Family Foods: Chuck and Vickie Dahl

Chuck and Vickie Dahl live in Mineral Point, Wisconsin where they grew up helping their mother Pascalena Galle Dahl, cultivate a large vegetable garden to raise ingredients for family meals that celebrated her parents’ Calabrian heritage. Both Chuck and Vickie live in their grandparents’ Italian neighborhood near the former Zinc Works where Italians followed Cornish and Irish into mining.  They keep gardens with heirloom vegetables and prepare the family’s mix of Italian-American and local cooking, including raising pigs for a distinctive peppery smoked sausage. Come to Folklore Village to experience the culinary delight that mixes family heritages with food way traditions!

Seed to the Plate: Rhonda Funmaker

A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Rhonda Funmaker continues the practice of traditional food ways. Born into the Ho-chunk and Anishinabe Nations, Rhonda learned traditional food ways and art-skills from both of her grandparents. Her practices do not only include preparing traditional foods but also everything from saving seeds, farming, soil and land conservation, respect for the water, harvesting, drying, canning and food storage. Her artwork is also an important reflection of her teachings-artwork made from items people normally discard. By teaching these important traditional practices Rhonda has been able to share her cultural pride and awareness with those around her. Come and visit with Rhonda Funmaker at the Midwest Folklife Festival and experience her traditional art and food ways for yourself!

Teaching Our Traditions: Djam Vivie

Continuing the practice of traditional wood carvers, Djam Vivie returns to the Midwest Folklife Festival to share his love of woodworking. Not only does Djam Vivie build furniture and create artwork but he also carves musical instruments such as the balafone and drums. Thanks to Djam the tradition of West African woodcarving will continue to be taught and passed on. Originally from Ghana, Djam teaches drumming and dance through workshops and apprenticeships and is also a member of Atimevu, a Ghanian folklore drumming and dance group and the Afro-pop group Timbu Kali. Come to Folklore Village to learn and experience a West African tradition!

The Quilting Connection: Ethel White

Since 2003 Milwaukee resident Ethel White has been expressing her voice through classic quilt designs. Her traditional yet distinctive quilts have led this award-winning artist to multiple exhibits, articles of mention and a national two-page feature in Quilt Magazine. She also has been a guest lecturer, a featured artist and teaches quilting to young artists. Identified as a Master Folk Artist by the Wisconsin Arts Board, Ethel continues to express traditional quilting practices to those around her. Be sure to come and experience her quilts for yourself at the Midwest Folklife Festival!

Vessel of Music: Yid Vicious

Once again the celebrated musicians of Yid Vicious take the stage at Folklore Village! Started in 1995 the seven members of Yid Vicious came together in Madison Wisconsin to create a group that continues to share the musical tradition of Klezmer music. This musical genre is formed largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces and is a musical tradition of the Askenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Klezmer developed as Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrants brought the music to the United States in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries and was influenced by swing and early jazz. Come take part in the living tradition that is Klezmer and join Yid Vicious as they create an infusion of traditional secular Yiddish music along with new musical ideas!

The Language of Beads: Karen Ann Hoffman

A bead work student of Samuel Thomas and Lorna Hill, Karen Ann Hoffman creates beaded art that speaks, embodies, preserves and expresses the Iroquois worldview. Iroquois raised bead work is an art form of the peoples of the Eastern Great Lakes Region and its forms and designs reach back over ten thousand years. This art form was first executed with bone and shell, later with moose hair and hide and now with glass beads and velvet. A member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and identified as a Master Folk Artist by the Wisconsin Arts Board Karen Ann Hoffman’s award winning bead work has been displayed at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, The Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, The Eiteljorg Museum, Wisconsin Arts Board’s Lobby Exhibit and is also part of the permanent collection of the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. Come to the Midwest Folklife Festival and meet Karen Ann Hoffman as she shares her bead work with us!

Fond of the Fiddle: Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers

The Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers return once again to Folklore Village to share their love of the fiddle! Beginning in 1989 this group grew from the beginning players of Al Hund, Walter Launderud and the Alsmo Brothers to a multitude of family, friends and fellow fiddle enthusiasts. Throughout the years the Fiddlers have been joined by banjos, guitars, accordions and an assortment of other well loved instruments. The group specializes in playing “old time” music such as Golden Slippers, Raggedy Ann and Last Fiddler’s Waltz. Join The Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers in a celebration of old time music, traditional musical talent and maybe even participate in a dance or two!