Subjects Archives | John C. Campbell Folk School Blog

Create Shadow Puppetry, Storytelling & Song Magic with West of Roan in New Intergenerational Week Class

May 22, 2022

Don’t miss an incredible opportunity for you and a favorite youth to take a weeklong class with Channing Showalter and Annie Schermer, the renowned multi-media performance artist duo West of Roan. Known for creating performances using the storytelling methods of song and puppetry, this duo will lead a class on the art of shadow puppetry during Intergenerational Week, July 17–23.

An Interview with Greenwood Spoon Carver Tad Kepley

May 3, 2022

FeaturedImage_HomepageSlideshow_1400x900_TadKepley

I recently had the good fortune to visit Pittsboro, NC for the inaugural The GreenWood Wrights’Fest, a weekend gathering of spoon carvers, timber framers, and basket weavers from across North Carolina and beyond. While at first those three crafts may sound dissimilar, the tie that binds them together is their use of “green” wood from a freshly cut log. The techniques of the greenwoodworker rely on the ease with which this wet wood can be immediately processed and shaped with hand tools, then allowed to air dry and be finished. It’s not a big leap to imagine why this style of woodworking was important to those who chose Western North Carolina as their home, with its plentiful hardwood forests. Folks around the world have long developed greenwoodworking skills to make everything from their kitchen utensils to their homes, relying on ingeniously simple hand tools: the axe, the froe, and the knife.

The modern day greenwoodworker may not need to hue a hand-built home out of freshly cut logs in order to survive, but she finds other essential benefits from the act of making things with hand tools. Spoon carving facilitates relaxation and mindfulness, and many carvers find themselves in agreement on the value of a handcrafted item that finds its usefulness in the simple act of cooking or eating. Popularized in the U.S. by Swedish greenwood carver Willie Sundqvist, and immortalized in classic books on greenwoodworking like Drew Langsner’s Country Woodcraft, spoon carving is a relatively inexpensive way to gain entry into the world of woodworking.

While in Pittsboro, I caught up with Tad Kepley of Lexington, NC, a veteran greenwood spoon carver and a bit of an evangelist for the craft. We talked about how he approaches spoon carving and what it means to him to participate in this type of woodworking. Tad is a popular instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School, where he is teaching Greenwood Cooking and Eating Spoons in the Woodcarving Studio the week of August 7, 2022. Known as an enthusiastic and patient mentor, Tad’s teaching offers an entry point for the curious novice, as well as refined instruction for spoon carving enthusiasts looking to hone their skills. His hand carved spoons, with their polished knife finishes (no sandpaper here, folks!) and delicate forms, are quiet heirlooms that find their place in kitchens around the world.

Outdoor Concert and Dance Series Continues This Summer

Mar 23, 2022

We’re delighted to announce a new series of Music and Dance events! These programs are an integral part of the Folk School experience, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome springtime with their return. We hope that you and your family will join us for concerts, variety shows, and short dances in a safe, outdoor environment.

Finding Paradise at the Folk School: An Interview with Quilter Zak Foster

Mar 7, 2022

Community is key at the Folk School, so it’s exciting to have quilter, artist, and community organizer Zak Foster join us as our first Olive’s Porch Artist in Residence. Zak will be both leading community projects and working on personal projects at the Folk School and Olive’s Porch through April 24. Enjoy our interview!

Folk School Holiday Memories with Carolyn Anderson

Nov 23, 2021

Carolyn Anderson is a long-standing member of the renowned Brasstown Carvers and a member of The Southern Highlands Craft Guild. Always quick with encouragement to new carvers, she possesses a sweet and generous nature and is a genuine embodiment of the Folk School’s values of Joy, Kindness, and Stewardship.

All Hail the Tinsmiths

Oct 28, 2021

Tinsmithing. It doesn’t have the glamorous appeal of blacksmithing, with roaring fires and...

Capturing Stories Through Photography: The Art of Visual Storytelling

Oct 6, 2021

Instructor Karen Kasmauski and Photography Student Abby in the Folk School Vegetable Garden Most...

The Fantastic Flora & Fauna-inspired Jewelry of Charity Hall

Aug 16, 2021

Charity Hall is a full-time metalsmith and studio artist with an MFA in Metal Design from East...

Announcing Our New Music & Dance Coordinators: T-Claw Crawford & Charmaine Slaven!

Jun 29, 2021

We are thrilled to announce two new members of the Folk School family. As we move forward with new...

Meet Woodworker Mason Cooley, Builder of Bamboo Bicycles

Jun 29, 2021

This November, the Folk School is offering a unique woodworking class with Mason Cooley where you...

Remembering David Kaynor by Sue Songer on Behalf of the DMW instructors

Jun 3, 2021

David Allen Kaynor passed away peacefully on June 1, 2021. His two sisters were present, as were...

Craft Shop Interview: Jessica Kaufman, Fiber and Surface Design Artist

Jun 3, 2021

Jessica Kaufman is the founder and owner of WAXON Studio in West Asheville, NC. She recently joined Tammy Elwell to talk about her relationship with the Folk School, her dyeing process, and realizing her dream of creating batik and tie-dye kitchen textiles. Enjoy our interview!

Exploring Campus and Talking Reopening with Carol Parks

May 28, 2021

On the week of our reopening, Carol joined us to teach her class Campus Sketch Crawl. Read below to hear her thoughts on being back in the studio and to see the artwork of campus her students produced!

Welcome Our New Gardener, Jason Ebinger

May 19, 2021

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Gardener, Jason Ebinger! Jason has an extensive history managing farm and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Folk School. We look forward to seeing how the garden flourishes this year. Read more to learn about Jason and his goals in this position.