Canton, NY, Mar 29, 2013 — Singer-songwriter Dan Berggren shares new music from his latest CD, Tongues in Trees, at TAUNY in Canton on Saturday night (7 pm). The new recording marks Berggren's 40th year as an award-winning musician. His songs explore the many dimensions of home, hard working folks, taking care of the planet and each other.

Berggren's musical career began in 1973 while serving in the army based in Germany. He told Todd Moe he was hired by Air Canada to be a troubadour, traveling around Germany singing American folksongs.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Feb 27, 2013 — Considered America's oldest working woodlands, the Northern Forest -- stretching from the Tug Hill through the Adirondacks to the coast of Maine -- is also home to a remarkable range of traditional artists. This month, Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, opened a new exhibit that features art from among the trees.

TAUNY executive director Jill Breit says the concept behind Artists of the Forest is to showcase how artists are using the resources that are growing around them in the woods. The pieces featured in the show come from northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Feb 25, 2013 — The North Country's Regional Economic Development Council has been one of the most successful in the state. It's received top awards twice now, for projects that range from renovating an historic building in Port Henry, to making improvements to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, to treating wastewater in Malone.

Several of the projects the state funded aim to improve the North Country's economic outlook through the arts. One of these is "Invisible Factory", a project whose goal is to support regional artisans, and help them make a living from what they do.

"Invisible Factory" is a partnership between Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, in Canton, and the Adirondack North Country Association, in Saranac Lake.

Nora Flaherty stopped by TAUNY, to learn more about Invisible Factory.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jan 23, 2013 — It's a natural fit on a cold winter day - working with wool yarn to knit a hat, socks or a sweater. But it probably comes as no surprise that for avid knitters, it's a year-round passion. Todd Moe stopped by Traditional Arts in Upstate New York in Canton last winter to visit a weekly knitting group. There are dozens of similar clubs around the region that meet at craft shops, bookstores, churches and living rooms.

Socially-minded knitters donate their creations to charitable projects, experienced knitters work on larger projects or enter contests and then there are those who just knit.

This month, the knitters are meeting at the Brewer Bookstore, as TAUNY prepares its new exhibit. So, on Tuesday mornings you'll find just a couple of knitters or a group as large as twenty sitting in a circle surrounded by skeins of yarn, half-finished sweaters and a spirit of generosity.  Go to full article

Heuvelton, NY, Nov 30, 2012 — Traditional Arts in Upstate New York opens its 10th annual Gingerbread Contest and Exhibit Saturday in Canton. The Pierce family of Heuvelton will have an entry, just like every other year the contest has been around.

Julie Grant met recently with Carolyn Pierce and a handful of her seven children, who range in age from seven to 20. Reggie, the oldest, is now in college. He was 10 the first year they entered. That year they attempted a gingerbread replica of their church in Heuvelton.

In the years that have followed, they've made the Remington Tavern, the Quiltmaker's gift castle, and their own barn. They've even won the TAUNY contest a few times.

Mother Carolyn Pierce says it was Aunt Eloise, also known as Faye White, who first encouraged them to get into gingerbread making.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Nov 06, 2012 — Traditional Arts in Upstate New York kicks off its tenth annual Sugar & Spice gingerbread contest and exhibit later this month. And to help would-be bakers and builders get into the mood, TAUNY is hosting a couple of workshops.

Todd Moe spoke with TAUNY folklorist Hannah Harvester about this year's contest, and the history of gingerbread houses. The tradition began in the mid-19th century when the story of Hansel and Gretel and a witch's candy cottage become popular. But Harvester says, in some cultures, baking gingerbread goes back centuries.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Oct 23, 2012 — Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, TAUNY, handed out its annual North Country Heritage Awards on Sunday -- honoring North Country traditions. Watertown has had a love of football for more than a century. The Watertown Red & Black is the oldest semi-pro team in the U.S. It began back in 1896. In its first decades, the team featured the sons of immigrants who worked in local factories and young men who had been star players in local high schools. More recently, over half of the roster is soldiers from Fort Drum.

George Ashcraft was a middle linebacker for the team in the early 1970s. This year marks his 22nd year as head coach. Todd Moe spoke with him about coaching a football team that is a cultural icon in Watertown.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Oct 17, 2012 — TAUNY celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Salute to North Country Legends on Sunday at SUNY Canton. One of the North Country Heritage award recipients, is Canton model wooden boat builder Frank White.

Now 94 years old, White grew up on a farm near Pyrites, in St. Lawrence County, hearing stories of logging camps and river drives from his French-Canadian grandfathers. He's been hiking, fishing, and paddling canoes around the North Country since the 1930's. His passion for canoes has taken him on solo trips on major rivers across North America.

White was one of the founders of the annual Rushton Canoe Races in Canton. His wife of 65 years, Beulah, passed away last December. As Frank says, they spent most of their marriage outdoors paddling local lakes and streams.

After retiring from a career as a florist in 1984, he took up model making, starting with kits of famous vessels like the Halfmoon, and the USS Constitution. He's taken top honors at international model boat building contests and his models are on display at SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence University and museums around the country. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jan 24, 2012 — It may seem like a natural fit on a cold winter day - working with wool yarn to knit a hat, socks or a sweater. But it probably comes as no surprise that for avid knitters, it's a year-round passion. Todd Moe stopped by Traditional Arts in Upstate New York in Canton last week to visit a weekly knitting group. There are dozens of similar clubs around the region that meet at craft shops, bookstores, churches and living rooms.

Socially-minded knitters donate their creations to charitable projects, experienced knitters work on larger projects or enter contests and then there are those who just knit.

At TAUNY on Tuesday mornings you'll find just a couple of knitters or a group as large as 20. Last week, there were eight women sitting in a circle surrounded by skeins of yarn, half-finished sweaters and a spirit of generosity.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Dec 21, 2011 — Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, TAUNY, organized a couple of caroling parties again this month in Canton. Songs celebrating midwinter, the solstice and Christmas have been sung for centuries. Caroling, or groups of singers moving from house to house during the Holidays, probably began in England, France and Germany in the 15th century. But, what motivates people to bundle-up and sing outdoors in December today? Todd Moe talks with Traditional Arts in Upstate New York staff folklorist Hannah Harvester, who has studied the history and evolution of caroling.  Go to full article