Photo by Fritz Dent
ARTIST AT WORK. Master Mexican embroiderer and seamstress Maria Gomez (seated), shown here with daughter Melissa, will demonstrate her craft at the museum’s World Folk Arts Festival in April.
Now on exhibit in its “Inviting the Spirit” gallery, Washington State History Museum is showcasing a collection of fascinating folk art created by artists who live in Washington (and one in Oregon) but have deep ties to places around the world. In partnership with Washington State Arts Commission, for the next 10 months the museum is celebrating this ageless form of art in the “With Our Hands: World Folk Arts of Washington State” exhibit, culminating in a two-day World Folk Arts Festival in April.
Visitors entering the museum’s Grand Lobby will see a piece from the exhibit right near the front doors – a life-size chainsaw carving of a cougar by Dennis Chastain. Continuing upstairs to the gallery more than 20 pieces are on display: a big, decorative platter rosemaled (the term for Norwegian rose or flower painting) by Elizabeth Leese; a photomural of a colorful altar at the Krishna Temple in Sammamish created by Indian deity dresser Bhu Dayal; an embroidered girl’s dress by Latvian needle worker Maija Atvars; traditional silk Chinese knotting by Rosalind Wang; and Yakama beadwork by Valerie Calac, to name a few. Accompanying each piece of art is a panel with the artist’s photo and a short biography.
A weekend festival with live demonstrations from more than 20 artists will be held April 18 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and 19 (noon-5 p.m.) in the museum’s Great Hall of Washington History. Guests will be able to watch the masters and apprentices creating works in a variety of folk art traditions like Mexican embroidery, rawhide braiding, Vietnamese paper folding, Ukrainian egg decorating and Palestinian needlework. Film screenings and lectures will complement the artists’ work and make for an educational experience for all ages. At the end of both days, Cruz and Cynthia Rangel from the musical group Conjunto Sueño will perform.
For more information, visit http://www.washingtonhistory.org or call (888) BE-THERE.
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