OTHER CLASSES 2008
including
SCULPTURE (Wood, Stone, and Metal)
(click on above to go there)
Note: Tuition includes studio fees and material fees unless otherwise indicated. Some instructors may provide additional materials that you may purchase in class.
June 15 - 21
Art of the Toolbox
Norman Ed All Levels $455
Materials Fee Payable to Touchstone: TBD
Make your own toolbox! Learn the history of the functional toolbox and design and build a toolbox for your specific needs.
Norman Ed is a veteran teacher instruction at the high school level for more than 15 years. His sculptural pieces are exhibited widely. Recently, Norman won an award for one of his pieces in the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 96th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
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June 22 - 27
Wood Sculpture
Chris Shackelford All Levels $445
Materials Fee Payable to Touchstone: $50
Using a very organic and experiential approach, learn to carve dynamic hardwood sculpture. Transform a 3-4’ log into a finished sculpture. Students will develop efficient, proper, and safe use of a minimal number of needed hand tools. Simplify your vision; break through to the core of the material. Learn a new way to dialog with wood. Consider taking the weekend’s Soapstone Sculpture Class (see below), and combine the two at discounted tuition rate of $550 for both!
Chris Shackelford, a sculptor since 1987, earned a BS in philosophy from the University of Michigan and a BFA in sculpture form 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 for the Arts among others. Chris serves as Founding Director of Educational Programming at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts, Virginia’s first residential crafts school.
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June 22 - 28
Drystone Masonry for Landscape and Garden
Joe Dinwiddie All Levels $475
Learn about the range of possibilities for landscape features using stone without mortar. You will become familiar with the types of tools used to shape and move stone, without hurting yourself. We will use a specific methodology of drystone masonry that is a synthesis of the best techniques from around the world, as demonstrated over time.
Joe Dinwiddie has 11 years experience as a drystone mason. He has taught workshops and courses ranging from half day to 70 hours in length. He earned certification in Scotland from the Drystone Walling Association of Great Britain, and has his own business (www.drystonejoe.com). He is a rostered artist with the PA Council on the Arts Artist-In-Education program.
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June 22 – 28
Exploring Woodcarving
Thomas McCarty All Levels $445
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $50 includes carving knife, 6-tool carving set, and all wood for projects.
Spend an enjoyable week in the beautiful woods of Touchstone learning the art of woodcarving. Students will learn how to design, carve and finish their unique pieces using traditional carving techniques and simple hand tools. Participants will carve several small projects including both in-the-round pieces and three-dimensional relief carving. No experience is necessary and carvers of all levels are welcome. Come and get in touch with nature and yourself through the creativity of woodcarving.
Tom McCarty has been an artist all his life and a sculptor and woodcarver for the past 25 years. He has taught woodcarving to hundreds of students through his Artist-in-Residence work with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. He has been a rostered artist with the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art for 15 years and has conducted over 70 residencies. He is also rostered with the Artspark group of IUP and is an instructor in woodcarving at the Heritage School in Butler, PA. His work has been exhibited in many shows and has won numerous awards as well as being in many collections throughout the country.
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June 28 - 29
Soapstone Sculpture
Chris Shackelford All Levels $185
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $2.50/lb for your choice of soapstone, from 2 to 60lbs.
Let the material be your guide. Learn how to shape soapstone with a minimum number of hand tools. Students will learn how to choose their stone, evolve their piece, along with enhancing the circularity of three-dimensional sculpture. History, finishes, bases and multi-media options will be covered and explored. Consider taking the previous week’s Wood Sculpture Class (see above) and combine the two at a discounted rate of $550 for both!
See Chris Shackelford’s biography under Wood Sculpture, June 22 - 27.
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June 29 – July 5
Garden Zen: The Philosophy and Exploration of Materials
Norman Ed All Levels $445
Create artwork from metal that can weather the seasons and grace your garden and home for years to come. Weather vanes, trellises, plant stands, gates, tables, and lamp bases can be fabricated with a range of metal and techniques. Metal welding and fabricating will be done, and found metal is great for this purpose. There are endless possibilities! Bring any tools and materials with which you are comfortable using for welding and fabricating.
See Norman Ed’s biography under Art of the Toolbox, June 15 - 21.
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July 6 – July 12
Site-Specific Sculpture
Norman Ed All Levels $445
Learn the process and techniques of site-specific sculpture. Explore the creative process through the creation of a large scale, site-specific sculpture that will become a part of Touchstone. Work within a team to develop the concept, and then construct the piece. This sculpture will be completed during this week.
See Norman Ed’s biography under Art of the Toolbox, June 15 - 21.
