Monday, April 23, 2012
Cat’s Cradle, a Folk Game:
Monday, April 16, 2012
Folk Art Heals Disaster
Folk art, unlike ‘fine art’ can be created by anyone – although there is a growing number of folk artists who have devoted themselves to perfecting their folk craft. Folk art can combine any number of everyday items. Think painted water cans, quilts, or weather vanes, for example. This folk way of depicting something has the ability to bring people together, help them heal, and even distract them from a variety of hardships, including natural disasters that leave countries, communities, families and individuals with nothing.
At the Museum of International Folk Art in New Mexico, the current The Arts of Survival: Folk Expression in the Face of Natural Disaster exhibit highlights the way folk artists have helped their communities recover from these natural disasters: the Haitian Earthquake; Hurricane Katrina on the U.S. Gulf Coast; floods in Pakistan; and the volcanic eruption of Mt. Merapi in Indonesia.
Carnival masks, scrolls, paintings, or vodou flags retell the trauma and the drama and, in this way, help to make the pain of these events more manageable.
Art in general can help the world understand unfortunate circumstances. Folk art that reflects the traditions (and materials) of a specific region help to explain who is affected by the disasters and how. Folk art can also encourage victims to face the difficult realities of the disaster and this can help them move through a range of feelings and emotions.
Folk artists show their own emotions about the natural disasters in ways that people may not have understood. They become spokespersons and help illustrate the stories behind select events.
The Arts of Survival: Folk Expression in the Face of Natural Disaster close on April 29th.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Black Pepper & Other Spices
The food we eat forms the basis of our food lore. What we believe about our food – how to grow it, prepare it and serve it – all go into food lore. Around the world, customs and traditions have been built upon food which is, undoubtedly, one of the most important elements of our survival.
Holidays and other gatherings that note rites of passage or seasonal changes always include communal eating in some fashion or other. No matter what region of the world you are in, you will find there are many ways to spice up your food.
One of the more common spices is pepper.
Contrary to belief, pepper isn’t just found in the tiny little grains that are put on top of salads. Pepper comes from a flowered plant that is dried and made into a seasoning. It is generally found in India or in any tropical region since that is where the plant flourishes. Ground into powder it has been used as medicine and is actually the world's most traded spice!
Referred to as “black gold” because of its importance and how highly sought after it was, it was often the specific treasure explorers sought. This "king of spices" was so valuable that in ancient Greece and Rome it was used as currency and even as recently as 19th century Massachusetts; it was the source of wealth for some of America’s first millionaires.
Spices in general enhance the flavor of foods. Here are some common spices:
· Anise: a very sweet spice, often described as a licorice-like taste. Hippocrates suggested using anise to control coughing and King Edward IV slept on linen perfumed with anise.
· Caraway: the oldest known spice that was even sometimes used as medicine. It is called "Roman cumin" in the Far East. King Richard II's master chefs combined caraway with coriander, garlic and pepper in their recipe records, Form of Cury.
· Cinnamon: This Indian native spice is definitely a kitchen staple. It was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs. Arab traders brought it to Alexandria, Egypt, where it was sold to Venentian trades.
· Paprika: made from dried red chile peppers. Christopher Columbus is credited with bringing it to Europe. By the 16th century, it had reached the Balkans and then soon migrated to Hungary.
What’s your favorite spice? Let us know!
Monday, April 2, 2012
A Modern Folk Heroine
One of Today's Sports' Heroines: Sara Cunningham
The world of folk heroines is changing. To keep up with the times, we are discovered new brands of folk heroines. As always, they come in all shapes and sizes and reflect our elemental beliefs about such values as hard work, honesty, and love. We admire these women because they not only show us ‘how to do what it right’ they also inspire us to be our best.
Sonoma State University intern Megan Cunningham has many folk heroines. One of them is her older sister. At my request, she agreed to write about this runner. It’s easy to see why she’s a folk heroine:
My sister Sara Cunningham is 24-years-old and has been playing sports since she was five-years-old. She started focusing on running cross country and track after entering high school. She fell in love with it and continued her running career at San Diego State University where she graduated in 2009. She continues to run every morning of the work week at 6am before she goes to her full time job. Occasionally she also runs on the weekends. This effort shows her dedication to a long-established exercise regime.
When others hear that she runs that early in the morning every day, they are shocked, surprised and impressed. “I run for many reasons. It keeps me active and healthy, it's a great way to get rid of my extra energy, and I genuinely enjoy it,” Sara says.
Another reason she runs is to give her dog, Medley exercise. Medley is a terrier who has a lot of energy and loves (and needs) runs and walks. He usually has tons of energy and needs exercise every day. However, there are days when Sara has to force him to get out of bed but once he is up, he is ready to go.
Along with running my sister tries to eat healthy by cooking for herself instead of going out to eat. Luckily she is always excited to try a new recipe. Aware that she is responsible for her own well-being, she also takes time for other healthy activities. Besides running, she enjoys beach volleyball, soccer, hiking and going to the beach. As her younger sister I have learned a lot from her healthy habits and have become an avid runner just like her.
Megan didn’t mention that she’s also a very good soccer player and is a member of Sonoma State’s Sea Wolves.