What happens when you combine a copper cow weathervane, a Wampanoag twined basket, a Vejigante en Estilo de Ponce (Puerto Rican Carnival Figure), and a piece of Armenian needle lace?
If you answer a Buchel installation, youre wrong. Its a magnificent exhibition of living traditions that are hidden from the mainstream.
To see for yourself, check out the free exhibition of Folk Art at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington. To see what awaits you in Lexington, check out the work online.
Greg Cook has a terrific review of the show in The Boston Phoenix. For more info you can read about it Yankee Magazine, Art Blog Comments, listen to Massachusetts Art on WBUR radio, or watch the Greater Boston segment with our very own state folklorist, Maggie Holtzberg.
And since Folklore fieldwork is an ongoing process of discovery, if you know of an ethnic, musical, craft or dance tradition in Massachusetts that Maggie may not be aware of, she hopes you will let her know.
Marian Ives , Weather Vane, Metalwork, 2007, 53 x 39 x 15 in., Collection of the Artist. Photo by Jason Dowdle.
Almas Boghosian making needle lace, 2001. Photo by Kathleen Condon.
Julia Marden , Quiver, 2005 and Food Storage Basket, 1998, Wampanoag twined basketry, Natural linen twine, Quiver: 3 1/2 in. diam. x 22 1/2 in. Basket: 11 x 7 1/2 diam. at base, Collection of Mashantukcet Pequot Museum. Photo by Jason Dowdle.
Leave a Reply