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Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collection, 2015.196.265.1, Connecticut Historical S ...
New Lives New England Gathering, Burlington VT, 2017
Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collection, 2015.196.265.1, Connecticut Historical Society, Copyright Undetermined

New Lives New England Gathering, Burlington VT, 2017

Subject (Somali Bantu)
Subject (Somali Bantu)
Subject (Tibetan, born 1959)
Subject (Tibetan, born 1959)
Subject (Tibetan)
Subject (Tibetan)
Date2017 April 29
Mediumborn digital images
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections
CopyrightIn Copyright
Object number2015.196.265.1-.36
Description2015.196.265.1: Born digital image of Connecticut Somali Bantu artists Malyun (left) and Farhiyo Aden (right) with their basketry display at the event.

2015.196.265.2: Born digital image of Somali Bantu baskets and jewelry created through CCHAP’s Sewing Circle Project by participants at the event.

2015.196.265.3: Born digital image of Connecticut Burmese Karen artist Myint Khin (center) with her granddaughter Pawmu Harn, and a Vermont Karen translator.

2015.196.265.4: Born digital image of Connecticut Somali Bantu artist Farhiyo Aden with basketry she has woven displayed at the event.

2015.196.265.5: Born digital image of the gathering space with drums and displays by Connecticut newcomer artists at the event.

2015.196.265.6: Born digital image of Vermont Tibetan artist Migmar Tsering talking to the group at the event.

2015.196.265.7: Born digital image of a gathering of Tibetans, Burmese Karen, Somali Bantu, Bosnian, and Burundian community members at the event.

2015.196.265.8: Born digital image of a Vermont Somali Bantu cultural leader talking to the gathering.

2015.196.265.9: Born digital image of Vermont Somali Bantu cultural leader Masiti talking to the gathering.

2015.196.265.10: Born digital image of Vermont Somali Bantu cultural leader Masiti talking to the gathering. Malyun and Farhiyo from the Connecticut Somali Bantu community are listening.

2015.196.265.11: Born digital image of Connecticut Tibetan artist Jampa Tsondue speaking to the gathering.

2015.196.265.12: Born digital image of a Rhode Island Burundian participant speaking to the gathering.

2015.196.265.13: Born digital image of Connecticut Tibetan artists Jampa Tsondue and Yeshi Dorjee with a thangka for their display.

2015.196.265.14-.15: Born digital images of details of thangka paintings.

2015.196.265.16: Born digital image of a Tibetan thangka painting in a brocade frame in their display.

2015.196.265.17-.18: Born digital images of Jampa Tsondue and Yeshi Dorjee preparing their display.

2015.196.265.19-.20: Born digital images of Burundian community and Burundian drummers Inziragukanya of Rhode Island performance group.

2015.196.265.21: Born digital image of Burundians and Somali Bantu participants viewing the Connecticut Burmese Karen weavers’ display.

2015.196.265.22: Born digital image of Connecticut Burmese Karen weaver Myint Khin demonstrating her weaving in her backstrap loom.

2015.196.265.23: Born digital image of Connecticut Somali Bantu artists describing their basketry art work to the gathering while a Vermont Somali Bantu participant demonstrates the use of a broom they made.

2015.196.265.24: Born digital image of Connecticut Somali Bantu artist Farhiyo Aden describing their basketry art work to the gathering.

2015.196.265.25: Born digital image of Connecticut artists Jampa Tsondue, Yeshi Dorjee, and Farhiyo Aden discussing their work.

2015.196.265.26: Born digital image of Connecticut Somali Bantu artists Farhiyo Aden and Malyun and their display.

2015.196.265.27: Born digital image of Connecticut Somali Bantu artist Farhiyo Aden drawing henna designs on the hands of Vermont Somali Bantu artist Masiti.

2015.196.265.28-.29: Born digital images of a Vermont Burundian dance group performing.

2015.196.265.30: Born digital image of a basket made by Somali Bantu artist Oliyo Ibrahim (Farhiyo’s mother).

2015.196.265.31: Born digital image of Bosnian dancer Mediha Goretic with a Connecticut Somali Bantu basket she bought from Farhiyo.

2015.196.265.32-.33: Born digital images of Vermont Somali Bantu cultural leader Masiti with henna designs on both hands drawn by Farhiyo Aden.

2015.196.265.34: Born digital image of Connecticut artists who traveled to the event left to right: Jampa Tsondue, Yeshi Dorjee, Jampa’s grandson, Pawmu Harn, Myint Khin, Kunga Choekyi, Farhiyo Aden, and Malyun.

2015.196.265.35: Born digital image of participants from the Somali Bantu community: Masiti from Vermont, Farhiyo Aden (left), and Malyun (right) from Connecticut.

