"Talking 'Theatre' At The Villages Folk School"

     I am always excited when others share their passion for the arts with me. Last Friday was no exception as I had the opportunity of meeting with Dr. Dawn Larson, Associate Professor of Theatre in the Department of Fine Arts at Francis Marion University in South Carolina. Dr. Larson was making a presentation on Theatre  at the Museum of Theatre in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She and a friend had decided to visit the Villages of Van Buren County while in Iowa for the weekend. They were thrilled to find an Opera House in Bonaparte and while enjoying the buildings in the historic Main Street community they learned of our Villages Folk School. Dr. Larson contacted me through our office at the Opera House and wanted to know more about our school.

     After our discussion I wanted to learn more about what she does so I visited her presentation on Saturday in Mt Pleasant. It was a delightful experience! Many of the people there were in theatre and certainly all of them were advocates for the Theater Arts. Dr. Larson is interested in working with the Villages Folk School and plans are being made for offering weeklong classes in the theater arts. The classes will cover such topics as theater history, playwriting, acting, directing and even lighting. This will be a great opportunity for anyone considering a career in the theatre arts.

     We are interested in hearing from anyone who would like to know more about the Villages Folk School. You can learn more by calling our office at 319-592-3700 anytime Tuesday through Friday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. You can also check our class schedule on our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com. Click the link to our Blog and get a close-up look at all our previous classes.

     Life in the Villages of Van Buren County is a study in the folk and traditional arts. The many artists who have made their home here are evidence to the fact that “Living the Arts” is a day to day occurrence here in the lush Des Moines River valley. Just last Saturday while my wife and I drove through the county we commented on the changes in the countryside. Rolling hills that were covered so long in the winter blanket of snow are now a pallet of varying shades of green interlaced with fields freshly planted. The contrast between the greens and the rich black soil can only heighten the creative urge to paint such a beautiful landscape.  One such artist is John Preston who teaches landscape painting for the Villages Folk School.  His paintings are so real you can almost walk into them.  What a gifted artist!!  Here is a sample of some of his work that is entitled "Rogue Shower". Whether you are the painter or just a spectator, the feeling that this area inspires is truly magnificent.

     Coming to our classes is so much more than just another class. It gets you out to experience this wonderful place we live in. From one end of the county to the other the scenes are forever changing. Taking the time to enjoy the trip is part of the experience we offer you with our Villages Folk School classrooms being spread throughout the villages.

Here are some of our coming classes:

April 29th & 30th: Printmaking

May 1: Raku Pottery, Still Life in Soft Pastels, Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, and Story Telling For All Occasions.

May 1st & 2nd: Hand Piecing, Appliqué, & Quilting

May 8: Blacksmithing: Tong Making and Container Candles

May 22: Spring Bird Watching

Won’t you come enjoy “living the arts” at the Villages Folk School in Van Buren County, Iowa? It is truly a life changing experience!

"It's A Grand Night for Singing!"

     Can you imagine an evening singing harmonies written in the 18th century? This will be a chance you won’t want to miss. Led by the group Prairie Harmony of southeast Iowa you will join in to sing the many anthems, fugues, and early American hymns written in the Sacred Harp. For anyone who likes to sing and can carry a tune it is a grand night for singing!

     This event will be held in the historic Presbyterian Church in Bentonsport, Iowa on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:30 p.m. A small donation of $8 will be collected at the door to help with costs and to provide money for the restoration of the church. The acoustics in this building will provide an awesome sound stage for a delightful evening of shape note singing. Come join in the fun!! The larger the group the more incredible the experience will become. Have you ever sung harmony with an experienced group of singers? Don’t miss this opportunity!!

     The Villages Folk School strives to offer a diversity of classes that will provide something for everyone. We are constantly looking for instructors who can provide exciting and challenging classes in the folk and traditional arts. Our classes are structured in such a way as to allow for hands-on instruction with a limited amount of students.

     The month of May is full of classes for you to choose from. Here is the lineup:

May 1st               Raku Pottery
                          Still Life in Soft Pastel
                          Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits
                          Story Telling for All Occasions

May 1st & 2nd       Bonaparte Pottery Experience
                          Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

May 8th                Blacksmithing: Tong Making
                           Container Candles

May 22nd              Spring Bird Watching

     Come enjoy one of the many classes as well as the beauty of the Villages of Van Buren County Iowa. You will be amazed at the shades of green and the brilliant colors of the spring flowers in the Des Moines River valley. There seems to be a different color around every corner and over every hill. Getting there is half the fun.

     We want to share this experience of living the arts with each of you. Visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to discover more of our classes and schedules. If you need further assistance, Gloria is in the office Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. She may be reached at 319-592-3700.

     The Villages Folk School is your chance to fulfill your dream, experience the arts, and excite your creativity. Join us for an unforgettable experience!

