Traditional Arts in Upstate New York
TAUNY is an organization devoted to recording and presenting the rich living heritage of customs and folk arts in the fourteen counties of New York's North Country. Long before the age of electronics and space exploration, residents of the hills and valleys of the Adirondacks, the St. Lawrence River, and Lake Champlain region told stories and sang songs about local life. They marked the passing of time with celebrations and crafted objects for their own use. Over the years people from many parts of the world settled in the region and contributed to the mosaic of local cultural expressions. Through memory, mastery, and legacy, they and their children helped to shape the North Country way of life.
While times have changed, there are individuals, families and communities today who remain committed to some of the old ways and pass them on to the next generation. Because they are part of the fabric of everyday life, these customs and traditions are sometimes taken for granted, even by the people who practice them. TAUNY's mission is to focus attention on the traditional knowledge, skills, and creative expressions of local life, to gain a better understanding of their importance, and to encourage their careful stewardship into the future.
