Joshua Kurtz

Festival Blog

Posts tagged with Joshua Kurtz

A young Asian person with long dark hair walks in a fashion show, wearing a bright pink, five-pointed felt hat, embroidered blue shirt and striped red jacket, oversize blue felt ball earrings, and an oversize gray circular ring.

The Soul of Tengri Fashion Show: Celebrating and Reviving Kazakh Couture

December 26, 2023 | Joshua Kurtz

The fashion show featured the work of three accomplished Kazakh clothing designers: Aizhan Bekkulova, Tilek Sultan, and Aizhan Sembigaliyeva.

Closeup of someone embroidering a colorful border on pale blue fabric sewn to a wooden frame.

Crafts, Cultural Sustainability, Religion & Spirituality

“Tengri Is a Worldview”: How Artisans Are Reviving Kazakhstan’s Cultural Heritage

December 6, 2023 | Joshua Kurtz

During the second week of the Festival, Soul of Tengri showcased the work of eight Kazakh artists while highlighting the history, evolution, and legacy of nomadism in Kazakh communities.

A young man in a Folklife Festival staff T-shirt reclines in a chair, eyes closed, as the people seated around him sing. They are under a tent in the grass, with other festival tents in the background.

Music, Religion & Spirituality

Singing for the Dying: A Conversation with the Threshold Singers of Washington DC

December 4, 2023 | Joshua Kurtz

The D.C. chapter was founded in early 2013 and regularly sings at hospices throughout the city.

Close-up on a pair of hands as someone writes Arabic calligraphy with a stylus.

Art & Design, Cultural Transmission, Religion & Spirituality

An Unbroken Line: Josh Berer and Mariam Lodin Share the Art of Islamic Calligraphy

September 20, 2023 | Joshua Kurtz

For millennia, calligraphy has played a central role in Islamic culture.

A man sits at a loom under a tent outdoors.

Art & Design, Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Knowledge

“Sitting at the Loom Is a Prayer”: Kevin Aspaas Weaves Diné History and Culture

August 9, 2023 | Joshua Kurtz

Originally from Jeddito, Arizona, Kevin Aspaas first learned to weave when he was ten years old.

On stage, a five-piece string band perform in front of a crowd. Also on stage are a videographer and an ASL interpreter.

Music

A New Generation of Bluegrass: Sylamore Special Takes the Stage

July 26, 2023 | Joshua Kurtz

Based in Mountain View, Arkansas, this energetic and virtuosic five-piece bluegrass band has been nominated for three Arkansas Country Music Awards.

Joshua Kurtz

Festival Blog

Posts tagged with Joshua Kurtz

Posts by Festival

Recent Posts

Themes

Multimedia