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Show Page 4 fGreat CAPTURES CREATIVE SPIRIT OF UTAH PIONEERS West Fair Displays Expressive Mormon Pioneer Crafts and Skills of a Century and More Ago. . . immediacy with the artist and a closer perspective on handicrafts ttiat nave withstood the test of time, the most accurate measure of intrinsic value. exciting and inspirational An event lor visitors to Utah State University's celebrated summer Festival West will be the second annual, expanded Great West Fair. From July 25 until August 3, each ev ning from t:00 pjn. until 4:00 pan., those attending this year's Festival will of the American be invited to leisurely wander throughout a festive already know the great their favorite animals have importance in played domesticating the wild of Old West. The Fair will the country pay tribute to two craftsmen, the blacksmith and the saddlemaker. who in concert enabled the early pioneers to take advantage til this one essential asset to a productive homestead. Blacksmithing and saddle-makincarry a truly awesome historic legacy in the cultural traditions of the West. Appropriately, each craft will be gathering of western craft and cultuial exhibits, situated on the University Quad. There will be numerous opportunities to chat informally with a select group of renowned western artisans, who will be on hand to explain and demonstrate some of the Old West's most distinctive and original pioneer skills. The University Quad provides the ideal, open-ai- r setting, beautiful and for the Fair's enclaves of se;ene, g demonstrated spectators, as last summer's participants will readily testify. Concessions offering foods prepared from authentic pioneer recipes of yesteryear are certain to tempt young and old alike to gather beneath the majestic shade trees or under the colorful canopies. Mormon Emphasis ice cream, fresh root beer will lemonade, and home-styl- e be available to complement such pioneer favorites as Mormon Johnny Cake and Indian Fry Bread, prepared, of course, with the cooking know-hoof generations past. Keeping in mind the favorable major dealers and the public nationwide, attested to by the scarcity of authentic pieces and the rising value of the objects. This summer, the Great West Fair will engage the talents of Indian Weavers, a famous sand painter, expressive bead and jewelry makers, a basketmakcr, and exceptional specialists in the area of wool-dyinand carding. Tribal techniques for these difficult and elaborate crafts have remained almost unchanged for centuries, so guests to the fairgrounds will observe each craft as the first pioneers viewed it on their arrival to the western frontier. w. d response g to last season's inaugural Fair, the organizers of the Festival have sought to enlarge the scope of this year's Fair. The expanded 1974 edition of the Great West Fair has been planned as an easy and relaxing way to make an historic return to the domestic and decorative handicrafts of the last century, where the slower tempo of life fostered homcmaking ingenuity. This season's fair will LIFE lonely. The pioneers had to work hard to eck out a living, and since they were frequently isolated from others, they had to develop their own craftmanships and skills which they were able to perfect to astonishing levels. IN THE OLD WEST was harsh and often western emphasize early Utah Mornian life. Pioneer creativity, honest enterprise, and raw-bone- d now the foundation of the prosperous West , served as the towards which the talented craftsmen of the Old West endeavored. The Great West Fair will recognize these in a unique combination of cultural exhibits and handicraft displays of interest to the cntiie family. In this summer's Phase I of the Festival's expanded Great West Fair, special accent will be placed on the traditional craft contributions of the West's Mormon pioneer crafts people. All visitors, but especially mothers and their daughters, should be particularly basic-ideal- s interested in the patterns and painstaking artistry involved in the Fair displays of delicate domestic handicrafts such embroidery, as quilting, tatting, crocheting and knitting. Pioneer Art Originally, pioneer families immigrated to the West with diverse Old World talents and craft skills. Almost without effort, however, craft techniques took on the native flavor of western living, blending harmoniously into the singular heritage belonging to the American West. by experienced professionals for all to appreciate. American Indians Indian craftsinenship manifests itself with great stature as part of the traditional culture of the West. As noted at last year's successful Fair, Indian crafts have become important to working craftsmen and strolling public most horse Comparatively, enthusiasts The West's own brand of rugged individualism, so apparent in the patterns of the domestic handiwork craftsmen, found equal opportunity for expression in the design and assembly of pioneer clothing. Since ready-mad- e clothes and popular fabrics were equally difficult to come by during the early days of the frontier, the Mormon pioneer women became extremely adept at the spinning and loom arts. Moreover, the fashionable ra f tsmenship of early western dressmakers and tailors was superbly rich and varied. Demonstrations of skills will these prove to be educational and truly stimulating for all who attend the Fair. Western Craftsmen USU's Great West Fair will acknowledge the significance of these pioneer crafts and other contributions as well. For example, candle-makinfor so long an essential household chore, has found a rebirth today among main of the West's citizens, especially c those looking for energy-savin- g alternatives. Candle-makers- , and food preparation specialists will be in attendance at the soap-maker- s easy to follow Fair to provide instructions for those who wish to perpetuate the practice of these and other Old West customs. While many of the western crafts developed of necessity in and around step-by-ste- p the home environment for purely practical functions, the crafts energy of the West has not been limited solely within domestic bounds. The Great West Fair will encompass the decorative artistic bent of the early Mormon pioneers as well. Professional potters are scheduled to participate for the duration of the Fair, describing, by example, as only they can. the intricacies of centering unmolded clay on a revolving wheel and raising it to the level of an intensely personal art form. Leather-workin- g and featuring accomplished craftsmen from throughout the western states, will offer interested passersby an wood-carvin- THE GREAT WEST FAIR SCHEDULE The Great West Fair will be open each evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. from July 25 through August 3 (except Sundays). Admission is 75 cents for adults, 50 cents for children. Tickets can be purchased at the Fair. Before the advent of the transcontinental railroad, the early citizens of the American West employed a combination of innovation and strong will to travel the great distances between settlements. Steadily, however, the monumental physical barriers to the free access of the West succumbed to the engineering skill and preseverance of men and women commited to opening new vistas for the generations that followed. As part of these generations, visitors to the Fair will have a chance to see exact replicas of the vehicles their forefathers traveled in from here to there. The various modes of transportation that sometimes covered the great expansive territories will be assembled, courtesy of the Iron Mission State Historical Museum in Cedar City, to provide enjoyable transport for all. Children should find special delight in climbing aboard the carriages, stagecoaches, fire engines and covered wagons that will be original or authentic facsimilies of the first models. Fun and excitement will permeate the week-loncalender of activities, especially considering the entertainment that is planned. In keeping with this g year's central theme, special entertainment segments will include a fashion show of period clothing from the Mormon pioneer era, provocative Indian Dances in full tribal regalia, energetic square dancing and accompanying musicians. The rhythms of dancers will accent the creative expressiveness of craftsmen working nearby. |