The State Folklorist’s Notebook is a regular column written by state folklorist Emily Hilliard for Goldenseal Magazine. This article appears in the Winter 2017 issue. Charles Steven (“Steve”) Adams spent almost 40 years as a social worker dealing, as he says, “with people and their problems.” When he was in his mid-50s and nearing retirement, Steve started carving…
West Virginia Folklife Seeks Applications for 2017-2018 Statewide Folklife Apprenticeship Program
The West Virginia Folklife Program is now accepting applications for our inaugural West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. The Apprenticeship Program offers up to a $3,000 stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form.
The State Folklorist’s Notebook: Adventures Menu— Sharing Traditional Filipino Food in Parkersburg
State folklorist Emily Hilliard interviews Daniel & Ellen Lubuguin of Philippines Best Food in Parkersburg for her regular column in Goldenseal Magazine.
McArts and West Virginia Folklife Present July 8 Concert with Elaine Purkey in Kimball
On the evening of Saturday, July 8, McArts, a McDowell County Fine Arts Organization, and The West Virginia Folklife Program, a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council, will present a concert with West Virginia activist songwriter and musician Elaine Purkey. The 7:00 p.m. event will be held at Ya’sou Greek Restaurant at 138 Main St. in Kimball and is free and open to the public.
West Virginia Folklife Awarded NEA Grant to Support Statewide Folklife Apprenticeship Program
We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a $35,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Arts to support the new West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. This Art Works grant is among the $82 million that NEA Chairman Jane Chu has approved to fund local arts projects across the country in the…
Field Notes: Doris Fields aka “Lady D”
Doris A. Fields, aka Lady D, known as “West Virginia’s First Lady of Soul” is an R&B, soul, and blues musician and songwriter living in Beckley. She is the founder and organizer of West Virginia’s Simply Jazz and Blues Festival and previously hosted the weekly Simply Jazz and Blues radio show on Groovy94 in Beckley. In 2008, Fields’ original song “Go Higher” won an online contest sponsored by the Obama Music Arts and Entertainment Group. She performed the song as a headliner at the Obama for Change Inauguration Ball with President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama in attendance.
“You can’t have hurt anything, it can always be repaired!”: Jim Costa in Concert
On January 25, we hosted our second West Virginia Folklife Program concert at the West Virginia Humanities Council, with a performance by old-time musician and collector Jim Costa, and a presentation by folklorist Zoe van Buren, who worked with Costa to document his collection.
The State Folklorist’s Notebook: Talking Turkey Calls with Aaron Parsons of Jackson County
State folklorist Emily Hilliard visits turkey call maker Aaron Parsons of Jackson County in her regular column for Goldenseal Magazine.
Building a Broom by Feel: An Interview with James Shaffer
At 87, James Shaffer of Charleston Broom & Mop Co. in Loudendale is the last handmade commercial broom maker in West Virginia. We worked with West Virginia Public Broadcasting to produce a radio & video mini-documentary about Shaffer and the changes he’s seen in his 70 years in the broom industry.
Field Notes: Carol Dougherty
Carol Dougherty is an elder in Wheeling’s Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church. She was born in Wheeling, WV in 1938 and was raised by her grandparents, who were immigrants from Lebanon. She is a traditional Lebanese home cook, a member of Our Lady of Lebanon Women’s Society, and will be teaching a folk dance and dubke class for children at Our Lady of Lebanon’s 84th annual Mahrajan Festival in August 2017.
Field Notes: Sam Rizzetta
Sam Rizzetta is a dulcimer designer, builder, and musician who moved to West Virginia in the early 1970s. He was a member of the string band Trapezoid and founded the hammer dulcimer playing classes at the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College. He has built dulcimers for musicians including John McCutcheon, Guy Carawan, and Sam Herrmann (read our Field Notes with her). Rizzetta now collaborates with the Dusty Strings Company who build hammer dulcimers based on his designs. He lives with his wife Carrie Rizzetta in Berkeley County, WV.
West Virginia Folklife 2016 Activities Report
Summary of programs, fieldwork, and other activities of the West Virginia Folklife Program in fiscal year 2016
