NEA Office of Communications
Contact: Cherie Simon
202-682-5570
Washington, DC: Eleven master musicians and artisans named 1997 National
Endowment for the Arts National heritage Fellows will be honored in a White
House
ceremony at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 1997. First Lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton will be joined by Jane Alexander, Chairman of the National
Endowment for the
Arts, in saluting the Fellowís achievements as artists, teachers,
innovators, and guardians
of generations-old art forms. The National Heritage Fellowships are the Arts
Endowmentís most prestigious honor in folk and traditional arts.
Two days after the White House ceremony, on Thursday, September 25, 1997 at
7:30
p.m., the Heritage Fellows will perform music or demonstrate their art work
at a free
public concert and celebration at George Washington Universityís Lisner
Auditorium, at 730 - 21st St. NW in Washington, DC Admission is
free-of-charge, but
tickets are required. Call the National Council for the Traditional Arts
at 301/565-0654
for ticket and additional concert information.
The Heritage Fellows hail from eight different states and reflect the
richness and diversity
of Americaís many cultures. Among the 1997 honorees are the McReynolds
brothers of
Tennessee who have played bluegrass music together for 50 years; Gladys
LeBlanc Clark,
a Cajun weaver from Louisiana who, for most of her 78 years, has grown,
carded and
spun the cotton she weaves; and Charles Brown, a West coast rhythm and
blues musician
whose ìcool jazzî style influenced Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. Jane
Alexander, NEA
Chairman, said, ìOur highest honor in the folk and traditional arts
recognizes masters
whose extraordinary talents spring from the heart of home and community.
With vision
and dedication, these individuals pass skills from generation to
generation, bringing new
life to invaluable traditions, and shaping a nation where our differences
become our
strength.î
The 1997 National Heritage Fellowship recipients are:
Edward Babb, a ìShoutî Band Gospel trombonist, Jamaica New York
Charles Brown, a West coast rhythm & Blues pianist, vocalist and composer, Berkeley California
Gladys LeBlanc Clark, an Acadian/Cajun spinner and weaver, Duson, Louisiana
Hua Wenyi, a Chinese Kungu opera singer, Arcadia, California
Ali Akbar Khan, a North Indian sarode player and raga composer, San Anselmo, California
Ramon Jose Lopez, a santero and metalsmith, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Bluegrass musicians, Gallatin, Tennessee
Phong Nguyen, a Vietnamese musician and scholar, Kent, Ohio
Hystercine Rankin, an African American quilter, Lorman, Mississippi
Francis Whitaker, a blacksmith/ornamental ironworker, Carbondale, Colorado.
Since 1982, the Arts Endowment has awarded over 200 National Heritage
Fellowships.
Every year, hundreds of nominations are reviewed by panelists who consider
criteria
including authenticity, excellence and significance within a particular
artistic tradition.
Often Fellows selected have contributed to the revitalization of their
chosen art form.
Each Fellowship includes a one-time award of $10,000. Target stores, a
division of
Dayton Hudson, has helped fund the 1997 National Heritage Fellowship events.
The White House ceremony is by invitation-only. Members of the media who
plan to
cover the event must contact the Endowmentís Office of Communication at
202/682-5570
on or before September 23, 1997.
CONCERT INFORMATION:
Nick Spitzer, director of the ìFolk Mastersî concert series at Wolftrap
Farm Park and
host and producer of the ìAmerican Routesî radio series, will be master of
ceremonies.
Free tickets for the Lisner Auditorium concert celebration are available on
a first-come,
first-served basis at locations listed below. Seating is general
admission. Sign language
interpretation will be provided. The Lisner Auditorium number is
202/994--6800.
TICKETS:
Ordering by Telephone:
National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Heritage & Preservation;
202/682-5570
National Council for the Traditional Arts; 301/565-0654
In Person:
The House of Musical Traditions; 7040 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD (Tues-Sat,
Noon to 7 p.m., Sun, Noon to 5 p.m.)
TICKETplace; Old Post Office/Nancy hanks Center, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
ground level, Washington DC
Marvin Center Newsstand; 800 - 21st St. NW, lower level, Washington, DC
(Mon-Fri, 8
a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat & Sun, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 202/996-6800.
Further information and photographs of the Heritage Fellows and awards
ceremony may
be obtained by calling the NEA Office of Communications at 202/682-5570.
The Arts
Endowment website at http://arts.endow.gov will also post Fellowship and event
information.