EMPOWERING FOLK ARTISTS TO TELL THEIR STORIES

Traditional artists selected to participate in the prestigious Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program of the Wisconsin Arts Board have the benefit, in 2026, of receiving Community Powered training. The training will increase artists' skills and confidence in engaging public audiences in conversation at events across Wisconsin. Audiences will enjoy and more deeply appreciate the folk arts and cultures these Wisconsin artists represent. The public conversations between the artists and Wisconsin folklorists, including CP Director Chrissy Widmayer, will be captured in episodes of our Human Powered podcast.

Connecting to Community Through Folk Artists

In Spring 2026, folk artists who were selected for the Wisconsin Arts Board’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program are learning how to host dynamic community events about their folk and traditional arts. Workshops from the Community Powered toolkit cover topics that include: telling your story, connecting to an audience, contextualizing your artform, using folklore tools, documenting your art, hosting dynamic demonstrations or conversations, using social media, and promotion and publicity. Artists' deep knowledge of their art form and traditions will reach the public in new ways thanks to the skills both master and apprentice artists learn from the CP curriculum. Artists will be able to tell more vibrant stories and connect more meaningfully with their audiences. Events will reach more people and cultivate deeper understanding and connections.

Wisconsin By the People is part of the national By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 program of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation's cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Jorge Alva Huerto

Artform: Son Jarocho (Master Artist)

I was born in Lima, Peru, on March 8th, 1970, and immigrated to the United States in 2002. Currently, I live in Madison with my partner and our 12-year-old son, they are from Oaxaca, Mexico.

I learned how to play Son Jarocho in 2009, approximately, and in 2012, I did my first trip to Veracruz. Since then, I try to go there 2 times a year. Son Jarocho is a traditional string music that originated in the rural areas of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. It is a fusion of Spanish, indigenous, and African cultures.

I usually get together with friends to play music, but we don't do performances unless we get invitations from schools or community orgs. I am also teaching a friend how to play this music through the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program.

Anil Evrim Gungor

Artform: Turkish Mosaic Art and Ebru (Apprentice)

Anil Evrim Gungor, PhD, is an Associate Professor and mosaic artist based in Wisconsin. With over 30 years of experience in nutrition and dietetics, she has a strong academic background and has contributed to various scientific studies.

Alongside her academic career, Evrim has had a lifelong interest in art and natural materials. Growing up in Türkiye, where mosaics are an important part of cultural heritage, she was frequently inspired by traditional mosaic art from an early age.

Today, she reflects this inspiration in her own work, creating functional and decorative mosaic pieces such as coasters, mirrors, and pots. She also enjoys leading community workshops, encouraging creativity in a supportive and welcoming environment for participants of all skill levels.

Alejandra Jiménez

Artform: Aztec Dance (Master Artist)

Alejandra Jiménez (Cuernavaca, Morelos, México, 1984) began dancing at the age of five and joined the representative Compañía de Danza Folclórica de la Universidad del Estado de Morelos at twelve. She earned a Diploma in Mexican Folk Dance and Arts at the Centro Cultural Universitario de Cuernavaca, a technical certification in Mexican Folk Dance from the Universidad Simón Bolívar in Tixtla, Guerrero, and holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Carthage College.

She has performed with professional and community dance groups in Mexico and the United States, and has dedicated her career to teaching and preserving Mexican traditions through movement. In 2020, she founded Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance in Milwaukee, creating a space where families and communities connect with their cultural heritage through Folklórico and Danza Azteca.

Alejandra is passionate about passing on the knowledge and traditions she learned from her ancestors to the next generations — including her own two children — through dance, artistic expression, and community celebration.

Gabriela Jiménez Marvan

Artform: Cartoneria (Master Artist)

Gabriela Jiménez Marván is a Mexican sculptor and folk artist from Cuernavaca, Morelos, now based in Wisconsin. Rooted in the tradition of cartonería (traditional Mexican art with paper), her work bridges memory, spirit, and community through color and form. Trained in Graphic Design and Mexican Folk Art, she began as a college educator in Playa del Carmen before dedicating her path to cultural and community projects.

After moving to the U.S. in 2019, Gabriela founded the Mexican Folk Art Collective, bringing together artists from both sides of the border to celebrate heritage through workshops, exhibitions, and public art. Her creations, often described as whimsical, echo the balance between life and death, nature and imagination. Each figure she shapes is a whisper of Mexico, a story carried north to bloom again in new soil.

Jennifer J. Jordan

Artform: Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork and Caribou and Moose Hair Tufting (Master Artist)

Jennifer J. Jordan, PhD is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation and award-winning artist who has been beading for over 30 years. Jennifer’s beading journey began when she beaded her traditional regalia for the Miss Oneida Pageant in 1995. Under the tutelage of her dad Jim and her late great aunt Josephine Oudenhoven, Jennifer began to learn more about beading and beadwork. During her college years, Jennifer worked for Ho-Chunk business owners Mick and Lucy Kjar and worked summers traveling the country at the Kjar’s bead stand learning more about beads, beadwork, and the business of buying and selling beads. Over the years, Jennifer learned additional beading techniques while expanding her knowledge of Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork under the tutelage of Oneida elder and award-winning artist Ms. Betty Willems. In addition to beadwork, Jennifer is working to expand her knowledge of Haudenosaunee art by learning more about moose and caribou hair tufting.

