“Folk School continues to bring students from outside Van Buren County”

    
     Students from Corydon, Bettendorf, Pella and Keokuk enjoyed a stay in Van Buren County while attending a Villages Folk School class at the Iron & Lace in Bentonsport. Bill Printy and Mark Heisdorffer taught their students the basics of working with iron in a Beginning Blacksmithing class held in Bill’s academy. Each of the students receives not only classroom instruction but hands-on training at the forge. With Bill and Mark giving individual attention to the students as they work the forge and anvil, the process becomes a unique learning experience. The first day includes classroom instruction scheduled in such a way as to give time for testing what they have learned at their own forge. Bill and Mark move about the shop that includes five forges and offer constructive critique as the students test their skills with the hammer. The second day is an open workshop allowing the students to further apply what they have learned by spending the day at the forge.

     Our folk school classes offer you a chance to experience art with an artist instructor while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of historic Van Buren County. Register today at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at (319) 592-3700. The class calendar is available on our web site but for those without internet access the following is a list of our upcoming classes.


Bonaparte Pottery Experience

1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011


Join us for a fun-filled weekend at the Villages Folk School.

“Get reacquainted with life in Van Buren County Iowa”

     I’m sure many people keep a record of their days and weeks by writing in a journal, but how many have actually made the paper they are writing on? For Pat Crawford of Cantril it is an everyday event and she is making that opportunity available to you by teaching the art of paper making and binding it into a journal. Personalizing the very paper you write on is rewarding and Pat will take you step by step through the process. Registration is still open for the class that will be held Thursday and Friday, September 22nd and 23rd.

     Have you ever thought about learning the art of forging iron in a blacksmith shop? Well now is your chance as Bill Printy fires up the forge and opens his academy for another exciting class in beginning blacksmithing at Iron and Lace in Bentonsport, Iowa. Bill and his apprentice, Mark Heisdorffer, will instruct you in the proper use of the forge, the anvil and each of the specific tools of the trade. Students come from all over the country to experience the everyday life of the blacksmith and learn from a master who has turned iron work into a fine art.

     Call us today at (319) 592-3700 or go to our web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com to register for the class of your choice.

     The scenic river valley and colorful country side of Van Buren County has become the home of many artists because its splendor is a constant boost to their creative life. Those of us who live here often forget to enjoy the simple pleasure of a drive through the flowing hillsides of this southeastern Iowa county but we should be thankful for the quality of life it provides us. Spending a weekend with one of the folk school artists who make their living painting, blacksmithing, turning pottery, etc. will help you capture some of the motivation this area provides them as they live the arts in this beautiful river valley.

     The peaceful surroundings of our historic villages provide a place for the arts to thrive and offer outsiders a chance to experience the history that is alive here in our county. That is why they continue to return for our folk school classes and a chance to escape the hectic lifestyles in the cities. We encourage those of you who call Van Buren County your home to take a class at the Villages Folk School and capture the thrill of living the arts.

     Our class schedule is posted on the web site at www.villagesfolkschool.com or call our office at (319) 592-3700.

The following is our upcoming class schedule:

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011


Register today for an experience of a lifetime at the Villages Folk School.

“Art classes in the home and studio of Wendell Mohr”

                                                                                                                                                  
     


     It was an exciting weekend at the Villages Folk School as Gin Lammert taught her folk school class, Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil, in the historic Vernon schoolhouse. The building, constructed in 1868, became the home and studio of Wendell Mohr and his family in 1970. Wendell’s paintings reflected his love for people and his life experiences. He was well known to Van Buren County artists and although I never met the man, my conversations with those artists reveal the passion and love he had for painting and teaching. His daughter, Paula Mohr, told me how she looks forward to art classes being held in her late father’s studio. It is my hope that the students who come for our folk school art classes will also appreciate the history of the studio in which they learn and in doing so continue the legacy of Wendell Mohr.

     Our folk school classes will continue through the winter and we encourage you to check our calendar for a class that might interest you. Our calendar is available at www.villagesfolkschool.com or you may call our office at (319) 592-3700. Contact us today for more information on the Villages Folk School.

List of coming classes:

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave

17-Sep-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

Bonaparte Pottery Experience

1-Oct-2011 2-Oct-2011

Chair Caning with Flat Reed Splits

15-Oct-2011 -

Painting the Landscape

15-Oct-2011 -

Spring and Fall Birdwatching

22-Oct-2011 -

Rug Weaving Workshop

22-Oct-2011 23-Oct-2011

Natural Dyes in My Backyard

27-Oct-2011 28-Oct-2011

Container Candles

5-Nov-2011 -

Shaker Boxes

12-Nov-2011 13-Nov-2011

7 Step Chair Caning

19-Nov-2011 -

Hand Piecing, Appliqué & Quilting

19-Nov-2011 20-Nov-2011


Join us for a fun weekend at the Villages Folk School.

“1800 Degrees in a Top Hat”


     What is in a degree? Certainly educators have labored to turn out some of the finest, most educated people in the world but that isn’t the degree we are discussing today, although these 1800 degrees turn out some of the finest looking pottery in the world. I am talking about Raku pottery and it happened this past weekend at Iron & Lace in the village of Bentonsport, Iowa. Fifteen students came from across the state and one of them from Pennsylvania to learn the art of Raku pottery from our folk school instructors, Bill and Betty Printy. The art of Raku which dates back to 16th-century Japan has become very popular here at the Villages Folk School. The beauty of this pottery is that your creation is completed in one class and can be taken home at the end of the day.

     I am always excited to hear from our students and each time I do it reminds me of why we do what we do. The arts and the ability to be creative are something to be shared. I recently framed a pastel piece that was painted by one of our folk school students. It was her first pastel class but she shared with me how she had taken different classes that we offer at the folk school and enjoyed them but until now she hadn’t found one she was truly good at. The painting she did in pastel was of a tiger and it was beautiful. She has found a way to be creative and will share that with everyone she meets. Living the arts here in Van Buren County whether it be raku, sculpture, blacksmithing, hand-thrown pottery, painting, weaving, chair caning, painting barn quilts or paper making will bring you in contact with artists who get their inspiration from the very place they live.

     Register for your first experience here at the Villages Folk School by calling 319-592-3700 or online at www.villagesfolkschool.com.

The following is our list of classes for September:

Still Life Workshop in Pastel & Oil

10-Sep-2011 11-Sep-2011

Chair Caning with Fiber Rush Weave

17-Sep-2011 -

Sculpture Portrait in Three Dimension

17-Sep-2011 18-Sep-2011

Pulp Play (Paper) & Journal Making

22-Sep-2011 23-Sep-2011

Beginning Blacksmithing

24-Sep-2011 25-Sep-2011

We hope to see you soon at the Villages Folk School in historic Van Buren County Iowa.