News from Sievers School

A picture-perfect Summer Solstice day greeted us this morning.  Many of the Island’s wildflowers are blooming and the family of mute swans are swimming in Jackson Harbor.  Here are some Island scenes for this official first day of summer:

Since 2001, we have offered scholarships to attend a Sievers class through donations given in part in memory of our quilting teacher Doreen Speckmann and Elisabeth Beinert, a weaving student. Out of this fund we were able to grant five scholarships this year.  The recipients and corresponding classes are:

Elisabeth Beinert Scholarship:

Kelly Thompson - Beginning Weaving on a Floor Loom

Doreen Speckmann Scholarships:

Jeannie Shay - Surface Design Techniques:Creative Silk Jacket

Jill Johnson - Color for Knitting

Barb Weller - Bent Willow Chair

Colleen Fouse - Beginning Papermaking

This year, for the first time, we offered a scholarship in the amount of $500 to a graduate of Washington Island School.  Primary consideration for this scholarship is the degree to which the applicant is involved in the field of arts  (visual, music, theater or dance) and how their involvement has benefited them as well as the Island community.  Our first recipient was Lydia Foss.  Lydia was a member of the Island singing group, “Faithful Friends” and will be attending Lawrence University.

Partial proceeds from Marianne Fons’ presentation “Why We Quilt” as well as the Sievers Gathering Fiber Arts Garage Sale will benefit the Sievers Scholarship Fund.  More information on Sievers Scholarships is shown in the first posting on this news site.

Quiltmaker, author and publisher Marianne Fons will present “Why We Quilt” on Tuesday, August 12th at 7:30 p.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.  Sponsored by Bread & Water and Sievers, Marianne will examine the many reasons American women, past and present, have devoted their time to the design and construction of quilts in a thought provoking and entertaining way.  We look forward to Marianne’s return to the Island and to her presentation.

Studio Visits 

Time is set aside each Thursday when two classes are in session for a “field trip”. When classes visit each other, they are able to see not only finished pieces, but also the process behind that particular fiber art.  Here we have basketmakers paying a visit to the Finnish Knitting and Crochet class:

   June 5, 2008

We have 10 “Beyond Beginning” weaving students in our class this week, team taught by Jean Hutchison and Lou French.  Each student is working on a different project ranging from a shawl woven with silk and wool to a rag rug.  This group is helping one of their fellow students wind the warp onto her loom:

Coming up in June will be Beginning Spinning and Rainbow Dyeing (June 8 - 13) and Basics of Stake-and-Strand Willow Basketry (June 29 - July 2).  Here’s a photo of each:

The bell rang promptly at 9 a.m. to begin our 30th season with the class, “Making Your Mark: Dyeing and Silk Screen” with Stephanie Robertson of Indianapolis, IN.  Here’s a photo of the class working in the Walter Studio this morning:

During this same week, the Washington Island Art Association is holding their Spring Open Workshop in the Sophie Studio here at Sievers.  A field trip between studios is already being planned.

Upcoming classes with openings include Wildcrafted Trellises, Plant Towers and Garden Art with Donna Kallner, June 13-15; Landscape Needlefelting and Bead Embroidery with Karen Buell, June 15 - 18; Creative Silk Jacket: “Green” Surface Design Techniques with Kayla Kennington, June 15 - 20.  These photos show an example from each of the classes.

Adventures in Antler Basketry with Jill Choate, May 30-June 1 and Knitting & Crochet from Finland with Carol Rhoades, June 1-6.

In less than 3 weeks our 30th season begins with the Sievers Shop opening on May 15th and the first class of the season, “Making Your Mark: Dyeing and Silk Screen Printing ” with Stephanie Robertson starting on Sunday, May 18th.   We’ll be ready!

 A Jackson Harbor Road Landmark is Gone           

Today as we arrived at Sievers, the Town Crew was removing (as a former instructor called it) ”the tree in the middle of the road”. The big maple outside the Sievers Shop provided shade for many for the past 100+ years.  We will miss it.  Word has it that the shoulders of Jackson Harbor Road will be paved to provide extra space for bicyclists and the tree needed to be removed for that reason. 

Bead & Button Magazine Interviews Diane Fitzgerald

The June 2008  issue of Bead & Button Magazine includes a wonderful article, “The Making of a Master” featuring Diane Fitzgerald.  Diane will be the recipient of the 2008 Excellence in Bead Artistry Award, presented at the 2008 Bead & Button Show in June. 

