4 minute read
The Elements: Fire
The Elements: Fire
Based on survey fieldwork conducted in 2022, the theme of this year’s Folklife Area is Fire.
Advertisement
The Elements: Fire Introduction
Introduction
The term folklife refers to the living traditions currently practiced and passed down within groups by word of mouth, imitation or observation. Folklife is a mirror that reflects community values, challenges and successes. Florida folklife is shaped by the state’s tremendous diversity and growth, creating a rich cultural landscape.
The term folklife refers to the living traditions currently practiced and passed down within groups by word of mouth, imitation or observation. Folklife is a mirror that reflects community values, challenges and successes. Florida folklife is shaped by the state’s tremendous diversity and growth, creating a rich cultural landscape.
What’s New at Florida Folklife?
For more than 40 years the Florida Folklife Program has documented, presented, and preserved Florida’s vibrant folklife and traditional culture. State folklorist Dr. Dominick Tartaglia has just completed his first full year in the position, and the some of the artists on the stage are from his very first Florida Fieldwork Survey on Fire Traditions in the state of Florida. Apart from the fieldwork survey and last year’s festival, Dom presided over the nominations of the 2023 Folk Heritage Awards (come see the Heritage Awards presentation at 9:45pm Saturday at the Amphitheater stage), booked the musical guests at the State of Florida’s Black History Arts & Culture Festival, coordinated the 2022 Artist Residency (Myriam Eli and Joe Zeytoonian), and coordinated the 2022-23 Apprenticeship program (all three teams will perform on the Folklife Stage).
What’s New at Florida Folklife?
For more than 40 years the Florida Folklife Program has documented, presented, and preserved Florida’s vibrant folklife and traditional culture. State folklorist Dr. Dominick Tartaglia has just completed his first full year in the position, and the some of the artists on the stage are from his very first Florida Fieldwork Survey on Fire Traditions in the state of Florida. Apart from the fieldwork survey and last year’s festival, Dom presided over the nominations of the 2023 Folk Heritage Awards (come see the Heritage Awards presentation at 9:45pm Saturday at the Amphitheater stage), booked the musical guests at the State of Florida’s Black History Arts & Culture Festival, coordinated the 2022 Artist Residency (Myriam Eli and Joe Zeytoonian), and coordinated the 2022-23 Apprenticeship program (all three teams will perform on the Folklife Stage).
Dom very excited to be here, and you will see him around the folklife area all weekend, along with the doctoral students from Florida State University’s “Making the Festival” class.
Dom very excited to be here, and you will see him around the folklife area all weekend, along with the doctoral students from Florida State University’s “Making the Festival” class.
Fire
For the next four years at the Folk Festival, the Folklife Area will be covering how the elements influence traditions in the state of Florida.
Fire
For the next four years at the Folk Festival, the Folklife Area will be covering how the elements influence traditions in the state of Florida.
Based on survey fieldwork conducted in 2022, the theme of this year’s Folklife Area is Fire
In comparison with many other regions of the country, Florida is new and constantly changing. While some can trace a long family lineage here, most Floridians have arrived within the last 50 years. In 2012 (the most recent year for which I could find information) only 36% of the population were born in the state. Even Florida’s Native Americans are new. The native peoples who inhabited the region at European contact were displaced by the Seminoles and Miccosukees who did not coalesce as distinct peoples until the late eighteenth century. Florida in many ways is like fire: dynamic, sustaining, enticing, and exciting. Florida grows and changes like the flames themselves, and understanding the role fire plays in Florida folk traditions means understanding the ways in which Florida’s folk groups have grown and changed.
In comparison with many other regions of the country, Florida is new and constantly changing. While some can trace a long family lineage here, most Floridians have arrived within the last 50 years. In 2012 (the most recent year for which I could find information) only 36% of the population were born in the state. Even Florida’s Native Americans are new. The native peoples who inhabited the region at European contact were displaced by the Seminoles and Miccosukees who did not coalesce as distinct peoples until the late eighteenth century. Florida in many ways is like fire: dynamic, sustaining, enticing, and exciting. Florida grows and changes like the flames themselves, and understanding the role fire plays in Florida folk traditions means understanding the ways in which Florida’s folk groups have grown and changed.
The tradition bearers on the Folklife Stage come from all across our state, from the Big Bend to the 305, Cracker Country to the Gulf Coast, Orlando, and many more. This year, the stage brings you six fire tradition bearers, three teams from the Apprenticeship Program, two Heritage Award winners, and six traditional musicians returning to the stage.
Invited Artists:
The tradition bearers on the Folklife Stage come from all across our state, from the Big Bend to the 305, Cracker Country to the Gulf Coast, Orlando, and many more. This year, the stage brings you six fire tradition bearers, three teams from the Apprenticeship Program, two Heritage Award winners, and six traditional musicians returning to the stage.
Tallahassee is a hotbed of Florida blacksmiths. This is in part due to the many cultural institutions which teach the art, such as the Tallahassee Museum and Mission San Luis. The other institution which promotes the infrastructure, organization, and networking of blacksmiths is the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABAA), the organization dedicated to teaching and preserving blacksmithing in Florida. It’s Northwest (Tallahassee) chapter is led by veteran blacksmith John Pfund. Born in the Keys, he made his way to Tallahassee when he was a welder. He discovered his love of blacksmithing and apprenticed at Mission San Luis. John is the Northwest Chapter president, a founding member of the Gainesville chapter, an artist in residence in Blountsville, and a mentor and
Invited Artists:
Tallahassee is a hotbed of Florida blacksmiths. This is in part due to the many cultural institutions which teach the art, such as the Tallahassee Museum and Mission San Luis. The other institution which promotes the infrastructure, organization, and networking of blacksmiths is the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association (FABAA), the organization dedicated to teaching and preserving blacksmithing in Florida. It’s Northwest (Tallahassee) chapter is led by veteran blacksmith John Pfund. Born in the Keys, he made his way to Tallahassee when he was a welder. He discovered his love of blacksmithing and apprenticed at Mission San Luis. John is the Northwest Chapter president, a founding member of the Gainesville chapter, an artist in residence in Blountsville, and a mentor and
