Umfundalai: Contemporary African Dance

Tyler Ross

Umfundalai is a contemporary African dance technique that comprises its movement vocabulary from dance traditions throughout the Diaspora. The literal word, Umfundalai, means “essence” or “essential” in Kiswahili. Much like the late Katherine Dunham, Kariamu Welsh, Umfundalai’s progenitor, has designed a stylized movement practice that seeks to articulate an essence of African – oriented movement or as she describes, “an approach to movement that is wholistic, body centric and organic.” Umfundalai technique caters to all diverse ages, dance and cultural backgrounds.

Tyler Ross is a movement artist, choreographer, and dance instructor from PG County MD. Ross holds a BFA in Dance Education from Temple University Boyer College of Music and Dance. Within her time at Temple University, Tyler joined D2D: Dare to Dance and transitioned from Event Coordinator to President of the dance organization. In the past few years, she has been a company member to Laura Edwards Dance Company (LED), MOTUS Company with Diana Matos, Ladies of Redemption, MoDance Work with Monique Walker, and Kariamu &Company: Traditions. Continuing to educate the next generation of artists, she is a dance educator for prestigious Institutions such as the Dance Institute of Washington and the Washington Ballet. Ross holds a M’Singha Wuti Instructor certification for the Umfundalai African Dance Technique. Tyler is among the last generation of dancers to study under the direct teachings of Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Honoring this privilege, Ross is currently pursuing her Professional Certification within the Umfundalai Technique.

Legends, Lore, Ghosts, and More

Donnie Hammett

Former Point Lookout State Park ranger and life-long St. Mary’s County resident, Donnie Hammett, explores the rich paranormal history of St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

Donnie Hammett was born and raised in St. Mary’s County, and his family traces their beginnings back to the first settlers in Southern Maryland. The son of Regina Combs Hammett, author of History of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Donnie worked for the Maryland State Park Service for over thirty years, including many years at Point Lookout State Park, where he regularly did a popular talk on the ghosts of Point Lookout. He grew up around the water--his grandfather was a waterman and his father, in Donnie’s words, “had one oar in the water.” By this measuring stick, Donnie reckons he has had perhaps half an oar in the water.

Youth Workshop

From Flowers to Fish: The Natural Resources that Helped People Survive

Dorothy Birch

Whether first peoples or early colonists, they survived by relying on the bounty of natural resources here in St. Mary's County. Nature provides water, food, and materials for shelter and tool making. We will explore all of these with hands-on activities. We will use a seine net to catch small fish from near shore waters (get ready to get wet!) and then examine them up close (yes, we get to hold them) in order to identify them and learn more about them. We will also walk along the shore and in nearby green areas catching and identifying insects and finding plants and mushrooms and how they were helpful or dangerous to early people. Last, but not least, we will see how the native plants could be used to create materials and tools that helped them lead their daily lives and create complex and advanced societies and finish by making some cordage from native plants. Students will wear their cordage bracelets home and watch as they last for weeks or months.

Dorothy Birch is the current Natural Resources Management teacher at the James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, a part of St. Mary's County Public Schools. She teaches students in 10th-12th grades about the natural resources provided by the earth and how we can better manage and conserve them. Dorothy has taught nature and environmental science for the past 17 years, both inside the classroom and in the field, working with students of all ages. Originally raised in Reston, Virginia, Dorothy earned her environmental science undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech (1999) and her master's in environmental education from Nova Southeastern University (2006). She has studied and taught the ecosystems in the Appalachian mountains, central Texas, the Gulf Coast, and now on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. In her (very limited) free time, Dorothy likes to hike, kayak, and travel with her beloved daughter and wonderful husband.

Documenting Tulagi Place

Sometime in 2023, the “Tulagi Place” area In Lexington Park, Maryland--a community 10 miles north of St. Mary’s College--will be razed in order to build a new Royal Farms gas station. This panel discussion and exhibit will document the history of the area, whose roots go back to the opening of Patuxent Naval Air Station. The program will include a multimedia exhibit, including oral histories from people whose lives were connected to the area, as well as a panel discussion with several people familiar with the history of Tulagi Place.

Taj Reed

Taj Reed (b. Trenton, New Jersey) is a New York-based artist, photographer, and writer. He holds a self-designed BA in Art, Literature, and Human Behavior summa cum laude from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and is a candidate at Hartford’s International Limited Residency Photo MFA program.

Taj has exhibited work at Hercules Art Studio Program in New York City, Agony Books in Richmond, Virginia, St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Boyden Gallery, and digitally through the Maryland State Arts Council. In addition, his images have been featured by Booooooom, Pomegranate Press, Pearl Press, and other digital and print publications. Since pivoting to fine art, Taj has dedicated himself to exploring the communicative and self-actualizing potential of pictures and letters, relying on his practice to reckon with selfhood, cultural inheritance, memory, and American institutions.