"Preparation for an exciting group of classes"

     The work continues at the Villages Folk School office to set everything in motion for the exciting group of classes planned for the end of April and the beginning of May. The varied classes will provide something that appeals to everyone. Here is the line-up for this month: On April 24th we offer a class in Melon Basket Weaving and a class in Organic Gardening. The gardening class will be the first of a series of three which will take you through the soil preparation, planting, weed and pest control, and finally putting the garden to rest at the end of the season. Our instructor is a certified organic gardener so you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

     Tuesday, April 27th will be a thrill for anyone who likes to sing. A special evening has been planned at the Historic Presbyterian Church in Bentonsport. This evening will be led by the group Prairie Harmony of southeastern Iowa. You will be joining in with this group of instructors to share an evening of shape note singing. Sing early American hymns, anthems, and fugues. If you just want to come enjoy the sound in this beautiful acoustically designed building you are welcome to join us.

     May 1st has an awesome agenda that promises to be a delightful weekend. You may enjoy classes in Raku Pottery, Hand Piecing, Appliqué, and Quilting, the Bonaparte Pottery Experience that will take you back to 1860’s as you discover 150 year old molds that were originally used in the old pottery building. Still Life in Soft Pastels, Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits, and Story Telling for all Occasions. These classes will be held in various locations around Van Buren County so be sure to check with the Villages Folk School office for times and locations. Gloria will be happy to assist you with your registration and any questions you might have regarding the classes. Our office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12 noon until 4 p.m. You may call us at 319-592-3660. The website at www.villagesfolkschool.com will also provide you with class descriptions, bio’s so that you may learn more about our instructors and a complete listing of dates the various classes are offered. Don’t forget to check out our Blog! Here is a complete photo slideshow that will give you a better understanding of the quality, hands-on atmosphere in our many classes. Simply click on the link at the bottom of our web page.

     We are always looking for new instructors who want to share their artist skills with others. Please contact our office for an interview.

     Future planning in the works for 2011: Join us on September 23-25, 2011 for the Villages Folk School Writer’s Conference featuring some of the top authors, agents and editors in their field! Watch our website for more details.

     The Villages Folk School is here to offer each of you an opportunity to share in a folk or traditional art form that takes you back to earlier times. Our classes are designed so that you may experience firsthand the many time honored professions of our forefathers. You may spend the day enjoying the peaceful surroundings of our many classrooms throughout the county or taking a needed break from you busy life to just enjoy something for yourself. Whatever it is, we invite you to share these moments with us here at the folk school. Pick a class in something you have always wanted to do, register online at our website or call the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3660.

     This time why not make it all about you! Enjoy the experience of Living the Arts at the Villages Folk School. You’ll be glad you did!

Blacksmithing: Toolmaking Classes at Iron & Lace

     This weekend I found myself once again on the road to Bentonsport, but this time my destination was Bill Printy’s Iron & Lace Blacksmith shop. He had a full class scheduled for the weekend. This class included the principles of hardening iron using the “Oxidation Spectrum” as they forged such tools as center punches, chisels, and gouges. Each of the students would learn to recognize the tempering of their particular project by watching the color changes when the heat was applied. I found myself mesmerized by the process as each student turned their attention to the forge and began to pound out the iron against the anvil. A process as old as time and it just took you back to earlier times when most all of the iron work was done in this manor.

     Bill and his assistant Mark Heisdorffer worked from forge to forge to give each of the students the benefit of their expertise. A two to one ration of student to instructor offered each person the benefit of a readily available instructor. Students at our Villages Folk School classes have often commented on the fact that they appreciated the amount of time they had with their instructor. This has a very positive affect on the project outcome and the value added in the learning process.

     Students continued to work their projects until 5 p.m. on Saturday and some returned Sunday to use what they had learned. The class tuition allows for the second day at the forge, but without instruction. Bill offers classes not only in tool making, but in beginning blacksmithing, tong making, and forge welding.

     Bill, who began his blacksmithing as a hobby in the early seventies has perfected his trade to a fine art. The work that he turns out is incredible! It is worth the trip just to see some of his projects that range from your basic pot racks to wine racks covered in green leaves and laden with clumps of purple grapes. I saw a rose on a long stem that looked so real I just had to ask how it was done. Bill simply smiled and said, “I took a rose apart one petal at a time, manufactured each piece from the live template and just put it back together.” His methodical approach to his iron work has resulted in a level of craftsmanship that is truly a rare art form.

     I encourage each one reading this article that has ever had the desire to work the forge to register for one of the classes offered through the Villages Folk School and get ready for a great weekend!

     The class schedules can be found at our website which is www.villagesfolkschool.com or you can contact our office anytime Tuesday through Friday, 12 – 4 p.m. at 319-592-3700. Registration can be done by downloading the form from the website or calling our office.

     Pick something you have always wanted to do, register for the class, and come join us at the Villages Folk School. Find the artist living within you!