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["On the evening of Wednesday, January 16, 2019, The West Virginia Folklife Program hosted a showcase of their Folklife Apprenticeship Program, featuring master gospel and blues musician Doris Fields (aka Lady D) with apprentice Xavier Oglesby, and master old-time fiddler John D. Morris with apprentice Jen Iskow. The free event was held from 5:30-7:30pm at the historic MacFarland-Hubbard House, headquarters of the West Virginia Humanities Council (1310 Kanawha Blvd. E), in Charleston. The evening included musical performances by the two pairs and a question-answer session, followed by a reception.Doris Fields, who performs as Lady D, is known as West Virginias First Lady of Soul. A West Virginia native, she began singing in church choir as a child and has performed original and traditional blues, gospel, R&B, and soul across the state and country, including for the Obama for Change Inaugural Ball. Xavier Oglesby grew up singing in the black Pentecostal church and has performed in local a capella and theatre groups. He recently recorded voiceovers for the New River Gorge African American Heritage Auto Tour. Both Fields and Oglesby reside in Beckley.John D. Morris, of Ivydale, is an acclaimed West Virginia fiddler and tradition bearer who has been honored by the Augusta Heritage Center, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, the West Virginia Fiddler Award, and a National Heritage Fellowship for his role in sustaining the tradition. Jen Iskow, of Thomas, is a West Virginia University alumni, community organizer, artist, and designer at Beartown Design Studio. She has studied with numerous masters of Appalachian old-time fiddle.The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers a stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form. These apprenticeships aim to facilitate the transmission of techniques and artistry of the forms, as well as their histories and traditions. 2018 was the first year of the biennial Folklife Apprenticeship Program.Read more about the apprenticeship pairs on the West Virginia Folklife blog:https://wvfolklife.org/2018/12/03/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-doris-fields-aka-lady-d-xavier-oglesby-blues-black-gospel/https://wvfolklife.org/2018/11/09/2018-master-artist-apprentice-feature-john-morris-jen-iskow-old-time-fiddling-and-stories-of-clay-county/"]%

1. Folklife Apprenticeship participants Jen Iskow and John Morris discuss Clay County doctor and musician Doc White and play one of his fiddle tunes

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

2. Ramp Dinner sign outside H.E. White Elementary in Clay County

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

3. "Welcome Rampers" sign on the door of H.E. White Elementary School

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

4. "Welcome 2019 Rampers" bulletin board in H.E. White Elementary School

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

5. H.E. White Ramp Dinner plate of ramps, ham, white beans, cornbread, green beans, potatoes, and corn

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

6. Volunteers give away extra ramps at the H.E. White Ramp Dinner

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

7. Volunteers serving food at the H.E. White Ramp Dinner

["The H.E. White Elementary PTO has been hosting a Ramp Dinner fundraiser for 55 years. Dinner fare includes ham, ramps, fried potatoes, pinto beans or white beans, green beans, corn bread or rolls, sassafras tea, and dessert. The meal cost $10."]%

8. Volunteer prepares a plate at the H.E. White Ramp Dinner


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9. Oral history of Ella Hanshaw, 1 of 2


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10. Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 1 of 3


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11. Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 2 of 3


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12. Oral history of John D. Morris and Jen Iskow, 3 of 3