OFN Portland Metro Area Folklife and Traditional Arts Survey records

This collection comprises folklore fieldwork documentation created by the Oregon Folklife Network in a survey of folk and traditional arts in five Oregon counties in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area in 2016 and 2017. The Portland Metro Area Folklife and Traditional Arts Survey is one of the several surveys the organization has completed since 2012.

This collection contains folklore fieldwork documentation, newsletter articles, and public presentations created in this survey. Fieldwork documentation is in digital file formats and includes 2084 color photographs and 84 interview sound recordings, as well as media logs and artist data sheets, documenting 80 traditional artists, organizations, and events.

Professional folklorists Douglas Manger, Nancy Nusz, and Makaela Kroin completed fieldwork in Yamhill County, Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Washington County, and Columbia County. Oregon Folklife Network Director Riki Saltzman and folklore students Maxie Cox and Brad McMullen participated in selected interviews and contributed fieldwork documentation. Public presentations and project reports by fieldworkers are included in the collection.

The survey documented the following traditional arts (and artists) associated with regional occupations and avocations: ranching and farming (Barbara Coleman, Duane Van Dyke, Tom Schmidt, Amanda Baller); forestry and logging traditions (Ronald Smith, Fred Heller, Luis Vidart, Mike Pihl); and fly fishing and river guiding (Hal Gordon, Ron Lauzon). The survey includes documentation of various music and dance traditions, including Blues music (LaRhonda Steele, Norman Sylvester), Spanish and Argentine dance (Magdalene Grace Deane, Newberg Tango Club), Welsh hymn singing (Bryn Seion Welsh Church), Puerto Rican music (Neftali Rivera and Grupo Borikuas), Aztec dance (Johnny Martinez), Mariachi music (José Ramirez), Japanese traditional music (Eri Muroi), Persian music (Hossein Salehi), and Bulgarian music (Milen Slavov), Ghanaian (Odo Abby Project), Buddhist dance and song (Prajwal R. Vajracharya), and Koto music (Oregon Koto-Kai).

Foodways documented in the survey include Chinese foodways (Andy Wong ), Indian foodways (Sushmita Poddar), Japanese foodways (Wakai Tea Association), Kenyan foodways (Wambui Machua), Khmer foodways (Amara Sim), Nepalese foodways (Ang Diki Sherpa, Nitu Rajbahndari and Prasanna Pradhan), Puerto Rican foodways (Neftali Rivera and Grupo Borikaus), and Russian foodways (Roman Russian Food Store). The survey documented fiber arts and handcrafts, including quilting, sewing, and embroidery (Alice Smith, Jean Gordon, Lourdes Parra), and rug weaving (Maryam Monadi, Basira Sadiqi).

The survey documented Native American traditions, including Coos and Coquille paddle making (Shirod Younker), Shoshone Bannock storytelling (Ed Edmo), and basket making (Celeste Whitewolf, Stephanie Wood).

Photographs include portraits of artists, as well as images of arts and crafts, tools and supplies, process and techniques, and workshops and workrooms. Artist data sheets completed by folklorists include artist biographical data and contact information, as well as a description of each artist's tradition and how it was learned.