Unprecedented Texas Survey Reveals Hidden Folk Art Traditions and Master Craftspeople
A first-of-its-kind survey has uncovered a rich tradition of folk and craft artists across West Central Texas and South Texas. Conducted between 2020 and 2022, the project documented skilled makers working in everything from saddlery to paper art. The findings have since been showcased in exhibitions and preserved for public access. Independent folklorist Douglas Manger led the fieldwork, travelling through the region to record oral histories and photograph artists at work. His research highlighted a diverse range of traditions, including silversmiths, quilters, Catrina paper artists, and even a spinning wheel maker.
The collected material formed the basis of two gallery exhibitions at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (SAMFA). Curated by Laura Huckaby, the shows featured 43 artists and groups, offering visitors a glimpse into long-standing craft practices. Exhibition booklets and short videos, produced by Manger, accompanied the displays. Howard Taylor, SAMFA’s director, oversaw the project despite the museum’s usual focus on fine arts. Funding came from two National Endowment for the Arts grants, alongside support from state and local sponsors. To ensure long-term preservation, an archive of photographs and oral histories was established at Angelo State University’s West Texas Collection. Now available online, the initiative—titled *True Texas Collection: Folk and Traditional Arts from the Concho Valley to the Rio Grande*—provides public access to the region’s artistic heritage.
The survey has created a lasting record of Texas’s folk and traditional arts. Its online archive and exhibitions ensure that these skills and stories remain accessible to researchers, students, and the wider community. The project also sets a precedent for future documentation of regional craft traditions.