Laura Medina Medina

Artform: Aztec Dance (Apprentice)

I was born in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, where I completed my university studies before immigrating to the United States in August 2004. Since then, I have made my home in Milwaukee. I am the daughter of Laura and Jaime and the second of seven children. I am married and a proud mother of three daughters. During my university years, I joined my school’s theater group, which gave me the opportunity to perform in theatrical productions across several states in Mexico. This experience nurtured my love for the performing arts and for sharing culture through performance. In December 2022, while visiting the Milwaukee Art Museum, I watched a performance by the Ometochtli Aztec Dance Group directed by Alejandra Jimenez. As I watched the performance, my heart filled with joy. Inspired by that moment, I joined the group in January 2023 and spent a year learning Aztec dance. With Ometochtli, I have had the honor of performing at several venues and events, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena, Latino Arts, Wisconsin Center District, Bradley Symphony Center, the La Crosse Festival, and a dance festival at Havenwoods State Forest. I continue to study and deepen my practice in Aztec dance and Mexican folklore, honoring and sharing the cultural traditions that connect communities and generations.

Ireri Andrea Muñiz Ortega

Artform: Textiles (Apprentice)

Ireri Andrea Muñiz Ortega is a Mexican textile artist and community engager, born in Mexico City and raised in Hidalgo, Mexico. Her journey into textiles began in 2017 through a photo embroidery workshop, where she discovered the richness of textures and stitches. Since then, she has explored diverse embroidery styles and textile techniques, deepening her connection to traditional arts.

After moving to the United States in 2021, Ireri Andrea joined the Mexican Folk Art Collective, where she continues to celebrate Mexican traditions and share her cultural heritage. She has played a key role in the Driftless Region's Día de Muertos Celebration as an ofrenda (altar) designer, organizer, and artist. Alongside fellow members of the collective, she facilitates workshops and cultural programming in schools, libraries, and community centers. Her work highlights the beauty and significance of artisanal practices and the richness of Mexican folk art, while fostering cross-cultural understanding and community connection.

Jose Luis Perez Olguin

Artform: Son Jarocho (Apprentice)

I have always had a deep-rooted passion for the diverse art forms that define Mexican culture. Having previously practiced traditional Mexican folklore dance, I am currently learning the Jarana, a stringed instrument from the southern Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. I have always been curious about exploring the dances, music, and festivals that make Mexico unique, and I am always eager to deepen my understanding of these cultural traditions.

Eliza Skenandore

Artform: Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork (Master Artist)

Eliza Skenandore is an Oneida artist and cultural advocate whose work centers on raised beadwork and the preservation of Haudenosaunee artistic traditions. Through her business, Starr Merrie Native Gifts, she creates intricate floral and berry designs that reflect relationships to land, story, and seasonal cycles. Eliza’s journey with beadwork began through studying historic pieces at the Oneida Nation Museum, and she continues to carry those teachings forward through her art and community work. In addition to her artistic practice, Eliza serves as a library director, where she develops programs that connect community members to culture, creativity, and traditional knowledge. She is passionate about teaching and regularly leads workshops and presentations that share Oneida culture, language, and foodways. Her work is rooted in intergenerational learning, ensuring that these traditions continue to grow and be passed on to future generations.

SeonJoo So

Artform: Korean Traditional Paper Arts and Crafts (Master Artist)

Based in Shorewood, Wisconsin, I am a dedicated paper artist and educator with a passion for bridging cultures through creative expression. Since 2012, through my studio So Cool Crafts, I have shared the intricate beauty of Korean paper arts with the local community. With an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I specialize in designing engaging, culturally rich programs for diverse learners. My work spans several key institutions:

Milwaukee Public Schools: Instructing teens and adults in the art of Korean paper folding.
Greendale School Recreation Department: Leading intergenerational workshops for children and parents, alongside specialized culture classes for adults.

By blending traditional techniques with modern instructional design, I aim to foster community connection and celebrate Korean heritage through hands-on artistry. Whether I am teaching the delicate fold of a paper flower or 2D, 3D figures, my goal is to inspire creativity across all ages.

Lavanyaa Surendar

Artform: Bharathanatyam - South Indian Classical Dance (Master Artist)

Lavanyaa Surendar is a third-generation Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer, and cultural practitioner based in the United States. With over 25 years of rigorous training and performance, she is recognized for preserving classical South Indian dance through lineage-based practice and community-centered work. She has mentored 15 students through their arangetram (solo debut) and has conceived and led large-scale dance productions featuring over 70 artists. Lavanyaa has performed at premier platforms including the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aaradhana and Chennai Margazhi Festival, and her work has been featured on PBS, including Emmy-nominated instructional content. In the U.S., she collaborates with Lawrence University and Crave Theatre, and serves in the development division at the Florentine Opera Company. Through AUM LLC, she advances literary-based productions that connect tradition, community engagement, and cultural continuity.

Vesile Yilmaz

Artform: Traditional Turkish Water Marbling - Ebru (Master Artist)

Vesile Yilmaz is a traditional Ebru artist based in Wisconsin whose work brings the centuries-old art of Turkish paper marbling into contemporary community spaces. Rooted in cultural heritage and guided by a deep love of color, movement, and craftsmanship, she creates one-of-a-kind marbled pieces on paper, silk, and other surfaces. Through her art, Vesile honors Ebru as both a meditative practice and an expressive visual language, where paint floats, expands, and transforms on water before being carefully transferred by hand.

In addition to creating artwork, Vesile is passionate about teaching and sharing Ebru with diverse audiences through workshops, demonstrations, and public events. Her work introduces people of all ages to the beauty and history of this UNESCO-recognized art form, helping preserve an endangered heritage craft while making it accessible and joyful for modern audiences. Vesile’s artistic practice reflects tradition, innovation, and a heartfelt commitment to cultural storytelling through water, color, and design.