Artists

Featured Artists and Programs

The Tannahill Weavers, one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands, is now on a 50th anniversary tour. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries and demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people.

Performances by the 2018 Michigan Heritage Award Recipients

Mick Gavin (Redford) for Irish fiddling and melodeon playing
Neil Woodward (Howell) for Michigan folk songs, storytelling, and folklore

Performances and Demonstrations by Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeships Recipients

Paulette Brockington (Highland Park) and Brianna Benvenuti (Lansing), American vernacular and swing dance
Andrew Duncan (Royal Oak) and Duncan Petersen-Jones (Okemos), Scottish bagpiping
Josh Homminga and Sarah Bedell (Brimley), black ash basketry
Meghan McCartney Scott and Christine Russell (Williamston) and Anna Wright (Onondaga), Irish step dance
Bhuvna Murthy (Ann Arbor), Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance)
Celeste Smith (Highland Park) and Peggy Brandon (Detroit), millinery
Kelly Church (Allegan), NEA National Heritage Fellow, and Holly Alberts (Kewadin), black ash basketry
Lynn Hershberger and Marguerita
Roger LaBine (Trout Lake) and Cortney Collia (Kalamazoo), Native wild rice collection
Anshu Varma (Okemos), mehndi (henna)

Anishinaabek Artists

The following are the Anishinaabek artists affiliated with the Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Culture project, MSU Native American Institute.

Each of the artists below will be accompanied by an apprentice:

Elizabeth Kimewon (Sault Ste. Marie), birch bark baskets and porcupine quill boxes
Eva Menefee (Lansing), beadwork
Judy Pierzynowski (Lansing), porcupine quill boxes and beadwork
Sheila Pierzynowski (Lansing), paintings and drawings
Yvonne Walker Keshick (Levering), NEA National Heritage Fellow, quillwork

Participatory Music and Dance

Irish Ceili (social dance) and Swing Dancing on the West Stage
Dance workshops in Rwandan, Eritrean, Indian, Irish dance and more
Community Sing led by Sally Potter
Ukulele Strum led by Punch Drunk
Michigan Fiddling workshop
Old Time Jam with the Pretty Shaky String Band

The Teal Quilt Project

A group of quilt artists will lead festival audience participation in this community-engaged arts project founded to demonstrate care and concern for the children and young adults who are survivors of sexual abuse, to help raise awareness of child abuse, and to foster a safer and more supportive community. The Teal Quilt Project is coordinated by volunteers and works in partnership with SmallTalk, a state of the art center in Lansing, MI, founded “to address child abuse and to empower children to have the courage to heal.” See www.smalltalkcac.org

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