2015.196.265.36: Born digital image of young Connecticut artists: Malyun, Pawmu Harn, and Farhiyo Aden.
NotesSubject Note: New Lives New England was a two-phase collaborative project organized by the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CCHAP) at ICR, the Vermont Folklife Center, and Cultural Resources, Inc. in Maine. The project worked with refugee and new immigrant artists now living in the three states to develop gatherings, demonstrations, and exhibits that brought these artists together across the region to collaborate, develop their own initiatives, and extend their art forms. Connecticut newcomer artists often travel around the region to visit members of their communities in the other states. They are aware of the activities and the cultural resources in Maine and Vermont as well as in other New England states, and see a great benefit in sharing their artistic skills with fellow communities. The project aimed to foster a rich cross-fertilization among the artists and groups that would result in teaching and learning that would bring new initiatives and income to the communities as they increase their connections and opportunities. Project activities provided a chance for visitors to meet these talented artists, learn more about their cultures, and try some of their art forms. Another project goal focused on assisting the newcomer artists in sharing their traditions, which they love to do, forging strong connections between these new neighbors and public audiences. In sharing these traditions, new connections could be made with a larger public audience who may otherwise know little about them (their new neighbors).

The project received funding and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Greater Hartford Arts Council through contributors to its United Arts Campaign and the United Way Community Campaign, the Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD, the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls, the Connecticut Humanities Council, and the three partner organizations as well as the Connecticut Historical Society in 2016 and 2017.

The first phase, in 2013-2014, began with artists traveling to Burlington, Vermont from Hartford and Lewiston, Maine to take part in the Vermont Folklife Center’s Apprenticeship Program showcase of learning and to share ideas and art forms. The artists presented their cultures and art forms to each other in a roundtable discussion and discussed ideas for projects they could develop together. Translators participated so that artists could speak in their own languages. The artists and their art works were professionally photographed for their own promotional uses.

As a result of these discussions, the partners produced a traveling exhibit that was installed at the Institute for Community Research Gallery in Hartford, at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury, Vermont, and at the State House in Augusta, Maine. The exhibit explored the role that traditional arts play in helping these groups maintain a sense of community while building a new home in New England. For many members of refugee communities, practicing their familiar arts of weaving, knitting, basket making, lace making, music, dance, and storytelling helps them to cope with the trauma of the genocide and displacement their families have suffered. On display were hand woven carpets, clothing, baskets, decorative arts, wall hangings, and musical instruments made by skilled traditional artists living in Hartford, Connecticut; Burlington, Vermont; and Lewiston, Maine. The artists – several of whom are related although living in different states – were Burmese Karen, Somali, Somali Bantu, Bosnian, and Assyrian.

As the exhibit traveled to the three venues, many of the featured artists participated in public programs that connected them with their counterparts in the other states. The Bosnian Lilies dance group visited Hartford for the exhibit opening, staying with Hartford Bosnians forging stronger connections that have continued. Hartford’s Burmese Karen weavers demonstrated their weaving in Middlebury, Vermont and participated in a local Burmese Karen marketplace. Somali and Somali Bantu artists and musicians from Lewiston, Maine re-established ties with their family members and community artists who had moved to Hartford, Connecticut and Burlington, Vermont.

As a result of the first phase of the New Lives project, Bosnian weavers in Connecticut made lasting connections with Bosnians in Vermont, and the Connecticut artists had their work displayed successfully on a long-term basis in the Vermont Folkife Center (VFC) museum. A multi-year contract between CCHAP and VFC enabled Connecticut newcomer artists to sell their art in the museum shop. Also, Karen weavers in Hartford become more comfortable in demonstrating their weaving for public audiences after their visit to VFC in December 2013 as part of the exhibit. In 2014, the weavers and their translator welcomed students from Miss Porters School to visit the exhibit in the ICR gallery and try out the backstrap weaving technique as part of a school project on Burma. The success of this folk arts in education activity led CCHAP and the Karen artists to join Hartford Performs, an arts education program that places selected artists in Hartford schools. The first New Lives convening held in Burlington, Vermont in April 2013 introduced CCHAP to the Vermont Tibetan community and their excellent musicians. Tibetans in Connecticut, many visual and music artists among them, developed a plan to host the Vermont group for a gathering in Old Saybrook under this proposed project, to help them with ideas and strategies for offering cultural classes and trainings to young Tibetans in the rapidly growing Connecticut Tibetan community (now close to 500).

In 2016, this plan resulted in a visit from the Vermont-based Tibetan performing group led by Migmar Tsering to Connecticut’s TibetFest, to perform, connect with Connecticut Tibetans, and develop reciprocal cultural heritage activities. Artists and Tibetan community members camped out nearby for the weekend, creating a unique social gathering that was eagerly anticipated as an important part of the festival. Several Connecticut-based Tibetan artists performed and displayed art work at the festival, along with their families.

The second phase of New Lives New England concluded in 2017 with a large-scale gathering in Burlington, Vermont hosted by the Vermont Folklife Center and the local Somali Bantu community. Over two days, eight artists from Connecticut took part in a festival that showcased the visual arts, music, and foodways of Tibetan, Somali, Somali Bantu, Burundian, Nepalese and Bhutanese, all cultures that are shared by the three states. There were discussions, presentations, performances, and workshops in the artistic heritage of the cultural groups attending.


Substantial 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
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