| Summary: | Alliance, docent newsletter of the Institute of Texan Cultures, 1981-1995. -q allIance neLOsletteR " THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES -- SAN ANTONIO MAY/JUNE 1989 GUEST EDITOR: DORI LAPPEUS WELCOME ABOARD Would like to welcome the t~enty-six folks who completed weekend training on April 1st. We are' pleased to have you, and know you will enjoy the time you spend with us. A DIFFERENT VIEW Black History, Black Visions: The Visionary Image in Texas is the colorful exhibition in the lower gallery which will continue through June 11. The works are a stunning representation of the visions and dreams of six selftaught artists, and in many cases illustrate not only their religious feelings, but memories of events in their lives. Despite adversity and using the most easily obtainable instruments with which to work, colored pencils, felt tip markers, watercolors, and an occasional oil, they painted their dynamic pictures. Most of the artists began their art careers late in life and felt driven to duplicate experiences and memories not only in their own lives, but also stories that had been recounted to them by their parents and grandparents. Other themes include religious and folk beliefs. Sometimes the artist's message was most clear to his own community. In other works, an understanding of the traditions represented is needed to fully comprehend the piece. Plan on spending time in the Gallery learning more about this aspect of folk art. There are several really fascinating tales to be told here. Tour docents may consider this alternative when the Exhibit Floor gets congested. PIONEER SUNDAY May 7, 1989 will see the recreation of what life might have been like for children growing up in Texas. The "Back 40" will be the setting for the demonstrations of handicrafts of those times, together with the day-today chores and pleasures of the lives of the pioneers. These will include the games and toys they had, such as hopscotch, marbles and Indian games; the animals they tended, the one room schoolhouse, the frontier fort, the barn, the adobe building and the pioneer wagon. From 1 to 4 p.m. visitors will be able to learn how to milk goats, make corn shuck dolls, make hoe cakes, and as recruits at the fort become a part of drilling and flag raising ceremonies. Cindi Gonzales has built an horno (oven) near the adobe house and will be baking bread there. Also among the activities of the day will be quiltmaking, music, spinning and weaving and herbal remedies. Don't miss all the excitment! CONGRATULATIONS We are proud that docent Esther MacMillan has been recognized for the work she has done with the Oral History program. Esther recently received a Merit Award in the cultural catagory as part of the JC Penney Golden Rule Awards. Congratulations Esther! ", Alliance Newsletter May/June 1989 Page 2 "SAY WHAT???" Hedda Schlosberg has been collecting Texas expressions, the unique ways we have of getting our point across. Here a~e a few from her collection. Well, that does takes the rag off the bush. (translation - expressing appal at some nervy action by another. ) Come up to lick the log (one who has submitted) Really ginnin (doing something with haste or speed) He sawed that fiddle to "who laid the chunk" Irefering to anything superlative) Nervous as a "box supper beau" He/she is a real south end of a northbound horse She's as nervous as a long-tail cat in a room full of rockers Plumb weak . north of his ears Needs a ladder to kick a grasshopper in the ankle I feel like I've been rode hard and put up wet. I'm so weak I can't lick my upper lip COME AND GET IT! An Outreach docent luncheon will be held on Monday, March 8th, at 12:00 in the auditorium. The theme, inspired by meals of the past as featured in the new DRT cookbook, is "A Pinch of This and a Handful of That". The main dish will be provided so the invitation mailed to Outreach docents lists suggested side d i shes to bring, such as corn bread and black-eyed peas. Those interested in going "all out" should contact Sandra Merrifield for Texan recipes circa 1840-1860. These get-to gethers are a lot of fun, so "come and get it" Outreach folks on May 8th. IS THAT CLAY UNDER YOUR FINGERNAILS? Well, it just might be if you are among the first 30 docents to sign up for the upcoming training session to be conducted on Saturday, June 17. Mr. Alvin Lynn will be instructing docents on the Ceramics of Texas Indians. He will provide opportunities for hands-on pottery making while sharing background information on the various types of prehistoric Indian pottery made in Texas. Specifics will include pottery of the Caddoan, Puebloan and Plains/Woodlands Indian cultures. Class participants will also see Mr. Lynn demonstrate an actual firing, in the Indian tradition, of some of his own pottery on the Back 40. Mr. Lynn teaches high school physical sciences in Dumas, Texas. He has conducted several workshops on Indian pottery around the state, and we are really excited to bring him to The Institute. We expect an outstanding learning experience which will put us more "in touch" with a people so far removed from us in time. REMEMBER! Because supplies will be provided at no cost to docents, the class will be strictly limited to 30 participants. What does this suggest? Hurry! Call Penny Caldwell in Educational Programs (ext. 225) and ask her to include your name on the offical list. Again, Ceramics of Texas Indians, at The Institute on Saturday, June 17. Hours are expected to be 9 am to 3 pm. David LaRo ******~************************** * The Alliance Appreciation * * party has been scheduled for * * Monday, June 5th. Invitations * * will be forthcoming in the * * mail. * ********************************* PRICKLY PEAR: THE ALL AMERICAN CACTUS The, Prickley Pear, or Indian Fig, is native only in the Amerleas. It is a plant that grows in all fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii. In Mexico this plant is known as the "nopal" and its fruit as the "tuna". Large strands of prickly pear grow around the Southwest's missions where the Spanish padres planted them, both for their protection as well as their succulence. This desert plant had numerous uses for the native Indians as well as for the early settlers of the West. The stems, which look like spiny green leaves, were roasted and used as a poultice on swellings of all sorts and a tea made of its yellowish flowers was drunk to increase urine flow. Indians also made tea of