Mapping the Spirit of Place

Featuring Paddy Bowman of Local Learning: The National Network for Folk Arts in Education Artists show us places through their responses to the world around them. They are in a conversation with a community as well as those who view their art. This presentation inaugurates the museum’s seasonal theme, “The Politics of Place,” through a folk art lens in preparation for the upcoming exhibition of the extensive collection of Wyatt and Becky Collins, “Spiritual Journeys,” opening February 3. Exploring how some folk artists approach their work and express their aesthetics will segue into mapping boundaries, unique spaces, and cultural symbols of Acadiana. This interactive presentation includes a sneak peek at the artwork featured in our spring 2017 exhibitions. Biography: Paddy Bowman is director of Local Learning: The National Network for Folk Arts in Education and co-editor of the Journal of Folklore and Education. She has developed many folk arts education resources, including the online guide Louisiana Voices. She received an M.A. in folklore from the University of North Carolina and was awarded the American Folklore Society’s Benjamin A. Botkin Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Public Folklore and is a Fellow of the Society.