Each year since 2015, Catskills Folk Connection has sought to expand its reach either geographically or in the types of folklore it presents, or both. In 2016 CFC began offering square dances in the western Catskills, curated an exhibit "Growling Up To Brush" at Roxbury Arts Group featuring two folk painters of landscapes, and added a pair of lectures about traditional music and dance and about regional folk art.
In 2017, as a regional folklife center, CFC is continuing its geographical expansion by collaborating with organizations to present square dances in different parts of the Catskills, in Ulster County, Delaware County and Sullivan County. In Ulster County we partnered with the Pine Hill Community Center to offer a square dance on Memorial Day weekend, and in Delaware County we co-sponsored a square dance at the Castle on the Delaware in Walton.
In June 2017 CFC folklorist Ginny Scheer has been asked to make a presentation at the Meredith Dairy Fest, first introducing the Tremperskill Boys' sqaure dance by giving a short talk about the history of traditional music and dance in the Catskills and by showing different types of folk art at a vendor booth. Coming up in July Scheer will make a presentation about folk landscape art at the Catskill Art Society in Livingston Manor, where one artist from "Growing Up To Brush" will be exhibited along with another folk artist and in conjunction with an exhibit of photographs about farming in the region.
During the summer 2017 folklorist Scheer will research farm foodways in the Catskills for a presentation of traditional farm foods at the Cauliflower Festival in September. At the same time she will research six stone houses in Roxbury and present a display about them at various venues in Roxbury and elsewhere. The autumn of 2017 will see additional square dances in September and October, plus the lecture series in October, this time focusing on foodways and vernacular architecture.
Catskills Folk Connection's schedule for the rest of 2017:
Sunday, June 18 at Meredith Dairy Fest in Meridale, NY 10 am - 5 pm;
10 am - Noon: Pop Up Folklore at Catskills Folk Connection's booth.
Noon: Talk about traditional music and dance, followed by a traditional
square dance with John Jacobson and the Tremperskill Boys.
3-5 pm: More Pop Up Folklore at CFC's booth
Saturday, July 1 at Catskill Art Society, Livingston Manor, NY, time TBD
Talks by Ben Halpern, photographer for exhibit about Catskills agriculture and by Ginny Scheer, folklorist, about folk landscape painting. Works from CFC's exhibit "Growing Up To Brush," painted by Don Strausser, will join those of another folk artist and the exhibit by the photographer in an gallery display at the Society.
Saturday, September 23 at the Cauliflower Festival, Margaretville, NY 10 am - 4 pm
Demonstrations and sharing about Catskills foodways, including recipes from traditional farm menus.
Saturday, September 16 Walton Grange, Walton A traditional old-time square dance, featuring John Jacobson and the Tremperskill Boys. This is a family dance. Beginners are welcome and there will be a facilitator on the floor.
Sunday, October 8 at Roxbury Arts Group's annual Fiddlers! event, Roxbury, NY, Noon til ?
Catskills Folk Connection will facilitate a family and community square dance, followed by a concert kicked off by the Tremperskill Boys and featuring well-known fiddlers from around the region and further afield.
POSTPONED Opening Reception for exhibit "Six Stone Houses in Roxbury, NY" Location to be announced. Please check later to confirm date, time and place.
Saturday, October 14 at Bushel Collective in Delhi 2-4 pm
Catskills Folk Lyceum will present a lecture about Upstate New York foodways by Hannah Davis, the New York Folklore Society's Upstate New York Regional Representative for Folk Arts.
Saturday, October 28 at Jay Gould Reformed Church Roxbury 2-4- pm
Catskills Folk Lyceum will present a lecture about Catskills vernacular architecture by Neil Larson, Historic Preservation Consultant. Please check later to confirm date, time and place.
I hope you can join us!
-- Ginny Scheer, Folklorist, Catskills Folk Connection
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