Nastaliq is the most popular calligraphy style in the Persian-speaking world. Nastaliq is mainly used to write Persian poetry, which alongside calligraphy occupies a significant place in the everyday life of Iranians. Since the ancient foundation of Islam, calligraphy has been the dominant and emblematic feature of Islamic art. The…
The lion dance is an important tradition to China. Usually the dance is part of festivities like Chinese New Year, weddings, funerals, cultural celebrations, and other community gatherings. Dating back to the Han Dynasty (3rd century), it was further developed during the Tang Dynasty (716-907 AD) and into its modern…
Bertha Mitchell, a master basket weaver, Patwin language speaker, and culture bearer for the Patwin people, has been weaving baskets for over seven decades. In addition to working within her own community, Bertha has shared her art with many audiences throughout Northern California, including demonstrating her art form at museums,…
The tradition of backstrap weaving is very popular in many towns in Oaxaca, Mexico. Practiced and taught through generations of women, weaving on a backstrap loom is used to make shawls, napkins, belts, and other items needed for daily life and traditional clothing. In her hometown of San Juan Mixtepec…
Redwood canoes were once the main mode of transportation between the peoples of the Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk tribes of Northern California. They are a vital element of these tribes’ Boat Dance and White Deerskin Dance ceremonies that are still held to this day. Currently, there are only approximately four…
Hawaiian rich and ancient culture depends on plants, and still depends on them today. Native plants played a vital role in all aspects of life related to ancient Hawaiian culture. Learning about native Hawaiian plants and their medicinal and cultural uses has the capacity to connect Hawaii’s cultural past with…
Shiwaya Peck, a member of the Maidu tribe of modern-day Plumas County, has been weaving baskets for nearly sixty years. She learned as a child from her grandmother, Nellie Peck, and her aunt, the renowned weaver and elder Lily Baker. As a master artist in ACTA’s…
From time immemorial, infants of the Yurok, Karuk, and Hoopa tribes of modern-day Humboldt County begin life in a traditional baby basekt woven of hazel sticks and spruce roots. Baby baskets provide a safe place, where infants can be swaddled and tied in with leather straps, proving security and comfort…
Proyecto Purépecha was created with the mission to create an extensive and vibrant Purépecha (a native people of Michoacán, Mexico) community in the San Joaquin Valley and California at large. Proyecto Purépecha works to restore and flourish Purépecha food, language, music, and dance in the Mexicano/Michoacano community residing in the San Joaquin…
About the Organization Raices Cultura’s mission is to create a space for artistic and cultural expression, to promote healthy communities, and to strengthen the voice of the Eastern Coachella Valley. Since 2005, in an effort to build community through the traditional arts, Raices has held an annual…
