scandinavian folk arts
The following classes are full: Norwegian Knife Making: Advanced, Norwegian Silver Spoon and Chip Carving.
Scandinavian Flat-plane Carving with Harley Refsal
In this course, open to beginning as well as experienced carvers, students will complete a figure (or two) of their choice, rendered in the Scandinavian flat-plane style. Special emphasis will be placed on carving facial features, hands, etc. After painting the figure, a final finish will be applied. All participants...even fresh beginners...ought to be able to have at least one figure completely finished and shelf-ready by the end of the course. The instructor will supply band-sawn wooden cutouts for sale and a supply of basic carving tools for sale to students who do not have their own tools (one basic carving or whittling knife is the principal tool...feel free to bring along whatever carving tools you might already own, but only one knife is really necessary).
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 18, 19, & 20
Time: Friday & Sat., 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Registration deadline: January 1
Tuition: member-$150 non-member-$165
Deposit: $75
Supplies: whatever carving tools student might already own. Instructor will have along a supply of basic tools for sale. Finishing materials (paint, wax, etc.) furnished by instructor.
Click here to register.
Acanthus Carving with Hans Sandom
Both novices and accomplished workers meet in this class to carve beautiful, ornate, leaf designs in wood. Students learn to work with the wood grain, basic elements of design, and the use and care of wood carving tools. The Acanthus technique dates back many centuries and can be used to add beauty to both structural and decorative woodwork.
Date: Monday through Friday, March 10-14 OR
Monday through Friday, September 8-12
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: March 1 OR August 15
Tuition: member-$250 non-member-$265
Deposit: $125
Supplies: Students are responsible for their own carving tools, paper, pencils, etc.
To register, or for questions, call Hans Sandom at 952-934-3896. Make out all checks to the Milan Village Arts School and send your deposit and registration form (found in back of schedule) to: Hans Sandom, 5347 Highland Road, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Scandinavian Style Stave Containers with Dick Enstad
The stave technique can be used to construct humble shallow trays to ornately decorated tankards. Staves (by definition a vertical post-as in stave church) can have parallel edges giving a straight sided container or they can taper which tips the sides slightly inward or outward (think of a wood bucket straight sided or with a bit of flair).
Two or three basic containers will be constructed in this class. The instructor will provide partially prepared staves. Using hand tools (instructor supplied) the students will shape the staves, prepare and install a bottom and, to keep it all together, fit wooden hoops.
Date: Monday through Thursday, May 19, 20, 21, & 22
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: May 1
Tuition: member-$320 non-member-$335
Deposit: $150
Supplies: $20
Click here to register.
Norwegian Knife Making with Jon Roisen: Beginning
In this class students will have the opportunity to make a fine “tollekniv” – a Norwegian work knife. Students will work with “Flame Birk” Norwegian birch burl and Italian leather. At the end of the class, students will have their own knife and sheath.
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 25, 26 & 27
Time: Friday & Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: January 1
Tuition: member-$120 non-member-$135
Deposit: $60
Supplies: $60
For questions, please call Gene Tokheim at 320-769-2142. To register, send deposit and registration (found in back of schedule) to: Gene Tokheim, 2057 361st Ave., Dawson, MN 56232.
Norwegian Knife Making with Gene Tokheim: Advanced
CLASS FULL
Returning students will have the opportunity to hone their skills, using more advanced techniques that take more time to learn and execute. Students will practice details including making silver-tipped Bunad knives, using bone and birch bark stacked handles, Damascus blades, and the use of sterling silver, birch bark, and reindeer horn.
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, February 1, 2, & 3 & February 8, 9, & 10
Time: Friday & Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: January 15
Tuition: member-$200 non-member-$215
Deposit: $100
Supplies: $90
For questions, please call Gene Tokheim at 320-769-2142. To register, send deposit and registration (found in back of schedule) to: Gene Tokheim, 2057 361st Ave., Dawson, MN 56232
Norwegian Silver Spoon with Gene Tokheim
CLASS FULL
Starting with sheet silver and silver wire, students will raise, form, cut, twist and solder to end up with two or three lovely Norwegian sugar or demitasse spoons of different shape and design.
Silver spoons play a part in weddings, confirmations and other special occasions in Norwegian tradition and whether Norwegian or not, these spoons are a treasure to have and to have made.
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 18, 19, & 20
Time: Friday & Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: December 15
Tuition: member-$135 non-member-$150
Deposit: $70
Supplies: $85
For questions, please call Gene Tokheim at 320-769-2142. To register, send deposit and registration (found in back of schedule) to: Gene Tokheim, 2057 361st Ave., Dawson, MN 56232
Viking Chain Knit Bracelet with Sandy Thompson: Beginning
This bracelet uses a century-old looping technique much like the process of knitting—you will be delighted with the end result. Students will take home a fine silver bracelet with a variety of unusual clasps. You will be able to complete one bracelet within a day without any previous experience. In the beginning course, students will learn the basics of the single Viking knit chain. Sign up early; these classes fill quickly.
Date: Saturday, June 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: May 15
Tuition: member-$60 non-member-$75
Deposit: $30
Supplies: $35 depending on silver prices
Click here to register.