the stems and used this as a wash to ease headaches, eye troubles, and insomnia. The early settlers of the West boiled the root in milk and drank the liquid to treat dysentery. In Mexico, the flat branches are scraped clear of spines, cut into small pieces, and used in salads as a source of vitamin C. It also grows more or less on its own for cattle feed and is planted in thick green strips by makers of products such as cactus candy, cactus jelly and "Queso de Tuna". As a child in Mexico I can very well remember the many fruit stands which awaited us hungry kids after school. Among the most attractive fruit were the brightly colored "tunas" which were chilled on blocks of ice and sold for a mere fraction of the U. S . penny! To enjoy the so-called Indian Fig you can peel them or cut off the ends of the fruit, slice the hide lengthwise, and scoop out the pulp. Elizabeth Schwartz CALLING ALL LIBRARY BOOKS It would be greatly appreciated if you would look around the house and return any ITC library books that you may find. They are needed as resource material for the annual Teach the Teachers workshop which takes place in June. Alliance Newsletter May/June 1989 Page 3 FOLKLIFE NEWS It has been seven years since adult admission ticket priprices for Folklife Festival have changed. Please keep this in mind as I tell you that adult gate admission prices are $6 this year. Tickets purchased in advance (at locations to be named later) are priced at $5. Children's ticket prices have also changed for the first time in eleven years. Gate prices are $2 while tickets purchased in advance are $1. Special prices will be in effect on Friday August 4th from rioon to 1 PM. Adults will be admitted for $1 and children under 12 are free. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN As we walk about the Exhibit Floor during the course of our normal activities, we have many opportunities to notice the condition of artifacts. Items are sometimes found to be in need of attention, perhaps cleaning, or patching or loose wires may simply need tightening. When noticing such things, please take a few minutes to jot down a brief note for Keva Boardman, Newton Ellison, or Phyllis McKenzie. These people watch things pretty carefully, but they have a lot of things to keep track of. A note can really help them get corrective action started or it might remind them of a problem yet unresolved which can be followed up. David LaRo FIRST FIG My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends- It gives a lovely light. Edna St. Vincent Millay RESPONSE My candle burns at one end; It's lasted eighty nights; And that , is all the light I need To see my simple sights. Len Horn Alliance Newsletter May/June 1989 Page 4 CALENDAR OF EVENTS The following list is pro-vided to help you keep track of happenings that are of interest to Alliance memberR. A word to the wise: scheduled events sometimes change so it is a good idea to check on any events' you may be planning to attend. May 1, Mon, 2 PM, Auditorium; Alliance meeting May 7, Sun, 1-5 PM, Back 40; Pioneer Sunday Mai 8, Mon, 11 AM-2 PM, Auditorium; Outrea~h docent luncheon May 25, Thurs, 2 PM, Dome; Naturalization Ceremonies Jun 6, Tues, Dallas Heritage Tour Jun 11, Sun, Gallery A; Black History, Black Vision: The Visionary Image in Texas Exhibit ends Jun 17, Sat, 9 AM-3 PM, Auditorium; Ceramic~ of Texas Indians Workshop Jun 20, Tues, Gallery; Cryin' for Daylight Exhibit opens Jun 22, Thurs, 2 PM, Dome; Naturalization Ceremonies MAY JUNE 5 M T W 5 5 M T W T 5 1 2 J 4 5 6 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 25 21> 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 FROM THE TRAIL The recent Heritage Tour along the Independence trail was a most enjoyable experience. Adding to the festivities were some cookies baked by Mary Burrow. So many requests were received for the recipe that we were asked to include it in the newsletter. Here it is . Bon Appetite! INDEPENDENCE TRAIL COCONUT MACAROONS 1 can sweetened condensed milk 2-1/2 sq German sweet chocolate 3-1/2 cups coconut 1 cup pecans, chopped Combine sweetened milk and chocolate in top of double boiler; stir until chocolate melts. Add coconut and pecans. Drop by teaspoonful on greased (Pam works fine) cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Mary' Burrow TEXTILES Although many visit The Institute • f children who of Texan Cul-tures are aware that spinning and weaving are means by which their clothing is made, they think in terms of factories and machines which do the work. Hand spinning, weaving, and sewing are not widespread pastimes in these days of mechanization and few understand the time and labor which used to be expended by families in supplying their needs in former times. It is difficult for a child of today to imagine a time when if you didn't make it you didn't have it. There is excitement in hearing the spinners explain the process of shearing, washing, and dying the wool or cotton, as well as the describing ways of spinning used by various cultures. There is hardly a child who does not enjoy trying his hand at carding and using a drop spindle. They are astonished to learn that combings from dogs with thick undercoats such as shelties, Alaskan huskies, and poodles yield hair which can be spun into fine yarn with an interesting texture. This yarn can then be woven, knitted or crocheted. The children are also amazed to learn that goats give a light warm yarn called mohair. Weaving is especially interesting to children. The loom, manipulated by feet and hands is used to make cloth, rugs, and other articles. The most unbelievable fact is that when clothes were worn out they were not useless. The good parts were saved and used to make rag rugs while the best pieces were utilized for making quilts. The quilters make a big impression on our young clients. Many are surprised that, in an age when it isn't necessary, people will make quilts for the joy of it. Rosalina Ascencion, a docent who .Learned to quilt on our Exhibit Floor, won a blue ribbon for a quilt she entered at County Fair Days during this year's Rodeo. A new section, lacemaking, has been added to the floor recently. Denise Plested and Dori Lappeus are now demonstrating bobbin lace and tatting on Wednesday mornings near the spinners ~nd weavers section, while Delia Puig Barrera illustrates tatting on Thursday mornings near the quilters. Please stop by and say "Hello".
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