2025 Virtual Apprenticeship Showcase

2025 Virtual Apprenticeship Showcase

August 23 | 12–3 PM CST
Streaming live on Texas Folklife social media

Texas Folklife invites you to join us this weekend for the 2025 Virtual Apprenticeship Showcase, an online celebration of artists who are preserving and passing on traditional arts across Texas.

This year’s showcase highlights mentor-apprentice pairs from our Apprenticeships in the Folk & Traditional Arts Program, with presentations in visual arts, storytelling, music, and dance. Each pair will share their traditions through short video presentations, followed by live group Q&A sessions.

Part 1: Visual Arts & Storytelling

These artists have been working on passing on traditional ways of working with clay, weaving, storytelling, plants, and adobe.

A live 15-minute Q&A discussion with the group will follow.

Doug Martin (Mentor) and Rachel Caldwell Hill (Apprentice)

Cherokee Finger weaving

Doug Martin is part of the Cherokee Nation and has been finger weaving for around six years. Martin taught himself the diagonal pattern of finger weaving and then sought weavers of various tribal backgrounds, such as Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw, to teach him subsequent patterns of weaving. Martin says of his finger weaving practice: “finger weaving is a tangible connection to my tribal Nation and an avenue for trade and collaboration with other tribal members and their various arts and traditions.”

Rachel Caldwell Hill is part of the Cherokee Nation, is a PhD student at the University of Texas, and has been practicing finger weaving for about six months under the mentorship of Doug Martin. Hill has created several finger weaving pieces, such as belts and hat bands. Hill says of her finger weaving practice: “Weaving and braiding have always been integral to my family’s craft culture, instilling in me a deep appreciation for the artistry and tradition of handwoven textiles.”

Veronica Castillo Hernandez (Mentor) and Sheila Vasquez (Apprentice)

Mask-making

Veronica Castillo Hernandez was born in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, Mexico to a family of traditional Mexican folk artisans. With the guidance of her parents, Don Alforno Castillo Orta and Doña Soledad Martha Hernandez Baez, Castillo Hernandez learned the craft of traditional Mexican folk art. Now living in San Antonio, Castillo Hernandez has grown her expertise and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the NEA National Heritage Fellow award. Castillo Hernandez says of her traditional Mexican folk art practice: “From a young age, traditional Mexican folk art has been in my blood. I have learned how to create beautiful pieces of artwork that represent my community’s culture, history, and traditions.”

Sheila Vasquez has specialized in Chicano folk art for nearly ten years. She notes she is “a Chicana multidisciplinary artist, cartonera, sculptor, piñatera, zine maker, musician, teaching artist, and mother.” In addition to her work as a multidisciplinary artist, Vasquez is the After School Art Program Coordinator for San Antonio Cultural Arts and has developed a youth-led Luchador fashion show called “Summer Slay”. Vasquez says of her traditional Chicano and Mexican folk art practice: “I hope to inspire future artists to keep these important traditions alive through my artwork.”

Miguel Mendías (Mentor) & Koyana Flotte (Apprentice)

Adobe Construction

Adobe has always been a part of Miguel Mendías’ life. As an interdisciplinary artist he has always been interested in the structures that we build and what defines a sense of place.  In 2004, he apprenticed to study cob,  a type of earthen building native to many parts of the world. In 2016, he moved back to Marfa where his family has  lived for many generations; and his older cousinSam Martinez,began to teach him about adobe. He then began working in adobe construction  with local adoberos Sandro Cánovas and Hugo Ramos and giving adobe workshops. Adobe construction reflects the ancestral life-ways of the Indigenous community in Far West Texas, embodying sustainability, zero-waste practices, respect for resources, and tradition which is passed down from generation to generation, incorporating a deep sense of connection to a specific area

Koyanna Flotte’s roots are in the Big Bend region. Flotte learned traditional techniques of pottery making unique to La Junta de los Ríos from her elders who also taught her the cultural and spiritual significance of adobe. “Adobe construction plays an important role in my life…It is a vital part of my identity and a means of ensuring our cultural continuity.”

Virginia Grise (Mentor) and Alba Sereno (Apprentice)

Storytelling, plants and foodways

Virginia Grise is a storyteller from San Antonio, with Chinese-Mexican heritage. She recalls spending much of her childhood in Monterrey at her grandmother’s house, where she would learn the art of storytelling at the kitchen table. Grise says of her storytelling practice: “I believe in the power of telling our stories, that memory is in fact a political act and that valuing our stories teaches us that we are necessary in this world—that what we say, dream, believe matters.”

Storyteller Alba Sereno grew up in Mexico and the United States. With more than six generations of family stretched through northern Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, Sereno has kept the knowledge and stories of her family alive. Additionally, for over twenty years, Sereno has been a professional community organizer and worker; in this role, Sereno has often helped others tell their stories to drive systemic change. Within the last few years, Sereno has reflected on the importance of storytelling and says, “the art of storytelling has been perhaps the greatest tool in making change happen.”

Part 2: Music  & Dance

Our second group includes apprenticeship pairs focused on music and dance traditions of flamenco, conjunto, son jarocho, and Texas fiddle.

A live 15-minute Q&A discussion with the group will follow.

