of an Old Country Store” as an example of this type of deep reading of images.

Historic photographs are important resources for scholars of handmade objects. They can reflect the everyday use of objects from the past, manifest the variations in crafts over time, record the aesthetic values embedded in objects that have not survived to the present era, and also, document aspects of the construction process of earlier generations. In this podcast I explore more details about each of these reasons.

I also review some of the basic research methods for studying photographs, such as photo inventorying, contextual analysis, and photo interviewing., all of which help researchers both expand and focus their observations.

I also discuss the importance of consent forms and deeds of gift forms for anyone collecting materials that might be of interest to an archive in the future. I outline the contents, limitations and purpose of Oral history consent forms.

An expert in early sound recordings, Patrick Feaster talks about his personal collection of home recordings captured on wax cylinders in this episode.  While many genealogists and local historians may have tracked down photographs of ancestors and others from the late Nineteenth Century, few would imagine that they might  hear the voice of that person. However, Feaster explains that this medium,while not universally available, were very common in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.  Patrick works to raise awareness about this old technology and helps salvages some of these long forgotten remnants of the past by digitizing them. Much of the audio information stored on these old wax cylinders is lost forever, in part due to poor storage condition and years of neglect; however, wax cylinder enthusiast, may also be to blame for this vanishing medium. Today, many hobbyist enjoy making their own recordings using this early DIY medium, and some buy old cylinders on eBay and shaving them so they can rerecord on the vintage media. Because of this and other forces, the audio legacy from this earliest form of popular home recording is quickly disappearing.

In this episode, Patrick talks about his discoveries, and shares a few of the treasures in his collection.  Patrick hosts the website Phonozoic where he answers questions and helps reunite people with the voices of their ancestors.Patrick received a Grammy nomination along with his collaborator David Giovannoni for their Historical Album Debate ’08: Taft and Bryan Campaign on the Edison Phonograph in 2008. (photo by Ronda L. Sewald)

I was excited to hear about this project, because I feel that this type of long-term, multifaceted study is the future of the new humanities.

In addition to being an associate professor in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, he is the editor of Museum Anthropology Review, a digital journal for museum professionals and material culture scholars. He is also the author of the ethnography Yuchi Ceremonial Life.

Also in this program, Milan and I discuss our concerns about proposed changes to the National Heritage Awards in Washington DC and its potential affects to the ongoing well-being of our countries diverse cultural arts and traditions.

Maureen’s most recent book, Finding the Civil War presents portraits and pictures from Civil War years and encourages readers to discover their own families stories from this decisive moment in history.  She is also working on a a follow up text to her work The Last Muster, which explores the images and stories of people from the Revolutionary War.

An Emmy Award-winning archival image researcher, Rich Remsberg assists documentary film makers locate the necessary archival footage and still photos that they need to visually tell their stories.  From scouring collection at the National Archive to tracking down rare one of a kind materials held in personal and family collections, he prides himself on uncovering images, even the most ardent scholars have never seen.
He is also the author of the new book, based upon images from the Farm Security Administration (FSA) Archive, Hard Luck Blues. The book pulls together an amazing collection of images featuring musicians recorded by the FSA in the 1930s.  He is also the curator of “Found in the Archives” an NPR series that features archival films, and found images uncovered by Rich.  His work can be found online at Atlas Films.

Rich Remsberg of www.atlasfilms.org

Folklorist Tim Tangherlini

Folklorist Tim Tangherlini employs a research approach he calls, “computational folkloristics” which uses data-mining to reveal new information, once thought lost to the past. He deploys computers to plot, compare, store and assist in the analysis of data from various archival holdings from around the world. His method places historical individuals in richer cultural, social and behavioral context than can be done from just reading the information contained in decontextualized documents. This episode represents a departure for the Artisan Ancestors Podcast in that we look at the narrative aspects of expressive culture from the past, rather than focusing on material culture. I chose to do this impart because I think that Tim’s approach could be applied to material culture studies, and that it provides another approach at learning about the creative lives of people from the past.

An Indian-head pot by Sara Ayers (Image Courtesy of Stephen Criswell).

In this final installment of our series on Catawba Pottery in South Carolina, I talk with Stephen Criswell a folklorist and director of the Native American Studies program at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster. Much of his work focuses on conducting oral history with Catawba potters and tradition bearers who work to conserve the Catawba language and culture. He discusses his program and how it came into existence. He also talks about the projects that he and his students have worked on in collaboration with the Catawba Indian Nations. ( There are some issues right now with my feed, which is keeping this episode from linking to Itunes. Until I get it resolved with my host, it might only be available from the website; Sorry).

A double horse-head pot by Earl Robbins (Image courtesy of Stephen Criswell).

Native American Studies Archive

Brent Burgin is the archivist and director of the Native American Studies Archives at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster, an institution that holds one of the largest and most impressive collection of Catawba  pottery.  He has worked with scholars such as Thomas Blumer and Stephen Criswell to help preserve and archive important documents and artifacts about Southeastern Pottery Traditions. The Archive at USC Lancaster  helps raise awareness and improve access to information about the South Carolina’s rich Native American cultures and their histories.

