At 1:30 p.m. Daniel Nguyen, member of the Vietnamese Community of Syracuse, stood in front of the entrance to the Folk Arts Tent on the Quad. Mr. Nguyen began to beat a large red drum. Suddenly a huge red dragon with long sparkling tail appeared!

The Vietnamese Dragon dance was only one of many remarkable performances in this year’s Folk Arts Tent. Throughout the spring semester, Honors students collaborated with several of our city’s community members to facilitate a program that would bring  university students “up close and personal”  with folk artists, traditional musicians and self-taught dancers residing in our city. In an effort to bring recognition to these very talented  city residents, the students interviewed each community member, conducted extensive library research and spent many hours brainstorming about how to recontextualize traditions in ways that would be meaningful for new audiences. For example, Anne Robinson collaborated with Barbara Peterson and her aunt, Catherine Burns, to learn about the significance of African-American needlework and the contribution Mrs. Peterson is making to the city through her Community Sewing School on Euclid Avenue; Colin Fanning became fascinated by Helen (Halia) Kelley’s traditional Ukrainian beadweaving and during the program was in a position to facilitate dialogue between Helen and Bosnian needlework artist Hava Tihic who also demonstrated domestic arts in the Folk Arts Tent. On the other side of the 40' x 60' tent sat Jessica Engel and Kayla Walsh who worked with community members of both Dinka and DiDinga  ethnic groups to help tent visitors appreciate the “Lost Boys of Sudan” as a “community of experience” comprised of men from very different language groups.

All of the students worked toward the goal of cultural democracy; that is, equal representation of all cultures in a respectful manner. Without the interest, cultural sensitivity and hard work of Honors students, this intercultural exchange could not have taken place.

We are proud of all of you!