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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

MS Follklife and Folk Artist Directory: UPDATES!



The Mississippi Folklife and Folk Artist Directory is the brainchild of my predecessor here at the MAC, Larry Morrisey. When Larry launched this site, he provided folk artists and traditions an online venue to be documented, celebrated and explored. Many researchers and enthusiasts look to the directory as a way to learn more about folklife in Mississippi, and we are very proud of the growing list of entries.


Fans of the Folklife Directory have a lot to look forward to this summer. We'll be adding nearly 30 new entries to the Directory covering a range of topics including blues, old-time string music, Celtic flute, Choctaw storytelling, folk art painting and luthiers. You'll get bio information, images and in some cases, audio and video, to help you better understand folklife in the Magnolia State. Documentary research was conducted by blues historian Scott Barretta, ethnomusicologist Chris Goertzen and writer Melanie Young.


Stay tuned and check back often for updates to Mississippi Folklife and Folk Artist Directory!


Friday, June 3, 2011

Arts Advocacy at Our Nation's Capitol

While in Washington DC to perform at the Homegrown Concert Series at the Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center, Ben Payton and the Thundering Harps stopped in for a visit with Senator Roger Wicker. Pictured from left to right are Ben Payton, MAC's Mary Margaret Miller, Sen. Roger Wicker, Kendrick Hart, Cyndi Clark and Steve Chester.