Elements of the Festival
Heritage Focus • Performers • Showcase Winners • Masters of Ceremonies • Honorees • Sponsors • Crafts Market • Folk Marketplace • Schedules • Festival Map • Program Book • Festival Committee • Heritage Area
Heritage Focus
Celebrating Maritime Folk History
The 2015 New Jersey Folk Festival will focus on martime folklife. We will present the traditional cultural expressions of such groups as seafarers, fishermen, longshoremen, boatbuilders, and seafood processors, and work with communities located near oceans, bays, or lakes, whose residents have a strong cultural relationship with the water. Maritime folklore encompasses a wide range of genres, including custom and ritual, legend, narrative, language, jargon, and song, as well as folklife forms such as technical skill, foodways, and material culture.
A special focus of this year’s festival will be revival performances of sea shanties. These were the work songs of the square-rigger days. Without them, many a fine, tall clipper ship would not have sailed serenely into port. “A shanty,” one old sailor said, “is another hand on the rope.” Hauling away on the ropes was was but one of the forms of backbreaking sea labor that these songs served to time and enliven. In addition to the sea shanties, the festival will feature traditional deep-water songs that were sung not for work, but for entertainment. Typically in the watch from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, the men would gather in clear weather around one of the hatches, where there would be singing and dancing of the jig and hornpipe. There were many kinds of songs that were popular at sea, including songs of famous vessels, ballads of sea fights and piracy, as well as songs of adventures ashore in Sailor Town.
Performers
ROGER DEITZ
New Jersey native Roger Deitz is a notable and extremely talented folk musician. He is known for performing his music on the guitar and banjo for large crowds at Philadelphia Folk Festival, Long Island Folk Festival, and the World Hunger Year Hungerthon concerts. However, Roger Deitz is much more than just a folk musician. He is also a writer, humorist, and raconteur. He has written music for over thirty years, and is a regular contributor to magazines such as Sing Out!, Frets, Fast Folk, Acoustic Guitar, and Billboard. He has also authored a book titled The Folk Music Chronicles. As a mentor, he guided many folk performers through teach-ins and articles. In 2012 he was the recipient of the New Jersey Folk Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished contributions to the folk music of New Jersey.
SPOOK HANDY
With a reputation for intimate performances and interactive fun, Spook Handy’s songs range from the spiritual to the political. Describing Spook’s music is not easy—lyrical wit of John Prine, the humor of Arlo Guthrie, the sincerity of John Denver, the boldness of Bob Dylan and the courage of Pete Seeger—emerge as a cohesive sound full of hope and promise. Spook has won several awards for his music and has performed at many prestigious folk festivals across the country. Spook is regarded as one of New Jersey’s torch carriers for folk music and singer/songwriter traditions.
THE MAGNOLIA STREET STRING BAND
The Magnolia Street String Band started in 2013 as an informal project among some friends, meeting and pickin in Highland Park, NJ. Originally there was a cellist. And no banjo. In the summer of 2013, they stumbled into a booking for a local festival gig opening for Tony Trischka. To get ready for the performance, the band invited Paul Prestopino (illustrious backing player for Peter, Paul and Mary, Tom Paxton and many others) to join their ranks. A couple months later, they added veteran NYC musician and master of all things stringed, Bobby Baxmeyer. The new members along with the original core of Matthew Backes, Sheila Shukla, and Jonathan Austin, played their first gig in March 2014. In the year since they have played about thirty shows to ever larger and more appreciative audiences. They have played festival stages, state fairs, hootenannies, honky tonks, and more refined events as well. Their music is grounded in traditional bluegrass with some folk, country, and old-time elements mixed in. The band’s sound often features three- (and sometimes four-) part harmonies and hot instrumentals. Overall, their take on bluegrass feels old but relevant, traditional but personal, well-crafted but ultimately soulful and direct.
PETE MCDONOUGH
Pete McDonough, of Pennington, NJ, has been studying, performing and writing about country, piedmont, delta and other forms of acoustic blues for more than 40 years. He has appeared with Woody Mann, Roy Book Binder, Honeyboy Edwards, Odetta, John Hartford and a host of other artists at Café Lena, Godfrey Daniels, in the On Patriots Stage series and at other venues in the Northeast. Recent projects include contributing to the production of Harlem Street Singer, the award winning documentary film about the life and music of Rev. Gary Davis and preparing biographies of two-dozen masters of acoustic blues for The Complete Acoustic Blues Method by Woody Mann.
