folkstream.net.

I have always loved folk art. I love art that is made from ordinary things, from limited resources, from the passion that moves a person to make something from nothing. A couple of weeks ago I was listening to npr and they told the story of tom davenport and his passion for documentary films about folk art. He's set up a website called folkstreams.net which functions as a clearing house for feature length documentaries about folk artists and their work. These are not your typical nightly news, 5 minute, skim the surface kind of stories, nor are they about the people we hear about on entertainment tonight. No these are the unsung artists and musicians who use ancient crafting techniques to create stunningly beautiful baskets or quilts or fences, as well as those that make stuff out of tin cans, old paint and buttons, and others who sing songs about their trials and tribulations and triumphs. You can apparently see previews of the films on youTube while in the meantime, I'm still trying to figure out how to see an entire film. A little more exploration of the site is in order which I'm sure will be well worth the effort. What a wonderful resource.

Thanks to beth sobel for the wonderful photo.

Comments

[Christina]

What a great find!