folk art

The annual Inktober drawing challenge has begun, with artists sharing their first-day pieces under the Day 1 prompt. One artist posted a folk art style cicada illustration, tagging it with both the mainstream Inktober challenge and the alternative Alttober list. The post has drawn early engagement as participants showcase their October artwork.

Artisans have showcased a 500-year-old Chinese sugar-painting craft, shaping molten sugar into an intricate dragon and phoenix design. The traditional technique, passed down through generations, is winning wide attention online, with viewers praising the precision and patience the centuries-old folk art requires and celebrating it as a striking example of China's living cultural heritage.

A 1906 illustration by Henry Justice Ford, 'Defeat of the Mountain-Spirit by the Youth and Schippeitaro', is being shared by art lovers online. The image likely comes from Andrew Lang's 'Orange Fairy Book' and depicts the Japanese folk tale in which a young man and the dog Schippeitaro defeat a mountain spirit. Sharers link it to the weekend 'Caturday' tradition of posting pictures of dogs and cats.

Dalia Razo of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is featured for bringing culture, music, and education to the North Carolina Folk Festival. The university highlights her role in connecting its academic community with the statewide celebration of folk traditions, arts, and performance.

Veteran American folk singer-songwriter Tom Rush is performing at the Vilar Performing Arts Center. A fixture of the 1960s folk scene whose songs were covered by artists including Emmylou Harris and James Taylor, Rush remains an active touring performer. Coverage highlights his long-standing influence on the folk tradition and his enduring appeal to audiences decades into his career.

Norfolk Arts is preparing to celebrate two decades of public art in the city of Norfolk, Virginia. The milestone highlights the city's public art programme and its role in the local cultural scene over the past twenty years. Further details about specific events or installations featured in the celebrations have not yet been announced.

An 1865 illustration by Edward Henry Corbould, made for 'Ballads and Songs of Brittany' by Théodore Hersart de La Villemarqué, is being shared with art lovers. The image, captioned 'Oh, fast he rode, and fast she ran,' depicts a dramatic chase scene drawn in classic Victorian style. Admirers of old book illustrations are appreciating the engraving's craft and the enduring appeal of 19th-century editions of Breton folk ballads.

Workers at the Brooklyn Museum and the American Folk Art Museum have reached tentative agreements with their respective institutions, marking a step toward resolving labor negotiations at two prominent New York City museums. The deals would avert potential strikes or escalation if ratified by union members. Unionization efforts at cultural institutions across New York have grown in recent years, making labor relations at museums a closely watched issue.