Special Topics
May 11 -13
Exploring the Ichiyo School of Ikebana with Touchstone’s Spring Flora
Bethany L. Sullivan / All Levels / $200 / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
This workshop combines Touchstone’s exquisite wild flora with the ancient Japanese floral art, Ikebana. Ikebana, literally translated "Living Flowers," emphasizes the natural beauty and dynamic energy of flowers and plant life. All of the materials of nature are used in a proscribed combination: flowers, leaves, grasses, branches, etc. During this workshop, students will learn how to select and prepare materials and basic Ikebana techniques. In addition, students will “create” several moribana and naegeire arrangements.
Bethany L. Sullivan is a Junior Master in the Ichiyo School of Ikebana and current president of Pittsburgh Chapter #25 of Ikebana International. Her work has been exhibited at Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
May 17-21
The Never New Workshop 1: Creative Recycling with Found Objects
Meghan McCaffery and Zakaria Tefft / All Levels / $350 / Extended Weekend / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
In this workshop, students will create art and/or furniture from recycled and found materials. Objects from nature (leaves, twigs and what-not) will be incorporated as well. Basic carpentry, tool safety and unconventional construction techniques will be explored. The workshop will culminate by finishing the object with painted details. Students are encouraged to bring something in they want to repurpose or work on to create something fresh out of something old.
Meghan McCaffery and Zakaria Tefft are the artists behind Never New Furniture, an outfit dedicated to making singular objects from recycled materials. Zak learned his trade and developed his aesthetic as a carpenter working on historic homes in Providence, Rhode Island. Witnessing firsthand how much historic materials were just thrown away, he started to salvage and collect these remnants as interesting pieces of history. While experimenting on how to reuse them, Zak discovered how discarded materials are much more difficult to work with than store-bought, with issues like warping, rotting, bugs, de-nailing and cutting to make square edges. Meg, an illustrator who graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, incorporated her hand-painted style with his pieces, to add another dimension to the work. As a team, Never New Furniture's goal is to make one-of-a-kind works from reused materials that are artistic, modern and functional.
May 17 - 21
Outdoor Sculpture 1: Working with Nature and Time
Wade Kramm / All Levels / $300/ Extended Weekend / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
For the past 50 years, many artists have decided to step outside of the studio to seek a direct engagement with the natural environment. Much more than simply displaying a studio work outdoors, these artists sought new and inventive approaches to using the landscape itself as art and as a means of creating a closer relationship with the natural world. This three-day course will introduce the student to making art outdoors in the natural environment. Students will learn to manipulate materials outside of the studio setting by creating and installing natural and manmade artworks into the natural landscape. Artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Long and the Land Art movement will be reviewed and discussed as a background and starting point for the student’s own personal approach and interests. Creative opportunities to work with the natural elements such as gravity, wind, rain, shadows and sunlight will be explored.
Wade Kramm is a national exhibiting sculptor, who holds a MFA in sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design. He has 10 years of teaching experience and has taught sculpture and art history at Carnegie Mellon University, Clarion University and Westmoreland Community College. His work is shown both locally and nationally, and he has recently returned from a two week artist residency in Berlin, Germany.
June 4-6
Best Business Practices for Artists
Michelle Pajak-Reynolds / All Levels / $300 /Three-Day Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
If you dream of turning your creative passion into income and want to build a successful art-based business, then the Best Business Practices for Artists is just right for you! This three-day workshop is designed to help you learn essential business tools and set you on a path for success. Participants will leave this workshop with a business plan that is the right fit for their goals. Programming will include group work and one-on-one time with the instructor.
Discussion topics include:
-Getting Organized: Recordkeeping & Tax Basics
-Calculating Your Hourly Rate
-Pricing to Thrive, Not Just Survive
-Budgeting and Sales Forecasting
-Voice of the Customer: Learning About and Expanding Your Market
-Effective Marketing Strategies for Building Your Brand
-Inventory Management Tips
Michelle Pajak-Reynolds has run a successful couture and art jewelry business for more than a decade. Her collections have been featured in numerous exhibitions, publications, red carpet events, and worn by celebrities. Michelle is also passionate about helping her fellow artist entrepreneurs live their dream. She writes and consults about business issues related to artists and the arts on her blog, eMERGE: A Business Blog for Creative People. The eMERGE blog has a global following and is used in professional practices classes at prominent art schools throughout the US. Michelle earned a BFA in Jewelry and Metals from Kent State University and an Entrepreneurship MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College.
June 11-15
Water and Wood Sprites, Nymphs and Other Ramblings
Christine Kocevar / All Levels / $450 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
If you have ever thought you saw “something” out of the corner of your eye or had someone say you were imagining things, this workshop may be for you--we will be creating “imaginings” using textiles. This class will take you from the sketching phase where you will search through the woods of Touchstone for inspiration, then back to the studio where you will learn to use textile methods: dying processes, batik and very basic weaving and crochet techniques using natural and manmade materials to create matter. Produce a three-dimensional character or set of characters that have mass and occupy space – limited only by your imagination.
