2023

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2023 Master Artists and Apprentices 

*These teams are funded through a special partnership with the South Arts’ initiative In These Mountains: Central Appalachian Folk Art & Culture. 

Two men are outside near sheds; one sits on a wooden chair by a chess table while the other stands behind him. The ground is gravelly, and various objects are stored and covered nearby.

John Brooks, Sr., master and John Brooks, Jr., apprentice

Chessboard Making and Woodworking. Johnson City, TN.* 

Two people sit across from each other at a wooden table in a cluttered workshop, working with their hands on crafts. The workspace is lit by a single exposed bulb overhead. Various tools and supplies are visible in the background.

Marcella Buis, master and Donald Simonton, apprentice

Gourd Art and Carving. Morristown, TN.* 

Two people play violins in a living room decorated for Christmas, with a Christmas tree, presents, and a rocking chair in the background. A violin case and guitar are on the floor nearby.

Trenton Caruthers, master and Emma Tinch, apprentice

Traditional Music of the Cumberland Plateau. Cookeville, TN.*

An adult wearing a blue baseball cap and a child wearing safety glasses use a tool together on a workbench in a cluttered workshop filled with tools and equipment.

Manuel Delgado, master and Lila Delgado, apprentice

Stringed Instrument Making. Nashville, TN.

Two men are in a workshop; one is examining an unfinished stringed instrument while the other writes in a notebook. Shelves filled with tools and supplies are visible in the background.

Lynn Dudenbostel, master and Gil Draper, apprentice

Carved Top Mandolin Making. Maryville and Knoxville, TN.

A man and a young woman sit indoors on chairs, each holding a resonator guitar. They both smile at the camera. The setting features a beige wall, white door, and a window with closed blinds.

Tim Graves, master and Amelia Brown, apprentice

Graves-Style Dobro Playing. Lebanon and Springfield, TN. 

Two people are in a room. One is sitting and checking a music stand, while the other, wearing a plaid shirt, is tuning a string instrument, possibly a ukulele, while sitting on a bench.

Kelle Jolly, master and Nayeema Hoffman, apprentice

Appalachian Blues. Johnson City and Knoxville, TN.* 

Two women sit at a table with various papers, flashcards, a book, and a small pack of crayons arranged in front of them. They are smiling and facing each other in a room with a white brick wall.

Sharon Owen, master and Kennedy Owen, apprentice

Choctaw Language. Halls, TN. 

Two women sit at a table outdoors covered with a pink cloth. The table has a tray with decorative bowls and teapots, a phone, and a notebook. Trees and a road are visible in the background.

Seemi Rizvi, master and Fizza Abidi, apprentice

Traditional Henna Art. Nashville, TN. 

Two men stand indoors assembling or inspecting a basketball net. One man holds the net while the other threads or adjusts it. Behind them are museum-style informational displays and historical photos.

Billy Roberson, master and Joshua Roberson, apprentice

Tennessee River Netmaking. Eva and Camden, TN. 

A man in a red hoodie supervises a young woman in a green shirt as she uses a grinding or polishing machine in a workshop with plywood walls.

Eric Strong, master and Gracie Strong, apprentice

Flint Marble Making. Celina, TN.*