January 9 | 9 am to 4 pm
$185 | Course
Join Jess with Wildkind Academy and guest instructor Karen Sherwood at the beautiful Millersylvania Park in Olympia Washington for a Birch basketry course + The Gifts of Birch presentation! We will weave in community with friends at the historic kitchen shelter that sits in a lush forest overlooking the lake. The shelter is enclosed with three walls and has a fireplace to keep us warm.
Birch is a remarkable tree found in the boreal regions around the world. The bark has long been utilized by indigenous peoples from Scandinavia through Russia, Alaska, Canada and New England. Birch bark was traditionally woven or sewn to create everything from cooking, foraging and storage baskets to clothing and canoes. It is an amazing and versatile bark with a vast history of functionality merging with creative innovation.
Karen had the to opportunity to travel to Alaska to teach basketry classes during the tail end of gathering season. Trees removed from a power easement offered an unexpected treasure in many sheets of striking bark. Logs were peeled and bark pressed flat to later become beautiful and useful vessels. Through photos taken on this extraordinary adventure Karen will share insights into ethical gathering and how to process and store bark. A slide show and video presentation will help clarify the process. Additionally, examples of traditional baskets or containers from around the world will be presented to show the versatility of this bark. Birch takes us on an inspired journey bridging cultures around the world and past to present.
This presentation is offered as a unique pairing with a hands- on class to make a birch bark serving basket of your own. A traditional birch bowl will be formed by shaping and then securely stitching with natural materials. A willow rim will be lashed to create strength and beauty to complete this beautiful and useful vessel. Correctly place your lashings in an important piece of this project so instruction on well place stitches will be highlighted so you can create a basket to last a lifetime. We hope you will join us to learn these traditions of old so they can be sustained .
Class is limited to 12 participants and will fill up very quickly. Specific class details will be emailed prior to class. If you have any questions, use the contact page or email [email protected]