Updated September 21, 2005 |
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| From the Somers Historical Society & the Town of Somers Wright Reis Collection With Contemporary Works by Regional Artisans & Local Folk Art Elements Discovered in situ |
| Folk Art ... a simple enough term, yet it is soon realized to be very complex. Many people have ideas about what it is, yet these views vary greatly to encompass many different forms, both historical and contemporary. |
| In America the term "Folk Art" initially conjures up a vision of early handmade objects, sometimes crudely created, often with intriguing design, including the likes of weather vanes and whirligigs, cigar store Indians and scrimshaw, woodcarvings and baskets, painted gourds and skins, and other items produced by Native Americans are considered as folk art. The influx from European, Asian and African cultures engendered adaptations of tradional ethnic folk art in this polyglot environment, as seen in utilitarian objects and religious icons. Contemporary artisans have taken these influences and woven them into new forms with traditional and materials. The boundaries and definitions of Folk Art continually shift, as they are affected by the context of the pieces and the artisans. In trying to define Folk Art, many things come into play. For some, the essence lies in the "Art," the object and the act of making it - the hand made creation of a unique object, often recycling existing materials. Other scholars and collectors focus on the "Folk," the untrained makers and their environment embodied in the objects they give life to. The point of common ground seems to be several elements, the untrained, unschooled creator, the naive quality of the piece, and the re-use of traditional materials. Click here to go to the next page of the Exhbition. |
The exhibition contained both permanent and rotating collections. The rotating exhibition consisted of cContemporary works of folk art by regional artisans (Click here for a list of artists) Photographs of local folk art elements by Kevin Monaghan & Peter Burckmyer discovered in situ are displayed in the first floor meeting room. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Exhibition was organized by Somers Historical Society with funding from the New York State Legislature through the efforts of Senator Vincent Leibell. |
| What is Folk Art? A Somers View Exploring Historical & Contemporary Forms Handmade. Naive. Unschooled. Recycled. Innocent. Visionary. Primitive. |
| PAST EXHIBITION October 2004 - September 2005 |
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| Somers Bicentennial Quilt Click here for some close-ups |