Valerie Ryals (Mentor) & Annie Spurgin (Apprentice)

Texas Fiddle

Valerie Ryals learned to play  traditional Texas folk music from her grandfather, O.G. Ryals, who inspired her to dedicate her life to music. Her parents traveled many miles to take her to fiddle contests and bluegrass festivals to expose her to many styles and different musicians. She has studied with renowned fiddlers Dale and Terry Morris, Jim Chancellor (Texas Shorty), Vernon and Norman Solomon, Benny Thomasson, and many more She also started taking classical violin lessons in fourth grade and continued on. At 13, she won the Junior World Championship.She studied teacher’s training for the classical Suzuki method at TCU in Fort Worth.  Since then she has performed and taught music, running Valerie’s Music Studio for over 43 years. Valerie says “This connection to music keeps me close to my family, community, and heritage, and helps keep Texas fiddling alive.”

Annie Spurgin started playing the fiddle at three years old in a group called the Cowtown Opry Buckaroos, and has been playing on and off  for 8 years. Music is a big part of her life and she enjoys playing the fiddle, as well as singing, playing guitar, and writing her own music. She is interested in learning different types of fiddle music, such as Western Swing, Texas style, Irish, and Scottish. “Fiddle music is particularly special because it links us to our cultural traditions and shared memories.”

Chayito Champión (Mentor) & Jennifer Riojas (Apprentice)

Flamenco singing

Renowned flamenco singer Chayito Champion began singing at an early age, carrying on her family’s flamenco legacy. She was given the nickname ‘Gitana Americana’ by the late Antonio Montoya, El Farruco. Her recent engagements include: Repertorio Español, Thalia Theatre, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. She is the singer for Jácome Flamenco and Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo. She has toured the world with such artists as the late Jose Greco, Antonio Vargas, Teo Morca, Antonio Vargas and Pilar Rioja.

Jennifer Riojas was introduced to flamenco at a very early age by her mother and grandmother who are both flamenco dancers. She has danced for many years but shied away from singing. Now as her Tía Chayo is getting older, she wants to learn to carry on the tradition in her family and community. “Flamenco ties our family together and this plays a big role in my life. Flamenco is a way of life and I am so happy to be a part of it.”

Andrea González (Mentor) & Mayra Ortíz (Apprentice)

Flamenco Dance

Andrea “La Flor” Gonzalez began studying Flamenco and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at three years old in San Antonio. In her early years Andrea was  guided by many experienced Texas Flamenco legends, including Teresa Champion and her late husband, Willie “El Curro” Champion, Perla Robinson (Montoya), and Micaela Garza-Rodriguez. Her very first Flamenco workshop was in the early 1990s with Mexican Flamenco Artist, Pilar Riojas in San Antonio, TX as the youngest in the class. She studied  at the University of New Mexico’s Theater and Dance program Flamenco focus under the instruction of Eva Encinas-Sandoval while also continuing her dance studies of classical ballet/pointe, modern and contemporary dance, and West African dance. With over thirty years of dance experience, Andrea has performed across the country, pioneered Flamenco programs in rural West Texas, has been chosen as the grand prize winner of Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana’s Certamen USA in 2024, completed an artistic residency in Spain, performed in Tablao Flamenco Las Carboneras (Madrid, Spain), and has showcased her original choreographic works in dance festivals and productions in Houston and in the Rio Grande Valley. Andrea  speaks of her Flamenco craft as  “a connection to my ancestors, it is therapy, meditation, and my sanctuary because it moves my body through space and creates a vibration within my heart and soul.”

Mayra Ortíz has been involved with Flamenco for about twenty-two years. Ortiz has attended private and group lessons on Flamenco in the Rio Grande Valley and has learned alongside many professional, Spanish Flamenco dancers. Additionally, Ortiz teaches weekly classes on Flamenco, organizes Flamenco workshops, and organizes Flamenco performances. Ortiz says of her Flamenco practice: “Flamenco has driven my life and positively impacted my emotional, mental, and physical well-being since the age of twenty.”

Zeth Lara (Mentor) & Pedro Ávila (Apprentice)

Conjunto Accordion

Zeth Lara has been practicing Conjunto for twenty-three years and learned under the guidance of his grandfather, Rigoberto Garza, and Jose Moreno, also known as “el fidelero del valle”, for eleven years. As Lara’s music journey developed, he learned under the guidance of many other musicians, including Mr. Simmons, a master woodwind player. Lara says of his Conjunto practice: “Music and the Conjunto tradition are what give me joy, give me hope, and help me keep on trucking along the way.”

Pedro Avila is the Vice President of the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum and has a rich history of involvement with Conjunto. Avila’s father, Rey Avila Sr., founded the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and involved Avila in the process. After Avila’s father passed away, Avila wanted to carry on his father’s legacy and continue working with Conjunto. Avila began practicing Conjunto around five months ago and says of his practice: “It is never too late to learn to play the accordion, which is the heart and soul of Conjunto.”

Keli Rosa (Mentor) and Oscar Cantua (Apprentice)

Son Jarocho

Keli Rosa Cabunoc Romero is a Chicana dancer, teatrista, musician, performer, artivista, and scholar who grew up in Santa Ana, California and has lived on the Westside and Southside of San Antonio for nearly a decade. She has over 20 years of experience singing, dancing, and playing traditional music from Veracruz. Rosa holds an MA from UTSA in Bicultural Bilingual Studies. Her research focused on the roots, practice, and survival of Son Jarocho, as well as Chicano/a/x identity. Rosa facilitates weekly Son Jarocho community workshops through El Tallercito de Son.

Oscar Cantua first encountered Son Jarocho at UTSA in 2018. Since then, he has been studying with Rosa and guest artist-teachers at El Tallercito. He looks forward to further developing his understanding of Son Jarocho, and sees it as “a way to remember those who came before us in a unique musical history that lives on every time we play son.”