Washington State History Museum Introduces Guests to Washington Folk Arts Traditions
With Our Hands: World Folk Arts of Washington Exhibit Opens Jan. 21
TACOMA – Dec. 8 – The Washington State History Museum and the Washington State Arts
Commission (WSAC) are partnering to present a 10-month long folk arts celebration, which includes
an exhibit, festival, demonstrations, film viewings and a lecture series. With Our Hands:
World Folk Arts of Washington exhibition opens Jan. 21, and will run through Aug. 23.
The exhibit, on view in the Inviting the Spirit gallery, features artwork from past WSAC
folk art award recipients, as well as explores the history of folk art studies in Washington.
All of the artists featured in the exhibit reside in Washington state, except one from Oregon,
and short biographies appear next to their artwork.
Among some of the traditional folk art on display will be Latvian embroidery, Ukrainian egg
decoration, Guatemalan back strap weaving, Mexican garment seam stressing, Norwegian painting
called Rosemaling, Yakama bead working, Vietnamese paper folding and much more.
Willie Smyth, WSAC folk arts manager, will curate the 750 square foot display. Smyth also wrote a
companion guide to the exhibit.
With Our Hands: World Folk Arts of Washington is funded by the
National Endowment for the Arts and
KUOW. The exhibit is organized by the Washington State History Museum and the
Washington State Arts Commission.
World Folk Arts Festival April 18 and 19
Sat. April 18 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. April 19 from noon – 5 p.m.
A weekend festival with live demonstrations from more than 20 artists will be held April 18 and 19 in the Great Hall of Washington History at the History Museum. Guests are invited to check out master artists and their apprentices demonstrate traditional folk arts traditions.
Film screenings and lectures will teach guests about several folk arts traditions. At the end of both days, Cruz and Cynthia Rangel, from the musical group Conjunto Sueño, will perform.
The following artists are scheduled to attend the Festival:
• Nicolas Petrish, Croatian musician and instrument maker
• Oleksandra Pryveda, Ukrainian egg decoration and wheat weaving
• Maria Gomez, traditional Mexican embroidery and garment making
• Genoveva Castellanoz, traditional Mexican corona maker
• Wilho Saari, Finnish instrument maker and musician
• Elizabeth Leese, Norwegian rosmaling
• Dennis Chastain, traditional chain saw artist
• Valerie Calac, Yakama beadwork artist and basket maker
• Ampelio Pariscual, Mexican ornamental iron work artist
• Que Tran, Vietnamese paper cutting and folding artist
• Bhu Dayal and Jayendran Srinivasan, Indian deity dressers
• Mike Skinner, traditional rawhide braiding
• Rosalind Wang, traditional Chinese knot tying and paper cutting
• Maija Atvars, Latvian embroidery
• Husniyea, Kouttainay, Palestinian needlework
• Nhia Yia Heu, Hmong basket maker
• Chong Heu, Hmong Needlework
• Hai Hong, Vietnamese zither maker
• Ampelio Mariscal, Mexican ironworker
• Mary Ohno, Japanese Kabuki dancer
• Maria Concepcion Cuc, Guatemalan back strap weaver
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High resolution photos are available on our
online image gallery, or upon request from Marketing, public relations coordinator.
About the
Washington State History Museum
The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is located at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off 1-5. The Washington State History Museum presents exhibits, programs and events that bring Washington's history to life. The Washington State Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history since 1891.
HOURS - Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended hours and FREE admission every third Thursday from 2 - 8 p.m. The Museum is open Sunday noon – 5 p.m.
ADMISSION - $25 for families (two adults and up to four children); $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, age 60
and above; $6 for students and military with valid ID; children, age 5 and below, and members are always
FREE.
CONTACT – 1-888-BE THERE, www.WashingtonHistory.org
Media Contact:
Marketing Office
public relations coordinator
Washington State History Museum
Washington State Historical Society
253-798-5877