DAN O’DEA
Dan O’ Dea is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Highland Park, New Jersey. He plays the fiddle, mandolin, flatpicking guitar, banjo, stand-up bass, and sings lead and harmony vocals. Dan not only performs and records music, but he is also an instructor of traditional fiddle styles, classic violin, mandolin, banjo and guitar. He owns and operates a music school, Dan’s Music Studio, in West Orange, New Jersey. He has been a guest lecturer on folk music styles at Rutgers University on multiple occasions and led the fiddle workshop at the 2006 AFBA Bluegrass Festival at Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. In September, 2007 Dan won the Fireback Bluegrass Fiddle contest and took third place in the “Oldtime’ category. Since 2007, he coordinates the jamming segment of the New Jersey Folk Festival and serves as emcee.
MICHAEL AARON ROCKLAND
Professor Michael Aaron Rockland founded the American Studies Department at Rutgers while serving as Assistant Dean of Douglass College (1969-1972). Professor Rockland is a faculty member and former Department Chair of the American Studies Department. He was at the very first New Jersey Folk Festival and since then has served as presenter and emcee numerous times over the years. He is the author of several books, including The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel, and numerous articles. Dr. Rockland has served in the US Foreign Service in Latin America and Spain and he continues to lecture abroad about American cultural issues..
STEPHEN SANFILIPPO
Stephen Sanfilippo, a native of Brooklyn, divides his time between the North Fork of Long Island, New York, and the Downeast Coast of Maine. A U.S. Navy Vietnam-Era veteran, and a general opponent of war and violence, he was co-founder of the Long Island Traditional Music Association, hosted a folk music program on WUSB Stony Brook, and is now a history professor at Maine Maritime Academy. He has been researching and performing historic songs of the maritime trades since the mid-1970s, receiving a Ph.D. in History. Stephen performs vocally, and is entirely self-taught on 5-string banjo, guitar, harmonica, and Anglo-concertina. A frequent presenter at Mystic Seaports “Songs of the Sea Festival” and “Music of the Sea History Symposium,” he has performed at historic sites and aboard sailing vessels, and at educational and cultural venues. Since retiring from full-time teaching in 2003, he has concentrated on researching maritime songs of Maine, and on writing and presenting concert/lectures on many aspects of maritime song culture, and has recorded “As Long As the Seas Do Roll,” a CD of songs of the sea. One of his favorite comments is that his concerts are good lectures, and his lectures are good concerts.
THE IDIOT BRIGADE
The Idiot Brigade is a fun, high-energy bluegrass group based in New Yory City. They are comprised of five members, with Margaret-Desiree Mug on dog house bass, Christian Apuzzo on guitar, Sam Merwin on wicked mandolin, Cole Quest Rotante on mandolin and dobro, Ethan Joseph on the best fiddle in NYC, and everyone pitching in on vocals. As the groups says, “NYC Bluegrass and Booze!! It’s good for what ails ya.”
HOOT AND HOLLER
Hoot and Holler, is born from the love of American folk, nurtured from Boston’s burgeoning string music scene, and inspired by the authenticity of the enduring spirit of traditional Appalachian mountain music. Their tender harmonizing on original songs comes across as simple, honest, yet freshly new to the ears. They also surrender to the essence of driving old time fiddle tunes: fast, shuffling, heavy foot stomping, and an unpenetrable groove. Described as the perfect cross section where the grit in sound is supported by their musicality and chops, you can expect the full range of temperament from Amy Alvey (fiddle, vocals) and Mark Kilianski (guitar, vocals) in any given performance.
W.O.H.S. JUBILEE CHOIR
The W.O.H.S. Jubilee Choir is one of many choirs at the high school. The group in an auditioned ensemble which has been together for 15 years. Jubilee in an extracurricular club/ performance group that performs numerous concerts during the school year and has continued to inspire a powerful message of hope, inspiration and encouragement. The director is Mr. William Y. Farley, Jr., a music educator who has been teaching music in the public school system for 25 years.
