Culture in Context,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (26:46)
This State of the Arts special explores the exhibition of the same name at the New Jersey State Museum. Culture in Context: A Tapestry of Expression, marks the reopening of the museum after an extended renovation. The array of objects and traditions included in the exhibit gives striking testimony to the fact that New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the union.
Bob Broschart, Woodworker,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (2:43) Bob Broschart has learned to make the traditional wooden molds and forms used in historic glassblowing factories. State of the Arts visits his shop and goes to Wheaton Arts in Millville for a glassblowing demonstration using the molds.
(Excerpt from the State of the Arts special, Culture in Context)
Gail Dufresne, Rug Hooking,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (2:16)
In the 1800s, women began making hooked rugs for their floors out of old clothes, using simple hand drawn patterns. Today, the process has remained the same, but the materials and patterns have evolved, with artists such as Gail Dufresne creating original patterns for others to hook. State of the Arts visits Gail at her studio in Lambertville.
(Excerpt from the State of the Arts special, Culture in Context)
The Seabright Skiff, NJN, 1991 (26:46)
This documentary by Lou Presti portrays Charles Hankins building a Seabright skiff. Charles talks about working with his father and brothers, and about the evolution of the boat’s form and its uses.
Jenny Hua, Cambodian Court Dancer, NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (5:00)
In this story, State of the Arts visits Jenny Hua at home and meets her parents, ethnic Khmers who escaped from Vietnam and Cambodia during the war, and behind the scenes for the ritual of dressing in full costume as Hua prepares to perform in a celebration of the Cambodian New Year at the Khmer Art Gallery in Philadelphia.
(Excerpt from the State of the Arts special, Culture in Context)
Isi Igetei, Nigerian Etsako Storyteller,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (2:55)
State of the Arts visits Isi Igetei at home in Hillside, New Jersey, where he tells a traditional story to a group of children from the neighborhood and describes his own youth learning from griots in Nigeria.
(Excerpt from the State of the Arts special, Culture in Context)
Fusaye Kazaoka, Dollmaker,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2005 (5:01) Fusaye Kazaoka is featured in this story from the State of the Arts episode Tales of Innocence and Experience. She describes how she came to South Jersey after WWII and her desire to keep the Japanese traditions of doll making and origami alive. Produced by Peter Shea & Lynn Walker.
The Cuatro Project, NJN/State of the Arts, 1998 (6:14) Diomedes Matos, a master cuatro maker, works with apprentice Roberto Rivera building an instrument. Includes footage of an impromptu performance. Producer: Angela Capio, Host: Amber Edwards.
NEA Heritage Concert, Strathmore Music Center, 2006 (14:44) Diomedes Matos is honored at the NEA National Heritage Fellows Concert. He then performs, first on guitar accompanied by two cuatro players, then on the cuatro accompanied by his son, Pucho Matos, on guitar.
Mary May, South Jersey Basketmaker,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (2:32) Mary May was drawn to the white oak baskets of the Pinelands region and became skilled in recreating their traditional forms. State of the Arts visits Mary in her studio and at Tuckerton Seaport where she teaches children the process and history of basket making.
(Excerpt from the State of the Arts special, Culture in Context)
Harry V. Shourds II, Decoy Carver, NJN, 1982 (4:36)
In this excerpt from In the Barnegat Bay Tradition, Harry Shourds remembers how he learned to carve decoys from his father and grandfather – all while at work carving a decoy in his shop. Produced by Lou Presti.
Hutsul Headdresses, NJN/State of the Arts, 1999 (4:06)
Master weaver Eudokia Sorochaniuk shows how a traditional Hutsul bride in the Ukraine would dress. The story includes footage of Eudokia weaving, and her husband, Dmytro, playing the tsymbaly. Producer: Angela Capio, Host: Amber Edwards.
Alpa Thakkar, Gujarati Kutchi Embroidery,
NJN/State of the Arts, 2008 (2:50)
State of the Arts visits with Alpa Thakkar, an Indian skilled at traditional Gujarati Kutchi embroidery. Alpa is by profession a jeweler, however, in her off time, she enjoys making the colorful embroidered clothing worn by Indian women for Navrati and other festivals.
(Excerpt from the State of the Arts special, Culture in Context)
Audio
Culture in Context the Podcast
Singer of Jewish Songs
Marsha Dubrow describes her deep connection with Jewish music, both through her work as the Cantor of Congregation B’nai Jacob in Jersey City and through her scholarly studies. In addition, Marsha is a composer of contemporary Jewish sacred music. She has a Ph.D. in musicology from Princeton University and has received four grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Apprenticeship program. This is the fourth podcast in an 8-part series.
Bengali Alpana Painter
New Jersey is home to people from all over the world who bring their cultures with them. Bengali alpana is a type of ritual painting done with rice paste in the West Bengal state of India. Work by Manalapan teacher Dhriti Bagchi is featured in the New Jersey State Museum exhibition "Culture in Context: A Tapestry of Expression." Dhriti learned alpana and pata painting as a child in India from her mother; she now teaches children how to create these traditional designs. This is the third podcast in an 8-part series.
South Jersey Basketmaker
Basketmaking is one of the traditional crafts from South Jersey featured in the New Jersey State Museum exhibition "Culture in Context: A Tapestry of Expression." Mary May is not only a master artist but an historian of South Jersey baskets – a hundred years ago, baskets were used for everything from picking berries to bringing fish to market. This is the second podcast in an 8-part series.
The Stories That Objects Tell
Curator Rita Moonsammy gives an introduction to the New Jersey State Museum exhibition "Culture in Context." She talks about how the objects on display tell stories about the traditions that are important to people, in their home lives, their workplaces, and their communities. This is the first podcast in an 8-part series.
Mah Tovu (2:01). Text from the Torah sung by a Jewish cantor as a welcoming piece sung to acknowledge the assembled community in the temple: “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.”
Shachar Avakeshcha (2:38).
A piyyut, or Jewish liturgical poem, written by Ibn Gabirol in the 11th century: “At dawn I seek your refuge, Rock sublime… If music should be sweet to you in mortal key, then your praises shall I sing so long as breath is in me.”
Ki mi’Tzion (1:42).
Words recited when the Torah is taken from the ark during the Torah service: “Out of Zion came the Torah, and the word of God from Jerusalem.”
Text
I Remember Life in Seabrook
In this "I remember" memoir, Fusaye Kazaoka recalls her arrival at Seabrook Farms after being interned at a camp in Arizona. She goes on to describe her family's life working at Seabrook Farms, and her job with New Jersey Bell Telephone Company. This memoir was recorded in 1994 as part of The Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center's "I remember" project.
