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Scissor Dance: the Danzaq of Southern Peru in New York

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Scissor Dance: the Danzaq of Southern Peru in New York Spring–Summer 2015 Volume 41: 1–2 The Journal of New York Folklore Scissor Dance: The Danzaq of Southern Peru in New York Stephen Alcorn on Drawing by Hand in a Digital Age Craft Revisited: A Consumer Revolution In Memoriam: Hilt Kelly, Catskills Fiddler and Caller From the Director From the Editor In the past few weeks, Addy had played in the lives of his family and An explosion of pol- I have been strongly band members. As the family patriarch, Yacub len sent us to the hospi- reminded of the value Addy was the senior “tradition bearer” of a tal one May morning. A of traditional arts and family legacy of the renowned Addy family seemingly extraordinarily culture and their im- of drummers, singers, and dancers from the long winter ended sud- portance to the fabric Avenor neighborhood in Accra, Ghana. This denly with 80-degree of our everyday life. role as the elder statesman of the tradition temperatures and soak- As executive direc- of drumming by the Ga people held great ing showers! Spring flow- tor of the New York cultural importance. However, it was also ers responded immedi- Folklore Society, I consider traditional arts important from an economic viewpoint. ately, enthusiastically casting pollen into the and culture to be an important aspect of Throughout the decades of his involvement air, covering porches and cars in a fine yel- one’s sense of self, and a source of pride with Ghanaian drumming, (from before the low dust. Heaven for those awaiting spring. for a community. It seems to me, without independence of Ghana in 1957 to the pres- Hell for those suffering from allergies and question, that one’s knowledge of one’s own ent), Yacub Addy involved at least 62 band asthma. heritage provides grounding, which is essen- members in his ensemble, many of whom Many years ago, my wife’s difficulties were tial for the development of a whole person. followed him to the United States and became with all those cherry blossoms, azaleas, and In making the argument for the importance citizens and permanent US residents. As pres- other warm weather exotics in Washington, of traditional arts, I frequently like to point ent and former members of Yacub Addy’s DC. “Up North,” we wait for winter’s end as to the importance of culture and the arts for ensembles were introduced at the celebration, crocuses and daffodils, more often than not, personal and community development. How- as part of honoring of his life, the numbers poke up through snow. ever, in the last two days, two illustrations of on stage grew and grew—not only with mu- That morning the fruit trees, suddenly the generational aspect of culture and the arts, sicians but also with their spouses, children, in bloom, were quite a sight, but the small and their importance to individual and com- grandchildren, and other members of their flowers of oaks and maples especially munity economies, came strikingly into view. extended families. As their ranks ballooned, it caught my attention. “Tree flowers?” You The first illustration came about as the was a poignant recognition of the incredible remember the acorns you used in fights as result of my attending a celebration of the role of traditional arts in the founding and a kid, and maple seeds you’d break in half, life of the late Yacub Addy, a traditional maintenance of community. peel open, and stick to your nose—the fruits Ghanaian drummer whose obituary appeared The second, less dramatic illustration of these small flowers. Millions of blossoms in Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore, followed a few days later on June 2, when I softened the once bare trees on distant hills. Fall–Winter 2014. Honored by the National attended a Refugee Art Exhibit, organized Poor Nancy, her eyes almost swollen shut, Endowment for the Arts as a National Heri- by the English as a Second Language (ESL) could not appreciate the view. tage Fellow, Yacub Addy died in December program of the Albany City Schools and Flowers of my childhood in the mid- 2014, at the age of 83. On May 30, 2015, there the Refugee Roundtable of Albany, NY—a Hudson Valley included forsythia, its golden was a private celebration on the campus of group of volunteers who work with new- flowers bursting forth before its new leaves Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, organized by comers to the Albany area. Hosted by the opened. It grew like a weed in our yard, Yacub’s wife Amina Addy and other members Honorable Kathy Sheehan, Mayor of Albany, generating a new bush wherever a weep- of his family. While this was a wonderful at Albany City Hall, the exhibition