Middfest International Presents… 

The Ancient Art of Felting 

With Mongolian Artists Tuul Sanjdorj and Naraa Sambun 

August 1 & 2, 2008 

Felt is a material that most people associate with the popular poodle skirts of the 1950s and the fancy hats which crown ladies' heads on their way to church.  For the people of Mongolia, felt has played a vital role in their existence since before the time of the mighty Ghengis Khan to the current day.  The ancient tradition of feltmaking, which is still handed down to succeeding generations today in Mongolia, is enjoying a surge in popularity in America.  As part of its year-long focus on Mongolia, Middfest International will host two artisans on August 1 and 2, 2008, who will demonstrate the craft at several Middletown-area venues. 

Tuul Sanjdorj and Naraa Sambun will travel from Mongolia to demonstrate the ancient felting technique: 

·  Friday, August 1, from 10 am to 12 noon at the Middletown Arts Center, 130 N. Verity Parkway, Middletown 

·  Friday, August 1, from 6 pm to 9pm at bd's Mongolian Grill, 8655 Mason-Montgomery Road in Mason 

·  Saturday, August 2 at 7pm at the Middfest Volunteers Summer Party in Middletown

All sessions are free and open to the public.  Reservations are required only for the Summer Party, so please contact Middfest at 513-425-7707 for additional information about this year's location and to reserve your spot. 

Felt has many purposes in Mongolia and is used in clothing, rugs and even as a building material.  Almost half of Mongolia's population retains the nomadic way of life of their ancestors.  Families move several times a year by packing up their possessions, which include the livestock from which they obtain the wool that eventually becomes felt, and their homes (called 'gers' in Mongolian).  These 'mobile homes' are covered in felt, protecting the inhabitants from the elements very effectively. 

Tuul and Naraa will invite participants to try their hand at felting and will also offer their hand-crafted items for sale.     

Middfest International is a premiere cultural event with dance, music and food from many countries throughout the world.  Held annually in Middletown, Ohio, USA, Middfest has celebrated a different country each year since 1981 and will feature Mongolia in 2008 from October 3-5.  For more information contact Middfest Executive Director Virginia Ritan at 513-425-7707 or middfest@siscom.net or visit our website www.middfestinternational.org.