ANTIOCH CHOIR
The Antioch Choir is directed by Lamarr Hannah. He is a highly experienced and talented musician, with the ability to cast a musical spell over the audience. Lamarr is the Minister of Music for Antioch Christian church and also the musician for the Ministerial Alliance in New Brunswick NJ. He is a musically talented performer with strong vocals and outstanding musical skills. He writes, sings and produces his own music. Lamarr is passionate about music and has the natural ability to adjust own style to suit different music. Lamarr is a quick learner who is always open to learn new styles and has the ability to collaborate with other musicians. He has the ability and willingness to play popular songs from any era and is proficient on the piano, organ, keyboard and guitar.
W.O.H.S. BOYS STEP TEAM
The W.O.H.S. Boys Step Team has been together since 2001 and has participated in several H.S. step organizations including NJSSA (in which they were #1 in the state in 2009) and Youth Step (in which they were #1 in 2012). They are presently #3 in the country. The team is very active in their school and community. Their coach is Ryan Eustache and their advisor is William Y. Farley, Jr.
SAM SIMS
Sam Sims began his musical journey at age seven, learning piano from his mother, and was writing original songs by age fourteen. has shared stages with well-respected acts such as Willie Nile (who frequently plays with Bruce Bruce Springsteen), Steve Forbert, and Rob Machado (surfer extraordinaire). In June 2014, he opened for Bob Marley’s amazing and legendary band The Wailers. With four full-length albums and a Christmas single to date, Sam’s heartfelt music encompasses melodically-voiced acoustic guitar, ukulele, exquisite lyrics, and soulful vocals. His eclectic style incorporates Folk-Rock, Hawaiian/Reggae, and Acoustic Soul/Pop. Many of his original compositions have an island flavor inspired by nature.
THE PRINCETON FRIDAY FOLK DANCE GROUP
The Princeton Friday Folk Dance Group, represented by teachers Ksenia Bobylak, Boel Denne-Hinnov, and Micheal Protenic, is a non-profit organization that has been meeting in Princeton continuously since its inception in 1976. Their repertoire is international folk dancing with an emphasis on Balkan folk dances. Most of their folk dances are line dances, ranging from easy village dances to more complex, energetic dances.
Ksenia Bobylak has been folk dancing over 20 years, and has taught and performed with groups likes the Highland Park Folk Dance Group and the Tomov Folk Dance Ensemble. Boel Denne-Hinnov has been folk dancing for 17 years, and has served as the president of the Princeton Friday Night Folk Dance Group since 2011. Michael Protenic has been folk dancing for over 40 years, and has taught extensively in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
ROBBIE O’CONNELL AND DAN MILNER
Irish and maritime song champions Robbie O’Connell and Dan Milner have been friends for over 30 years but only began singing together seven years ago. After teaching together at the Augusta Heritage Festival in West Virginia, Dan and Robbie began performing as a duo, first at the 2007 and 2009 Fetes des Chants de Marins in Quebec. Robbie joined Dan in 2009 on his twice Indie-nominated Smithsonian Folkways CD, Irish Pirate Ballads. They toured Europe in 2010. Closer to home, they have sung for the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston and in the Gaelic Roots series at Boston College. The pair headlined at the 2011 and ‘14 Mystic Sea Music Festival.
MATTHEW BACKES
Matthew Backes is a musician and historian from central New Jersey. When he’s not fiddling, singing, or picking mandolin or guitar, Backes teaches history and American Studies at Rutgers University and Rider University and has taught at many other local institutions including Rowan and Princeton. Currently Backes is performing regularly with his bluegrass band, The Magnolia Street String Band, as well as leading a group called The Cold Rain and Snow which features a revolving cast of acoustic musicians. Over the past couple of years, Backes has brought his passion for fiddling together with his abiding fascination with historical studies by exploring the history of American fiddle music in lectures and demonstrations at schools, historical societies, and other venues.
NIKOLAI BURLAKOFF
Nikolai Burlakoff is an ethnographer, writer, and photographer who has been working with the Kalmyk-American community since 2010. His efforts resulted in the presentation of Kalmyk culture of New Jersey and Pennsylvania at the 2011 NJFF, and in 2013 he also helped to organize the presentation of Kalmyk-American culture at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.. He is the author and editor of a number of books, including “The World of Russian Borsch” which has won particularly high acclaim in the US and Europe. They are available on amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Powell’s Books.
