smithsonian folklife festival

This summer, artisans from Kenya, Mongolia and Uganda shared the story of their centuries-old traditional crafts — including the art of "barkcloth," declared a UNESCO world heritage "masterpiece."

For Vahagn Amiryan, the act of carving wood is a way to bring the country's ancient traditions into the modern era.

When he was 11 years old, Soumana Saley had never been to school — but he knew what he wanted to do with his life.

Artist Ruben Malayan is bringing the ancient art of Armenian calligraphy into the mainstream.

Peru brought its tradition of praying for alpacas to the U.S. And there's good reason to wish the animals well. Their fiber — softer and warmer than wool — provides a livelihood for many Peruvians.