Georgia Harris, Catawba Potter

In this episode, we start to explore pottery produced by artisans from the Catawba Nation in South Carolina. This is part one of a three part series on this age old art.  In part one of our exploration of this earthenware tradition.  I talk with Bill Harris, a Catawba potter who learned to make this soft Native American redware from his grandmother Georgia Harris. He talks about his grandmother, who was recognized with a National Heritage Fellowship in 1996. Bill explains that his Catawba genealogy can be traced through pottery and the artisans who kept this skill in continual practice for thousands of years. In the follow-up podcasts I will interview an archivist and a researcher, who have worked to study this beautiful and distinctive art form, and are working to raise awareness and understanding about this ancient craft.

Bill Harris, Catawba Potter

Photograph of Leonard Todd in front of the Edgefield County Courthouse by Brook Facey.

What would you do if you found out that your ancestors were slaveholders who owned one of the most talented folk potters in South Carolina? When Leonard Todd found himself in this situation, he committed himself to a six-year journey of discovery about the Life and work of an enslaved artisan named Dave.  In this episode, I talk with Leonard about his research and his book. He shares how he collected oral histories, combed through family papers and studied pots while researching his book, Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter, Dave.

Curt Witcher is a member of the Genealogy Committee of the American Library Association, a past chair of the association’s History Section, a former president of both the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society, and the founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society.  He was honored in May of 2007 with the National Genealogical Society’s P. William Filby award for outstanding, life-time contributions to genealogical librarianship.

In this episode I talk with Brandt Zipp a young pottery scholar, who grew up around antique American stoneware in his family’s  antique auction business, The Crocker Farm, Inc. Zipp shares his research findings, as well as his techniques for discovering important information about free African American artisans working in New York, prior to 1850. He discusses his techniques for triangulating census records, city directories and material objects to reveal hidden stories of American stoneware potters.

• Host: Jon Kay
• Guest Sherrie Davidson
• Music: Martin Simpson (www.martinsimpson.com)

[amazon_link id="1570036101" target="_blank" ]Mary Black’s Family Quilts: Memory and Meaning in Everyday Life[/amazon_link]

Sarah Ann Brown's 1855 Sampler from the Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN

In this episode, Jon Kay interviews Jennifer Core the folklorist and a founding researcher of the Tennessee Sampler Survey, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tennessee’s needlework heritage. Jennifer’s research includes documenting Tennessee samplers made prior to 1900 and as of May 2010, she and her research partner  Janet Hasson have located 215 samplers, 159 of which have been proven to be from the Volunteer State.  Currently the two scholars are curating and exhibition of Middle TN samplers for the James K. Polk Home in Columbia, TN, which will open on December 17, 2010. This podcast should be available for download by December 12, 2010.

Host: Jon Kay
Guests: Jennifer Core, Guest (www.tennesseesamplers.com)
Music: Martin Simpson (www.martinsimpson.com)

Press Release: http://www.jameskpolk.com/new/press%20release.asp

An antique staddle tree at the Ben Schroeder Saddletree Factory

In this episode we talk with  historic preservationist John Staicer, who helped save the last 19th century saddletree factory in the United States. John not only helped place this vernacular treasure of Madison, Indiana  on the National Register Historic District, but he and several other professionals and volunteers worked to maintain the site as much like it was when the operation shut down in 1972. In our program we will talk about the Ben Schroeder Saddletree Company, which produced wooden frames for saddle makers throughout the United States and Latin America by the 1000′s. We will also discuss how John researched the factory’s production process as well as the  above ground archaeological methods used to better understand this site where artisans worked. If you are interested in a hands on approach to researching history this podcast will be right up your alley.

Host: Jon Kay
Guests: John Stacier (http://www.historicmadisoninc.com/saddletree_museum.htm)
Music: Martin Simpson (www.martinsimpson.com)
[slickr-flickr tag="Saddle Tree Factory"]

Host: Jon Kay
Guests: Ralph Lee Smith (www.ralphleesmith.com)
Music: Martin Simpson (www.martinsimpson.com)

[amazon_link id="0810874113" target="_blank" ]Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions (American Folk Music and Musicians)[/amazon_link]

Plate Fragment by Christoph Weber

In this episode we meet with historical archaeologist Mike Strezewski and talk about his excavation of the Harmonist kiln site in New Harmony, Indiana. We will also meet with Tom Wintczak, a redware potter who made  plates, strainers and pitchers, inspired from the broken shards and pieces from the excavation site. We also will learn about Alf Lookabill, a Civil War veteran and gourd artist who gained quite a reputation for his work.
Host: Jon Kay
Guests: Mike Strezewski and Tom Wintczak (www.beetreepottery.com)
Music: Martin Simpson (www.martinsimpson.com)

George Lucas a Cambrige City, Indiana model train maker and his grandson.

Welcome to the pilot episode of Artisan Ancestors. I think we have an interesting program for you today. In our feature segment,  I will be talking with Geoff Davis, a third generation ukulele player, and discuss how he discovered and researched Indiana’s lost history of ukulele building tradition. Also, in today’s program we will hear about a model train builder in the 1920s, who converted his day job into a hobby of miniatures when he retired in 1927. In addition, I will review a wonderful book about a Pueblo potter and the revival of a tradition that her life spawned.  That is what we have in store for you on Episode One of Artisan Ancestors.
Jon Kay, Host
Theme Music by Martin Simpson (MartinSimpson.com)
Guest: Geoff Davis, Noblesville, IN (BluestoneFolkSchool.org)