Expanding the Museum's Reach –Folk Culture's role in Presenting a Community's Story

75-minute session

Location: Hilton Albany, Kelsey

Day/Time: Monday, April 8 // 11 AM - 12:15 PM

About: Folk and traditional arts and culture provide opportunities for museums to engage with communities in unique ways. Successful programs have used several strategies, including making contextual connections with museum collections, engaging with local folk and traditional artists to provide live programming, and working with area schools to provide successful museum education programs that highlight the cultural groups found within a region. This presentation by the Hudson River Maritime Museum (Kingston), the Rockwell Museum (Corning), Mira Johnson of New York Folklore and Local Learning: The National Network for Folk Arts Education, and Ellen McHale of New York Folklore highlights the role of folk and traditional arts in giving "voice" to under-served communities. 

Presenters:

Mira Johnson, New York Network Coordinator, Local Learning: The National Network for Folk Arts in Education

Mira Johnson, D. Ed., is the New York Folklore and Education Network Coordinator–a joint position of Local Learning and New York Folklore. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at Bronx Community College in the English Department and the First Year Seminar Program. She holds a doctorate in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning from Penn State University and an M.A. in folklore from the University of Oregon.

Kerri Gallagher, Director of Education, Hudson River Maritime Museum

Kerry Gallagher is the Director of Education for the Hudson River Maritime Museum. She holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Miami University, with a degree also in Conservation Biology.

Amy Ruza, Youth and Family's Program Educator, The Rockwell Museum

Amy Ruza takes her inspiration from the natural world for her art forms. She studied at New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. At the Rockwell Museum, she develops and manages creative arts programs, positioning The Rockwell Museum as an important educational resource for families, youth and adults in the community. Collaborates with cultural organizations, artists and regional school districts on implementing arts education programming for students (Pre-K – college), adults and teachers in the community.

Hayden Haynes, Seneca bone and antler carver

Hayden Haynes (Seneca, Deer clan) is an artist from the Seneca Nation. His work is about healing-- an expression of Hodinöhsö:ni’ life today, showing where we come from, where we are today, and where we are going.

Wayne Ford, Boat Builder, Hudson River Maritime Museum

Wayne Ford is a master woodworker and shipwright with extensive timber framing experience. His decades of boat building experience includes participating in the restoration of the sloop Woody Guthrie and the sloop Clearwater. He teaches a wide range of woodworking classes, youth boat building, timber framing, and special project classes at the Wooden Boat School.