Register for these programs: by phone (507-664-3700), in person at FiftyNorth, or by clicking on the title of the class
Please pre-register and check-in for all classes no matter your membership levels. It is also important to check-in at the front desk when you arrive for your class. We use attendance data for grant applications, insurance reimbursement, space planning and determining whether or not to cancel a class.
Scholarships are available to help defray the cost of classes for those who find the cost a financial hardship
Story Connection
Mondays, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, June 1
10:30-12:00pm
NEW FORMAT: Classes will take place via Zoom, in a format similar to past in-person classes. The instructor will communicate technical details before the first meeting. Between sessions, participants will have the option (at no additional cost) of sharing writing and connecting online in a private small group forum.
Do you feel called to write? Come gather and connect around the writing process. Whether you’re a first-time writer seeking direction or an experienced writer who longs for community, you’re welcome here. Let’s cultivate stories and nurture the muses. More than ever, that matters.
Why? Because stories can bring people together.
The gift of shared wisdom helps us understand each other. More than that, our stories helps us understand ourselves.
In this collaborative workshop, we’ll keep it simple. We’ll locate and unpack the writing that feel truest. Each session will consist of three parts:
1) idea-generating writing prompts,
2) cross-pollination to unpack ideas, and
3) facilitated peer review to reflect on shared work in a supportive space (around 500 words or fewer).
(8 sessions)
Note: This is a continuation of a previous class. New members and former participants are encouraged to sign up as topics will evolve in creative response from one week to the next.
Instructor: Amy Hallberg
Capacity: 15
Cost: $115 nonmbr, $90 mbr, $0 plat
Registration deadline: April 2
NOTE: Amy Hallberg, Courageous Wordsmith, taught high school German (later Spanish) for twenty years before turning to storytelling in her native English. She is a graduate of Carleton College and the Loft Literary Center’s Foreword Apprenticeship in Creative Nonfiction, is a Martha Beck Master Certified Life Coach, and holds certificates in Editing and German to English Translation from the University of Chicago. Amy’s true-life novel, German Awakening: Tales from an American Life, features Northfield, and she’s delighted to teach here. Amy hosts the podcast Frau Amy’s World: Conversation with Real-Life Creatives.
Beginning Calligraphy Workshop
Mondays, April 20, 27
9:00-12:00pm
This class will be conducted through Zoom – an internet meeting place. If you are unfamiliar – don’t worry – it is very easy to use. Your instructor will be there giving live demonstration and you can ask questions just like you would in a classroom. You will be given an opportunity to work, share your work with the instructor for comments and guidance. For each Monday, we will have 2 40-minute sessions with a 20 minute break in between where you can stretch your legs, get some coffee and work on your lettering!
After you register, your instructor will ship a packet of all necessary supplies directly to you in time for the first class. You will also be emailed a link to the Zoom website and codes to get into the first 2 sessions on April 20. You can enter the lesson from your desktop computer, laptop or phone at the scheduled time. If you use a desktop and you don’t have a camera – that’s ok. You will see and hear everything – the instructor will just not see you (you will still be able to ask questions). You will be sent the codes for the last 2 sessions for April 27 separately.
This workshop will introduce students to Brush Lettering. This currently popular style of writing is easy to learn and could just get you hooked on the wonderful art of calligraphy. This workshop will provide step-by-step demonstration and individualized instruction to help each student produce beautiful letter forms. Proper care of tools, good practice habits, spacing and layout, resources, and other calligraphic possibilities will be presented and explored and by the end of the workshop students will be able to complete a final project of a small piece or a greeting card and envelope. No experience necessary.
(2 sessions)
If you took Sally’s February workshop, this one will be a little different. Don’t hesitate to register!
Instructor Sally Wightkin
Capacity: 20
Cost: $65 nonmbr, $55 mbr, $10 platinum
Registration deadline: April 10
NOTES: Your instructor will be Sally Wightkin, a calligrapher with over 30 years of calligraphy and teaching experience. Sally creates art and teaches other calligraphy workshops in her studio located in the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis
Aromatherapy and More
Monday, May 18
10:00-11:30am
Have you ever wondered about aromatherapy? Would you like to know more about the healing properties of essential oils? This is the class for you . In this class you will create your own first fused glass vase to put your own essential oils in for aromatherapy. Then you learn about different essential oils and what they can be used for. For example: Lavender essential oil is great for helping get a peaceful night sleep. Lime oil is the zest for life. After learning about the oils, you will then create your own blend to use in your vase you created.
Instructor: Gerie Thelen
Capacity: 10
Cost: $45 nonmbr, $40 mbr, $30 plat-equiv
Ink Drawing on a Watercolor Background
Thursdays, May 7, 14
1:00-3:00pm
Students will be able to create an exciting watercolor background on which to draw or paint with ink pens or brushes. These are two painting skills that when used together show a dynamic finished product with a contrasting background and foreground.
Think of a simple subject like a portrait of a person, a boat at a dock, a bird or three on a wire, a tree, a truck, a simple house or cabin, bowls from the kitchen, a toy, a small town or village, a cat resting, a dog sitting by a window, a favorite plant, etc. Think of something you like.
(2 sessions)
Instructor Kate Douglas
Capacity: 10
Cost: $52 nonmbr, $ 42 mbr, $12 plat
NOTE: Materials to bring:
Pencils 2B and erasers, pink pearl or white plastic
Buy at least two permanent ink pens. Lower numbers are finer, higher numbers are bolder.
Sumi Garden Paintings
Thursdays, May 28, June 4
1:00-3:00pm
We will find a local garden or display garden components to view, depending on weather. We will also have the gorgeous garden to view at FiftyNorth.
(2 sessions)
Instructor: Kate Douglas
Capacity: 10
Cost: $ 50 nonmbr, $40 mbr, $10 plat
Materials to bring:
Depending on your experience with watercolor, you can bring your own palette and tubes or you can purchase a good Prang watercolor set from Kate for an additional $6.50.
Reverse Drawing with Charcoal
Thursdays, June 18, 25
1:00-3:00pm
This is a whole new way to capture a subject! It is fun and easy. You will need to bring in a simple black and white image of a person, place or object. I will also provide some images that you can use. However, if the subject is what you want to draw and you have an image, copy and enlarge the image in black and white. This can be done at FiftyNorth before class if you provide your image of choice and bring it in before the class starts. Keep in mind that you will need a black and white image of a person, place or thing that has some meaning to you. If you have a clear image of the subject you will be fine.
(2 sessions)
Instructor: Kate Douglas
Capacity: 10
Cost: $52 nonmbr, $42 mbr, $12 plat
Materials to bring:
Good quality drawing/charcoal paper. Light tone or white.
Consider 12X18 or 10X16
One pink pearl and/or kneaded eraser
One eraser pen, size optional
Two charcoal pencils
4 charcoal sticks
One smudging tool