The Northwest Jersey Foklife Project
| Elinor Levy, Ph.D. |
Eileen Greason |
The
Northwest Jersey Folklife Project (NWJFP) is a private, not-for-profit
organization dedicated to supporting traditional and community cultures
in Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon counties and parts of Morris, Somerset,
and Mercer counties by working with communities to identify, research,
record and archive their folk arts and folklife: maintain a regional folk
archival and educational center; disseminate data to the community at
large to encourage intercultural sharing; foster integration of traditional
arts and skills in mainstream programming; and promote the cooperation
and involvement of other cultural agencies in this endeavor.
The
NWJFP was established in September 1996. It carries out its work with
communities whose members share characteristics such as geography, ethnicity,
age, gender, religion, and occupation. The communities of northwestern
New Jersey have developed largely from the combination of agricultural,
recreational, and industrial occupations. Even in this time of population
increase and change, old and new residents often share a personal connection
with industrial heritage and an appreciation of the rural landscape.
Projects and Programs
Fooling the Fish: Fooling the Fish is an exhibit about Fly Fishing produced bythe North West Jersey Folklife Project. An online version of the exhibit is available on this web site.
Cultural Riches: This project includes a traveling exhibit and a book written by Folklorist Susan Charles Groth. It presents the traditional folk arts and folklife of the northwest, based upon initial surveys of the region.
Finding Common Ground: African American Traditions from Blair Road to Crawley Avenue: Based upon extensive fieldwork with the historic free African American community in Warren County, this traveling exhibit portrays their history, folk arts, and folklife.
Sheep
to Shawl:A traveling exhibit, Sheep to Shawl documents the processes
involved in the creation of wool products, from sheep farming, which is
an important activity in the region, to processing wool and making garments.
Traditional Arts Expo:At the annual Warren County Farmers' Fair, the NWJFP presents exhibits and programs about the folk arts and folklife of the region.
Farm Survey: The NWJFP, in cooperation with Sussex County Community College, is currently conducting a survey of farms in the northwest region to document their products, histories, and traditional practices.
Resources
Available
Upon Request:
- Archive
- Traveling Exhibits, including Cultural Riches, Sheep to Shawl, Finding Common Ground, and Fooling the Fish
- Publication Cultural Riches
- Database of Folk Artists and Craftspeople
- Public Presentations about Folklore and Folklife
Services Available to the Public, Organizations, and Artists:
- Technical Assistance
- Performance Opportunities
- Internships
Funders
The Northwest Jersey Folklife Project receives ongoing support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State and has been supported by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
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