Category: Featured Classes

The Modern Asian Kitchen with Patrick O’Cain

by Cory Marie Podielski | Nov 10, 2019 | Cooking, Featured Classes, Featured Instructor, Spotlight | 0

I met with chef Patrick O’Cain at his popular Asheville restaurant, Gàn Shān Station, to interview him about his upcoming class at the Folk School, The Modern Asian Kitchen. We are excited to have him return to Brasstown, April 12–18, 2020, to share his knowledge of Asian cooking. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a renowned and celebrated Asheville chef and immerse yourself in the cooking cultures of China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and beyond.

Winter Dance Week: Dance in the New Year at the Folk School

by Cory Marie Podielski | Nov 1, 2019 | Brasstown Morris Dancers, Dance, December Holiday Events, Events, Featured Classes, Music, Slideshow, Spotlight, Themed Weeks | 2

Ring in the New Year at the Folk School! This popular year-end traditional dance and music celebration will feature American contras & squares and English country dancing with glorious live music. This lively week also offers rapper and long-sword dance workshops, group singing, jam sessions, and more. Winter Dance Week offers a unique combination of top-notch callers, teachers, and musicians.

Learn to Call Dances in Our Dance Callers’ Workshop

by Cory Marie Podielski | Oct 30, 2019 | Dance, Featured Classes, Little Middle Folk School, Music, Spotlight | 0

Have you always wanted to learn to call? Join Gaye Fifer for a week, (June 21–27) of all-day, hands-on, calling experience and mentorship. The Dance Callers’ Workshop emphasizes program planning, teaching techniques, working with beginners and effectively using live music. Individualized instruction can also include various styles of traditional square dance calling.
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Celebrating Shaker Style

by Cory Marie Podielski | Oct 20, 2019 | Featured Classes, Themed Weeks, Upcoming Class Collections | 0

The Shakers continue to be celebrated for their contributions to American crafts. The Shakers’ diverse pieces combined beautifully simple design and exceptional function, culminating in remarkable works that remain relevant today. During our upcoming Shaker Week, set for November 3-9, 2019, we invite you to gain inspiration from these dedicated craftsmen, and create works that honor this distinctive style.
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Shaker Herbs, Roots, Barks, and Lore with Jamie Sparks

by Cory Marie Podielski | Oct 20, 2019 | Cooking, Featured Classes, Featured Instructor, In the Garden, Interviews, Slideshow, Spotlight, Themed Weeks | 4

Have you always been drawn to the idea of using herbs to make your own products, teas, drinks, and food? Immerse yourself in weeklong class, Shaker Herbs, Roots, Barks, and Lore, taught by herbalist Jamie Sparks during Shaker Week, November 3–9. Explore how Shakers used plants to be self-reliant and to connect to the natural world. Jamie has a lot of wisdom to share, so let’s learn a little more about her experience and what’s in store for the class.

Talking Old Time with Riley Baugus, Banjo Instructor

by Cory Marie Podielski | Oct 11, 2019 | Featured Classes, Featured Instructor, Interviews, Music, Slideshow, Spotlight | 0

We are honored to announce that Riley Baugus, renowned old-time musician, will be our first featured artist in the new Appalachian Master Artist Series. Next week. October 14–18, Riley will celebrate old-time music at the Folk School and in our community. Riley’s visit marks the first of a four-part grant-funded series for Fall 2019. These collaborations are focused on perpetuating Appalachian craft and handing down mountain traditions.

A Unique Connection: Scrimshaw, Crankies, Pysanky, Puppets, and more!

by Cory Marie Podielski | Sep 3, 2019 | Featured Classes, Unique Offerings, Upcoming Class Collections | 0

Here at the Folk School, our quirky “Unique Offerings” category includes classes that each have their own distinctive flavor. In fact, they’re so unique that they don’t quite belong anywhere else. If you’re ready to explore a delightfully different course, browse these one-of-a-kind classes, and prepare to get your creative juices flowing.
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Make It, Play It!

by Cory Marie Podielski | Aug 16, 2019 | Featured Classes, Music, Upcoming Class Collections, Wood | 0

