Missouri Folk Arts Program

Ozarks Alive interviewed folklorist and folk musician Julie Henigan for a new story in the Show Me Folk, Springfield project: "It all began in Columbia, Mo., where she was born; her family moved to Springfield when she was five. Her father was an English professor and her mother a musician, a combination that led to a childhood immersed in all sorts of music, art and literature. Those things have remained constants in her life ever since." Henigan's story is so much elaborate... than those three lines indicate. Visit with her and listen to a couple of tunes, as well at the link. #ShowMeFolk "The creation of this article is underwritten by Show Me Folk, an initiative of the Missouri Folk Arts Program, and is published through a collaboration with Ozarks Alive. Show Me Folk sustains our state’s folk arts and folklife in collaboration with Missouri citizens by identifying traditional arts regionally; documenting traditions locally; and sharing Missouri stories widely." https://ozarksalive.com/julie-henigan-authority-on-ozarks-/

200 Stories Bennie Smith, TAAP master artist: 1995, 1997 Bennie Smith (1933-2006) was a St. Louis native and musical genius, widely recognized as one of St. Louis’s leading blues guitarists. His technical mastery of the instrument and innovative arrangements of several blues classics earned him the title "Dean of the St. Louis Electric Guitarists. As a child, Smith first tried his hand at the ukulele, then gave it up for guitar when he was a pre-teen. Throughout the 50s, Sm...ith spent much of his time listening to musicians on the radio and learning guitar from people around his neighborhood. Over the years, Bennie Smith played as a side man for B.B. King, Little Milton, Aretha Franklin, and Ike Turner. In fact, Smith played guitar in 1958 on Turner’s Box Top, with background vocals by Little Ann (later known as Tina Turner). From 1991-2006, Smith released three albums of his own and is remembered still as an icon and inspiration in the St. Louis blues scene. Read the transcript of a 1996 interview with Smith here: https://www.stlblues.net/smith.html 1996 radio interview Then, check out this tribute posted to YouTube, including apprentice Sharon Foehner, memorializing Smith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK52AKU1ZxY 77 of 200 #ShowMeFolk #200Stories #Missouri2021 #Missouri200

As the year working with Ozarks Alive winds down, we're thankful for Kaitlyn McConnell's ability to connect with tradition bearers in Missouri's third largest city, like Yolanda Lorge and Grupo Latinoamericano. Read more at the link about the ways the arts sustain communities and build understanding. #ShowMeFolk "The creation of this article is underwritten by Show Me Folk, an initiative of the Missouri Folk Arts Program, and is published through a collaboration with Ozarks Alive. Show Me Folk sustains our state’s folk arts and folklife in collaboration with Missouri citizens by identifying traditional arts regionally; documenting traditions locally; and sharing Missouri stories widely."

Ozarks Alive posted a story about another community hub on Commercial Street, Lindberg's Tavern, where friends come together to witness the beauty of architecture, music, and food. The headline echoes our understanding of the traditional arts: "anchors history while innovating for the future." #ShowMeFolk "The creation of this article is underwritten by Show Me Folk, an initiative of the Missouri Folk Arts Program, and is published through a collaboration with Ozarks Alive. Show Me Folk sustains our state’s folk arts and folklife in collaboration with Missouri citizens by identifying traditional arts regionally; documenting traditions locally; and sharing Missouri stories widely."

From our friends in Ste. Gen, another event to add to your June calendar! Details available at the link.

200 Stories Mary Luka Kemir, TAAP master artist: 2005 Mary Luka Kemir represents another group of newcomers to Missouri, the Kuku of South Sudan who also south refuge due to civil unrest in their homeland. Ms. Kemir and her community actively strive to remain tight knit and to practice traditions like their the songs and dances, especially the Bola song/dance that is vital to celebrations and milestones. ... In her apprenticeship, Kemir focused on six dances/songs with her primary apprentice Dina Yakata, as well as several other young women whose interest was sparked by the lessons. Three of the songs are tied to weddings, and three are tied to naming ceremonies. Kemir and Yakata came together for their lessons in the basement of their church in Kansas City, where they were joined by several members of their Kuku community who played percussion, sang, and danced in ways akin to what they knew at home in South Sudan. Percussion is key in the Bola tradition with drums as well as hand clapping, footwork, and (as seen in the photo) scraping saucers against beaded necklaces. 76 of 200 #ShowMeFolk #200Stories #Missouri2021 #Missouri200 Photo description: Master artist Mary Luka Kemir observes and accompanies dancers by scraping a saucer against her beaded necklace in the basement of their church in 2005. Photo credit: Deb Bailey

200 Stories Nermin Fazlic, TAAP master artist: 2005 Nermin Fazlic came to the U.S. as a first-generation refugee, escaping civil war in his home country of Bosnia. There, he was the choreographer in his village before his family fled the atrocities of war. Teaching traditional dance was a job he did not forget upon resettling in St. Louis, and he began teaching his son Haris Bosnian folk dances at age six. St. Louis is home to one of the largest Bosnian communities outside o...f Bosnia itself, and Mr. Fazlic drew on community support in St. Louis to unite and continue the traditions of their home country. In 2002, he founded Bosanko Kolo, the only Bosnian dance troupe in St. Louis at the time, and he served as the teacher, choreographer, and leader. The traditions the elder Fazlic instilled in his son are evident in the ways the young man wove Bosnian tradition into his academic and professional pursuits. In a 2015 feature article from the Columbia Missourian, the reporter weaves the stories of Nermin, Haris and their dance traditions throughout the story. https://www.columbiamissourian.com//article_13ead383-ebe5- 75 of 200 #ShowMeFolk #200Stories #Missouri2021 #Missouri200 Photo description: Nermin Fazlic rehearses with members of Bosanko Kolo in preparation for upcoming public performances in 2005. Photo by Deb Bailey

We're excited to co-sponsor this Missouri Bicentennial event with MU Extension in Boone County! Pablo Sanhueza of the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra is a current master artist in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. Details to register for this no-charge virtual event are available at the link.

We join Dr. Gladys Caines Coggswell to share condolences with all who loved previous TAAP apprentice Mrs. Evelyn Pulliam; she passed away in November. And, we thank Dr. Coggswell for sharing her tribute to Mrs. Pulliam, which we have posted on our Show Me Folk blog linked below. RIP. https://mofolkarts.missouri.edu//a-tribute-to-evelyn-pull/

Join MoTell tonight (12/8) to hear Winter Tales from Dr. Gladys Coggswell, Priscilla Howe, Bob Jensen, and Larita Wright. Follow the link for details from Missouri Storytelling, Inc..

We are absolutely thrilled with this announcement from Kentucky Folklife Program. Our previous graduate student worker Jackson Medel has joined the KFP staff! Congratulations to Jackson and to KFP.

We recommend that you follow recent Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program master artist Eimear Arkins. She's sharing a series of tunes connecting her Irish homeland and her St. Louis home away from home. #ShowMeFolk