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BOTTLE
WORKS Folk Artist roster lists Artists who are practicing a
living, traditional art in our community. They meet the Pennsylvania
Council on the Arts guidelines for folk arts standards: We are currently in the process of gathering and listing a roster of rural artists. This site will be growing, so please check back often for contact information.
Paulett Simunich
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Paulett Simunich decorates chicken and goose eggs in the traditional Ukrainian style that her grandmother learned from her family while living in the Carpathian Mountains. After immigrating to America Paulett’s grandmother continued this tradition, passing it on to her mother, and then to Paulett. Paulett teaches the technique throughout the community, along with the meanings of the symbolism behind the intricate designs. Paulett's work is featured in the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Statewide Folk Art Exhibit.
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“At age eight, I remember my Baba and my Mom by the coal stove, concentrating on their eggs, working from a simple handmade tool and melted beeswax in a small metal can. I was mesmerized by their quick rhythmic strokes. I watched and listened to my Baba’s words, spoken in her native language of Carpathian Rusyn. My turn arrived the following year when I was finally tall enough to stand by the stove and dip into the wax safely. Little did I know 40 to 50 years from the first time I grasped a kitska, the little girl inside me would still be involved in showing and teaching the folk art so near and dear to my heart.” says Paulett Simunich. She chooses each color and each part of the intricate designs because of the meaning it conveys. In the old country girls gave a blessed pysanka to the boy they liked, people gave every visitor to the home during Holy Week a blessed pysanka for luck and health in the coming year, farmers planted a blessed pysanka in their fields for a bountiful crop, they floated egg shells of the blessed pysanka in the local creek so that it would continue to quench the thirst of both animals and people. Today Paulett’s eggs are in demand in her community, as a thriving part of the Easter tradition, as the baskets are blessed. In the past ten to 15 years the pysanky have grown in popularity. People give them as precious gifts for Baptisms, Christmas, weddings, and “just because you’re you” occasions. |
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Bill Roberson
Native
American Dance and Craft
Blair County
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As a child Bill Roberson traveled a lot. So his dance
and beadwork designs reflect both the Western Plains traditions
where he was born, and Northern Woodland traditions where
he lives. Bill is Tsolagi (Cherokee). He performs Traditional
Northern dance at pow wows. He uses smoked moose hide
for moccasins, carves bone into medallions, makes dance
leg bands from deer toes (hoofs), and designs breastplates,
pipe bags and jewelry with motifs from woodland flower
to prairie key hole design. As Bill creates each piece,
performs each dance, and tells each story he conveys the
spiritual purpose in each detail, that transcend the individual,
to connect the community. He is a PCA apprenticeship recipient.
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“Native people view Mother Earth as part of giving
sustenance, in terms of food and clothing and all the things
we utilize from the environment. So our steps in touching
the Mother Earth as we dance brought us closer to the importance
of that thanks for what she provided for us.”
As Bill Roberson dances the Northern Traditional dance of
his Tsolagi People, he feels honored to pass on the culture.
He wears the leg rattles he crafts in the original Tsolagi
manner and materials, including deer toes. He also makes
and wears the more modern rattles with bells and hand hammered
coins that became popular through European trade with Native
People. Some of the dances are social; and some have spiritual
meaning. The leg rattles are worn to keep beat with the drum during dance. “The drum beat is not just a drum, but as part of the song, it’s also the heartbeat of our People. Our Elders talk about that it’s the heartbeat of All People. Regardless of the color of our skin, at some point, all of us are healing around the drum.” So, sometimes people are dancing for themselves, or for loved ones who may have a sickness, or problems within the family, or tribal problems. |
AllexandraMarguccio
Slovenian Idrija Bobbin Lace
Cambria County
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Allie Marguccio has completed a successful apprenticeship in Slovenia, awarded to her by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts . Her lace designs are directly from her family in Slovenia. Allie was only able to locate Italian designs and materials in this region; but she went to great lengths to keep the Idrija tradition alive in America. Allie is published internationally on the subject of Slovenian Bobbin Lace. She teaches the technique and patterns to a regular group of students, and has been conducting classes throughout the community for several years. Allie has been featured teaching this tradition in a New York conference. Allie's work has been featured in a one person exhibit at BOTTLE WORKS Ethnic Arts Center, celebrating traditions of Slovenia.
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BOTTLE WORKS Ethnic Arts Center
411 Third Avenue • Cambria City • Johnstown, PA 15906
Hours: Tuesday through Friday – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM •
Saturday – 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Call (814) 536-5399 / Fax (814) 539-4345
E-mail bottleworks@floodcity.net