Issue 87 Folk Art

March / April 2019 Issue 87 Folk Art

Despite travelling to the US often and sharing a language, I am continually wrongfooted by cultural differences. The International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe had been on the periphery of my consciousness for at least a decade but I had dismissed it because my perception of Folk Art was mismatched. Last summer, however, when I found myself in the South West kicking my heels, I took the plunge and arranged a visit.

Rarely do we find something that strikes a personal chord. I have spent the last 20 years visiting exhibitions and craft fairs searching for something new to satisfy my curiosity. This event outstripped my expectations and some. Many of the 150 artisans exhibiting were already friends, including Nilda Callanaupa from Cusco, Peru (issue 68) and Rupa Trivedi of the ADIV project in India (issue 70). But what captured my imagination was the way the community had embraced the event and overcome the logistical challenges of bringing artisans from so many countries together in one place. I am delighted to announce that Selvedge has accepted an invitation from the International Folk Art Market to bring a similar event The Selvedge World Fair to a UK audience in July 2020. We are excited and a little apprehensive about the enormity of the challenge ahead and call upon the support and generosity of our readers to assist with the fundraising, to spread the word, encourage artisans to apply and volunteer their time. To find out how to donate and volunteer please see www.selvedge.org.

In the issue, we visit New Mexico’s key sights with the Alexander Girard Folk Art collection and the wardrobe of Georgia O'Keeffe. We also celebrate the work of artisans who will be exhibiting at the Selvedge World Fair in London, including Porfirio Gutierrez from Mexico and Bhairvi's Chikan from India. Also in this issue, we explore the ideas around cultural appropriation, as well as the British tradition of Morris Dancing. In the more immediate future, we will be visiting Bath again on 30th March and I hope to see you there.

Polly Leonard