Folk Art
Sept. 12, 14, 19, 21; 2:00-3:30
We will consider rival understandings of folk art, as illustrated by objects owned by local residents. Day 1: Ervin Beck, definitions and examples. Day 2: Rebecca Haarer, Shipshewana, commenting on quilts from Yellow Creek Mennonite Church in the “Inherited Quilts 3” exhibit, meeting in the Library Gallery at Goshen College. Day 3: trip to the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart to view the exhibit “Outsider, Folk and Art of the Self-Taught.” Day 4: class members will bring folk art that they own for “show and tell,” relating their own items to the concerns of the class. Ervin Beck, coordinator, Professor Emeritus of English, has taught Folklore at Goshen College and published academic articles on local folk arts.