Henry Wesley Stewart interview for the Duval County Folk Arts in Education Project

Fieldwork

Art

Woodwork

Selling

Wood craft

Toothpicks

Toothpick models

Decorative arts

Material culture

Sculpture

Artists

One audio cassette. Stewart was well-known for his toothpick art work. Born in South Carolina, he was a former messenger for WMVR Radio. He discusses origins of his toothpick artwork; various sculptures he has made; the process of making the sculptures; inspiration sources; selling objects to people such as Minnie Pearl, publisher Katherine Graham, and Liberace; tools used; and the importance of traditions. Stewart did not allow any photographs to be taken of his artwork. The Folk Arts in Education Project in Duval County was a joint venture between the Duval County School System and the Florida Folklife Program. It was started in 1984 by folklorist David Taylor with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to add to existing social studies curriculum. The project consisted of field research to identify local traditions and folk artists, a series of five two-day seminars to acquaint teachers with the use of folklore and folk arts,and in-school programs conducted by a folklorist and traditionalist which included visits by local folk artists. Taylor ran it until 1986. In 1988, Gregory Hansen re-initiated it with minor changes.

State Archives of Florida, Series S1576

1984-09-09

Florida Folklife Program

sound recordings

audiocassettes

Sound

a_s1576_22_c86-167

S1576

22

C86-167

Duval County Folk Arts in Education Project

Taylor, David, 1951-

Stewart, Henry Wesley, 1926-

African American

http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/memory/collections/folklife/folklife-mp3/C86-167.mp3

mp3true

1548

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