"Summer is here at the Villages Folk School"

  This past weekend the village of Birmingham celebrated with vendors, pedal pulls, and artists in the park. Dorothy Gilbert a member of the Villages Folk School board from Stockport and John Preston one of the folk school artists spent the day sharing the folk school with visitors at Birmingham. John is a gifted artist who loves to paint the landscape. When I arrived at the park I noticed John sitting at his easel painting the gazebo with the log house in the background. If only I could capture a picture as easily as he does. Years of training and experience have certainly paid off for John and we are proud to have him as an instructor here at the Villages Folk School.

     While John painted I had a moment to visit with folks who had come for the day. I noticed that two young boys had stopped to watch John as he painted. Soon one of the boys asked him if he could paint his picture. Without hesitation John walked to his stack of supplies, sorted through to find just the right canvas and walked back to his easel to begin a picture of the young man. I watched as John sketched lightly with his pencil and then began to mix and apply the watercolors to his portrait; Authentic even down to the black smudges above his left eye. The boy stood very still with a smile on his face as he anticipated the painting John so carefully prepared.

Soon the work was complete and you should have seen the look on his face as John handed him the painting. With a look of awe he carefully studied the portrait and then walked away showing his treasure to everyone he passed. What a great moment! It is this willingness to give back to others that makes our Villages Folk School so special. I have seen this time and time again and heard it from our instructors as they teach their classes. At some point in time someone took the time to share the gift of the creative arts with them and started them on their love affair with the arts. It is the desire and the ability to give back to their students that makes living the arts such a wonderful experience here at the Villages Folk School.

     We are constantly seeking other artists who would like to share their love of the arts with students at the folk school. Please contact our office at 319-592-3700 for more information. Gloria is in the office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Our office is located at the Opera House in Bonaparte. Come in anytime to register for a class, get information about becoming an instructor or to find out more about the Villages Folk School.

     The following classes are coming in June and July and are open for registration:

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension, Raku Pottery, Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Buttons & Bows Card Making, Folk Hymnody & the Old Singing Schools of America, Bonaparte Pottery Experience, Melon Basket Weaving, Barn Quilt Painting, Blacksmithing and Still Life in Soft Pastels.

     The time is now for taking part in your first folk school class. This opportunity is one you will never forget. Come join us for a class or bring the entire family and enjoy something together. This will be an experience that stays with you the rest of your life. This is not just another class, but a chance to be creative and learn to apply that to every aspect of your life. Your children will learn to excel in everything they do if they have the opportunity to become creative. Don’t delay; register today!

"A Quiet Weekend at the Villages Folk School"

     This last weekend I found myself thinking of a leisurely drive across Van Buren County to visit another folk school class. But this would be a weekend off for our instructors and the students. There is something to be said for a day of rest, but I missed the experience that always leaves me wanting more. The thrill of walking into a folk school class and watching as the instructors share what has taken them years to develop. It always seems effortless but I know, from my experience, it is not. They just make it appear that way. This is what makes our classes so amazing! I can stand in front of a landscape painting that is so real I feel as if I am looking through a window. But I wouldn’t know where to start to achieve that end result. When I see the process broken down into simple steps, I find myself wanting to run to the store, buy some artist supplies and start painting!

      You can experience this as I have by joining one of our artist instructors for a fun-filled day learning something you have always wanted to try. I invite you to register for one of our classes by calling the Villages Folk School office at 319-592-3700. Gloria will be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding your class choice. Visit our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com to find a list of classes and more information that will help you with your decision. Registering for a class may also be done with our website form. Simply download the registration form, fill it out and mail it to our office at PO Box 51, Bonaparte, Iowa 52620.

     June and July are packed full of interesting classes with something for everyone. For some of you who may not have access to the internet here is a brief list of some upcoming classes:


Creative Writing—Intro to Publishing by Adam Whitlatch

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension by Chris Bennett

Raku Pottery by Betty Printy

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave by Verne & Doris Ramsey

Buttons & Bows Card Making by Debra Herrick

Folk Hymnody of the Old Singing Schools of America by Stephen Conte & Prairie Harmony

Bonaparte Pottery Experience by Marilyn Thomas

Melon Basket Weaving by Therese Cummisky

Barn Quilt Painting by Carolyn Edwards

Blacksmithing by Bill Printy & Mark Heisdorffer


     Bring the family and come enjoy a day or a weekend with us at the Villages Folk School. Call today to reserve your class at 319-592-3700. Capture the experience of Living the Arts here in Van Buren County and find yourself wanting more!

"Make June a Special Month and join us at the Villages Folk School"

     The Villages Folk School offered a Student Appreciation Day for 200 Clark County students on Friday, June 4th in Bentonsport. Seven artist instructors gave presentations in blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, Native American living, the tale of Bubba the ox, Indian artifacts, and tour of the Mason House. Debra Herrick taught a class in Greeting Card Variations on Sunday in Bonaparte . We continue to see students from outside our county. This is great for our local businesses, as these people often frequent our restaurants for meals and shop in the local stores.

     Coming up on June 12th and 13th is a popular class in Beginning Blacksmithing. The two day event will once again be held at the Forge and Anvil Academy in Bentonsport. It is always a thrill to watch Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer teach the art of working iron into usable everyday items. If you have ever thought about trying your hand at blacksmithing, then this is the class for you. Great hands-on instruction from start to finish by highly skilled blacksmiths. Bill Printy has been in the blacksmith trade for over 35 years and Mark has been working as an apprentice with him since 1997. Together they make the learning experience a process that starts you on your way to a fulfilling hobby in blacksmithing. You might want to continue on with future classes and work to develop more skills in the trade. There is no limit to what can be achieved with the right training and desire.

     Adam Whitlatch is a writer offering a “Creative Writing-Intro to Publishing” class in June that will teach you the basics of writing short stories and poetry with an emphasis on preparing work for publishing. We welcome Adam to the Villages Folk School and look forward to seeing his students excel in their writing skills. At the end of the year, all students’ short stories will be collected, edited, and published in a special edition “Villages Folk School” print anthology.

     Maybe you have a desire to create beautiful sculptures. I feel challenged just manipulating the Play Dough with my grandchildren, but when I see the work that is created by Chris Bennett in his studio I understand the difference between playing and a true artist. Chris’s work will inspire you to create and his class “Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension” being held in June will help you to build the proper skills needed to begin your creative journey in sculpturing. Chris is a working sculptor and offers these classes on a limited basis, so don’t miss this opportunity!

     Whatever you choose to be creative with, the Villages Folk School will be a launching pad for you journey. We invite you to join us for one of our exciting classes. Call today and register with our folk school office at 319-592-3700. Check out our website at www.villagesfolkschool.com and see for yourself the many classes we offer. Now is as good a time as any to call and register. Treat yourself to a fun filled weekend at the Villages Folk School.!