Tradition Bearers, Live!
An unforgettable evening of art, stories, and living traditions
August 20, 2026 - 5:30-8:00PM
Tradition Bearers, Live is a vibrant event that brings traditional and folk artists from across the state together for an unforgettable evening of art, storytelling, music, and conversation. Featuring artists from Wisconsin Humanities' statewide Wisconsin By the People initiative, the event will celebrate the creativity, cultural traditions, and personal histories that help define Wisconsin’s communities.
MyArts Building - 1055 E. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI
FREE and open to the public with a suggested donation of $20.
About the event
Join Wisconsin Humanities for Tradition Bearers, Live!, a one-of-a-kind evening celebrating the artists, traditions, and cultural heritage that help define communities across Wisconsin.
This special event brings master traditional and folk artists to the stage for an engaging evening of live performance, visual arts, storytelling, demonstrations, and conversation. Hosted by Jimmy Gutiérrez, news reporter for WUWM, Milwaukee Public Radio, the theater program features intimate interviews led by Wisconsin folklorists, giving audiences a rare opportunity to hear directly from artists about the histories, techniques, and the cultural traditions that shape their work.
Meet the artists during a lively reception before the program begins, then step into the theater to experience the personal stories behind their art as they demonstrate their craft and reflect on the family, community, and cultural traditions they carry forward.
Arrive early to enjoy a complimentary Mediterranean pita bar from Banzo, refreshments, artist displays, and conversation. Participating artists will have examples of their work on display, and many will have artwork and handmade items available for purchase during the reception.
Whether you've long appreciated traditional arts or are discovering them for the first time, Tradition Bearers, Live! offers a rare opportunity to experience Wisconsin's living cultural traditions through the voices of the artists who preserve and share them.
Registration
Admission is FREE with a suggested donation of $20.
Advanced registration is requested as seating is limited.
Suggested Donation
Your donation helps Wisconsin Humanities continue presenting public programs that celebrate Wisconsin's diverse cultural traditions, support traditional artists, and make the humanities accessible to communities across our state.
Volunteer
Interested in helping make the evening a success? Volunteer opportunities are available for registration, guest hospitality, artist support, and event logistics.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Support Wisconsin's living cultural traditions by sponsoring Tradition Bearers, Live!
Your sponsorship helps make this community celebration possible while supporting artists, public humanities programming, and cultural preservation throughout Wisconsin.
Featured Onstage Artists
Alejandra Jiménez
Aztec Dance
Alejandra Jiménez is a master artist in Aztec Dance. Born in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, she began dancing at age five and joined the Compañía de Danza Folclórica de la Universidad del Estado de Morelos at age twelve. After performing professionally in Mexico and the United States, she founded Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance in Milwaukee, where she teaches Folklórico and Danza Azteca while helping families and communities connect with Mexican cultural traditions through dance.
Jennifer J. Jordan
Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork & Caribou and Moose Hair Tufting
Jennifer J. Jordan, PhD, is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation and an award-winning Indigenous artist with more than thirty years of experience in traditional beadwork. She specializes in Haudenosaunee raised beadwork and is expanding her practice through the art of caribou and moose hair tufting. Jennifer's work reflects generations of Indigenous knowledge, artistic excellence, and a deep commitment to preserving and sharing traditional Haudenosaunee arts.
Vesile Yilmaz
Traditional Turkish Water Marbling (Ebru)
Vesile Yilmaz is a Wisconsin-based artist specializing in the centuries-old Turkish art of Ebru, or water marbling. By floating pigments on water and transferring intricate designs by hand onto paper and fabric, she creates one-of-a-kind works while sharing the rich history of this UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition through demonstrations and community workshops.
Meet the Wisconsin By the People Artists
In addition to the featured theater program, guests will have the opportunity to meet artists from Wisconsin Humanities' Wisconsin By the People initiative during the reception. Explore artist displays, learn about a wide variety of traditional arts practiced across Wisconsin, and purchase select handmade artwork directly from participating artists.
Participating artists include:
- Jorge Alva Huerto — Son Jarocho
- Anil Evrim Gungor — Turkish Mosaic Art & Ebru
- Alejandra Jiménez — Aztec Dance
- Gabriela Jiménez Marvan — Cartonería (Mexican Paper Sculpture)
- Jennifer J. Jordan — Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork & Caribou/Moose Hair Tufting
- Laura Medina Medina — Aztec Dance
- Ireri Andrea Muñiz Ortega — Traditional Textiles
- Jose Luis Perez Olguin — Son Jarocho
- Eliza Skenandore — Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork
- SeonJoo So — Korean Traditional Paper Arts
- Vesile Yilmaz — Traditional Turkish Water Marbling (Ebru)
Event Schedule
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Reception with the artists on the MYArts patio featuring:
- Complimentary Banzo Mediterranean pita bar
- Beverages
- Artist exhibits
- Artwork available for purchase
- Meet-and-greet with participating artists
6:30–8:00 p.m.
Live theater program featuring:
- Welcome by emcee Jimmy Gutiérrez
- Artist interviews led by Wisconsin By the People folklorists
- Live demonstrations
- Performances
- Audience conversation
After 8:00 p.m.
Meet the artists, continue the conversation, and enjoy additional time to view artwork and connect with participants on the MYArts patio.
About Wisconsin By the People
Wisconsin By the People is a Wisconsin Humanities initiative that supports folk and traditional artists selected for the Wisconsin Arts Board’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. Through Community Powered training, public conversations, events, and storytelling, participating artists strengthen their skills in sharing the meaning, history, and cultural context of their art with wider audiences. The program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a national initiative of the Federation of State Humanities Councils developed with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Thank you to the Wisconsin Arts Board for partnering with Wisconsin Humanities to make Tradition Bearers, Live! possible.
