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WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY MUSEUM INTRODUCES GUESTS TO WASHINGTON FOLK ART TRADITIONS

“WITH OUR HANDS: World Folk Art Festival” April 18 & 19

TACOMA – Jan. 27 – The Washington State History Museum and the Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC) present a folk art festival April 18 and 19 in the History Museum’s Great Hall of Washington History. “WITH OUR HANDS: World Folk Art Festival” will feature demonstrations from 20 master artists.

This is part of a 10-month long folk arts celebration, which includes an exhibit, demonstrations, film viewings, lecture series and the festival. The companion exhibition WITH OUR HANDS: World Folk Art Traditions of Washington runs through Aug. 23.

All of the artists participating in the festival reside in Washington state, except one from Oregon. Among some of the traditional folk art on display will be Latvian embroidery, Ukrainian egg decoration, Guatemalan back strap weaving, Mexican garment seamstressing, Norwegian painting called Rosemaling, Yakama bead working, Vietnamese paper folding and much more.

The following artists are scheduled to attend the Festival:
Ampelio Mariscal, Mexican ornamental iron work artist, Brewster
Bhu Dayal and Jayendran Srinivasan, Indian deity dressers, Sammamish
Chong Heu, Hmong Needlework, Renton
Dennis Chastain, traditional chain saw artist, Forks
Elizabeth Leese, Norwegian rosmaling, Greenbank
Genoveva Castellanoz, traditional Mexican corona maker, Nyssa, OR
Hai-Viet Hong, Vietnamese zither maker, Everett
Husniyea Kouttainay, Palestinian needlework, Edmonds
Maija Atvars, Latvian embroidery, Renton
Maria Cuc Jiatz, Guatemalan back strap weaver, Spokane
Maria Gomez, traditional Mexican embroidery and garment making, Tonasket
Mary Ohno, Japanese Kabuki dancer, Tacoma
Mike Skinner, traditional rawhide braiding, Kirkland
Nhia Yia Heu, Hmong basket maker, Renton
Nicolas Petrish, Croatian musician and instrument maker, Anacortes
Oleksandra Pryveda, Ukrainian egg decoration and wheat weaving, Seattle
Que Tran, Vietnamese paper cutting and folding artist, Seattle
Rosalind Wang, traditional Chinese knot tying and paper cutting, Vancouver
Valerie Calac, Yakama beadwork artist and basket maker, White Swan
Wilho Saari, Finnish Kantele player, Naselle

Performances from Mary Ohno, Japanese Kabuki dancer, Nicholas Petrish, Croatian musician, Wilho Saari, Finnish musician and more artists every hour beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.

WITH OUR HANDS: World Folk Art Traditions of Washington is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and KUOW. The exhibit is organized by the Washington State History Museum and the Washington State Arts Commission.

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High resolution photos are available on our online image gallery, or upon request from Kimberly Adams, public relations coordinator.

About the Washington State History Museum
The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is located at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off 1-5. The Washington State History Museum presents exhibits, programs and events that bring Washington's history to life. The Washington State Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history since 1891.

HOURS - Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with extended hours and FREE admission every third Thursday from 2 - 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

ADMISSION -
$8 for adults; $7 for seniors, age 60 and above; $6 for students and military with valid ID; children, age 5 and below, and members are always FREE.

CONTACT –
1-888-BE THERE, www.WashingtonHistory.org

Media Contact:
Kimberly Adams
public relations coordinator
Washington State History Museum
253-798-5877

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