ANNA CANONI
Anna Canoni is the Senior Operations Manager for Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. As daughter to Nora Guthrie and granddaughter to Woody Guthrie, Anna followed in her mother and grandmother’s dancing footsteps graduating from Keene State College with a bachelor’s degree in Theater & Modern Dance. Having worked at TV Guide for almost 4 years, Anna decided to change directions, work for Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc., and volunteer for the Woody Guthrie Foundation & Archives. Growing up in the Guthrie Family, Anna has always been involved the Woody’s work, but it is in the last 12 years working for Nora Guthrie that Anna has felt most fortunate, loving every aspect of her work.
SIMMON BRONNER
Simon Bronner is this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient due to his immense contributions to the field of Folklife and beyond. He has taught American Studies and folklore at Pensylvania State University, as well as teaching as Walt Whitman Distinguished Chair in American Cultural Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands (2006), Visiting Professor of Folklore and the History of American Civilization at Harvard University (1997–1998), Fulbright Professor of American Studies at Osaka University in Japan (1996–1997), and Visiting Distinguished Professor of American Studies at the University of California at Davis (1991).
BRADY WAGNER
Brady Wagner is the Klass Klowne. He is a circus arts performer from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, whose act is a spectacularly stupefying show that is sure to dazzle and delight. A show based on balancing, juggling, and fire, his goal is to spread happiness and joy to the world one city at a time! He travels the country doing shows and having fun!
Showcase Winners
UPDATED INFORMATION COMING SOON.
Masters of Ceremonies
UPDATED INFORMATION COMING SOON.
Honorees
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Simmon Bronner
GRAND MARSHAL
Paul Hart
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL
Isha Vyas
DEPUTY GRAND MARSHAL
Timothy Hart
HONORARY DIRECTOR
Richard V. Ehlert
HONORARY CHAIRMAN
Reverend David M. Rider
Sponsors
UPDATED INFORMATION COMING SOON.
Crafts Market
UPDATED INFORMATION COMING SOON.
Folk Marketplace
UPDATED INFORMATION COMING SOON.
Schedules
Skylands Stage Schedule 2015
Stage Manager: Lada Abdyshayeva
Masters of Ceremonies: Bruce Johnson 10:45 to 2:05
James Deutsch 2:05 to 6:00
| 10:45 to 11:00 | Opening Ceremonies |
| 11:00 to 11:30 | Sam Sims |
| 11:30 to 12:00 | Roger Deitz |
| 12:00 to 12:30 | Awards Ceremony |
| 12:30 to 1:15 | Spook Handy |
| 1:15 to 2:00 | Hoot & Holler |
| 2:00 to 2:45 | Dan Milner |
| 2:45 to 3:30 | Magnolia St. String Band |
| 3:30 to 4:15 | Stephen Sanfilippo |
| 4:15 to 5:00 | The Idiot Brigade |
| 5:00 to 5:30 | WOHS Jubilee Choir |
| 5:30 to 6:00 | Antioch Christian Church Gospel Choir |
Pinelands Stage Schedule 2015
Stage Manager: Philip “Buzz” Ripperger
Masters of Ceremonies: Nikolai Burlakoff 11:00 to 1:05
Philip Ripperger 1:05 to 5:00
| 11:00 to 12:00 | Next Generation of Traditional Irish Music |
| 12:00 to 12:30 | Dan Milner – “Irish Ballads and Songs of the Sea” |
| 12:30 to 1:00 | Nikolai Burlakoff – Sailor Superstitions |
| 1:00 to 1:30 | Stephen Sanfilippo – Songs of the Coast of Long Island, Maine, Fisherman, Clammers |
| 1:30 to 2:00 | Michael Rockland – Memoirs of a Navy Veteran |
| 2:00 to 2:30 | Anna and Cole Rotante – Family Memories of Woody Guthrie |
| 2:30 to 3:00 | Simon Bronner – Crossing the Line |
| 3:00 to 3:30 | Mark Kilianski – Master of Various Folk Guitar Styles |
