Folk Art Revealed
Community
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A community is not merely a function of proximity in a particular neighborhood. Communities are formed through a variety of circumstances whose common bonds may be of time, place, belief, or experience. In folk art, this is reflected in the wide range of objects that emerge from the shared system that shapes a community. These expressions may point to a common cultural heritage, such as the decorative arts of the Pennsylvania Germans. Some artworks emerge from institutional environments, such as prisons or schools. Still others may indicate a national sense of community and demonstrate an awareness of popular culture or contemporary issues.
A community is not merely a function of proximity in a particular neighborhood. Communities are formed through a variety of circumstances whose common bonds may be of time, place, belief, or experience. In folk art, this is reflected in the wide range of objects that emerge from the shared system that shapes a community. These expressions may point to a common cultural heritage, such as the decorative arts of the Pennsylvania Germans. Some artworks emerge from institutional environments, such as prisons or schools. Still others may indicate a national sense of community and demonstrate an awareness of popular culture or contemporary issues.