The Appalachian Craft Fair brought traditional crafts to the Mountain Heritage Days on Sept. 23 with demonstrations of fabric weaving, doll-making, stonemasonry and live music for students and the community at Western Carolina University.
The Mountain Heritage Days started Sept. 21 and lasted through Sept. 26 for a week of live music, family activities, food vendors and cultural experiences throughout WCU’s campus.
The craft demonstrations took place at the Catafount. It was designed for students and community members to observe and participate as they transitioned to class or roamed around campus. Many participants were able to make dolls out of corn husks soaked in water.
“It required dexterity, but I really enjoyed it, and I feel like I started to get it more as I went on,” said a participating WCU student.
The craft fair allowed many the opportunity to view the culture of the mountains through the crafts that helped past generations survive in their environments. Observers of the crafts can feel more connected to the culture of the mountains, even if these participants and observers are not from the Western Carolina area themselves
“There are a lot of people who are in this space that aren’t from this space,” said copy editor and weaver, Maddie Davenport. “But what makes it such a great place, Sylva and Cullowhee together, is that we do have kind of a community. Even if people are from Florida or Michigan, or I’m from Tennessee. Where we all kind of try to make this a community that supports its history while also moving forward.”
Mountain Heritage Days have provided many opportunities to understand the culture of the mountains and experience the heart and soul of the mountains that many call home.
To learn more about Mountain Heritage Week, visit the WCU website and go to ENGAGE under the Mountain Heritage Days tab.
