Bentonsport was my destination this last weekend. As I drove down the hill into town I spotted tents that dotted the shoreline from the Mason House to the rose garden beyond Iron and Lace. This weekend was the Buckskinner Rendezvous and the air was filled with the smell of smoke from the campfires mingled with the fresh aroma of fry bread that just had to be sampled! There is something about fry bread cooked over the open fire that keeps you coming back for more. I know it was popular for all who were there.
Jeff Nayadley who teaches classes on the hammered Dulcimer at the Villages Folk School was coming to share his music for the day. He was accompanied by Deb Hanson on guitar and her son, Kendal, on violin. I couldn’t let a chance like this go by, so I headed back home to get my saxophone and guitar. Jeff and Deb are members of the group Prairie Serenade from Washington, Iowa. Their music is all acoustic and is a pleasant musical mix of graceful waltzes, hymns, light classical, old-time, traditional and folk tunes, lovely Irish, English, Scottish and French-Canadian melodies with a splash of Caribbean calypso and a dash of Rodgers & Hammerstein thrown in for good measure. This was my first experience playing along with a dulcimer and I must say, “I thoroughly enjoyed the day!”
Dorothy Gilbert, a member of the folk school board, was on hand to share with passers by about the Villages Folk School. This was a chance for us to bring people in contact with some of the many classes in the arts that are offered in the folk school. Three classes were represented on Saturday. Chris Campbell who teaches Native American Crafts and Mark Heisdorffer who teaches Blacksmithing were also demonstrating at the event. Mark presented the buckskinner group with a handmade tomahawk that was forged at the Iron and Lace blacksmith shop.
The Villages Folk School offers a variety of classes in folk, traditional and fine art. The ongoing expansion of the folk school offers opportunity for more artist instructors and we invite you to join our gifted team of artists. Contact our office at 319-592-3700 and find out how you can become an instructor at the Villages Folk School.
If you have always wanted to learn a new craft but didn’t know where to begin then this is your chance. Go online at www.villagesfolkschool.com and check out our list of classes. The following classes are coming up in July: Raku Pottery, Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave, Buttons and Bows Card Making, Folk Hymnody and the Old Singing Schools of America, Bonaparte Pottery Experience, Melon Basket Weaving, Barn Quilt Painting, Blacksmithing and Still Life in Soft Pastels.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, give us a call. We are always looking for new class ideas. If you find the class you want, there are two ways to register. First you can print the form online, fill it out and mail it to our office or simply call us and Gloria will walk you through the process. It’s that easy! Join us soon for one of our exciting classes.
Our website came be found at www.villagesfolkschool.com or contact us by phone at 319-592-3700. Call today for your next exciting adventure in “living the arts”!
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