Chieri Esposito making temari

General Note/Comment

• Ten color slides. Espasito, daughter to master folk artist Kasuko Law, making temari. She served as apprentice to Law in 1984-1985. Temari is the traditional Japanese art of decorating spheres by winding and lacing colored threads in intricate patterns around a core ball. The Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program began in 1983 with a NEA grant of $22,000. The program provided an opportunity for master folk artists to share technical skills and cultural knowledge with apprentices in order to keep the tradition alive. Apprentices must have had some experience in the tradition and agreed to train for at least six months. The first project director was Blanton Owen, later replaced by folklorist Peter Roller. The program was continued each year through 2003.