Folk Art in Your Family

A folk art is traditionally passed from one generation to the next, and is usually learned by listening or observation. Most often the art has elements of artistic design but often serves a family, tribal, or community function. Do you have a relative who plays guitar and sings songs about their experiences? Do you have a relative or friend who makes quilts? Does someone you know make a special food at certain times of the year for special occasions? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you know a folk artist! Write a paragraph or two about the person, their art, and your experience with it. You may want to ask how they learned their art, what it means to them, and who they’ve taught it to.