Christine Kocevar is a sculptor with a passion for drawing and art history, and has experience teaching distance learning courses online as well as traditional on-site courses for Westmoreland County Community College and Seton Hill University. As an undergraduate, drawing was her major with a minor concentration in art history. In graduate school, Chrsitine major studio of concentration was sculpture with a minor in print media. She studied with Dr. James Nestor, Patricia Villalobos Echeverria and Dr. Vicky Clark. At the Akademija za Likovno Umetnost, Univerza v Ljubljani, Slovenia, she studied sculpture from Joze Barsi (an exhibitor at the Venice Bienale) and figure drawing from Zmago Jeraj. At the American University of Paris, Christine studied drawing throughout the streets and museums of Paris from William Mackendree.
June 25-29
Wood & Soapstone Sculpture
Chris Pollins Shackelford / All Levels / $450 / Weeklong Workshop/ Material Fee (Wood $50) (Soapstone $2.50 / lbs) (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
Using a very organic and experiential approach, explore carving in your choice of wood or stone, or both! Discover abundant potential in subtractive sculpture. Transform a three-to-four foot hardwood log into a finished sculpture. Discover your voice inside a piece of soapstone. Simplify your vision by breaking through to the core of the material. In this class you will develop efficient, proper and safe use of a minimum number of hand tools. Learn how to choose your wood/stone, begin a dialogue with your chosen material, evolve your piece and enhance the circularity of three-dimensional sculptures. History, finishes, bases and multi-media options will be explored.
Chris Shackelford, a sculptor since 1987, earned a BS in philosophy from the University of Michigan and a BFA in sculpture from the Virginia Commonwealth University. Chris also studied at the Corcoran School of Art-D.C. and Parsons-Paris. Chris has taught at VCU, Corcoran, Touchstone and Jacksonville Center, among others. Chris served as founding director of Educational Programming at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts from 2000-2007, and currently serves as Founding Director of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts in Galax, Virginia.
July 16-20
Silk Glorious Silk – Paint it, Crimp it, Dye it, Wear it
Janice Patrignani / All Levels / $425 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
Create glorious, one-of-a-kind scarves, garments, bags and gifts from the most luxurious and durable of natural fabrics. In this class, we will learn how easily color, texture and pattern are seduced by the flow of paint and dye when silk is the canvas. We will explore centuries-old Chinese silk painting techniques and Shibori, the ancient Japanese fiber art of bound-resist dyeing, in this class. Participants will leave with an assortment of exquisite artworks (that are surprisingly easy to create!) and an appreciation for the rich history and modern potential for wearable silk art.
Janice Patrignani is a design professional, visual artist and art educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture and Art. Since 1995 she has been developing and teaching workshops in her many areas of media expertise which include: watercolor, acrylic and silk painting; Shibori; fiber arts; bookmaking; paper transformations; and ceramic sculpture. Ms. Patrignani’s mixed media sculpture has been exhibited throughout New York. She received third place for the sculpture in The Best of New York Artists & Artisans 2005 book series. Recently she was awarded honorable mention for ceramic sculpture in Art Buzz, the 2009 Collection.
July 23-27
Handmade Books
Janice Patrignani / All Levels / $425 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY)
Create original scrapbooks, artist books to uniquely display your portfolio or a one-of-a-kind chat book--the possibilities are endless. This workshop will concentrate on formal and informal book structures. We will also explore several paper-embellishing methods such as paste paper, papermaking and printmaking. Using our decorative papers, we will cut, fold, assemble, personalize and bind many books. By the end of the week, you will have amassed a treasure trove of amazing, personalized, one-of-a-kind handmade multi-use books and journals. Handmade books make wonderful gifts. This class is a great resource for teachers!
Janice Patrignani’s bio can be found under Silk Glorious Silk.
August 6-10
Basketry Revealed
Susan Matson / All Levels / $400 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
This week’s workshop will begin with basic basketry techniques. Beginners will become comfortable with basic skills and will gain an understanding of basic basket construction. All skill levels are welcome in this class; each student will experience success, and independent project development will be encouraged. Experienced weavers will have the opportunity to create more advanced shapes, incorporate complex weave structures and color patterns into their work, and explore textured weaving techniques.
Susan Matson has been a professional basket maker for more than 20 years. She began teaching in 1986 and has instructed continuing education courses, grant-sponsored art programs, regional fiber guilds and at state basketry conventions. She participates in group exhibitions in galleries across the eastern United States, and is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. Susan is recognized for her unique and innovative designs and traditional works. She has a very devoted following at Touchstone.
August 13-17
Crash & Burn: Recycled Metal Art
Elli Groninger / All Levels / $450 / Weeklong Workshop / Material Fee $25 / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
Bring new life to crashed and burned appliances and vehicles. Learn how a car hood becomes a human form or a dryer becomes a chameleon. Whimsical metal origami developed by Elli will be demonstrated, and students will be taught how to make their own unique creations. Touchstone will supply the gases for welding. If you have any supplies, please bring your gauges, tips and torches.