John Rue

Born in Washington, D.C., John Rue was raised in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. After completing his secondary education at Ryken High School, John graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a BA in History. He then attended the University of Baltimore School of Law. Graduating in 1974, he began his law career with Dorsey and Rue in Lexington Park and Leonardtown, Maryland. In 1976, he established a private practice in Lexington Park and two years later became a partner in the firm of Myerberg, Sawyer and Rue and served as Deputy State's Attorney for St. Mary’s County. In 1980, John and his wife Connie moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, after he became an Assistant State’s Attorney for Wicomico County Maryland. Two years later he was appointed to the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and served as a trial attorney in that office for the next thirty years. During part of his tenure, he held the position of District Public Defender for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. John handled a wide range of cases including death penalty litigation, felony and misdemeanor trials in both the Circuit and District Courts on the Lower Shore. After leaving the OPD, he practiced criminal defense until his appointment as Associate Judge to the District Court of Maryland for Wicomico County in 2012. John reached mandatory retirement age on his birthday in 2019. Enrolled at Spring Hill College, a Jesuit institution in Mobile, AL, he is pursuing an MTS in Theology. He does service work at the Joseph House in Salisbury and is a member of Resurrection (Ascension & St. George’s) Parish, Valley Lee and Lexington Park. In the 1990’s John was Chancellor for the Diocese of Easton. He was, for a time, an Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice at UMES. Interests include history, Colonial Maryland architecture, sailing, exploring the Shore in his MG and playing scales on violin and viola when home alone. Most importantly he loves the time spent with Connie, their daughter Molly, and their grandchildren.

SMCM Arboretum Tour

The St. Mary’s Arboretum takes place around the campus of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The tour will start outside of St. Mary’s College Library, by the St. Mary’s Arboretum sign. This tour will require walking over rough, hilly terrain and some stair climbing. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for all participants. This event will take place outdoors, it is recommended that participants plan accordingly for the weather. We have over 150 species of wooded plants and trees within the St. Mary’s Arboretum. The tour will explore the history and regional significance of a large sample of trees in the arboretum. As the St. Mary’s Arboretum is always striving to grow and evolve, the collection of represented tree and wooded plant species is always in flux. Throughout the tour, questions will be fielded about the nature of the St. Mary’s Arboretum, its collection, and the running and operation of the Arboretum.

Grace Dillingham is a 2022 graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she studied Biology and Environmental Studies. Recently, Grace has worked on the study and protection of horseshoe crabs and migratory birds in the Delaware Bay. She has spent the last year as the Sustainability Fellow at St. Mary’s. While working in the arboretum, Grace has taken special interest in the natural history of the trees and their relationship to the ecological communities in Southern Maryland. She also works with the campus farm, student interns, and larger campus community to further sustainable practices and environmental stewardship at the college.

Closing Celebration - Open Gallery and Lunch

Join us at 12pm on Sunday, May 21st in Upper Montgomery as we celebrate the closing of another successful year of Summer Workshops! Lunch will be provided while participants listen to a talk from Dr. Joan Gaither, a native Baltimorean who uses her art to document the lives and contributions of African Americans in the history and culture of Maryland and the greater American story.

After the talk, the Boyden Gallery will be open for an exhibition displaying some of Dr. Gaither's work, as well as some items created by participants from our workshops!

This year, our lunch menu will include BBQ pork, smoked tofu, potato salad, and green salad.

Poetry and Fiction of Place

Jeffrey Lamar Coleman

In this workshop we will focus on ways to capture the spirit, history, and significance of Southern Maryland in poetry and fiction. The session will be driven by a brief brainstorming session about how the region’s past, present, or future; either real or imagined, speaks to us and how we can use the region as inspiration in our writing. Published works of literature with an emphasis on Southern Maryland will be discussed and used as examples during the brainstorming session. Subject matter for workshop participants can consist of the region’s natural environment, human presence, specific buildings or sites, hometowns, or culture, among other ideas. Attendees will have time to start new poems and works of fiction during the workshop. We will conclude by sharing our drafts and discussing ways to strengthen them in the future. This workshop is designed for all levels of writers.

Jeffrey Lamar Coleman is a professor of English at St. Mary's College of Maryland where he teaches creative writing and 20th and 21st century literature. Coleman is also the editor of Words of Protest, Words of Freedom: Poetry of the American Civil Rights Movement and Era, author of Spirits Distilled: Poems, and associate editor of the Journal of Hip Hop Studies. His most recent creative and scholarly work can be found in Aunt Chloe: A Journal of Artful Candor, The Skinny Poetry Journal, Where We Stand: Poems of Black Resilience, and The Black Intellectual Tradition: African American Thought in the Twentieth Century

Batik on the Shore - Part 2

Connecting Traditional Folk Art to Contemporary Chesapeake Themes

Eric Jackson

Led by local artist Eric Jackson. Get your hands immersed in the traditions of wax and dye fiber resist batik technique.  Recognized as a UNESCO Heritage of Humanity, the wax resist techniques which originated in Indonesia create an easily distinguishable aesthetic for anyone who has practiced or learned the intricacies of this unique art form. 

