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Christmas Tradition in Nonantum: La Befana flies in from Italy
Several years ago, I noticed a hand-crafted sign above the door of a small public library. The building is located in heart of Nonantum, an Italian American neighborhood in Newton, Massachusetts....
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Bowmaking Apprenticeship
Bowmaker David Hawthorne has been making bows for stringed instruments for over 30 years. This past September, he was awarded an MCC Traditional Arts Apprenticeship to pass on some of the knowledge...
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Return of the Lowell Folklife Series
We’re delighted to announce the 2013 Winter/Spring season of the Lowell Folklife Series. These free public events featuring craft, music, dance, & foodways traditions are presented by Lowell Lowell...
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Model Making: Ship Models & Pipe Organs
On Sunday afternoon, April 21st, the Lowell Folklife Series will present an intriguing program featuring three master craftsmen. Joining us will be National Heritage Fellow and shipwright Harold A....
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Carving Traditions on Display
Come to this summer’s Lowell Folk Festival next weekend and seek out the Folk Craft & Foodways area, which is located in Lucy Larcom Park, not far from Boarding House Park. Under the shade of big...
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Customized fruit carver comes to the Lowell Folk Festival
Earlier this spring I was searching for someone who specializes in the tradition of carving fruits and vegetables to demonstrate at the folk craft area of the Lowell Folk Festival. This year the...
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Learning Chinese calligraphy from a master
Qianshen Bai is a demanding teacher. Leaning over his apprentice’s brush work, he points out tiny things, “This is the problem. Her problem here is that here, so far so good, and she move this way,...
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Watch Live webcast of National Heritage Fellows Concert
We are coming up on the last week of September, which means it’s time for the annual feting of our country’s National Heritage Fellows. This year’s fellows include former Massachusett’s resident and...
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What do you hold on to?
Come join us for a film, a hands-on weaving experience, and a faciliated conversation about the complex meanings of cultural heritage for refugees. Mone Saenphmmachak is a master weaver. She is also a...
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Today’s Native American Art in New England
Guest blog by Dawn Spears,Program Manager, Native Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) The Native Arts program at NEFA has partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research...
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MCC announces Artist Fellowships in the Traditional Arts
MCC is delighted to announce the 2014 Artist Fellowships in the Traditional Arts. Two artists will receive fellowships in the amount of $10,000 and four artists will receive $500 finalist awards. For...
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The Art of Folding Paper
American Alligator, designed by Michael LaFosse; folded by LaFosse and Richard Alexander (50 hours total) from one, uncut, 6′ square of handmade paper by Alexander It’s the time of year when we start...
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Pitch perfect color
Genie and Dan St. John run Chena River Marblers in the Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, a region known for book arts. Working out of a home studio, they produce stunning marbled patterns on paper and...
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What you might not know about paper money
You may have noticed from our last two posts (origami and marbled paper) that we are somewhat preoccupied with paper. That’s because the theme of the folk craft area at this summer’s Lowell Folk...
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Children’s paper Lore at the Lowell Folk Festival craft area
Children have traditional ways of playing with each other: telling knock-knock jokes; playing store, tag, or make-believe; posing riddles; playing pranks; and creating playthings out of what is at...
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“Wall paper hanging is like upholstering a room”
Heidi L. Johnson. Photo by Tom Adams There are 6 weeks left until the Lowell Folk Festival. Between now and then, we are posting examples of folk crafts that will be demonstrated in Lucy Larcom Park....
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The art of Polish paper cut design
Susan Urban practices the Polish art of wycinanki (paper cut design). She also makes cut paper dolls wearing costumes from different regions of Poland. Generations of West Springfield school children...
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Architectural drawing and model making
Continuing our paper tradition theme at this year’s Lowell Folk Festival craft area, we turn to architectural drawing and model making. Paper is still the most common way of transmitting architectural...
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Recycling festival T-shirts to make paper!
Drew Matott had an “aha” moment when he first realized paper could be made from old clothes. He and Margaret Mahan have gone on to bring the transformative experience of hand paper making to people...
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Six New Apprenticeships Funded by MCC
We are delighted to announce this year’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants. The following six traditional art forms will be taught by master artists to their apprentices: Irish uilleann pipe...
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