{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"House of Folk Art","title":"Episode 27 | The Art of Cher Shaffer - A Conversation with a True Folk Artist","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2183,"description":"In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter sits down with Cher Shaffer, a self-taught folk artist with a career spanning over 55 years. Raised in Georgia with Cherokee and Melungeon heritage, Cher’s work is deeply rooted in storytelling, tradition, and an unshakable urge to create.\nFrom visionary paintings that reveal themselves on the canvas to hand-sculpted dolls, pit-fired pottery, and face jugs, Cher’s art is a blend of heritage, instinct, and raw emotion. Her work has been collected by museums, celebrities, and folk art enthusiasts across the country. In this episode, she shares her artistic philosophy, early influences, and the moment that changed everything—a near-death experience in 1985 that transformed the way she paints.\nWhether you’re an artist, collector, or just someone who loves a great story, this episode is a must-watch.\nChapters\n00:00 - Introduction: Meet Cher Shaffer\n02:30 - The Smallest Handmade Basket Ever Seen\n06:15 - Folk Art, Heritage, and Storytelling\n10:40 - A Near-Death Experience and the Birth of Visionary Painting\n14:20 - The Role of Instinct in Creating Art\n18:30 - Pit-Firing Pottery: Learning from Pueblo Masters\n22:00 - Face Jugs and the African American Burial Tradition\n26:40 - “The Urge to Create”: Advice for Young Artists\n30:15 - Final Thoughts: Why Folk Art Matters\nThe Smallest Basket and the Beauty of Folk Craft\nThe conversation begins with a miniature handwoven basket—so small that it fits on a fingertip. As a self-described “basket aficionado,” Matt is fascinated by its craftsmanship, leading to a discussion on the importance of handmade objects in folk traditions. Cher explains that while she didn’t make this particular basket, she often incorporates found objects into her art, adding layers of history to each piece.\nThe Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything\nIn 1985, Cher’s heart stopped for a full minute. When she recovered, something had changed. Instead of planning her paintings, images and shapes...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/V9-9EJUZ9R45flfIBnsuQ4AwapFGe_rYKiVr1IMQwbU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzUxNTk0LzE3MTE3/Mzc2MTktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}