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the basics of batik through exploring the three basic elements of melted wax, natural fibers and vibrant dyes. Participants will have the opportunity to choose between several different batik applications (stamping, painting, drawing) depending on their comfort level to create their own one-of-a-kind hand dyed pieces.  Participants will also engage in discussions of how this traditional art form can connect to the heritage and traditions of Southern Maryland, and how they have influenced the process and content of Eric’s paintings. 

Participants should be comfortable using a low temperature melted wax (~120°F), and be prepared with comfortable clothes which may likely be permanently stained.  No prior experience or drawing experience is necessary. This is a two part workshop.

Eric Jackson ('04, '10 MAT) is a professional artist whose work explores a connection to the water and wildlife of the Chesapeake.  A contemporary fiber artist, his work is an intersection of fine art, contemporary craft, and the ecology of the watershed.

His work has received support from the Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, and numerous local arts councils including St. Mary's County.  He has been a presenter and exhibitor at the National Folk Festival, the American Craft Show, and many prestigious national art fairs, including Coconut Grove and the National Art Fair in Naples. An avid outdoorsperson, Eric continues to explore the Chesapeake from Leonardtown, where he lives with his wife and two girls.

The Life of a Waterman

Donnie Hammett

Donnie Hammett grew up around the water. His grandfather was a waterman and his father, in Donnie’s words, “had one oar in the water.” By this measuring stick, Donnie reckons he has had perhaps half an oar in the water. In this workshop, Donnie will offer some dryland demonstrations of several aspects of being a waterman, including trot-lining, making crabbing dip nets, and tonging for oysters. This workshop will take place behind Montgomery Hall, where Donnie will have his boat parked, in order to offer a better view into the waterman’s life.

Donnie Hammett was born and raised in St. Mary’s County, and his family traces their beginnings back to the first settlers in Southern Maryland. The son of Regina Combs Hammett, author of History of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Donnie worked for the Maryland State Park Service for over thirty years, including many years at Point Lookout State Park, where he regularly did a popular talk on the ghosts of Point Lookout. He grew up around the water--his grandfather was a waterman and his father, in Donnie’s words, “had one oar in the water.” By this measuring stick, Donnie reckons he has had perhaps half an oar in the water.

Stuffed Ham Workshop - Part 2

Bertha Hunt

This is a two-day event from 8:00 AM -12:00 PM on May 20 and concluding on May 21 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

In this workshop we will explore the methods and traditions surrounding St. Mary’s County Stuffed Ham. The instructor, Bertha Hunt, will be teaching a stuffed ham recipe from the “300 Years of Black Cooking” cookbook. Over the course of this two day workshop, she will share what we know about the history of stuffed ham, then we will demonstrate and teach the steps that go into making St. Mary’s County Stuffed Ham. This is a two part workshop.

Bertha Hunt, a native of St. Mary's County, learned her recipe for stuffed ham from her mother. She is the seventh generation to prepare stuffed ham from this recipe. Out of respect to her mother, she will pass the recipe on, but never write it down.

Preserving the Past Through Oral Histories

Joseph Norris

The importance of collecting oral histories is to record the stories and experiences of the elderly before they are gone and preserve the history and traditions of Southern Maryland. In this workshop, Joe Norris shares how this has shaped his 44-year career as a journalist, stating, “my strength as a writer came from the stories of those I interviewed: The man whose band gave hillbilly music its name; the officer who trained Dolittle’s pilots for their famous raid during World War II; old watermen; and residents who lost property when Patuxent River Naval Air Station came into being.”

In this oral history workshop, participants will review a Southern Maryland cultural interview to learn about interviewing techniques, taking notes, and turning those notes into an immersive story. Participants will use techniques learned from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and professor Andrea Hammer, founder and publisher of the SlackWater series. Participants will also be able to share their experiences with oral histories as well as some of their own collected stories.

Joseph Norris is St. Mary’s County born and raised, with deep Southern Maryland roots. His mother’s family came to St. Mary’s in the earliest days of the colony and their father’s people migrated to St. Mary’s from Virginia in 1750, where they settled initially in the 1630s.

Joseph retired from a 44-year career in journalism throughout Southern Maryland including newspapers in St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert and Prince George’s counties. Throughout his employment, he focused on human interest stories, gathering the oral histories of many prominent citizens.

In 1984, he was honored by the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Historical Society for his efforts promoting Maryland history during the 350 th anniversary of the state’s founding. He reported on every significant historical discovery at Historic St. Mary’s City over a 30-year period.

Mr. Norris is currently working on an oral history of St. Mary’s County.

