Date: July 21, 2009
Contact: Merrith Baughman, 402-223-3514
It’s time to put aside your yard work, head out of that hot sun, and get in touch with your inner artist. Folk Art Week will be Sunday, August 2, 2009 through Saturday, August 8, 2009 at Homestead National Monument of America’s Education Center from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Bring the whole family to see a different artist each day. Not only is this event free, but is sure to be educational and fun. Several of the artists will encourage you to try your hand at their art.
All activities will be located at Homestead National Monument of America’s Education Center. The artists will demonstrate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Featured artists include:
Sunday, August 2 Lacemaking ~ Sandra Wallick and Sandra Spann
Monday, August 3 Weaving with Floor and Table Looms ~ Karen Higgins
Tuesday, August 4 Weaving with Floor and Table Looms ~ Karen Higgins
Wednesday, August 5 Hide tanning ~Darin Zahm
Thursday, August 6 Ukrainian Egg Painting ~June Kucera and Terry Thompson
Friday, August 7 Pottery ~ Nancy Hagler-Vujovic
Saturday, August 8 Wood carving ~Erna Beach
Folk Art Week will kick off with members of the Lincoln Lacemakers creating works of art. They will demonstrate several types of lacemaking skills. Then Karen Higgins will demonstrate the art of weaving using both a large floor loom and a smaller table loom. Homesteaders made their own carpets on floor looms. Smaller table looms would make finer pieces of art such as table cloths and towels. On Wednesday, Darin Zahm will teach people hide tanning and even ask them to assist scraping hair off of hides as he prepares them to make clothing and other items. June Kucera and Terry Thompson will demonstrate and teach people how to paint eggs. People will be able to make their own piece of egg art and take it home. Nancy Haggler-Vujovic is an art instructor at Southeast Community College. She makes beautiful pieces of pottery. She will be demonstrating how the homesteaders would have made pottery. The week concludes with Erna Beach demonstrating wood carving.
Homestead National Monument of America is located 4 miles west of Beatrice on Nebraska Highway 4. Summer hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. For more information call 402-223-3514 or visit www.nps.gov/home.