| 3:30 to 4:00 | Richard Murray – Native American Tribes of NJ |
| 4:00 to 4:30 | Peter J. McDonough – Acoustic Blues Styles |
| 4:30 to 5:00 | Matthew Backes – Fiddle and Tradition in America |
Shore Stage Schedule 2015
Stage Manager: Michael Byrnes
Masters of Ceremonies: Michael Byrnes 11:00 to 2:05
Brent Johnson 2:05 to 5:00
| 11:00 to 12:00 | Old Time Jam |
| 12:00 to 1:00 | Bluegrass Jam |
| 1:00 to 2:00 | Irish Session |
| 2:00 to 2:30 | Mike Herz: Singer Songwriter |
| 2:30 to 3:00 | Jane Fallon: Singer Songwriter |
| 3:00 to 3:30 | Ben Rabb: Singer Songwriter |
| 3:30 to 4:00 | Paul Saint John: Singer Songwriter |
| 4:00 to 4:30 | Casey Buckley: Singer Songwriter |
| 4:30 to 5:00 | Grace Morrison: Singer Songwriter |
Gateway Schedule 2015
Stage Manager: Michael Hyland
Masters of Ceremonies: Michael Hyland 11:00 to 2:20 , 3:50 to 5:45
Michael Rockland 2:20 to 3:50
| 11:00 to 12:00 | Bulgarian Dance |
| 12:00 to 12:45 | Brady Wegener “Traditional Circus Performance” |
| 12:45 to 1:30 | Roger Deitz |
| 1:30 to 2:15 | Brady Wegener “Traditional Circus Performance” |
| 2:15 to 3:00 | Sam Sims |
| 3:00 to 3:45 | West Orange H.S. Step Team |
| 3:45 to 4:30 | Brady Wegener “Traditional Circus Performance” |
| 4:30 to 5:15 | Heidi Olsen & The Night |
Festival Map
UPDATED INFORMATION COMING SOON.
Program Book
Click here for a PDF download.
Festival Committee
- Founder & Executive Director: Angus Kress Gillespie
- Associate Director: Matt Hueston
- Publicity Advisor: Lisabeth Matyash
- Music Director: Dan O’Dea
- Heritage Director: Jaclyn Stewart Wood
- Festival Manager: Christine Ray
- Finance Coordinator: Angad Dhir
- Food Vendor Coordinator: Khermesh Badushov
- Crafts Coordinator: Luke Svasti
- Skylands Stage Coordinator: Lada Abdyshayeva
- Shore Stage Coordinator: Michael Byrnes
- Pinelands Stage Coordinator: Philip “Buzz” Ripperger
- Gateway Stage Coordinator: Michael Hyland
- Heritage Area Coordinator: Andrea Velarde
- Children’s Activities: Amy Clark
- Public Relations Coordinator: Francesca Cipriani
- Graphics Coordinator: Michele Matyash
- Web & Program Book Coordinator: Alex “Jake” DiGiacomo
- Publicity: Alex Fuchs
Heritage Area
CARL TARNOW
Carl Tarnow is a fourth generation retired commercial fisherman who clammed and fished pound net traps on the Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays. Tarnow’s family ran their own seafood-packing house in Belford and he represented the area as a member of the Shellfish Council for several years. He designed and maintains the model pound net maze at Tuckerton Seaport and is a valued speaker on pound net traditions. Carl represented New Jersey commercial fishing traditions at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Long Island Traditions Folklife Festival.
Mary May
Mary May is a master basket maker specializing in South Jersey white oak baskets. Mary is an expert on South Jersey basket traditions, researching and compiling extensive information on baskets and basket makers from local historical societies, museums and private collections. She is a regular demonstrator at the Tuckerton Seaport, New Jersey Forestry Interpretive Center, and the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, and is a teaching artist in the Jersey Shore Folklife Center’s Jersey Traditions outreach program. Her baskets have been on display at the Tuckerton Seaport and the New Jersey State Museum, and she travels the state as part of the Jersey Shore Folklife Center’s “Jersey Traditions” outreach program. She has been featured on Ebru TV’s “Blank Canvas” and NJN’s “State of the Arts” and serves on the Jersey Shore Folklife Center’s Folklife Advisory Board.