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July 20 - 26
Welding Techniques for Metal Sculpture
Dave Olson Beginner to Intermediate $445
Materials/Fuel Fee Payable to Touchstone: $30
Learn to weld or hone your skills using oxy-acetylene torches, AC electric arc (stick), and MIG welding machines for making steel sculpture. Also included is the use of cutting torches, brazing and silver soldering, and safe and proper use of small grinders and other tools.
Dave Olson has been making steel sculpture for over 40 years, and at one time, owned and operated a welding and fabricating business. He has also worked in the steel industry as a welder-fitter. His background also includes a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s degree in art education from Penn State University. He has also done work in sculpture and art history at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh.
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September 5 - 7
Mold Making for the Artist
Dave Olson
All Levels
$195
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $30
Learn to use plaster, polyurethane rubber, silicone, sand, and clay to create molds to cast and reproduce your own sculpture, ceramic, and jewelry projects. Students will use plaster, concrete, polyester resin, and various other materials to make casts of work you bring, or learn the techniques on items provided by the instructor.
Dave Olson has been teaching sculpture and ceramics for over 30 years in public schools, private rehabilitation centers, and universities. He has work in many public and private collections including US Steel and Mayview Hospital. His background also includes a BA in art and a master’s degree in art education from Penn State University as well has having done work in sculpture and art history at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh.
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October 5 - 11
Wood Sculpture Residency: CARVE TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT!
No instructor.
Prerequisite: Students must have taken one wood sculpture class at Touchstone or elsewhere.
$125 per week per person ($25 per day)
Materials Fee Payable to Touchstone: $30
This will be a self-directed woodcarving week. Make new friends and join old ones to carve on the deck all day long! Terry Seya will coordinate the class.
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May 9 - 11
Being the Best at Beading
Dr. Kinorea "TwoFeather" Tigri All Levels $195
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $75 (optional cost of $35 for sterling silver for finishes)
We will briefly cover the history of the many beads of the world and learn to identify the types, sizes, materials, and beliefs associated with that simple, little bead. Through a display of Native American pieces, learn about tribes nationwide, the importance of wampum in the American history, and the history right here in Western PA. This class will cover getting started, discovering your findings, and introduction to designing and patterning. We will concentrate on popular, modern, and sophisticated beading for jewelry, clothing, and household decorations. On Mother’s Day weekend, bring Mom and work together to create a beautiful beaded Necklace and Bracelet project, combining Swarovski© Crystals and other beads.
Dr. Kinorea “TwoFeather” Tigri’s adult and children’s programs bring the past to life. Beads have been an integral part of her life, beginning with her Creek and Cherokee grandmothers who started teaching her how to bead at the age of four, and continuing to this day! Pennsylvania Council on the Arts has recognized Kinorea as a Master Bead Worker, and she teaches beading at various schools, galleries, studios, museums, and historic sites. Her work is treasured nationwide in private collections, which hold commissioned Native American items such as a fully beaded Sioux warrior buckskin jacket, a Native American wedding dress of the early 18th century, a Fancy Shawl, and numerous pairs of Native American moccasins.
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August 17 - 23
The History, Culture, and Art of Beading
Dr. Kinorea "TwoFeather" Tigri
All Levels
$460
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $125
Let’s delve into the thousands of years of existence of beads from around the world. You will learn how to identify the types, sizes, materials, and beliefs of that important, yet simple little bead. Learn about Native American influences and patterns, the meanings of beads from tribes nationwide, and the importance of wampum in American history, especially the history here in Western PA. We will do popular beading on an historic loom and a modern loom, and we will venture out into nature to get the materials to build a replica of a loom that was used to make treaty belts. We will cover all skill levels of beading, from getting started, to designing and patterning, and on to modern, yet sophisticated beading for jewelry, clothing, household decorations, and more.
See Dr. Tigri’s biography under Being the Best at Beading, May 9 – 11.
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June 15 - 21
Making Musical Instruments
Dave Olson and Lynn Dalton All Levels $410
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $25
Make your own musical instruments such as flutes from bamboo, wood, PVC pipe, and make pennywhistles from brass tubing, didjeridoos from water pipe, and bugles from garden hose. We’ll also cover percussion instruments such as bones, drums, claves, and perhaps even steel drums. Create your instruments, learn to play them, and jam with other students. Explore the musical potential of wood, metal, ceramic, and plastic.
Dave Olson has been playing different instruments such as Scottish Highland bagpipes, trombone, fiddle, flute, and classical guitar for centuries. His musical interests include classical, jazz, folk, blues and even R&B. His background also includes a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s degree in art education from Penn State University.
Lynn Dalton has been playing various drums such as the doumbek, djambe, conga, and bongo for many years and has studied with the master drummer, Simon. Lynn supplies real soul to the class.
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July 6 - 12
Experiment, Explore, Expand Your Creative Potential
Nancy Staaf Rice All Levels $410
The sketchbook is a valuable tool; it can be a guide filled with tremendous potential. The emphasis of the class will be to develop your ideas, your individual way of working, and to reach out and go beyond where you are currently. Through exercises using your sketchbook we will explore and experiment with new ways to generate fresh inspiration and new ideas that are meaningful to you. Using a sketchbook can be applied to any medium in which you are working. If you are a beginner, all the better; for you have a blank slate on which to begin. Freedom of expression will be encouraged. We will use daily projects to expand our imagination and develop our ideas. A list of supplies will be sent upon registration.
Nancy Staaf Rice has been a member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and active member of Touchstone Center for Crafts, as past President of the Board and Artist of the Year. Her work has been shown at the Johnstown Art Museum, the Blair Art Museum, Seton Hill College, Borelli Edwards Gallery, and Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, in Newcastle, PA, just to name a few. She has had invitational exhibits at Dadian Gallery, Washington DC, Dressler Museum, New Growth Arts Festival, and Three Rivers Arts Festival. Her work has been in the collections of various institutions and corporations including Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, ALCOA, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, and J.B. O'Connor Co.
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July 19 (one-day class)
Simply Gourdgeous
Sandi Cirillo All Levels $50
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $45
Gourd art is sweeping the nation! Gourds, which come in all shapes and sizes, can be drilled, painted, etched, and burned into, for a variety of different effects. Decorated gourds can be found at craft shows as well as in some of the finest art galleries. In this one-day workshop, participants will explore surface design on their gourds (inside and outside) using a variety of materials. All participants will come away with perfectly “gourdgeous” works of art that can enhance their homes or offices.
See Sandi’s biography under Feltmaking: 2-D to 3D, July 13 – 18.
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September 26 - 28
Jennifer Gourley
All Levels $100
This weekend class will teach you the ancient art of fire spinning. We will use practice chains (without fire) to learn the basic spinning techniques and develop many varied spinning patterns. Although no students will spin fire, each participant will receive their own set of practice fire chains to keep. Students should wear comfortable, warm clothing suitable for outdoors.
Jennifer Gourley is an artist, goldsmith and shamanic practitioner. She has been spinning fire for many years and has developed spinning techniques that she incorporates into her healing methods.
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October 3 – 5
Ruth Anne Young
All Levels $195
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $15
Travel back in time and learn the ancient art of pysanky, a 2000-year-old traditional east European art form. Eggs are decorated with intricate symbols and beautiful colors using a wax resist method of dying. Traditionally, artists draw symbols on the egg to represent the prayers or wishes the giver has for the receiver or for the artist’s own life. This class covers the history and legends surrounding this art form, the meaning of the symbols, and various techniques to create your own eggs. Students will have several completed eggs by the end of the session.
Ms. Young has been making pysanky since 1991, and she began selling her work in fine gift shops and juried art shows in 1995. In 1998, she began teaching classes. She has taught for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the Artisan Center of Virginia, and various community groups in the Richmond, Virginia, area. Ms. Young holds a Master’s Degree in Adult Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts from James Madison University. She is also a juried member of the Artisan Center of Virginia.
July 20 – 26
Boater’s Touch Wood Sculpture: Laminated Wood Paddle Construction
Keith Backlund Intermediate $445
Materials Fee Payable to Touchstone: TBD
You’ll begin with carving wooden spoons to understand the essence of the wood and the shape of the paddle. This experience will then reveal the techniques for creating the paddle. Keith will take you to his workshop and talk to you about wood selection. Prior woodworking experience is a must, and the class tempo will be for intermediate to advanced students who also have tools. Students need to come with Swedish carving knives, gouges, carving hatchet, hand planes and loop ear planes. Tool sharpening will be discussed, as well as working with the wood - the sensitivity and caring it needs. The wood that Keith uses for his paddles is harvested and dried for two years before it gets the chance to be touched.
Keith Backlund is the legend, the one who taught Jimmy Snyder how to make wooden paddles. Backlund wooden paddles are well renowned, and this is a great opportunity to work with a highly skilled artist who creates sophisticated whitewater guide blades, kayak paddles (bent shaft and straight) and touring paddles.
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July 27 - August 4 (7-day class)
Boater's Touch Wood Sculpture: Build a Canoe
Greg Bridges Intermediate $675
Materials Fee Payable to Touchstone: TBD
Students will learn how to build a wood/epoxy canoe using the strip-built technique. Students will work as a group to build a 16-foot Prospector canoe, originally designed by the Chestnut Canoe Company. You will experience choosing a canoe design, the importance of wood selection, making strips (cove and bead versus rolling bevel), aligning forms, epoxy and fiberglass basics, and varnishing techniques. This class will be fast paced and rewarding.
Greg Bridges is a talented, knowledgeable boat builder from Oregon who will bring the art of boat building to Touchstone.