
HenryGlassiehasmadealifeoutofstudyingfolkartistsandthemarvelstheycreate.Overthepast50years,therenownedUSscholarhastraveledtofivecontinents,conductingfieldworkwithanobsessivethoroughness.EachprojectHenryGlassieundertakesrequiresatleastadecade.Brimmingwithinsightsintotheartisticimpulse-andhoweveryculturemanifestsitsownstandardofbeautyandmeaning-thispoeticportraitofHenryGlassiedoublesasatravelogue,takingusplacesHenryGlassiehasembeddedhimself.InBahia,Brazil,wemeetEvidalRosas,chargedwithreconstructingsacredstatuesforwhichthereremainnorecord,andRosalvoSantana,whometiculouslysculptsfromclayamagisterialsaintflankedbycherubs.CapturedwithmesmerizingintimacybydirectorPatCollinsandcinematographerColmHogan,theprocessoftheseartistsisawe-inspiring.HenryGlassie:FieldWorkalsoallowsustowitnessthewallingupofamassivekilninPiedmont,NorthCarolina,andfeaturesarchivalrecordingsofHenryGlassie'sencounterswithcarpetweaversandceramicistsinwesternTurkey,andstorytellersinPatCollinsandColmHogan'shomecountryofIreland,whereHenryGlassie'ssubjectsreflectontheirtroubledpresentbytalkingaboutthepast.AthomeinBloomington,Indianainbetweenjourneys,HenryGlassiespeaksoftheparticularitiesofhisapproach.Hiscredoistomeetpeopleintermsoftheirexcellence,ratherthantheirfailings.IfmoreofuscouldapplyHenryGlassie'sphilosophytoourlives,theworldwouldbeabetterplace.