WSHM from the Chihuly Bridge of Glass Native American beaded bags and beads color block Children enjoying the History Lab Time Connector The History Museum and the Museum of Glass color block Salish weavers in the Hall of History

WITH OUR HANDS: World Folk Art Festival

April 17 & 18
10 AM-5 PM

Companion exhibit runs through July


Bhu Dayal, Indian Deity dresser at the 2009
WITH OUR HANDS: World Folk Art Festival. (Washington State Historical Society)

During this five-month-long folk art celebration, see folk art items pulled out of the Society's collection, and get a sneak peek at the kind of art guests will see during our World Folk Art Festival. See jewelry made out of hair, a picture frame crafted from matchsticks, a handmade Norwegian fiddle inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and more, in WITH OUR HANDS: Folk Art Treasures, on display through July.

April 17 & 18

Master folk artists will be stationed around the Museum teaching their crafts and talking about their cultures. Learn traditional Croatian dances, dip Mexican wax flowers, paint a Ukrainian decorated egg, learn Latvian embroidery, and more! Musical performances will take place throughout the weekend. All activities are FREE with Museum admission, $6-8.

The following artists are scheduled to attend the Festival:
• Maija Atvars, Latvian embroidery, Renton, WA
• Marie Bakke Bremner, Norwegian needleworker, Republic, WA
• Valerie Calac, Yakama beadwork artist and basket maker, White Swan, WA
• Alfredo Campos, horse hair hitching, Federal Way, WA
• Genoveva Castellanoz, traditional Mexican corona maker, Nyssa, OR
• Bhu Dayal and Jayendran Srinivasan, Indian deity dressers, Sammamish, WA
• Maria Gomez, traditional Mexican embroidery and garment making, Tonasket, WA
• Chong Heu, Hmong Needlework, Renton, WA
• Nhia Yia Heu, Hmong basket maker, Renton, WA
• Maria Cuc Jiatz, Guatemalan back strap weaver, Spokane, WA
• Robert King, chain saw carving, Edgewood, WA
• Husniyea Kouttainay, Palestinian needlework, Edmonds, WA
• Elizabeth Leese, Norwegian rosmaling, Greenbank, WA
• Nicolas Petrish, Croatian musician and instrument maker, Anacortes, WA
• Oleksandra Pryveda, Ukrainian wheat weaving, Seattle, WA
• Wilho Saari, Finnish musician, Naselle, WA
• Que Tran, Vietnamese paper cutting and folding artist, Seattle, WA
• Rosalind Wang, traditional Chinese paper cutting, Vancouver, WA

Click here to learn about all of the artists!

Schedule for Saturday and Sunday:

1:30-2 PM   

Divine Mellows, Indian bhajan singing

2-2:30 PM   

Que Tran, Vietnamese paper folding workshop

2:30-3:30 PM   

Nicholas Petrish, Croatian dancing

3:30-4:30 PM   

Wilho Saari, Finnish kantele playing

Organized by the Washington State History Museum, in collaboration with the Washington State Arts Commission, and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, KUOW, and The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation.

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1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 272-3500
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(253) 272-9518 Fax
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