Thirty-eight years ago, the very first Folk School Fall Festival was held by Open House beside the large fields. Gus and Maggie Masters, then directors of the Folk School, were enamellists who were used to selling their art at shows and festivals. So they simply brought to the Folk School and local artists a festival of our own!
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I turned off the lights in my studio and set out for Brasstown, just 12 miles away. Around the curve and up the hill to Keith House, the signs of buds and new growth are everywhere. I park by the old oak tree outside the fiber arts studio so I can walk down the hill to Tower House, my first stop. I’ll mention here that since it was fairly spring like that day, I had worn a bright pink skirt with lace trim, a hand-dyed pink jacket with rhinestones, and my trusty pink tiger striped hi-tops. Topping this outfit off was pink heart shaped sunglasses. Voila!
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Quilting instructor Marilyn Wall first discovered Art Quilts at an American Quilter’s Society show in Kentucky. Employing the folk learning process, Marilyn “blundered through” teaching herself to make her first art quilt, which is still a favorite among those who view her galleries of work. Art quilting takes a mixed-media perspective, which is well suited to Marilyn’s background in photography and painting.
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Early in the week students concentrated on nature inspired art, while nature displayed its own original work in the form of rain. But the sun seems to be shining through the clouds now, bringing nice spring light into this week’s Earth Week classes. I’ve spent the morning meandering about the Folk School’s campus visiting as many studios as I can to see what students are making this week – baskets, clay, jewelry, furniture, to name a few – all with materials of the earth.
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Classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School begin with check-in, orientation, welcome dinner, and then a week or weekend packed full of class time. From morning til night we think craft, whether it be music, dance or art. While in studios, students try to let go of the outside world with it’s distractions and complications. It’s a revelation when brows finally unfurrow and true creative relaxation sets in.
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