World of Colors: Piñata Workshop - Part 2

Maria Melendres

This workshop is bilingual Spanish-English and teaches participants to create a piñata from cardboard and paper. Based on techniques illustrated in a showcased piñata at the workshop, each participant will follow the steps to create their own, smaller piñata. During the morning participants will learn to create the body of the piñata so that it is sturdy enough to hold the weight of contained candy, yet can still be broken with a stick. In the afternoon session participants will decorate the body with the base layer, followed by two techniques with tissue paper and also a center decoration with other materials. The techniques learned can be applied to a variety of sizes and occasions for piñatas. This is a two part workshop.

Mundo de colores: Taller de piñatas

Este taller es bilingüe español-inglés y enseña a los y las participantes a crear una piñata de cartón y papel. Basado en las técnicas vistas en una piñata muestra presentada en el taller, cada participante seguirá los pasos para crear su propia piñata más pequeña. Durante la mañana, los y las participantes aprenderán a construir el envase de la piñata para que sea suficientemente fuerte para aguantar el peso de los dulces que va a contener, pero también pueda romperse con un palo. Durante la sesión de la tarde, los y las participantes decorarán el envase con el tapado, seguido por dos técnicas con papel chino y una decoración en el centro de otros materiales. Las técnicas aprendidas pueden aplicarse a una variedad de tamaños y ocasiones para la piñata.

Maria Melendres is from Guatemala, where she learned crafts in school. Exploring new things interested her and she began to experiment with piñatas. She wanted to create something beyond what you find in stores, and this adventure has taken her to new creative experiences. It has become a way to alleviate stress and sadness and to focus on my wellbeing and that of her family. Through her piñatas and teaching how to make them, she hopes to motivate young people to participate in positive activities.

Soy de Guatemala, donde aprendí manualidades en la secundaria. Me llamó la atención explorar nuevas cosas y comencé a experimentar con las piñatas. Quería crear algo más allá de lo que se encontraba en las tiendas, y esta aventura me ha llevado a nuevas experiencias creativas. Se ha convertido en una manera de aliviar el estrés y la tristeza y de enfocarme por el bien de mí y mi familia. Por mis piñatas y por enseñar a construirlas espero motivar a los jóvenes a participar en actividades positivas.

Batik on the Shore - Part 1

Connecting Traditional Folk Art to Contemporary Chesapeake Themes

Eric Jackson

Led by local artist Eric Jackson. Get your hands immersed in the traditions of wax and dye fiber resist batik technique.  Recognized as a UNESCO Heritage of Humanity, the wax resist techniques which originated in Indonesia create an easily distinguishable aesthetic for anyone who has practiced or learned the intricacies of this unique art form. 

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the basics of batik through exploring the three basic elements of melted wax, natural fibers and vibrant dyes. Participants will have the opportunity to choose between several different batik applications (stamping, painting, drawing) depending on their comfort level to create their own one-of-a-kind hand dyed pieces.  Participants will also engage in discussions of how this traditional art form can connect to the heritage and traditions of Southern Maryland, and how they have influenced the process and content of Eric’s paintings. 

Participants should be comfortable using a low temperature melted wax (~120°F), and be prepared with comfortable clothes which may likely be permanently stained.  No prior experience or drawing experience is necessary. This is a two part workshop.

Eric Jackson ('04, '10 MAT) is a professional artist whose work explores a connection to the water and wildlife of the Chesapeake.  A contemporary fiber artist, his work is an intersection of fine art, contemporary craft, and the ecology of the watershed.

His work has received support from the Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, and numerous local arts councils including St. Mary's County.  He has been a presenter and exhibitor at the National Folk Festival, the American Craft Show, and many prestigious national art fairs, including Coconut Grove and the National Art Fair in Naples. An avid outdoorsperson, Eric continues to explore the Chesapeake from Leonardtown, where he lives with his wife and two girls.

Telling Your Story: A Quilting Workshop

Joan Gaither

Quilt workshop participants discover how traditional quilts can make emotional connections to identity, telling the human story while celebrating a personal and shared past.  Participants will use a brainstorming technique to create a single quilt panel square that starts to tell and preserve the story of an important person, place or event in their personal or community story. While quilt supplies and decorations are available, participants may want to bring their own sewing kit as well as reference photos that might be used on the quilt square. This workshop has two separate sessions. Participants are welcome to sign up for one individually or both.

Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither

I am a native Baltimorean with a history of helping to integrate local schools and businesses during the Civil Rights Movement, receiving a B.S. degree from Morgan State University (an historic Black College) in 1965 and my Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1998 awarded "Outstanding Dissertation Award for 1998 in Educational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee."  As Chair of Undergraduate Art Education at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art),  I continued from 1996-2010 to model and facilitate intergenerational participation in art education, public schools, and community arts partnerships. 

