LEARN
#BLUBIRDTEACHES: MODERN FIBER
As the daughter of a farmer and artisanal weaver, I've grown up with fiber my whole life. I'm still connected to the larger American cottage wool industry in a professional capacity. As such, I have first hand perspective at the slow decline in accessibility of fiber arts, and the recent post-pandemic resurgence is exciting - it makes me think of the "Return to the Land" movements of the 1970s and all of the things that we now know grew from that reconnection to the land gives me hope. BlubirdTeaches works to discover new ways to apply fiber as a medium in fine art and encourage new interest in the fiber arts. All public workshops and single lessons are focused around small projects that can be accomplished in two hours. Longer curriculum is open to students who want something more or are hungry for more advanced skills and need help.
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The schedule is currently full. Accepting private students and single session bookings for spring 2023. Full schedule of public workshops are running in the East Aurora and Rochester area.
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Any public workshop is bookable as an individual studio session, or a cocoon for 5 persons or more. Can handle groups up to 20. Booking reservations for May 2023 and beyond.
Most topics can be modified to suit youth age groups 11-15 upon request. For youth under 10 or for homeschool groups, please send a message to receive information on private kids bookings.
NEW: WEAVING INTENSIVE SERIES
BUILDING BASICS: ABSTRACT WEAVING
EAST AURORA
A weaving series- three dates. Learn the basics and build up. Loom included.
MARCH 16, 23, 30Â
MUSELOFT
An in-depth weaving series for those who want to Learn to weave and work with deliberate techniques.
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Learn the basic building blocks of weaving, including warping, materials, tools and basic techniques, then upgrade these basic skills and learn to how to work with deliberate shapes using tapestry weaving joinery and templates, and appropriate use of color to create interest in woven work.
STUDIO LEARNING
PUBLIC CLASS SCHEDULE
Monthly workshops are geared towards exploring fiber as a creative medium, and are focused around small projects that can be accomplished in two hours.
All topics rely on some basic fiber skill set that can be used to explore new ways to create, and are developed for beginners, unless specifically noted. Modern, rooted in heritage technique.
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Any group concept can be tailored to fit individual private groups, or private one-on-one instruction, either in studio, or as a "cocoon" for 5 or more participants. Inquire for group rates, or book a consult.
REMEMBERING OUR SUMMER SERIES 2022
THE BIRDS & THE BEES WITH MASTERSON'S NURSERY
EAST AURORA
JUNE 2
RANDOM WEAVING: NATURE'S FORMS
Our first random weaving workshop! Spend an evening learning how to work with natural materials and weave your very own birds nest inspired forms using native grapevine.
JUNE 29
PIGMENTS FROM PETALS:Â
FLOWER POUNDING
Students will learn how to express natural dye compounds found in the petals and stems of flowering plants and vines and imprint them onto pre-mordanted muslin for an organically "dyed" tapestry piece that will stay vibrant long after the snow comes back.
JULY 17
FLORAL TEXTILES: 2 WAYS
A final Sunday Funday afternoon with a very special flower pounding session including cyanotype process. Learn how to use cyanotype to capture a floral composition using solar long exposure photography, and enjoy a flower pounding session imprinting your blossoms and native plants into fabric using nothing but fresh blooms and greenery while waiting for the prints to develop.
ART HEALS:
MONTHLY CHAKRA ART STUDIES
An examination of the chakras, using color association and exploration of multiple media. Chakras are energetic power centers that form an important part of our creative identities, and are accessible through many associations ranging from color, scent and even certain foods. Understanding and unlocking these points have powerful impact on our ability to feel, embody our power, speak, sing, dance and create. In each class we use color, sound and scent to help understand the point of energy that chakra represents, using continually varied physical art mediums to bring them up close and personal to all our senses.
These workshops are immersive and expand our awareness AND our range of creative skills.
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Our last session was a group workshop for the Rochester Breast Cancer Coalition's annual retreat for cancer and metastatic disease survivors, where we explored the healing properties of art and intentional focus on our energetic body.
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This series is available only as private bookings at present. Best experienced as group of 5 or more.