Door County Shepherds’ Market - May 17 & 18

The 14th Annual Door County Shepherd’s Market will be held from 10am-4pm on Saturday, May 17th and 10am-3pm on Sunday, May 18th at Whitefish Bay Farm, just north of Sturgeon Bay, WI.  This event promotes products from sheep and goats, educates the public about the animals and their fibers and showcases the tradtional handcrafts that utilize these fibers.  A number of vendors sell yarns, fibers, finished products and more.  Raffle tickets are sold with one of the prizes being a weekend class of your choice at Sievers.  For more information, find it at www.whitefishbayfarm.com/market.htm

Eight Sievers teachers met on Washington Island from Thursday, March 27 to Sunday, March 30 to enjoy time together while working on various projects in the Sophie Studio.  Great recipes were tasted and shared along with lively conversation and laughter.  Traveling to the Island were: Jo Campbell-Amsler of Monticello, IA, Diane Fitzgerald of Minneapolis, MN, Jacki Bedworth of Mora, MN, Donna Kallner of White Lake, WI and Jeanne Pfister of Kaukauna, WI.  They joined Island resident teachers Ellen Graf, Judith Yamamoto and Kathy Sorensen.  A pre-birthday celebration was held on Saturday night for Donna Kallner complete with humor, poetry, chocolate and apple pie and ice cream!

What follows is a listing of Island events from mid-May through October. We will update this as other events are added. You can see a complete list as well as general information about Washington Island including lodging, restaurants, attractions, parks and shopping on the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce’s website, www.washingtonislandchamber.com. Musical and theatrical entertainment is offered weekly at the Red Barn and Trueblood Performing Arts Center and one day art and nature classes for children as well as adults are offered weekly through the Art & Nature Center during July and August.

May 17 - Sesquicentennial Celebration of Pottawatomie Lighthouse (Rock Island) sponsored by the Friends of Rock Island. 1 pm on lighthouse grounds with music, refreshments and remarks followed by an evening banquet at Karly’s.

May 19-23 - W. Island Art Association Spring Open Workshop at Sievers

May 25 - W. Island Music Festival Memorial Day Chamber Music Concert, Dinner and Auction

May 31 - June 1 - W. Island Birding Festival. Themes include “Water, Shore & Forest” and “Interior Grasslands/Wetlands and Rock Island”. Guided tours, banquet and speaker.

June 14 - July 28 - Art & Nature Center Opening Show: “Wearable Art”

June 20 - Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum Grilled Whitefish Dinner

June 23 - 27 - Washington Island Forum sponsored by Wisconsin Council of Churches and W. Island Art Association “Plein Air Oil ” Workshop at Sievers.

July 11-12 - Folk Music Festival at Red Barn and Trueblood Performing Arts Center

July 12 - Art in the Park features children’s art activities, food and more at the Art & Nature Center from 11 am to 3 pm.

July 19 - Fly-In Fish Boil sponsored by Lions Club

July 21-23 - W. I. Art Association “Fantasia in Watercolor” Workshop

July 25 - Women’s Club International Food Festival

July 26 - Rec Run: 10K, 5K, 2K and Fun Run/Walk

August 1- Scandinavian Fest Kaffe at Trinity Lutheran Church. “Small Frame, Big Art” show at the Red Cup Coffee House sponsored by W. Island Art Association.

August 2 - Art Fair at Trueblood PAC 10-4. Scandinavian Dance Festival on Foss Outdoor Stage at dusk.

August 4 - 15 - W. Island Music Festival. Chamber music concerts, open rehearsals, music talks, music camp and children’s concert featuring an ensemble of world class musicans.

August 14 - Under the Big Top, featuring local talents is emceed by Cindra Hokkanen and Julian Hagen and is part of the W. Island Music Festival.

October 3-4 - Sievers Gathering. Workshops, demonstrations, fashion show, speakers, banquet and music.

October 11 - W. Island Fire Department Open House, Cider Pressing and Harvest Events at the W. Island Farm Museum and Fall Harvest Dinner at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Save the dates of October 3 and 4, 2008 for the 15th Biennial Sievers Gathering.  Workshops, demonstrations, speakers, fashion show, vendors, fiber arts garage sale, banquet, music and more make for a fun weekend.  All program and registration information will be available only at this online news site as the date approaches.