I continue to thank Mr. George Barrick, my junior high art teacher, mentor, and friend who piqued my curiosity for using art making processes and materials for problem solving everyday concerns and for encouraging my continuous doodling and drawing of characters and settings to tell personal stories that laid the groundwork for creating 300+ documentary story quilts to date to be more than decoration, beauty, comfort, and protection.  My work demonstrates by piecing meaningful fabric, traditional patterns, collaged text and images to tell narrative personal stories, layers of meaning can emerge to document your life experiences, experiences of other people, places and events. In my mind, the quilts tell the human story, make emotional connections to issues, telling the story that NEEDS to be TOLD, and keeping the connections to our heritage real, fresh, and very much alive.  I've discovered that my voice is informed by an interest in mixed media, fibers, and photographic images that allow close scrutiny of surfaces and metaphors for personal meaning.  My work documents pivotal events in my life within the context of my person, biological family, local communities - regional, national, and global. As a fiber artist, educator, researcher, advocate, and community artist, I continue to pose the problem in my art that directs community partners, quilters and myself to examine the possible conflict between the perceptual psychology of visual images and the “hidden meaning embedded” in those images.  For me, it becomes important to investigate perceptions of culture in terms of what kind and quality of art-like images habitually surround us in day-to-day living.  I encourage all educational partners to provide closer scrutiny to imagery selection processes that present visual knowledge purporting to define, validate, and perpetuate cultural identities.  My art documents the lives and contributions, in this case, of African Americans in the history and culture of Maryland, in particular, and in the greater American story in general.  I’m on a mission to help my aging generation to document and make visual their proud ancestral legacies in order to preserve the records of contributions and experiences of growing up Colored, Negro, Black, afro-american, Afro American, and African American in these the United States of America. 

 jgaitherstoryquilter@gmail.com

Memory Exchange: Community Conversation and Lunch

Join us for the first Southern Maryland Folklife Festival ‘Memory Exchange'!

Memories are made by social events and special connections. They link us to the past and make us who we are in the present. Join us for lunch and to share memories of Southern Maryland to help us reflect upon the stakes of commemoration. What makes something or someone memorable? What memories have shaped the identity of St. Mary’s County? What role do monuments play in this process? 

This lunch is part of a larger Commemorative Futures project that seeks to outline visions for the Commemorative to the Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland. Over lunch, we encourage you to share memories but also ideas about the future role of the Commemorative in county life. Help us define the next steps and be a part of the wider conversation concerning the power of memory in public. This will take place on Saturday at 12:15pm in DPC.

World of Colors: Piñata Workshop - Part 1

Maria Melendres

This workshop is bilingual Spanish-English and teaches participants to create a piñata from cardboard and paper. Based on techniques illustrated in a showcased piñata at the workshop, each participant will follow the steps to create their own, smaller piñata. During the morning participants will learn to create the body of the piñata so that it is sturdy enough to hold the weight of contained candy, yet can still be broken with a stick. In the afternoon session participants will decorate the body with the base layer, followed by two techniques with tissue paper and also a center decoration with other materials. The techniques learned can be applied to a variety of sizes and occasions for piñatas. This is a two part workshop.

Mundo de colores: Taller de piñatas

Este taller es bilingüe español-inglés y enseña a los y las participantes a crear una piñata de cartón y papel. Basado en las técnicas vistas en una piñata muestra presentada en el taller, cada participante seguirá los pasos para crear su propia piñata más pequeña. Durante la mañana, los y las participantes aprenderán a construir el envase de la piñata para que sea suficientemente fuerte para aguantar el peso de los dulces que va a contener, pero también pueda romperse con un palo. Durante la sesión de la tarde, los y las participantes decorarán el envase con el tapado, seguido por dos técnicas con papel chino y una decoración en el centro de otros materiales. Las técnicas aprendidas pueden aplicarse a una variedad de tamaños y ocasiones para la piñata.

Maria Melendres is from Guatemala, where she learned crafts in school. Exploring new things interested her and she began to experiment with piñatas. She wanted to create something beyond what you find in stores, and this adventure has taken her to new creative experiences. It has become a way to alleviate stress and sadness and to focus on my wellbeing and that of her family. Through her piñatas and teaching how to make them, she hopes to motivate young people to participate in positive activities.

Soy de Guatemala, donde aprendí manualidades en la secundaria. Me llamó la atención explorar nuevas cosas y comencé a experimentar con las piñatas. Quería crear algo más allá de lo que se encontraba en las tiendas, y esta aventura me ha llevado a nuevas experiencias creativas. Se ha convertido en una manera de aliviar el estrés y la tristeza y de enfocarme por el bien de mí y mi familia. Por mis piñatas y por enseñar a construirlas espero motivar a los jóvenes a participar en actividades positivas.

Telling Your Story: A Quilting Workshop

Joan Gaither

Quilt workshop participants discover how traditional quilts can make emotional connections to identity, telling the human story while celebrating a personal and shared past.  Participants will use a brainstorming technique to create a single quilt panel square that starts to tell and preserve the story of an important person, place or event in their personal or community story. While quilt supplies and decorations are available, participants may want to bring their own sewing kit as well as reference photos that might be used on the quilt square. This workshop has two separate sessions. Participants are welcome to sign up for one individually or both.

Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither

I am a native Baltimorean with a history of helping to integrate local schools and businesses during the Civil Rights Movement, receiving a B.S. degree from Morgan State University (an historic Black College) in 1965 and my Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1998 awarded "Outstanding Dissertation Award for 1998 in Educational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee."  As Chair of Undergraduate Art Education at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art),  I continued from 1996-2010 to model and facilitate intergenerational participation in art education, public schools, and community arts partnerships. 

I continue to thank Mr. George Barrick, my junior high art teacher, mentor, and friend who piqued my curiosity for using art making processes and materials for problem solving everyday concerns and for encouraging my continuous doodling and drawing of characters and settings to tell personal stories that laid the groundwork for creating 300+ documentary story quilts to date to be more than decoration, beauty, comfort, and protection.  My work demonstrates by piecing meaningful fabric, traditional patterns, collaged text and images to tell narrative personal stories, layers of meaning can emerge to document your life experiences, experiences of other people, places and events. In my mind, the quilts tell the human story, make emotional connections to issues, telling the story that NEEDS to be TOLD, and keeping the connections to our heritage real, fresh, and very much alive.  I've discovered that my voice is informed by an interest in mixed media, fibers, and photographic images that allow close scrutiny of surfaces and metaphors for personal meaning.  My work documents pivotal events in my life within the context of my person, biological family, local communities - regional, national, and global. As a fiber artist, educator, researcher, advocate, and community artist, I continue to pose the problem in my art that directs community partners, quilters and myself to examine the possible conflict between the perceptual psychology of visual images and the “hidden meaning embedded” in those images.  For me, it becomes important to investigate perceptions of culture in terms of what kind and quality of art-like images habitually surround us in day-to-day living.  I encourage all educational partners to provide closer scrutiny to imagery selection processes that present visual knowledge purporting to define, validate, and perpetuate cultural identities.  My art documents the lives and contributions, in this case, of African Americans in the history and culture of Maryland, in particular, and in the greater American story in general.  I’m on a mission to help my aging generation to document and make visual their proud ancestral legacies in order to preserve the records of contributions and experiences of growing up Colored, Negro, Black, afro-american, Afro American, and African American in these the United States of America. 

 jgaitherstoryquilter@gmail.com

The Art and Science of Paleontology

Stephen Godfrey

In this workshop, you will learn about the amazing diversity of fossils that have been found in the State of Maryland. In addition to which, there is a lovely intersection between art and science in the field of paleontology and Stephen will introduce you to what wonderful things can happen in that space. There will also be a molding and casting demonstration.

Stephen Godfrey was born and raised in the Province of Quebec, Canada. He has always been fascinated with nature and natural history museums. As an early teen, he began to collect fossils, seashells, pinecones, and skeletons for his own bedroom natural history museum!

He received his B.Sc. in biology from Bishop’s University and a Ph.D. in paleontology from McGill University. Following a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Toronto, he moved to Drumheller, Alberta, the “Dinosaur Capital of Canada,” where he became involved in paleontological exhibit work for museums around the world (www.Skullptures.com).

In 1998, Dr. Godfrey became the Curator of Paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland where his mandate is to collect, preserve, and interpret fossils from the famous Calvert Cliffs along the Chesapeake Bay. Most of the fossils that he quarries from the cliffs are of extinct whales and dolphins that lived between 8-18 million years ago.

Cochineal Natural Dye Workshop

Donna Bird

Exploring with natural materials to create color is one of the most delightful arts. This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the ancient dyeing techniques and history of the sacred red dye made from the cochineal insect. Instruction on how to process and extract color for dyeing fiber will be the focus.  Participants will take home a sample of their work. 

Fee includes materials, no prior experience necessary. This workshop will be held at Godiah Spray Plantation, 47621 Old Cove Road, St. Mary’s City, MD 20653

Donna Bird is the Public Programs Manager for Historic St. Mary City. In her capacity as Public Programs Manager Donna is responsible for the development and production of creative, educational programs supporting the Museum’s exhibitions and mission, including K-12 and adult-guided tour experiences, and hands-on workshops that engage audiences of diverse ages, interests, and styles.

Donna is a 20 year veteran of Historic St. Mary’s City, joining the team in 2001 as a museum teacher and then serving as an interpreter and site supervisor prior to becoming the Public Programs Manager in 2018.

Opening Kick Off and Coffee

Join us on Saturday at 9am in Upper Montgomery for coffee and pastries as we celebrate the start of our 2023 Folklife Summer Workshops!

Stuffed Ham Workshop - Part 1

Bertha Hunt

This is a two-day event from 8:00 AM -12:00 PM on May 20 and concluding on May 21 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

In this workshop we will explore the methods and traditions surrounding St. Mary’s County Stuffed Ham. The instructor, Bertha Hunt, will be teaching a stuffed ham recipe from the “300 Years of Black Cooking” cookbook. Over the course of this two day workshop, she will share what we know about the history of stuffed ham, then we will demonstrate and teach the steps that go into making St. Mary’s County Stuffed Ham. This is a two part workshop.

