Join us for a talk with storyteller and painter, Theresa Gloster. Theresa was selected to be one of South Arts Folk & Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellows for 2021. The fellowship recognizes master folk and traditional artists from Appalachian Regional Commission counties in Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee who have demonstrated long-term practice and expertise of their art form or cultural practice. A master artist is an individual who possesses exemplary knowledge and skill and is recognized by their cultural community for their contributions. Awards provide financial support for Fellows to continue learning about their artform through continued training, research and/or learning opportunities Theresa Gloster is a storyteller who conveys her stories through paint and other media. "My art tells stories about childhood, about memories sparked by things that go on in the world today, or about just whatever comes to mind," explained Gloster. "I use paint, brushes, needles, thread, or whatever I can find to create art, and to tell the stories that need to be told." The emphasis is always on stories. Gloster is as much a chronicler as she is a painter; she has always seen her role as a holder and visual teller of stories. That's why kinfolk and community members regularly choose her house for their gatherings—because her home is always filled with painted narratives, reminding all those who have gathered of who they have been and who they are.