Here at the Folk School, we’ve been playing beautiful melodies on handcrafted instruments for almost a century. When you build that instrument with your own two hands, creating that music takes on a special significance. Come craft your very own instrument in our Woodworking Studio. Or, try your hand at writing your own songs and tunes. …

Travel the World in Brasstown

by Cory Marie Podielski | Jun 14, 2019 | Featured Classes, Upcoming Class Collections | 0

Travel the world via a Folk School learning vacation. Explore the crafts, food, and music of diverse cultures during a weeklong or weekend class. Enjoy these upcoming class picks that provide a window to the world – and you won’t even need a passport. …

Fund-A-Need: What’s Important to You?

by Jerry Jackson | Jun 6, 2019 | Featured Classes | 1

Our Fund-A-Need list represents a wide variety of necessities, from painting easels to woodcarving workbenches and from cooking studio shelving to weaving studio looms. As you know, our studios are where much of the magic happens: learning from your instructor, connecting with your classmates, and tapping into your own creative mindset.

Hand-cut Stencils & Screen Printing with Jen Swearington

by Cory Marie Podielski | Jun 1, 2019 | Book Arts & Paper, Featured Classes, Featured Instructor, Fiber, Spotlight, Surface Design | 0

We are excited to have two Surface Design & Printmaking classes coming up this month with Jen Swearington. Learn to create Hand-cut Stencils for Surface Design (June 7-9) or techniques for Screen Printing on Fabric (June 9–15).
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Small Scale, Big Rewards

by Cory Marie Podielski | May 21, 2019 | Featured Classes, Upcoming Class Collections | 0

Here at the Folk School, we’ve found that using small-scale tools, materials, and perspectives often brings amazing results. Smaller tools like the mini-lathe or inkle loom, materials like glass seed beads and fabric scraps, and small-scale camera views can help unlock our creativity. Enjoy these class picks that celebrate the smaller side of things. …

Paper Thread Sculptural Basketry with Aimee Lee

by Cory Marie Podielski | May 16, 2019 | Book Arts & Paper, Featured Classes, Fiber, Naturals, Spotlight | 0

If you are interested in basketry, paper art, or weaving, and want to learn new techniques, materials, and form, don’t miss our upcoming class with Aimee Lee, Paper Thread through Asia, scheduled for June 9–15, 2019. You will discover ancient techniques of transforming paper into thread, cord, small weavings, and sculptural basketry. Based on Korean and Japanese traditions of jiseung (paper basketry) and shifu (paper cloth), you will learn to spin one-ply thread and twist two-ply cord in completely different ways.

Living Traditions of Appalachia

by Cory Marie Podielski | May 15, 2019 | Featured Classes, Upcoming Class Collections | 0

Appalachia has always been a land rich in culture, imagination and community, rooted in a remarkable landscape. Since 1925, the Folk School has helped to preserve the traditions, techniques and tools of mountain life, and share them with the world. Check out these amazing class picks honoring the living traditions of Appalachia!
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Folk Harp Gathering

by Lorinda Jones | Apr 2, 2019 | Featured Classes, Music | 0

Folk harp enthusiasts! Come celebrate Scottish Heritage Week with the ancient instrument of Scotland, the Celtic or lever harp, in our class Folk Harp Gathering. This class encourages harp players to come together and share the history, learn tunes of the ancient harpers, and play songs and dances from Scotland and nearby Celtic lands. It is also a time to rekindle the friendships from past harp gatherings, meet new harp enthusiasts and play together in ensemble.

Current Catalog

Embrace your creative potential, and join us for a life-changing Folk School experience. Our 2019-2020 Folk School Catalog is now available, and all classes are open for registration. Choose a class and come join us in Brasstown this year.

Request a Catalog, or view the current eCatalog now. You can also search and register for all classes here.

The Folk School Cookbook

We are so excited about The Folk School Cookbook. Nanette Davidson, cookbook author, meticulously collected, curated, and adapted over 200 delicious recipes. These include some of the most memorable recipes served family-style in the school’s Dining Hall and at seasonal celebrations over the decades. Bring the Folk School’s culinary traditions into your own kitchen and order your copy today!