showcased ing branch touched the ground. Shadblow, event due to the outpouring of love and artistic productions of children within the or serviceberry, another early bloomer, was admiration expressed and the celebratory Albany City School’s ESL classes. It was also said to mark “the shad run”—the migratory nature of honoring Yacub, I was also struck an opportunity to recognize the work of adult fish swimming up the Hudson to spawn. I by the important economic role that Yacub often picked daisies, buttercups, black-eyed continued on page 48 continued on page 2 “I never believed that spring had really come until I saw the first dandelion in bloom” —Stalking the Wild Asparagus, by Euell Gibbons (1962) VOICES: The Journal of New York Folklore Contents Spring–Summer 2015 3 Features 3 The Danzaq of Southern Peru in New York Crossed Scissors at the Crossroads of Immigration by Tom van Buren 16 Drawing The Line: Reflections on the importance of drawing by hand in an increasingly digital age by Stephen Alcorn 28 Craft Revisited: Moving toward a Consumer Revolution by Jeromy McFarren 42 In Memoriam: Hilt Kelly: Catskills Fiddler and Caller by Jim Kimball Departments and Columns 12 Good Spirits by Libby Tucker 13 Upstate by Dan Berggren 14 Downstate by Steve Zeitlin 16 38 ALN8BAL8MO: A Native Voice by Joseph Bruchac 40 Artist Spotlight: Joe Crookston 41 Good Read by Chris Linendoll 46 From the Waterfront 28 by Nancy Solomon 48 NYFS News and Notes 42 Cover: “Self-portrait” by Stephen Alcorn. Pen and ink and gouache on tinted paper; 22” x 17”. Read Stephen Alcorn’s article beginning on p. 16: “Drawing the Line: Reflections on the importance of drawing by hand in an increasingly digital age.” Spring–SummerSpring–Summer 2015,2015, VolumeVolume 41:41:1–2 1–2 1 1 From the Editor (continued) Susans, and other wildflowers for bouquets green calyx. I cut most of the green base for my mother. away as I pick, agreeing with some that a bit An elderly neighbor gave my dad a va- of green adds to the final product. It also riety of young lilac plants with blossoms fills the bucket faster. Sliced oranges, lem- Spring–Summer 2015 · Volume 41: 1–2 of purple, white, and a deep French blue, ons, and fresh ginger go into the dandelion Acquisitions Editor Todd DeGarmo Copy Editor Patricia Mason that grew to become a hedge alongside the flower tea that steeps for five days, covered Administrative Manager Laurie Longfield yard. What a sweet, heavenly scent! The still with a cloth to keep bugs out. My daugh- Design Mary Beth Malmsheimer young lilac bushes offered only few blos- ter laughs at childhood memories of Dad’s Printer Eastwood Litho soms, though, so we kids had to find others stinky concoctions in buckets in the kitchen. Editorial Board Varick Chittenden, Lydia Fish, Hanna Griff-Sleven, Nancy Groce, Lee Haring, to make bouquets for Mother’s Day. After Nowadays, she and her college friends enjoy Bruce Jackson, Christopher Mulé, Libby Tucker, Sunday School, we’d walk the mile home the wine. Kay Turner, Dan Ward, Steve Zeitlin from church, crossing neighbors’ yards of The dandelion tea is then strained, the Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore the village. About halfway, we’d pass through liquid boiled with 10–15 pounds of sugar, is published twice a year by the an archway of a tremendous lilac hedge, so depending on whether dry or sweeter wine New York Folklore Society, Inc. 129 Jay Street loaded with purple and white blossoms that is desired. When cooled, yeast is added to Schenectady, NY 12305 the branches almost touched the ground. start the conversion of much of the sugar to New York Folklore Society, Inc. Tolerant neighbors smiled from behind their alcohol. For one of my first batches, I used Executive Director Ellen McHale curtains, as we broke off armloads of scent- Euell Gibbons’ recipe in Stalking the Wild Program Manager, NYC Region Eileen Condon ed blooms to proudly carry home, where we Asparagus that called for cake yeast spread Administration and Gallery Laurie Longfield filled large vases for our grand bouquets. on toast to be floated on the tea. Now I use Web Administrator Patti Mason Voice (518) 346-7008 These days, vases of lilacs are not good champagne yeast, but not the additives some Fax (518) 346-6617 for my wife’s allergies. We find common in- winemakers use to kill wild yeast, stabilize Web Site www.nyfolklore.org terest in another flower of early May. Just the wine, and hurry the process. The golden Board of Directors when yards and fields begin to green, in liquid is then siphoned into a 5-gallon glass President Tom van Buren some places vast swaths of gold overtake carboy with an airlock for an oxygen-free Vice President/Secretary Christopher Mulé Treasurer John Braungard the green.
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