Rod Ambrose, Storyteller. Glendale, AZ | 2016 Rod Ambrose is originally from Chicago, Illinois and has had a lifelong fascination and passionate involvement with Story Telling. Ambrose pulls from the oral traditions of West Africa, where storytellers shared values, legends, and news through song and story. Over 47 years Ambrose has studied, learned, developed, composed, … Read more
Carmen Baron, Costume Maker. Tucson, AZ | 2016 Carmen Baron has been sewing since she was a small child. She earned Mexican folklórico dance and costumes from her experiences studying and teaching with the Insituto de Folklore Mexicano in Tucson. Today teaches dance and creates costumes for her students, ranging in age from 1 to … Read more
Gerald Lomaventema, Hopi Overlay Jeweler. Second Mesa, AZ | 2016 Gerald Lomaventema will share the tradition of Hopi overlay jewelry, which he observed his father create when he was young. He began a formal apprenticeship at age 19 through the Hopi Guild Co-op on Second Mesa, and later learned to create jewelry in 3D and … Read more
Kevin Lau, Chinese Lion Dancer. Phoenix, AZ | 2016 Performer Kevin Lau will teach the traditional Chinese Lion dance, an energetic dance performed traditionally during the Chinese New Year festival by two dancers accompanied by live percussionists. Drawing upon the Chinese martial art of gong fu (kung fu), the dance is said to bring good … Read more
Reuben Naranjo, Traditional Tohono O’odham Potter. Tucson, AZ | 2016 Reuben Naranjo first learned Tohono O’odham pottery from his grandmother, Mary Lewis. Later he studied with Alicia Bustamente of S-Gogosik, Sonora, Mexico, and Annie Manuel of Hickiwan, Arizona, to make utilitarian terracotta ollas and white clay friendship pots using colored clay slips and paints. Naranjo … Read more
Peter Rolland, Old Time Fiddler. Phoenix, AZ | 2016 A professional fiddling entertainer and fiddle teacher for 43 years, Peter Rolland has taught hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to win fiddle contests and become professional players and teachers. The SFA Award will help support him in teaching traditional, old-time fiddling through … Read more