FOLK ART

Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic. Folk Art is characterized by a naïve style, in which traditional rules of proportion and perspective are not employed. The nature of folk art is specific to its particular culture. Most folk art tells us a story of either everyday life or what is known as “Folk Lore”, which is traditional art, literature, knowledge, and practices that are passed on in large part through oral communication and examples.

Characteristically folk art is not influenced by movements in academic or fine art circles. Terms that might overlap with folk art are: naïve art tribal art primitive art popular art outsider art traditional art tramp art and working-class art/blue-collar art. As one might expect, these terms can have multiple and even controversial connotations but are often used interchangeably with the term "folk art". Folk art expresses cultural identity by conveying shared community values and aesthetics. It encompasses a range of utilitarian and decorative media, including cloth, wood, paper, clay, metal and more. Folk art reflects traditional art forms of diverse community groups — ethnic, tribal, religious, occupational, geographical, age- or gender-based — who identify with each other and society at large.

The fun thing about Folk Art is that it covers almost every race, geographic destination, and socio-economic category. Folk art is simple, direct, and most often always colorful. It transcends (or crosses over) all diverse regions of people, economics, and was primarily used for story telling and utility. Folk Art was often created by people of a ‘lower economic background’ (not the wealthy), in order to tell stories, but also to pass time and for utility (in other words, the art was often used for something!) For instance, a bird house could house birds, but could also be decorated and painted as something nice to look at!

Folk Art came about more organically than classically trained art forms or movements. These were regular people that just loved to create, but did not necessarily have the ‘normal’ means of art supplies to do it with, so they created their own forms of ‘art!’. Painting of a woman swimming – painted on a banjo. Painting of a young girl around the early 1800’s..

Once again, Folk Art told stories of what life was like for everyday people- including what they wore, what they may have done for a living, what they did to have fun, what THEIR LIVES WERE LIKE! This particular painting captured the lifestyle of people in the caribbean.

More examples of early Folk Art Some activities look fun, some not so much. Look at the way the people dressed and what they might have done for fun or as a community, or in their own homes.

More life depictions of Folk Art – stories of what life was like.

More examples of early Folk Art, telling a story.

Look at the paintings and the objects and try to figure out what life was like! This painting is telling all sorts of stories! Maybe you can figure one of them out!

What stories do you think these paintings or drawings tell? If you had to tell a story, what would you draw or paint?

Much Folk Art was made up of patterns and designs that were often drawn, stitched or painted on quilts and wood, iron or other materials rather than traditional canvas or paper.

Quilts with patterns.

Folk Art could be and is almost anything! Often it included three-Dimensional Design and Sculpture. Look at the materials and textures used in the art! (discuss!) It’s very unconventional!

The front and back of a hand made doll. A piece made of different materials that look like a pattern.

Folk Art was often funny or whimsical, depicting things that did not really exist in real life. Look at the expression of the ‘pumpkin head’, it’s pretty fun! And who wouldn’t want to find a turtle with all of those colors on its’ shell?

As “Folk Art” developed, much of it was used to decorate homes, gardens, landscapes, pathways, and other forms of ‘expression’ to enhance the surroundings of wherever the folk art was placed. Maybe you can think of an example of Folk Art you have seen outside or in your home or some other place!

Much Folk Art in our state of North Carolina can be found in small towns or more ‘artsy’ cities like Asheville, and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Folk Art is also in many museums.

There is an American Folk Art Museum in New York City. If you ever go there you might be able to visit!

Another museum with a Folk Art Section

Some Folk Art was very time consuming, tedious and detailed, as in these bead sculptures. Maybe you could make these!

More Folk Art

Look at the dog and the butterfly. Examine the materials, the patterns and the colors. All of these were trademarks of Folk Art.

Both of these examples tell a story- what do you think it is?

THE END! ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES!

FOLK ART ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSION: USE LOTS OF COLORS LIKE CRAYONS AND MARKERS! PAPER, CRAYONS AND MARKERS WILL BE PROVIDED IN DRAWERS DOWNSTAIRS IN THE MEDIA CENTER. Try to draw your own ‘story’ with patterns and folk art You can draw a place that you love, your home, or make something up. You can draw an animal or a person that you want to depict. Try to use patterns in the drawing to ‘create’ the texture – use a lot of color and details! Simple things are great. You can simplify everything- it does NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT! LOOK AT THE EXAMPLES ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES! THERE ARE NO WRONG SUBJECTS. YOU CAN DRAW ANYTHING! USE YOUR IMAGINATION- DECORATE WITH PATTERN, COLOR, AND STYLE! MOST IMPORANT… HAVE FUN!

You can draw a best friend, an animal, or your favorite person!

You could draw your house or a place where you want to go to do something fun …like the ice skaters in the painting below! Be sure to use a lot of color and textures and patterns! Make up your own!

Draw a favorite pet or a favorite place with outrageous colors!

You could draw something as simple as the sun and decorate it! You decide! You’re the artist!