Exhibit Opening: Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities: An Exhibit Celebrating 25 Years of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program
SubjectPortrait of
Zirka Rudyk
SubjectPortrait of
Helen Kebalo
SubjectPortrait of
Fatima Vejzovic
(Bosnian)
SubjectPortrait of
Sophanna Keth
(Cambodian)
SubjectPortrait of
Sotha Keth
(Cambodian)
SubjectPortrait of
Marek Czarnecki
(Polish-American)
SubjectPortrait of
Kunga Choekyi
(Tibetan)
SubjectPortrait of
Tseyang Lhamo
(Tibetan American)
SubjectPortrait of
Lynne Williamson
SubjectPortrait of
Jampa Tsondue
(Tibetan, born 1959)
SubjectPortrait of
Asta Nenortas
Date2016 August 11
Mediumborn digital images
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.262.1-.15
DescriptionArt works and artists at the exhibit opening of the exhibition, "Connecticut Traditional Artists and Their Communities: An Exhibit Celebrating 25 Years of the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program."
2015.196.262.1: Photo of Norwegian rosemaling painted by Eldrid Arntzen.
2015.196.262.2: Photo of the Asian folk arts section of the exhibit, Tibetan painting and carpets on the right and back center, and Lao ceremonial arts on the left.
2015.196.262.3: Photo of a Tibetan thangka painting by Jampa Tsondue of the Boddhisattva The Compassionate One.
2015.196.262.4: Photo of a Tibetan carpet woven by Kunga Choekyi and butter sculptures made by Yeshi Dorjee.
2015.196.262.5: Photo of Trinity College professor and Carnival scholar Milla Riggio, woman standing in front of Trinidad-style Frontline Mas (masquerade) costume made by Keimani “Q” Delpeche.
2015.196.262.6: Photo of Zirka Rudyk standing in front of the Ukrainian folk arts display with her Ukrainian embroidery.
2015.196.262.7: Photo of Ukrainian embroiderer Helen Kebalo standing in front of the Ukrainian folk arts display.
2015.196.262.8: Photo of Regina Ziurys (left) and Sister Mary Louise Rouleau standing in front of Lithuanian decorative arts display. Both have ties to the Hartford area Lithuanian community.
2015.196.262.9: Photo of Mehdin Muratovic (left) and his grandmother, Bosnian weaver Fatima Vejzovic, standing in front of the Bosnian Memory Rug woven by Fatima’s daughter Fikreta Muratovic.
2015.196.262.10: Photo of Cambodian artists Sophanna Keth Yos (left), her sister, dancer Somaly Hay in photo, Somaly’s daughter Rithmaly Hay, and their brother, artist Sotha Keth, makers of Somaly’s costume.
2015.196.262.11: Photo of Cambodian artists Sophanna Keth Yos (left), her sister, dancer Somaly Hay in photo, Somaly’s daughter Rithmaly Hay with her son Harrison, and their brother, artist Sotha Keth, makers of Somaly’s costume.
2015.196.262.12: Photo of Polish iconographer Marek Czarnecki (left) with Lithuanian artist Aldona Saimininkas in front of her art work.
2015.196.262.13: Photo of Tibetan artists left to right: Kunga Choekyi, weaver Tenstso Sichoe, weaver Tseyang Lhamo, exhibit curator Lynne Williamson, and painter Jampa Tsondue.
2015.196.262.14: Photo of Lithuanian artist Asta Nenortas with her daughter in front of Lithuanian Easter wands made by Asta.
2015.196.262.15: Photo of Mystic Knotwork owner and artist with his wife and the Connecticut DECD/Small Business Development Officer.
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.2015.196.262.1: Photo of Norwegian rosemaling painted by Eldrid Arntzen.
2015.196.262.2: Photo of the Asian folk arts section of the exhibit, Tibetan painting and carpets on the right and back center, and Lao ceremonial arts on the left.
2015.196.262.3: Photo of a Tibetan thangka painting by Jampa Tsondue of the Boddhisattva The Compassionate One.
2015.196.262.4: Photo of a Tibetan carpet woven by Kunga Choekyi and butter sculptures made by Yeshi Dorjee.
2015.196.262.5: Photo of Trinity College professor and Carnival scholar Milla Riggio, woman standing in front of Trinidad-style Frontline Mas (masquerade) costume made by Keimani “Q” Delpeche.
2015.196.262.6: Photo of Zirka Rudyk standing in front of the Ukrainian folk arts display with her Ukrainian embroidery.
2015.196.262.7: Photo of Ukrainian embroiderer Helen Kebalo standing in front of the Ukrainian folk arts display.
2015.196.262.8: Photo of Regina Ziurys (left) and Sister Mary Louise Rouleau standing in front of Lithuanian decorative arts display. Both have ties to the Hartford area Lithuanian community.
2015.196.262.9: Photo of Mehdin Muratovic (left) and his grandmother, Bosnian weaver Fatima Vejzovic, standing in front of the Bosnian Memory Rug woven by Fatima’s daughter Fikreta Muratovic.
2015.196.262.10: Photo of Cambodian artists Sophanna Keth Yos (left), her sister, dancer Somaly Hay in photo, Somaly’s daughter Rithmaly Hay, and their brother, artist Sotha Keth, makers of Somaly’s costume.
2015.196.262.11: Photo of Cambodian artists Sophanna Keth Yos (left), her sister, dancer Somaly Hay in photo, Somaly’s daughter Rithmaly Hay with her son Harrison, and their brother, artist Sotha Keth, makers of Somaly’s costume.
2015.196.262.12: Photo of Polish iconographer Marek Czarnecki (left) with Lithuanian artist Aldona Saimininkas in front of her art work.
2015.196.262.13: Photo of Tibetan artists left to right: Kunga Choekyi, weaver Tenstso Sichoe, weaver Tseyang Lhamo, exhibit curator Lynne Williamson, and painter Jampa Tsondue.
2015.196.262.14: Photo of Lithuanian artist Asta Nenortas with her daughter in front of Lithuanian Easter wands made by Asta.
2015.196.262.15: Photo of Mystic Knotwork owner and artist with his wife and the Connecticut DECD/Small Business Development Officer.
"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 photographic and video materials are present in the CCHAP archive relating to this event, this community, and the artists.
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
Jampa Tsondue
2018 March 10
