NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

6/04/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Four accomplished folk artists, basket maker and boat builder Tom Colvin of Mandeville, toy maker Blake Owen of Alexandria, felter and weaver Brenda Perkins of Reeves and musician Rick Seale of Natchitoches have been inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center's Hall of Master Folk Artists.

These folk artists join 50 others previously inducted into the Hall. They will be honored during the annual Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival July 18-19 in Prather Coliseum on the Natchitoches campus of Northwestern State University.

Each of these immensely talented artists have made significant contributions to the world of Louisiana Folklore," said Dr. Lisa Abney, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center. "We are proud to have the opportunity to recognize the talents of these four important folk artists, not only for their work but also for their commitment to the preservation of traditional folk art forms."

Colvin learned his skills in a traditional manner by watching and asking questions. Colvin, though not Native American by blood, grew up in a community in which whites and Native Americans interacted regularly. Because of his ties to the community, he learned to weave baskets in the traditional Choctaw way. He can make beautiful cane and palmetto baskets. Colvin learned from Mathilda Johnson at Bayou La Combe.

Later he became an accomplished cabinetmaker, and a few years later, he decided to study boat making. He has learned the rare art of making dugout log canoes. This was boat form he heard about from the Choctaw while growing up. Colvin mastered this boat style and continues to craft boats from cypress wood. In addition to his wood working, he also has helped the Jena Choctaw to preserve and in some cases, revive past traditions of their culture. He has remained dedicated to the tribe for many years and has developed strong ties with its members over the past years.

A life-long wood worker, Owens has made a career out of his hobby, wooden toys and loves to share the fruits of his labor with the public. He crafts a number of interesting toys and puzzles which entertain both children and adults for hours. Owens looks to the toys of his youth for inspiration, and tries to find ways to make his puzzles unique. He has demonstrated his craft at a number of festivals around the state and in the region.

Perkins grew up watching her mother sew and do needlework. Her mother could also sew, tat, crochet, piece quilts and quilt them. She and her husband of 41 years, Dempsy grew up together going to school and church activities, and they shared a love for traditional activities of their culture.

The Perkins family raises sheep for a living. About 20 years ago, when the price of wool went down and the sheep were no longer paying there way, the Perkins family went in search of a way to make a profit. One of the things that they did was to start offering the wool to hand spinners.

There were no older people in the area that still knew how to do these crafts, so Perkins set out to her local library to study spinning and weaving. After reading and working with other weavers, she learned to spin and weave wool. Additionally, because she had grown up watching her mother card cotton for quilts, she was well prepared for learning to card wool.

Perkins loves to share her art at festivals since visitors ask about her craft. Spinning and weaving have become art forms now, but in the past, spinning and weaving were the only ways to make clothing and household linens. While Perkins can spin and weave wool, she also felts wool and makes hats from the wool.

"I think it is important that someone continue to keep the old methods of doing things, or they will be lost to the next generation," she said.

Seale learned to play guitar when he was about fifteen years old after a cousin left his guitar at Rick's house while visiting. He became intrigued by the guitar and began to play around with it. At the same time, he was in high school band where he played the trumpet as his mother had done.

He later joined a rhythm and blues band, D.T. and the Mystics, and was later a member of the rock band, Rain. Several years later, he began attending and eventually taking part in Sunday night jam sessions at Beaudion's in Natchitoches.

Seale closely listened to and was influenced by blues musician B.B. Majors, who he calls "the greatest influence on his career." Those weekly sessions led to him playing with Overton Owens, "Dr. Drip Drop" and in Roque's Blues Band with Hardrick Rivers. After Owens's death, Rivers and Seale kept Roque's Blues Band going.

About two and a half years ago, Seale decided to change his musical style and teamed up with acoustic musician, Rick Woodard, forming the Hoodoo Pappas. The duo has gained widespread acclaim in both Louisiana and internationally. Seale has worked throughout the years to preserve Louisiana's folk culture, having been the music coordinator for the Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival for several years in the 1980s.

For more information on the Hall of Master Folk Artists and the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, call (318) 357-4332.

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