Elli Groninger, toy designer, powdered metals materials designer, illustrator and writer, presently resides in Central Pennsylvania, creating metal sculpture from locally wrecked appliances and cars. Preview some of her work at www.elligroninger.etsy.com or visit her art at the American Visionary Museum of Art.
September 13 - 17
Outdoor Sculpture 2: Working with Nature and Time
Wade Kramm / All Levels / $300 / Extended Weekend Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
For the past 50 years, many artists have decided to step outside of the studio to seek a direct engagement with the natural environment. Much more than simply displaying a studio work outdoors, these artists sought new and inventive approaches to using the landscape itself as art and as a means of creating a closer relationship with the natural world. This three-day course will introduce the student to making art outdoors in the natural environment. Students will learn to manipulate materials outside of the studio setting by creating and installing natural and manmade artworks into the natural landscape. Artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Long and the Land Art movement will be reviewed and discussed as a background and starting point for the student’s own personal approach and interests. Creative opportunities to work with the natural elements such as gravity, wind, rain, shadows and sunlight will be explored.
Wade Kramm’s bio can be found under Outdoor Sculpture 1: Working with Nature and Time.
September 17-21
The Never New Workshop 2: Creative Recycling with Found Objects
Meghan McCaffery and Zakaria Tefft / All Levels / $350 / Extended Weekend / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
In this workshop, students will create art and/or furniture from recycled and found materials. Objects from nature (leaves, twigs and what-not) will be incorporated as well. Basic carpentry, tool safety and unconventional construction techniques will be explored. The workshop will culminate by finishing the object with painted details. Students are encouraged to bring something in that they want to repurpose or create something fresh out of something old.
Meghan McCaffery’s and Zakaria Tefft’s bios can be found under The Never New Workshop 1: Creative Recycling with Found Objects.
Sept 21-23
Shibori Obession
Janice Patrignani / All Levels / $250 / Weekend Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
Immerse yourself in Shibori, the ancient Japanese fiber art of bound-resist dyeing using techniques of stitching, binding, folding, clamping and wrapping. This in-depth weekend workshop will explore a variety of patterning, dyeing and discharging methods with fiber reactive and acid dyes to create many one-of-a-kind wearable works of art. Some previous Shibori experience preferred but not necessary.
Janice Patrignani’s bio can be found under Silk Glorious Silk.
September 21-23
Appalachian Broom-Making
Cary Brant / All Levels / $200 / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
Broom making was brought to the colonies by the early settlers of New York and Pennsylvania. It is said that Ben Franklin was the first to grow Broom Corn. Students will learn to sort the broom born, prepare handles, hand-tie, weave and stitch their very own brooms. Each student will leave class with two brooms, and maybe more, time permitting. No two brooms will be alike. Students should bring an old towel with them to class. There is a material fee of $30.
Cary Branthas been tying and selling brooms for several years. He learned the craft at Tillers international. He also completed the Appalachian Art Broom class, which allows him to make unusual and beautiful art brooms including the cobweb, sweeper, hearth, wisp and turkey wing brooms. He has taught at McConnell Forge and will be at Landis Valley Village Farm Museum in Lancaster, Pa.
September 28-30
Exploring the Ichiyo School of Ikebana with Touchstone’s Autumn Flora
Bethany L. Sullivan / All Levels / $200 / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
This workshop combines Touchstone’s exquisite wild flora with the ancient Japanese floral art, Ikebana. Ikebana, literally translated "Living Flowers," emphasizes the natural beauty and dynamic energy of flowers and plant life. All of the materials of nature are used in a proscribed combination: flowers, leaves, grasses, branches, etc. During this workshop, students will learn how to select and prepare materials and basic Ikebana techniques. In addition, students will “create” several moribana and naegeire arrangements.
Bethany L. Sullivan’s bio can be found under Exploring the Ichiyo School of Ikebana with Touchstone’s Spring Flora
June 18- 22 / July 16-20 / July 30 – August 3 / August 13-17
Art for Kids
Bridget Mayak /Children/Ages 6 to 12 years / $225 / Weeklong / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)
Children enrolled in Art for Kids will experience quality art instruction from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Children will explore the processes and creation of both two and three-dimensional art. Drawing, painting, sculpture and various crafts will be taught within historical and cultural contexts, and are often linked to adult programs offered across campus. Instruction will be geared toward age, abilities and interests of students.
Bridget Mayak is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a degree in art education. She teaches art in the Somerset Area School District, where she is coordinator of her department, mentor to new teachers and site coordinator for artist in residence programs. Bridget has been managing the children’s program at Touchstone for the past three years, and also coordinates the Teen Program. She was named Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Elementary Art Educator in 2008, Delta Kappa Gamma’s Woman of Distinction in 2009, and Touchstone’s Artist of the Year in 2010. She is a member of Handmade Along the Highway and the Somerset County Artists Association.
