Folk Art

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Folk Art

• From Appalachian to around the world!!

By Jennifer Bruton Sims Spring 2007
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Characteristics of Folk Art

• Made by common people.
• Art may be taught by family members and passed
  down through generations.
• No formal training.
• Handmade

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Types of Folk Art

• Folk Art can be divided into two types or
  purposes.
• - Functional
• used.
• -Non-functional
• to look at
• or decorative

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Quilts

• Quilts are made with designs that are passed down
  from generation to generation This is known as
  being traditional.
• Often have patterns or repeated designs.

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More Quilts

• Purpose traditionally is functional to use.

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Quilts as Narrative

• Today some quilts have become works of art that
  are more decorative and may also be narrative
  tell a story.

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Baskets

• Baskets were created to carry things in. A
  popular example was the egg basket.
• Baskets were often woven from white oak.

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Spinning and Weaving

• Spinning Wheel
• Loom

• The spinning wheel and the loom was used to make
  clothing and kivers (bed covers).
• Wool was sheared from sheep in the spring and
  then washed and made into soft, fluffy rolls for
  spinning.
• Using the spinning wheel the wool was spun into
  yarn.
• The yarn or thread was then used to create
  clothing.

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Handmade brooms and tools

• Blacksmith
• Brooms and tools

• Blacksmiths would use a forge to form iron into
  objects and tools that were needed.
• Artisans would create all sorts of things that
  were needed in everyday life. Example Brooms.

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Handmade toys

• Slingshots
• Cornhusk Dolls

• Toys were handmade from anything that was
  available.
• Boys would play with slingshots and blow guns.
• Girls would play with dolls made from anything
  like apples, potatoes, sticks, rocks, corncobs,
  and corn shucks.
• Marbles would also be played with and made from
  colored clay.

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Carved Folk Art

• Carved from Wood
• Toys made to entertain children.
• Folk Art includes Toys
• and Cigar Indians.
• Cigar Indians would be found in general stores.

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Scrimshaw

• Carved from whale bone.
• Sailors would carve to pass the time while out on
  long fishing trips.
• Items carved figurines, pie crimpers, and images
  carved in bone.

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Folk Art from Around the World

• Folk Art can
• Be viewed in
• every area
• of the world
• and in every
• culture.
• Items made by
• hand and from
• ordinary people
• - nesting eggs from Russia
• - Beaded handbag from South America

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Can you give examples of Folk Art from cultures
that we have studied?

• Native American
• - pottery
• - weaving rugs and baskets
• West African
• - mask
• - Kente Cloth

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Fine Art that is made by Folk Artist

• These works of art are made by artist that have
  had no formal training.
• Artwork is made for visual quality to look at and
  enjoy.
• Some artwork may be narrative in purpose, as well
  as non-functional.
• Famous Folk Artist Grandma Moses and Horace
  Pippin.

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Grandma Moses
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Horace Pippin
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Folk Music - Instruments

• Fiddle
• Dulcimer
• Banjo
• Mandolin
• Acoustic Guitar

• Music was a part of everyday life in early
  Appalachian regions.
• Music was sung in the fields in the form of
  ballads.
• Mothers sang lullabies to her children.
• Congregations sang hymns in the churches.
• Lively songs of dance of jigs were played on
  banjos and fiddles.

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Folk/Appalachian Storytelling

• Jack Tales
• Haints

• Stories would be told from generation to
  generation. Often stories would be told to keep
  children working in the field or for
  entertainment while sitting together in the
  evening.
• Jack Tales About a brave boy named Jack who was
  always outsmarting a giant.
• Haints Balls of fire or shadowy figures that
  floated above the ground and found in Ghost
  Stories.

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Summary

• Folk Art
• Purpose
• Functional to use
• Non-functional or Decorative to look at
• Who makes it?
• Anyone that is not formally trained. May
  be trained by a family member or self-taught.
• Examples
• toys, quilts, brooms, baskets, etc.