Curator Talk: Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities: An Exhibit Celebrating 25 Years of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program
SubjectPortrait of
Jampa Tsondue
(Tibetan, born 1959)
SubjectPortrait of
Gideon Ampeire
(Ugandan)
SubjectPortrait of
Kunga Choekyi
(Tibetan)
SubjectPortrait of
Tseyang Lhamo
(Tibetan American)
SubjectPortrait of
Florence Betgeorge
(Assyrian)
SubjectPortrait of
Tentso Sichoe
(Tibetan, born 1948)
Date2016 November 3
Mediumborn digital images
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.261.1-.16
DescriptionArt works and visitors at a Curator Talk of the exhibition, "Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities: An Exhibit Celebrating 25 Years of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program."
2015.196.261.1: Photo of blacksmith Walter Scadden explaining his ornamental ironwork to a visitor.
2015.196.261.2: Photo of Howard and Sue Phengsomphone with one of the Lao Buddhist statues made by Khoutavong Yongchaiyuth. They helped to facilitate the loan of these objects for the exhibit.
2015.196.261.3: Photo of Howard and Sue Phengsomphone with a Lao pah khuane, a ceremonial decoration made by Manola Sidara.
2015.196.261.4: Photo of Mystic Knotwork artist Matt Beaudoin (left) with blacksmith Walter Scadden.
2015.196.261.5: Photo of Jody Blankenship, CHS Director (at the time), with blacksmith Walter Scadden.
2015.196.261.6: Photo of two visitors viewing the Native American arts display: a Mohegan pot made by Elaine Thomas and a Mohegan fingerweaving made by Faith Davidson.
2015.196.261.7: Photo of Gideon Ampeire demonstrating his Ugandan instruments.
2015.196.261.8: Photo of Tibetan weaver Kunga Choekyi trying out one of Gideon Ampeire’s Ugandan instruments with Tseyang Lhamo, a Tibetan weaver.
2015.196.261.9: Photo of Gideon Ampeire demonstrating his Ugandan instrument, the enanga.
2015.196.261.10: Photo of Matt Beaudoin, owner and artist of Mystic Knotwork, explaining maritime knot tying.
2015.196.261.11: Photo of Assyrian lace maker Florence Betgeorge describing how she makes her knotted lace.
2015.196.261.12: Photo of Lithuanian artist Aldona Saimininkas with her straw pictures.
2015.196.261.13: Photo of Tibetan artist Jampa Tsondue explaining how he participated in making the butter sculptures.
2015.196.261.14: Photo of Tibetan artists Jampa Tsondue with his thangka paintings and weaver Tentso Sichoe with her carpet.
2015.196.261.15: Photo of Tibetan weaver Tseyang Lhamo explaining how the carpet is made. The carpet was made by her mother, Tentso Sichoe.
2015.196.261.16: Photo of Lithuanian artist Aldona Saimininkas with her straw pictures, decorated Easter eggs, and straw ornaments.
NotesSubject Note: In 2016, the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CCHAP) at the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) marked 25 years of documenting the state’s diverse cultural traditions and sharing the artistic creations and community cultural practices of folk artists living here. To celebrate this achievement and honor their longtime partnership, the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) hosted a new exhibit curated by CCHAP. "Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities" displayed a fascinating variety of ethnic, occupational, and native arts that are thriving throughout the state.2015.196.261.1: Photo of blacksmith Walter Scadden explaining his ornamental ironwork to a visitor.
2015.196.261.2: Photo of Howard and Sue Phengsomphone with one of the Lao Buddhist statues made by Khoutavong Yongchaiyuth. They helped to facilitate the loan of these objects for the exhibit.
2015.196.261.3: Photo of Howard and Sue Phengsomphone with a Lao pah khuane, a ceremonial decoration made by Manola Sidara.
2015.196.261.4: Photo of Mystic Knotwork artist Matt Beaudoin (left) with blacksmith Walter Scadden.
2015.196.261.5: Photo of Jody Blankenship, CHS Director (at the time), with blacksmith Walter Scadden.
2015.196.261.6: Photo of two visitors viewing the Native American arts display: a Mohegan pot made by Elaine Thomas and a Mohegan fingerweaving made by Faith Davidson.
2015.196.261.7: Photo of Gideon Ampeire demonstrating his Ugandan instruments.
2015.196.261.8: Photo of Tibetan weaver Kunga Choekyi trying out one of Gideon Ampeire’s Ugandan instruments with Tseyang Lhamo, a Tibetan weaver.
2015.196.261.9: Photo of Gideon Ampeire demonstrating his Ugandan instrument, the enanga.
2015.196.261.10: Photo of Matt Beaudoin, owner and artist of Mystic Knotwork, explaining maritime knot tying.
2015.196.261.11: Photo of Assyrian lace maker Florence Betgeorge describing how she makes her knotted lace.
2015.196.261.12: Photo of Lithuanian artist Aldona Saimininkas with her straw pictures.
2015.196.261.13: Photo of Tibetan artist Jampa Tsondue explaining how he participated in making the butter sculptures.
2015.196.261.14: Photo of Tibetan artists Jampa Tsondue with his thangka paintings and weaver Tentso Sichoe with her carpet.
2015.196.261.15: Photo of Tibetan weaver Tseyang Lhamo explaining how the carpet is made. The carpet was made by her mother, Tentso Sichoe.
2015.196.261.16: Photo of Lithuanian artist Aldona Saimininkas with her straw pictures, decorated Easter eggs, and straw ornaments.
"Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities: An Exhibit Celebrating 25 Years of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program" highlights the work of Connecticut folk artists whose creativity expresses the history, cultures, values, and beliefs essential to their heritage. Their skills have been learned from family and community members over years of observation, practice, and artistic participation. Artists included Peruvian woodcarver and furniture restoration expert Romulo Chanduvi, Polish iconographer and community folklorist Marek Czarnecki, Ukrainian pysanky (decorated eggs) master Paul Luniw, and Q Delpeche, creator of brilliant Trinidad-style Carnival costumes. Several skilled textile artists from newcomer groups including Bosnian, Burmese Karen, and Assyrian displayed their weavings, embroideries, and lace. The Finnish community from eastern Connecticut showed woodcarvings, weavings, and sauna decorations, and the Tibetan community displayed thangka paintings, woven rugs, and a sand mandala. Connecticut-based Native American artists displayed flutes, pottery, and finger weaving. Occupational artists from maritime, ironwork, decoy carving, and shoe-making traditions illustrated the crafts of working communities. Additional artists included Lithuanian artists Aldona Saimininkas and Asta Nenortas, Cambodian costume designers Sotha Keth and Sophanna Keth Yos, Ukrainian embroiderer Zirka Rudyk, Laotian community artists Khoutavong and Manola Sidara, Ugandan musical instruments made by Gideon Ampeire, and National Heritage Fellowship awardee Eldrid Arntzen.
"Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities" was on display from August 11 through November 4, 2016, at the Gallery at Constitution Plaza, Hartford. The opening reception on August 11, 2016, featured food by Laotian chef Manola Sidara and music by Iraqi oud player Mustafa Adil. Several artists demonstrated their art forms and told stories about their cultural practices during a gallery talk held in November. Artists described their work at a public event held on November 3, 2016. The exhibit was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the Connecticut Historical Society.
Additional materials exist in the CCHAP archive for these artists and this event.
Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.
Status
Not on view