Viking Knit Project in Fine Silver (.99) with Sandy Thompson: Intermediate
Take the Viking Knit process to another level by learning new stitches as well as how to fabricate end caps. Customize a piece of jewelry to your taste and design. Class limited to 5 persons who have taken the beginning Viking knit class.
Date: Sunday, June 8
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: May 15
Tuition: member-$60 non-member-$75
Deposit: $30
Supplies: $35 depending on silver prices
For questions, contact Sandy Thompson at 320-295-2051 or sthompson@geckogroup.net.
Click here to register.
Birch Bark Box with Fred Livesay
Small, flat birch bark boxes were commonly produced from the pockets of eighteenth and nineteenth century Scandinavian men and women for the then popular taking of snuff. But, snuff was not the only item kept in birch bark boxes. Larger lapped-birch bark boxes often held coffee, tea, tobacco, salt and even butter. The oldest known carbon-14 dated example of a birch bark box was found in the summer of 1927 at a site in Ørlandet, Norway. It is in remarkable condition for being 2500 years old. Further analysis determined it was probably used for butter. What might the archeologists find in the box you make for this class: . . . buttons, spare change, jewelry, a child’s found treasures? Students taking this class will learn how to layout a birch bark box from a single strip of bark as well as carve a base and lid to fit. Instructor will cover safety, sharpening, correct carving techniques when using a knife and scorp, collection of bark, and finishes for your box. This is an excellent beginner or advanced woodworking class.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, April 12 & 13
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: April 1
Tuition: member-$120 non-member-$135
Deposit: $60
Supplies: $15
Click here to register.
Chip Carving: Make an Ornament with Walt Grittner
CLASS FULL
In this one-day class, students will learn the basics of chip carving techniques and design. Chip carving is an ancient folk art practiced by many ethnic cultures in central and northern Europe. Students will learn how to rule up a practice board (furnished), practice removing chips to develop a uniform result, rule a chip carve-able ornament, learn to produce and keep a sharp edge on a blade, and to carve and finish a small project step by step.
Date: November 10, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: October 15
Tuition: $40
Deposit: $20
Supplies: $5
Click here to register.
Tiné or Bentwood Box, Making a Family Heirloom with John Balstad
Tiné boxes were traditionally used to carry a day’s lunch or used as a storage container. This Norwegian traditional box features a unique oval shape with handles and a cover. Learn to build this attractive and useable container in John Balstad’s class. John will bring many of his lovely tinés to show and will share the interesting history of these traditional containers.
Date: Saturday through Monday, February 16, 17, & 18
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: February 1
Tuition: member-$175 non-member-$190
Deposit: $100
Supplies: $25
Click here to register.
Painting Norwegian Nisser, Swedish Tomte or American Gnomes with Karen Jenson
Norwegian folklore is filled with supernatural beings. The “nisser” in Norway or the “tomte” in Sweden, is a supernatural being living close to people. Often imagined to be a small, elderly man with a full beard and dressed in everyday clothing, if he is not treated well, he becomes evil and can harm people and animals. Sometimes a bowl of porridge was left to keep the nisser happy on Christmas night. If he wasn’t given his payment, he would engage in mischief such as tying the cows’ tails together in the barn, turning objects upside-down, and breaking things. Karen has been incorporating these charming fellows in her rosemaling scenes and will share with her students techniques to capture them in paint in traditional Scandinavian style. This is an intermediate class and students should be familiar with basic elements of rosemaling.
Students should bring wooden sanded smooth board about the size of the desired gnome or bring five backgrounded canvas or boards painted in traditional colors or sign-up for the lasuring workshop to prepare materials for this class.
Date: Monday & Tuesday, April 21 & 22
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: April 1
Tuition: member-$150 non-member-$165
Deposit: $75
Supplies: Call Karen to discuss supplies at 320-734-4715
Click here to register.
Lasuring Backgrounds Workshop with Karen Jenson
Lasuring is the process of laying a faux finish on top of an existing background paint that can resemble roping, draping, wood, stone, or a stippled effect. Lasuring is a traditional Norwegian technique found on many Norwegian trunks and cupboards and can be done on many different surfaces. Students will discuss color combinations as well as learn different techniques and their varying effects. Students may bring a wooden surface or other flat surface.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, April 19 & 20
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: April 1
Tuition: member-$150 non-member-$160
Deposit: $75
Supplies: Call Karen to discuss -supplies at 320-734-4715
Click here to register.
Just Flowers Workshop with Karen Jenson
It’s fundamental to the art of rosemaling: drawing spaces and filling the space with flowers. Karen Jenson teaches this drawing class where flowers are made to fill a particular space and the shape of the flowers are determined by the shape of the space. Confused? Don’t be. It’s fun and with Karen’s help, students will learn and practice drawing flowers using the traditional “C” and “S” strokes with a fine liner brush. This can be a drawing class or if students want to add color, they should bring their acrylic paint supplies to class. Appropriate for beginning rosemalers as well as those wanting to fine-tune their skills.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: April 1
Tuition: member-$150 non-member-$165
Deposit: $75
Supplies: Call Karen to discuss supplies at 320-734-4715
Click here to register.
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