Bertha Hunt, a native of St. Mary's County, learned her recipe for stuffed ham from her mother. She is the seventh generation to prepare stuffed ham from this recipe. Out of respect to her mother, she will pass the recipe on, but never write it down.

Southern Maryland Folklife Summer Workshops Celebration

Share your experiences and what you’ve learned, bring an instrument and play a tune, display your projects and art, and sample tastes of Southern Maryland cuisine.

Contra Dance: A North American Dance Tradition

Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance

Come join this workshop, you’ll learn a bit of the history of contra dancing, and the types of tunes to which they are danced.  A variety of both traditional and contemporary reels, jigs and waltzes of the Scottish, Irish and French-Canadian traditions will be performed by the Southern Maryland Open Band, led by fiddler Elgin Perry. Dances will be taught and led by a dance caller. Workshop participants are invited to join in the dancing - no dance experience or partner is necessary. For more information about the workshop, email smtmd2@gmail.com.

Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance (SMTMD) is a society of local residents dedicated to preserving and promoting the appreciation and performance of traditional and contemporary folk music and dance in American culture.

We meet that goal throughout the year in the Southern Maryland region by sponsoring contra dances, open mics, concerts and workshops. We believe that traditional music and dance are an important part of our heritage. We love learning it, playing it, dancing to it, and listening to it, and we want to preserve it by passing it along. For more information go to our website: www.smtmd.org.

The Cultural and Historical Role of Wampum

Mario Harley

“Wampum is sacred to our people. It is created from the shell of the Quahog Clam. This type of clam can be found along the east coast of Turtle Island (North America) from New England to the Carolinas. The white and purple parts of the shell are cut to make beads. Wampum is a highly valued cultural resource within many Native American tribes from the Atlantic coast to the Great Lakes including my people, the Piscataway.

I will be presenting to the attendees the cultural, historical and economic role of wampum before and during the European invasion of Turtle Island. My presentation will cover the source and process of making wampum beads, to the role and cultural meaning of Wampum Belts. Historically, when a string of Wampum is being held in a person’s hand, they are said to be speaking truthfully. People listening to a speaker holding the wampum also knew this and are were very attentive and respectful of the speaker’s message. Wampum served as a person’s credentials or a certificate of authority. It was used for official purposes and religious ceremonies.

When woven into a belt, the beads become formed into a living record. The creation of the design within the belt helps knowledgeable individuals to recount historical agreements. The design pattern is a visual guide to help recall the agreement. Today wampum is also utilized as jewelry. It is common place to see our people wearing rings, necklaces, earring, watchbands, etc. with pieces of wampum.”

Mario Harley is a citizen of the Piscataway Indian Tribe, and a member of the Wild Turkey Clan. Since childhood, he has embraced and lived his culture. He is a graduate of the American University in Washington DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. As an adult he has diligently been involved in researching and promoting his Tribal history. Mario is the lead volunteer instructor for the Charles County Indian Education program for Native American students; and is a lifetime member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).  He has been an active member in perpetuating the Piscataway culture, teaching the youth, educating the public, and advocating for the lands and waterways that make up the traditional Piscataway homeland which includes most of the western shore of Maryland, northern Virginia and Washington DC. 

The Art of Egg Painting (Drapanki)

Carla Tomaszewski

This workshop will allow you to experience the traditional Polish folk art of decorated eggs, generically called pisanki. Traditionally, a ‘kraszanka’ is a single-colored egg, dyed with any number of natural colorings. Most commonly used are dried onion skins, which create various shades of warm golden brown. ‘Drapanie’ is the specific technique of etching or scratching a design out of the dye color with a sharp knife point, exposing the white eggshell. Traditional drapanki most often feature lacy floral designs, but other motifs are used as well. We will be learning about folk motifs and patterns and will be using a sharp etching tool to create our designs on single-color dyed goose eggshells. All materials will be provided for the workshop.

Carla Tomaszewski is a third-generation Polish-American, born and raised in Baltimore. As a professional graphic designer and illustrator, her work has been honored with numerous awards. In 2010 she was awarded a “Traditions” grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to teach and promote the traditional Polish folk art of pisanki (decorated eggshells) to a new generation. Along with the grant came the official designation as “Maryland Traditions Master”. Carla’s experience in wildlife illustration, combined with her love for birds, led her to create both realistic and decorative bird motifs reflective of both Polish folk art and the tidewater Southern Maryland home of the artist.

Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance

Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance (SMTMD) is a society of local residents dedicated to preserving and promoting the appreciation and performance of traditional and contemporary folk music and dance in American culture.

We meet that goal throughout the year in the Southern Maryland region by sponsoring contra dances, open mics, concerts and workshops. We believe that traditional music and dance are an important part of our heritage. We love learning it, playing it, dancing to it, and listening to it, and we want to preserve it by passing it along. For more information go to our website: www.smtmd.org.

