EXPERIENCE IT FIRSTHAND

Carrying a longstanding tradition into the future, the Rochester Folk Art Guild continues to open their studio doors for public tours and to offer multiple apprenticeships, internships and summer craft weekends for various ages and in assorted formats. These are open to interested members of the public.

• Apprenticeships in the areas of pottery, woodworking and wooden boat restoration last one to three years and offer a practical, hands-on approach to learning and living.

Apprentices take part in the daily life of the community, sharing in meal preparation, cleaning, maintenance, farming and gardening as well as the seasonal celebrations and special events.

Study of the Gurdjieff teaching is available to apprentices, but is not required.

• Internships are offered in the various craft disciplines and in community life for those interested in shorter stays at the guild.

Summer interns work alongside guild members in the areas of organic gardening, orchards, cooking, food preservation and storage with an emphasis on agriculture.

• Craft Weekend is offered from

Aug. 10 through 13 for school aged children through adults. Courses often include filmmaking, pottery, weaving, woodturning, poetry, indigo vats and shibori and earth camp.

Attendees enjoy 15 hours of studio time and instruction, kicked off by a welcome dinner and celebration of creativity at the close.

This is popular for individuals, friends or parents and children to attend and take the same or different courses, Barnet said. Options are available for guests depending on age and housing needs.

• Classes in various disciplines are offered throughout the year to members of the public, including but not limited to group pottery, fiber work, reiki healing, Iyengar and chair yoga, orchard workshops, sourdough bread baking and woodturning.

RFAG programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

For information on classes, event space rental or apprenticeships and internships, visit www.folkartguild. org, call 585-554-3539, email info@folkartguild.org or find @ TheFolkArtGuild on Facebook.

About The Guild

The Folk Art Guild is an intentional community and craft center located in Middlesex. For 56 years, guild artisans have been producing fine crafts including pottery, woodworking, weaving, natural fiber clothing and folk toys.

Membership includes both non-residents and residents who live on-site year-round, sharing meals and working together in an effort to live more sustainably.

As a nonprofit institution, the guild offers education in traditional crafts through classes, residencies and apprenticeships.

The 350-acre farm is home to the East Hill Gallery, open May through October and displaying the work of guild artists.

The Folk Art Guild is part of an international network of groups studying the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff.