Folk Arts 2010 - 2/22/2010
Chairperson: Karin Demis
F1 Woodcarving
Sessions: 1A & 1B Grades: 5 - 8
Ramble the woods, learn about some of our native trees…. then learn the basics of woodcarving using the found wood. Students will finish their own folk art carving. There will be strong emphasis on safety and proper handling of sharp tools.
Instructor: Dick Brooks
F2 Sewing Felt Dolls
Session: 1A Grades: 3 - 6
Learn the basics of hand sewing as you create an adorable felt doll. Embroider a face, add yarn hair and design clothes, using trim and buttons. If time allows, use your sewing skills to make a whole doll family!
Instructor: Kathy Zimmerman
F3 French and Indian War
Session: 1A Grades: 5 & up
250 years ago, the sound of cannons, muskets and Indian war whoops rang throughout upstate New York. Travel back through time in this class, which is taught by period re-enactors. Drill with wooden muskets, hear and learn period music, and play games popular in the 1750’s.
Instructors: Bill Frueh and guests from the 13th Albany Co. Militia
F4 Revolutionary War
Session: 1B Grades: 5 & up
Step back in time and experience the lives of soldiers and civilians during the period of America's fight for Independence. Fife and Drum roll calls, tents, songs, games and a sample of true 18th century style entertainment are in store for you! You'll try a bit of colonial cooking, create a craft, discover how music served as a communication device for both armies and meet some characters that look like they just stepped out of your history book!
Instructors: Bill Frueh and guests
F5 Civil War
Session: 3A Grades: 5 & up
Step back in time and experience the lives of soldiers and civilians during the period of America's Civil War. Fife and Drum roll calls, songs, games and a sample of true 19th century style entertainment are what's in store for you! You'll learn some military drill, learn to play a harmonica, learn to play baseball as it was played in 1858 and meet some characters who look like they just stepped out of your history book.
Instructors: Bill Frueh and guests
F6 Weaving Studio
Sessions: 1 & 2 Grades: 4 & up
Learn weaving basics, textile designs and loom mechanics. Experiment with color, texture, fibers and weave structures. You will set up a warp on a four-harness table loom and create your own special weaving using fibers and colors of your choice. You are welcome to try a second project of your own design. Any student who has previously taken a weaving class will be given a review of the basics and may then go on to explore new weave structures.
Instructor: Karin Demis
F7 Spin & Dye & Weave
Session: 3 Grades: 4 & up
Let’s start with a wool fleece and prepare it for spinning on drop spindles and spinning wheels. Wool that you have spun can be colored with dyes that you make from natural materials. Set up and weave your wool on a 4-harness loom. Students that have previously taken Spin & Dye or Weaving can design their own projects.
Instructor: Karin Demis
F8 Beginning Blacksmithing
Sessions: 1A, 2A, 3A Grades: 7 & up
Using hand-operated blacksmithing tools, you will work on an anvil in a coal forge and create your own project! You’ll learn about the lives of early blacksmiths and the history and importance of their craft.
Each class will go for a one-day working visit to an operating blacksmith shop! Work boots, long sleeved shirts and long pants are required.
Instructor: Noah Khoury
F9 Beginning & Advanced Blacksmithing
Sessions: 1B, 2B, 3B Grades: 7 & up
This class teaches basic blacksmithing to beginners, but allows advanced students to take the next step, introducing them to the world of industrial arts through the use of electric arc welding, gas welding and basic electric hand tools.
Each class will go for a one-day working visit to an operating blacksmith shop! Work boots, long-sleeved shirts and long pants are required.
Instructor: Noah Khoury
F10 Eastern Woodland Indians
Session: 2B Grades: 4 & up
How did the Iroquois live? Join us for a weeklong adventure in the woods and find out. Spend time at our version of a traditional long house. Take walks in the woods to identify plants, animals, footprints and feathers. Gather natural items to decorate a "talking stick". Make a cornhusk doll. Hear stories and songs.
Instructor: "Standing Woman" (Dawn Marczak)
F11 Indians of the Plains, Prairies and Grasslands
Session: 3B Grades: 4 & up
How did the Sioux live? Join us for a week of learning about these nomadic buffalo hunters and how they survived. Spend time in our Cheyenne tipi. Learn about their ceremonies. Build a Medicine Wheel. Take nature walks to observe wildlife and identify plants and animals. Gather natural objects to decorate a "Talking stick". Hear stories and songs.
Instructor: "Standing Woman" (Dawn Marczak)
F12 Unbearable Fun
Session: 1 Grades: 4 & up
Come one, come all … it’s time to stitch a cuddly new teddy bear, all your own. Sewing has never been so much fun! Along with your new teddy bear, many other projects are available to stitch and collect along the way. We’ll test out “forage porridge” and make your new friend a little bear quilt. This class takes place in the teddy bear shed and is for beginners and intermediate sewers.
Instructor: Linda O'Connor
F13 Advanced Doll Making
Session: 2 Grades: 4 & up
We will stitch a lovely selection of dolls, including a beautiful porcelain doll to add to your collection. Period clothing patterns will be used with various fabrics, ribbons, lace and buttons to complete the projects. It would be helpful to have completed Mini Quilts and Early American Rag Dolls class.
Instructor: Linda O'Connor
F14 Tinsmithing
Session: 1B Grades: 6 & up
Explore the history and art of tinsmithing. As students become more familiar with authentic tools and methods, we will create historic reproductions, such as wall sconces and candlestick holders. Safety and proper use of sharp tools will be emphasized.
Instructor: Art Thorman
F15 Maskmaking
Session: 2A Grades: 3 - 6
Do you like your hands submerged in slime? It’s a messy process, but the masks we create will be astounding! We’ll use Heldeberg rocks as forms, then layer paper strips to produce masks that can be mysterious, funny, fanciful or even frightening. Masks will be painted and perhaps embellished with natural items we find on the Land. Ancient cultures will be our inspiration as we let our imaginations soar!
Instructor: Trisha Zigrosser
F16 Quilling
Session: 1A Grades: 4 & up
Discover a really cool art form - welcome to paper quilling! It’s the art of rolling and shaping strips of paper into lovely designs, and has been around since ancient Greek and Egyptian times. We’ll create various quilling projects inspired by the wildflowers and beautiful colors of the Heldebergs.
Instructor: Nancy Hodder
F17 Kite Building
Session: 2A Grades: 3 & up
Come soar with us on a soft breeze or a steady wind - building a kite is just the beginning! Learn how and why it flies, swoops and rises. Explore the many styles of kites and how they have been used throughout history. Create streamers, a colorful windsock (inspired by the beauty of the Workshop land) and your own kite from scratch! Join us for this introduction to basic aerodynamics.
Instructor: Katie Hahn
F18 Yoga
Sessions: 3B Grades: 2 - 4
Stretch your muscles under nature’s canopy of leaves. In our yoga class we will learn the basic postures and relaxations of yoga. We will use music, reading, games and walking meditations to focus in a non-competitive environment. Please wear comfortable clothing.
Instructor: Bonnie Koshofer
