April 22, 2015
KBIA 91.3: Missouri Blacksmiths
Thinking Out Loud brings you an intimate look into some of Missouri’s oldest folk-art traditions: from blacksmithing to jazz, traditional song, and dance.
Feb. 9, 2015
Tribute to Glenn Ohrlin
We are sad to learn that the great cowboy poet and singer Glenn Ohrlin of Mtn. View, Arkansas has died. Photo courtesy of Mr. Orhlin from the archives of the Missouri Folk Arts Program In the late 1990s, Mr. Ohrlin participated in a tour organized by Julie Youmans, then MFAP folk arts specialist, called “Cowboy Poetry and the Arts of the Frontier” via the former Missouri Performing Traditions project. A featured performer at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV and recipient of the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, Mr. Ohrlin will be greatly missed by all. R.I.P.
Oct. 6, 2014
Tribute to Johnny Lee Vincent
Our condolences to the friends and family of Johnny Lee Vincent, founder of the Sally Mountain Show and Sally Mountain Park Bluegrass Festival. R.I.P. An obituary for Mr. Vincent can be found here: https://bluegrasstoday.com/johnny-vincent-remembered/…
July 14, 2014
Tribute to Judith McCulloh
We were sad to learn yesterday that Judith McCulloh has died. Dr. McCulloh was an exemplary leader in the field of folklore. For 35 years, she worked at the University of Illinois Press, where she was instrumental in the publication of both the Music of American Life and Folklore & Society series. Dr. McCulloh served as president of the American Folklore Society executive board, as a member of the American Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees, and is a Fellow of the American Folklore Society. She was the recipient of many awards, including the 2010 Bess Lomax…
July 13, 2014
Tribute to Ellen Gray Massey
We were sad to learn that Ellen Gray Massey, the inimitable Ozarks teacher and author, has died. If she were known for nothing else but editing “Bittersweet, the Ozark Quarterly Magazine,” that would be plenty. For ten years, she encouraged her students at Lebanon High School to interview their elders and document regional stories and traditions. “The concept of Bittersweet was cultural journalism and experiential education (learning while doing). The goal of the publication was to learn all aspects of running a business and at the same time, learn about the Ozarks, its geography, crafts, lore…
May 2, 2014
Tribute to Don Lipovac
R.I.P. Don Lipovac, of Kansas City, Kansas–polka musician extraordinaire and member of the Tamburitza Association Of America‘s Hall of Fame. Mr. Lipovac moved easily across the Kansas/Missouri state line, regularly performing at the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival in Missouri. The Kansas City Star published this article about Mr. Lipovac: https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article348356/Don-Lipovac-polka-king-of-KCK-will-be-missed.html An obituary for Mr. Lipovac can be found here: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=donald-anthony-lipovac&pid=170839977&fhid=4649…
May 1, 2014
Tribute to Luther Medley
We were very sad to learn yesterday that Luther Medley of Poplar Bluff passed away in October 2013. Photo by Rita A. Reed for Work is Art and Art is Work exhibition, 2006 Mr. Medley was an apprentice in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program with master luthier Bernard Allen in 1991. Mr. Medley then taught in TAAP as a master luthier in 1996 and 1997, and he was a featured artist in the traveling exhibition “Work is Art; Art is Work” in 2007-2008. Our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends. Rest in peace. Obituary…
April 14, 2014
Tribute to Donald Graves
Don Graves, a master artist of old-time dulcimer and a dulcimer luthier from Lebanon, Missouri, died on Monday, April 14, 2014. Below is a PDF of the tribute we wrote at that time. Master Artist Don Graves…
Jan. 10, 2014
Tribute to Raymond Thebeau
We at the Missouri Folk Arts Program are sad to learn that Raymond Thebeau of Cadet, Missouri died on January 8, 2014 at age 82. Mr. Thebeau was widely recognized as a master square dance caller, and he served as a master artist in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program in 1994 and 1995. Here’s a video of Mr. Thebeau calling a dance at the Folk School – a service of 88.1 KDHX in 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0-1jZA19PU&list=PL993DF1A40D4A2BCC&fbclid=IwAR0LBDhCl_qTZBZpxhllZH5tSlEnZszu-6HZmQLDAXLwPZxySPzKLjXjG0w Missouri Traditional Fiddle and Dance Network also posted a nice tribute here: http://mofiddledance.org/2014/01/ray-thebeau/ photo courtesy of funeral home…
July 20, 2013
Tribute to Naoma Powell
We were sad to learn today that Naoma Powell of Columbia, the 4’11” powerhouse behind Access Arts, died on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at age 87. When MFAP and the Missouri Arts Council toured an exhibition on luthiery a few years ago, we quoted a poem, The Singing Tree, by Ms. Powell to conclude the exhibition text. R.I.P. Naoma. Obituary…