Folkways of the 17th-Century Tour at Historic St. Mary’s City

Aaron Meisinger

Join us for a brief tour of Historic St. Mary’s City. This tour focuses on a variety of Colonial folkways practiced in Maryland’s first capital. This tour will take visitors to the Waterfront where the Maryland Dove is on display. This ship is a representation of a late 17th-century cargo ship named in honor of the original Dove, one of two ships that made the original voyage to Maryland from England arriving in 1634. During the tour of the ship and other interpretive areas, staff will give demonstrations on how sailors navigated using tools of the trade and sewed using needle and thread to create items ranging from sails to ditty bags. 

Next this tour will traverse to the Town Center living history site. At the Town Center one can learn more about how daily life in colonial Maryland included both business and pleasure. See how a movable type printing press is operated and how documents were printed at the time using period correct methods and tools. One can also learn how the people’s love of games for fun and relaxation hasn’t changed much over the centuries as we conclude the tour by playing some common games of the time. You might even recognize a game or two.

Aaron Meisinger, the Interpretive Programs Manager at Historic St. Mary’s City, began working at HSMC in 1986 as a living history interpreter while completing his Bachelor of Science/Communication Arts degree from James Madison University. He had no idea how his degree would parlay into a career until he started working at Maryland’s 1st Colonial Capital (and he has been here ever since).

HSMC Experience includes 35 years portraying various 17th-century people for the public, scriptwriting, directing, training, and developing traditional as well as out-of-the-box living history programming.

Learn a Folksong with
Jay Armsworthy

Jay Armsworthy

Come join Southern Maryland music legend Jay Armsworthy for a two hour session, in which Jay will teach participants a few songs to form the backbone of a group group-participation jam session. Bring whatever instrument you play - guitar, banjo, mandolin, etc. A basic competency on your instrument is necessary  

Jay Armsworthy, a 2019 recipient of the Heritage Award from the Maryland Traditions program, has been performing, promoting, and airing Bluegrass music for nearly 40 years. He was raised in California, Maryland, and started playing guitar at 10. By 13, he had his own band performing throughout St. Mary’s County. Armswothy has been a member of many bands over the years, including Ernie Bradley & Grassy Ridge, and the Paul Adkins Band. Currently, he plays guitar and sings with his band, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, throughout the East Coast. He has five LPs, including 1995’s “Just Lookin’ For Fun,” an all-gospel project, "I Couldn't Make It Without Him" (Blue Circle, 2011), and most recently, “My Best Friend” (Patuxent Music, 2020). In addition to performing, Armsworthy has been a prolific bluegrass DJ and festival organizer. He has organized L’il Margaret’s Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival, among others, and his radio show, “The Bluegrass Hour,” is heard on a number of radio stations throughout Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic.

The Natural Beekeeping Experience

Josh Calo

Attendees will learn a holistic perspective on the honeybee and beekeeping, a skill that has been around since ancient times. Topics include, but are not limited to: treatment free beekeeping techniques, honey bee behavior and life cycle, medicines that come from the hive, hands on sensory experience and Q&A session.

Josh Calo is the owner of Sol Nectar, a Maryland based, small business that sells honeybees, hive equipment and related services such as rescuing bees by cutting bee colonies out of the walls of homes, setting up new beekeepers for success and providing educational workshops across Maryland. Josh believes in making tangible, positive changes in the well-being of the local ecosystem through saving bees and increasing bee population by helping beekeepers raise happy, healthy bees. If the bee population increases, in turn, so does the restoration of the beauty and wonder of wild nature, so that future generations will still have a thriving green environment to call home.

A History of Bluegrass and Oldtime Music in Southern Maryland

Jay Armsworthy

Bluegrass and Old Time Country music have long been an important part of Southern Maryland culture. Join Southern Maryland's own Jay Armsworthy for a discussion of the role of these genres in the region. The discussion will take a broad look at the history of music in Southern Maryland, but will examine especially how the genre of bluegrass became a dominant part of the area's music--from front porch jam sessions to weekend dances to local festivals & the concert scene. The discussion will be followed by a question and answer session.

Jay Armsworthy, a 2019 recipient of the Heritage Award from the Maryland Traditions program, has been performing, promoting, and airing Bluegrass music for nearly 40 years. He was raised in California, Maryland, and started playing guitar at 10. By 13, he had his own band performing throughout St. Mary’s County. Armswothy has been a member of many bands over the years, including Ernie Bradley & Grassy Ridge, and the Paul Adkins Band. Currently, he plays guitar and sings with his band, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, throughout the East Coast. He has five LPs, including 1995’s “Just Lookin’ For Fun,” an all-gospel project, "I Couldn't Make It Without Him" (Blue Circle, 2011), and most recently, “My Best Friend” (Patuxent Music, 2020). In addition to performing, Armsworthy has been a prolific bluegrass DJ and festival organizer. He has organized L’il Margaret’s Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival, among others, and his radio show, “The Bluegrass Hour,” is heard on a number of radio stations throughout Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic.