Classes in the Arts

Exploring Watercolor I

Monday, April 22
2:00-4:00pm

Want to learn about the world of watercolor painting? Come and explore basic techniques of:
wet on wet        wet on dry
wet on damp    charging/pulling
layering            splattering

No experience in drawing, painting or artwork is required. You will learn by doing, creating and following your intuition.
Using selected elements of art (line, shape, color & value, space, form, texture) you will create a painting(s) on watercolor paper size 11 x 14.
Materials provided. If you have materials and prefer to use your own paints & brushes, please feel free to bring them.

Instructor: Marty Amundson
Capacity: 12 maximum
Cost: $28 nonmbr, $24 mbr, $10 platinum
Space: room 105
Registration deadline: April 19

Saori Weaving Start to Finish: Runner or Scarf

Tuesday, April 23
9:00-2:00pm

If you think you might be interested in getting a rigid heddle loom this class will give you an opportunity to experience the weaving process from start to finish. You will start by preparing the loom (warping it) and then move on to the actual weaving. You will have the choice of making a scarf or a runner.
We’ll break for bite to eat. Pack a lunch or eat at Little Frida Café across the hall.
All materials will be provided.

Instructor:  Kathy Anderson
Capacity: 4
Cost:  $60 nonmbr, $50 mbr, $15 platinum
Space: 102
Registration deadline: April 19, 2024

Stained Glass Suncatcher

Saturday, April 27
9:00-12:00pm

Stained glass has depicted stories, landscapes, scenery, and abstract designs for centuries. Many of our most historical buildings include windows that make vibrant colored sunlight dance across the walls. In this class you will make your own 5-inch round suncatcher and experience the art of making sunlight dance.  You will learn to cut and break sheets of glass into the shape that fits your piece. Once each piece is cut you will add the copper foil and complete the piece by soldering it all together. You will go home with a beautiful piece ready to hang in your window.
Wear closed toed shoes and clothes that can get dirty.  You will be working with glass, chemicals, a soldering iron, and lead.  Safety glasses and plastic gloves will be provided (You can bring your own if you prefer).

Instructor: Sandra Sargent of Bending Sunlight Glassworks
Capacity: 8
Cost: $57 nonmbr, $51 mbr, $30 platinum
Space: room 102
Registration deadline: April 26

Design & Plant Your Own Spring Patio Pot

Monday, April 29
2:00-3:00pm

Learn how to design and plant your own Spring patio pot using cool weather annuals.
Materials included: annuals, fiber patio pot, soil, moss, and instruction from Rachel!

Instructor: Rachel Kinny
Capacity: 12
Cost: $65 nonmbr, $60 mbr, $50 platinum
Space: Room 105
Registration deadline: April 24

Applique Class

Tuesday, April 30
9:00-12:00pm

This class is an introduction into applique. Wool is a soft and enjoyable fabric to work with. We will be using wool to create coasters that are decorative and usable. An easy stitch, called a blanket stitch, is used to add beads and complete a fun project. Materials will be provided. Please bring a scissors.

Instructor: Carol Maziarka
Capacity: 10
Cost:  $38 nonmbr, $30 mbr, $10 platinum
Space: Room 102
Registration deadline: April 26

Painting Birdhouse Garden Gourds

Wednesday, May 1
10:00-12:00pm

Organic Art can be beautiful and beneficial to our feathered friends. Please join Andrea Curley in painting garden gourds that she has prepped for this event and take home your own special creation.  She will instruct you on how to seal your gourd after painting for anyone that wants to preserve their birdhouse longer.  Birds actually prefer natural organic settings for their homes but sometimes people like to preserve these for decorative pieces of art.
Andrea will bring inspirational magazine cutouts to spark your creativity.
All materials will be provided.

Instructor: Andrea Curley
Capacity: 15
Cost: $25 nonmbr, $20 mbr, $5 platinum
Space: room 105
Registration deadline: April 26

Exploration in Oils using Cold Wax

Tuesday, May 14
1:00-3:30pm

Cold wax (a non-heated and cold creamy looking substance) is made out of beeswax. It is mixed into oil paint. It has a great translucent effect that allows light to pass through previous layers.
The medium works well with a process-driven approach to painting. Using tools besides a brush such as chopsticks, spreaders, window squeegees, and many types of mark making tools, you can give your painting a sense of history with the textures you can achieve. Lots of fun and a sense of discovery with where this leads your painting and also helps to produce texture in a quick way. Materials provided.

Instructor:  Rebecca Tolle
Capacity: 4 minimum, 8 maximum
Cost:  $73 nonmbr, $69 mbr, $18 platinum
Space: Room103
Registration deadline: May 9

Textile Art Class – 8″ X 10″ Wall Hanging Quilt

Monday, May 20
10:00-12:00pm

Learn to make a “raw edge applique” collage quilt. No sewing required!
Kathy will instruct you on how to cut the pieces using the pattern and how to place the feathers, petals and leaves. The pieces will be ironed onto the 8” X 10” sky fabric. The last step is to attach a binding fabric. Kathy will also demonstrate stitching that can be done on the background sky fabric.

No online registration. Please call the front desk at 507-664-3700 or Elaine Meyers at 507-664-3703 to register. You must choose which print you wish to make at the time of registration so the kits can be prepared before class.
You will have your choice of a Chickadee, Purple Tulips, or Pink Posies

MATERIALS PROVIDED: The kit will include: an assortment of collage fabrics, a pattern and the backing, which is a 3-layer piece consisting of: (background sky fabric, the layer of batting & the back fabric). Also, binding fabric.
NOTE: Bring your own fabric scissors.

Instructor: Kathy Weed
Capacity: 10
Cost: $30 nonmbr, $26 mbr, $12 platinum
Space: room 102
Registration deadline: May 13

Harmonica Musing

Tuesday, May 21
4:30-5:30pm

If you have a harmonica lying around and have no idea how to play it or you want to play and have never tried, this might be the class for you. It will be taught by lifelong harmonica player, Daniel Malloy. Daniel was gifted a blues harp at the age of seven. He can show you the basics of how to pick out single notes and how to tell what key a song is in.
Bring your own harmonica. If you are looking to purchase a harmonica go to musiciansfriend.com or sweetwater.com or amazon.com.

Instructor: Daniel Malloy
Capacity: 12
Cost: $9 Nonmbr, $7 Mbr, $0 Platinum
Space: Room 102

Basics of Woodcarving

Wednesday, May 22
9:00am-12:00pm

Or

Basics of Woodcarving

Wednesday, May 22
1:00-4:00pm

Learn the basics of woodcarving including use of tools, wood selection, safety and more. Students will work on a wooden spoon and if time permits, they will work on a variety of other projects.
Tools available for use or purchase. All materials provided.

Chris Whillock is from Faribault and teaches woodcarving throughout the USA. His father is nationally-known artist, carver Ivan Whillock. Chris was editor of CARVING Magazine for 7 years and runs a tool & supply business out of his downtown Faribault Studio. www.whillockwoodcarving.com .

Instructor: Chris Whillock
Capacity: 12
Cost: $60 nonmbr, $50 mbr, $30 platinum
Space: room 102

Sun Dyeing

Wednesdays, June 12 & 26
9:00-12:00pm

You can dye an assortment of fabrics by letting the sun be the heat source and do all the work in half galloon mason jars for two weeks.
The dye materials may come from the garden, kitchen, or be wood shavings and dye extracts to complete a rainbow of dyed fabrics. I will pre-dye some fabric in indigo and we will dye it in onion skins for greens.
We will dye and assortment of fabrics, silk bandannas, cotton fat quarters, wool yarn and fleece.
The students will set up six or more 1/2 galloon mason jars with fabric and dye materials and we will set them outside in the dye garden for two weeks for dyeing.
Each student will take home a bandanna and sample card of fabrics with all the colors. We should have enough dyed cotton left over to make a banner, that could be another project.
NOTE: Bring onion skins and avocado pits if you have some.
(2 sessions)

Instructor: Judy Saye-Willis
Capacity: 12
Cost: $105 nonmbr, $84 mbr, $25 platinum
Space: Room 105

Indigo Fresh Lead Cold Extraction

Thursday, July 11
9:00-12:00pm

For beautiful turquoise colors, the students will dye a silk scarf or bandana with fresh indigo leaves and cold water. They will watch the color go from greens to sky blue, to turquoise and many shades in between.
We will also see a demo using salt and fresh leaves instead of cold water.
The students will take home a dyed silk scarf or bandanna and a sample card with both cold water and salt dyed silk samples. Materials provided.

Instructor: Judy Saye-Willis
Capacity: 12
Cost: $52 nonmbr, $46 mbr, $25 platinum
Space: room 105
Registration deadline: July 8

Paint Your Pet

Monday & Tuesday, October 14 & 15
10:00-12:00pm

Artist Julie Fakler will teach you step by step on how to paint a portrait of your pet. In class you’ll learn about under painting, form, shape and color. In the first class we will complete the first layer of colors (paint), and we’ll return the next day to add a second layer of colors (paint). If time allows for more layers can be added to your masterpiece. Email a photo of your pet to [email protected]  and she can print it out for you. Please email your photo by October 11th. Wear clothes that can get paint on them.
(2 sessions)

Instructor: Julie Fakler
Capacity: 10
Cost: $46 nonmbr, $38 mbr, $10 platinum
Space: Room 105
Registration deadline: October 9