1-Day Art Workshops

Tangled Up in Blue: Cyanotypes in Nature

DATES: Saturday–Sunday, July 31–August 1, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Dutes Miller & Stan Shellabarger

TUITION COST: $205 In this course, the science and mystery of the cyanotype will be revealed through discussion and practice. Cyanotype is the 178-year-old process of photographic blueprinting. We will create our own cyanotypes on paper and fabric using found objects and drawing. The interaction of the sun, the water, and Ox-Bow’s environment will coalesce to make our photographic work.

The Camera as Drawing Machine

DATES: Saturday–Sunday, August 7–8, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Barbarita Polster

TUITION COST: $205 In this two-day photography workshop, students will be asked to think of the camera as a mode of drawing, using the etymological meaning of photo-graphy—“drawing with light”— as a jumping-off point. We will use easily acquired materials, like window screens, aluminum foil, and prisms, alongside materials found in the immediate vicinity to create experimental photographs. Students will be introduced to techniques from experimental photography and cinema (cine-magic) to inspire their own explorations. Each student will leave with 2–3 composed formal images ready to share.

1-DAY ART WORKSHOPS

These workshops include lunch at 1 p.m.

Japanese Papermaking

DATE: Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: JoAnne Laudolff

TUITION COST: $130 Dive into the process of traditional Japanese papermaking. We will use the three main fibers of Japan: kozo, gampi, and mitsumata. These plants all have long fibers that produce delicate and unique papers. We will start from the beginning, beating the fibers by hand. After learning the nuances of each fiber, we will make paper using a sugeta, or mold and deckle. We will add color to the pulp, along with natural dried flowers, silk threads, and other organic materials. All of these components will serve to help students create one-of-a-kind papers. The paper we produce can be used for mixed-media work, bookmaking, or sculpting, or appreciated as a work of art in itself.

Banana Hammocks & Other Armatures: An Intro to Welding & Bending Steel

DATE: Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Devin Balara

TUITION COST: $130 In one day, this workshop will teach students the basics of welding, bending, and cutting steel. We will take the design of metal banana hammocks, or fruit hangers, as a starting point and play with design possibilities to ultimately create a unique functional object. Technical demonstrations will include hot and cold bending, modular construction, welding, and surface-finishing strategies.

Students will quickly gain confidence safely using equipment and be encouraged to play and improvise independently with the material at whatever scale they choose. This course is suitable for all levels of shop experience, and the techniques we will be learning require no great feats of strength or agility, only patience. Steel can work for everybody, so come as you are!

Shape Scapes Collage Workshop

DATE: Saturday, July 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Molly Markow

TUITION COST: $110 With its stream of endlessly reproducible images, materials, patterns, and information, the medium of collage has a unique history and vital connection to contemporary life. During this day-long workshop, we will explore basic approaches to collage, including gathering and organizing collections of images and materials, and piecing them together in new configurations. Presentations of works by modern and contemporary artists will introduce students to the limitless possibilities of working with collage, while technical demonstrations and exercises will explore the material processes and concepts presented. This workshop will emphasize play, failure, and experimentation.

Beyond the Screen: Anti-Edition Monoprinting for Fabric & Wearables

DATE: Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Gurtie Hansell

TUITION COST: $120 What we wear offers us a vehicle for outward expression. But in a world that is stylistically ever-changing, the fast fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to the mounting climate crisis. In this class, we will explore different methods for enhancing fabrics and garments using traditional and nontraditional printing techniques, to create something fresh and one-of-a-kind out of clothing we already have. We will print from linoleum relief blocks, plates, rollers, and textural surfaces. Come reinvigorate your wardrobe and household fabrics with everything from small repeat patterns to unrepeatable experiments!

Wind through the Fibers: Moving Paper Sculpture

DATE: Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Anders Zanichkowsky

TUITION COST: $130 Paper is everywhere—but how is it made? And more importantly, what can you make with it? In this workshop, participants will learn to produce beautiful sheets of handmade, decorative paper using both recycled and archival materials. Participants will also learn to harness the surprising strength and flexibility of this fine, thin material to build a moving, “breathing” mobile or other lightweight paper sculpture, such as jewelry or pennants. As we work, we will discuss the metaphors and poetry embedded in this ancient craft, and how we can use them to add deeper meaning to our process and our finished pieces. Participants will leave with a greater appreciation for how fibers run through their lives, and how contemporary artists are making powerful aesthetic work from materials traditionally used for functional purposes.

Experimental Painting en Plein Air

DATE: Saturday, August 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. FACULTY: Nicole Mauser

TUITION COST: $110 This workshop is for plein air enthusiasts looking to expand their repertoire and for those curious to start painting out-of-doors with watercolor and/or ink on paper. We will depart from the traditional plein air landscape to focus on the details of natural surfaces and textures. Then, we will engage in experimental mark-making by improvising “brushes” made from natural materials that we will gather on Ox-Bow’s campus. No experience is necessary.