Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts Announces 2023-24 Mentor Artist-Apprentice Pairs

Photo Submitted

After receiving a record number of applications, five mentor artists have been selected to participate in the Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts statewide apprenticeship program. The program, currently in its fourth year, funds teams of mentor artists and apprentices committed to sustaining their artistic traditions and cultural heritage. This year's mentor artists are Pat Bergman, Clarke Buehling, Jerry Fisk, Maria Christina Moroles and Ed Pennebaker. 

Teams are required to develop a work plan for the upcoming project year, meet with each other regularly over the course of the year and finally, share their experience with their communities at the culmination of the project. 

• Pat Bergman of Yellville will return to the program this year to mentor Lisa Crews, a new apprentice, in the art of jewelry metalsmithing. Bergman has been a practicing metalsmith since 1979. Her jewelry uses a mixture of metals such as sterling, brass and copper which are attached by soldering or riveting.
• Clarke Buehling of Fayetteville will mentor Kenneth Tillery in the traditional art of five-string banjo. Buehling has been a banjo player for more than 30 years and specializes in 19th century banjo. He plays with the Ozark Highballers and has recorded with the Skirtlifters and the Old 78s.
• Jerry Fisk of Nashville will mentor John Lindsey in the traditional art of bladesmithing. Fisk has been working as a master bladesmith for more than 30 years and has taught classes internationally. He was the 1999 Arkansas Living Treasure recipient.
• Maria Christina Moroles of Ponca will mentor Artemis Diaz in the traditional art of curanderismo. Known as a curandera, a traditional healer in Mexican indigenous culture, Moroles provides limpias (cleansings) and energy healings, along with herbal remedies. She is the matriarchal steward of Santuario Arco Iris (Rainbow Sanctuary), an intentional living community focused on women and children of color in Newton County. 
• Ed Pennebaker of Clinton will mentor Amanda Whatley in the traditional art of blown glass. Pennebaker has been practicing the traditional art of glass blowing for over 30 years. Pennebaker's work is featured in the Clinton Presidential Library, among other galleries and locations. 

"Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts is dedicated to creating opportunities that put resources and funding back into the hands of artists and tradition-bearers," said Virginia Siegel, program coordinator. "We are really proud to work with such an incredible group of apprenticeship teams. It's encouraging to see tradition-bearers share their expertise and skills each year. We here at AFTA are excited to see the outcomes of the apprenticeship program this year." 

Artists began their apprenticeships in November 2023 and will continue through May 2024. The next round of applications will be made available in June with a submission deadline of Aug. 31.     

Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts is a statewide program of the University of Arkansas Libraries dedicated to building cross-cultural understanding by documenting, presenting and sustaining Arkansas' living traditional arts and cultural heritage.

The Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is supported by state partnership funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arkansas Arts Council.