RANDY BUDD
Randy Budd is a carpenter who after surfing for some forty years, he turned to building surfboards in 2008. He chose wood over foam as his medium because it is more traditional and because he was familiar with it. As he explains, wood is “way cooler looking.” Hollow wooden surfboards are made of wood and epoxy, and are a reversion to using wood after the foam became dominant in the 1950s. Hollow wooden surfboards specifically have no foam in their construction. (Boards made with foam and wood are commonly known as compsands or veneer boards). Various construction methods are used to hollow the inside of the surfboard and lighten the weight of the completed board. Generally a hollow wood surfboard is 30% to 300% heavier than a standard foam and resin surfboard. The main inspiration, apart from beauty, is that this is a more environmentally friendly method. Currently, Randy makes hollow wooden surfboards, handplanes for body surfing, and traditional Hawaiian alaias.
RON SPODOFORA
Rod Spodofora is a Barnegat Bay boat builder specializing in traditional sneakboxes and garveys. Ron spent his career building wooden roller coasters for Great Adventure, and upon his retirement became an apprentice of master boat builder Gus Heinrichs. He took over Perrine’s Boatworks at Tuckerton Seaport following Heinrichs’ death. In addition to demonstrating boatbuilding techniques, Ron also teaches classes for both youth and adults, including the popular Family Garvey program, an instructor in the “Voices of the Barnegat Bay” school outreach program, and a member of the Jersey Shore Folklife Center’s Advisory Board.
KA HLAW MEH
Ka Hlaw Meh’s story of struggle and survival begins in 1996 in a small village in the Kayah State in Burma. The Karenni community has long sought independence from the military rule of the Burmese generals. After she and her family fled their village by foot, in a refugee camp Ka Hlaw acquired a new skill: weaving cotton yarn into fabric on a traditional “back-strap loom.” Apart from their traditional skirts and blouses, she weaves bags that may be carried over the shoulder or slung across the chest. She developed a keen eye for color and ability to weave English and Karenni letters into her work. She is now using traditional methods to create contemporary items such as wristlets, cell phone holders, tote bags, and scarves.
THOMAS SCHNOOR
Thomas W. Schnoor is a 4th generation Belford; Pound Fisherman. His Great Grandfather Jacob Schnoor founded Schnoor Fisheries in 1888 after immigrating here from Germany. Tommy took over the business from his Grandfather Otto Schnoor in 1980 at 18 and continues to pound fish till this day on his boat, the Tara Lynn. Tommy has allowed access to the scientist of the James J Howard Marine Science Labs on Sandy Hook for research and has provided live fish to the Camden Aquarium upon it’s opening. Tommy served as President of the Belford Fishing Co Op for 2 years in his early 20’s.Tommy hopes to continue to Pound Fish as long as possible or until State Regulations put him out of business. Tom has gone from fishing 4-5 traps per year to just 1 and from employing 4 deckhands to only 1 now, due to these regulations.
SKIP DECKMAN
Skip Deckman has lived in Tuckerton for forty years, and frequents the woods and bays of South Jersey. Out of necessity, he and his son began making crab traps and bait keepers for their own use, and then began marketing them through his bait shop The Chum Bucket in West Creek, NJ, which he owned for seven years. Skip makes both recrea tional and commercial crab traps, and teaches classes in constructing the traps at Tuckerton Seaport.
CHIEF MARK GOULD
Mark “Quiet Hawk” Gould is known among his people, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indian Tribe of New Jersey, as a leader who launched a modern-day re-organization of the ancient tribe. Chief Gould works to improve opportunities for tribal citizens, and believes in preserving the tribe’s traditional culture, customs, and values. He is a native craftsman, a traditional dancer, an outdoorsman, and a grandfather.
JUSTICE JOHN NORWOOD
Rev. John R. Norwood, Jr., an ordained Christian clergyman, is in his 10th year as an elected Tribal Councilman, is the first Principal Justice of the Tribal Supreme Court, and minister to the tribal Christian Prayer Circle Fellowship Ministry. John “Smiling- Thunderbear” Norwood is the tribal delegate to the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest and largest national organization of tribal governments in the country.
ANDREW TONNESEN
Andrew Tonnesen is a student at Stockton University, studying Environmental Science with a concentration in Fish and Wildlife Management. He began carving in 2006, under the tutelage of master carver Malcolm Robinson. Upon graduating from Tuckerton Seaport’s Youth Carving Club, Andrew began teaching classes to club members, and he will be teaching an adult class at the Seaport this spring. He is trying to carry on the traditional decoy carving through various styles and influences, and he concentrates on gunning style decoys and folk art. He says “I try to put my own style in my decoys to portray myself in my work.”