Northwest Folklife is the largest free community arts festival in the United States. Happens every Memorial day weekend at the Seattle Centre. It is something like the 10 day Grahamstown Arts Festival but compressed into 3 days and in one 74 acre arts and entertainment campus (and site for the 1962 World's Fair): a huge, sprawling, chaotic spread of noise, food, crowds and confusion.Free doesn't get any better folks! There is, however, lots to spend your money on.
Food and market stalls are set up. Stages grow on lawns, in tents and auditoriums around the complex. Crowds gather and behave or misbehave according to their bent. Buskers and beyond the fringe performers stake out whatever real estate they can find to put their tin, hat or instrument case. It is dancing to a myriad syncopations simultaneously. Crazymaking of a high order abounds.
The standard of art crafts is superb. Over the years I have developed favourites and now have festival friends whom I see every year. Generally it is performers from Africa (marimbas ah! that sound is celestial watermusic in my soul!) and India who draw my attention. This year traditional Japanese taiko drumming began the weekend for me. And the intensity grew from there. Light and dark, noise and pools of calm with an inexplicable undercurrent of sorrow and sense of impending loss.
A local group draw my camera. For their honesty, humility and simplicity amidst the frenzy. They self identify as a group of old guys who like to get together and play Hawaiian music. Integrity incarnate in an overpostured world. Da Oddah Guyz, from Aunty's backyard circa 1948. Got poi, anyone?
