Description

Weeknight Classes: 4 sessions

Wood Carving 1: Spoon Carving

This is a 4-week class for beginners and others who wish to learn how to carve Rwandan style

First you will review the basics of woodcarving using Rwandan tools and observe an expert artisan at work.  After preparing your wood, you will carve your own spoon and finish them with beeswax polish from Beeutiful Creations.

Banana Leaf weaving: Pop-Up Bag Weaving: 

This is a 4-week class for beginners who wish to learn about preparing banana leaves and weaving with it.

You will be able to learn how to extract fibers and all the weaving Techniques. you work with our expert artisans to weave the panels and assemble them to make a very beautiful bag.

Basket Weaving 1: Miniature Basket
This is a 4-week class for beginners who wish to learn how to weave classic sisal baskets.
Brought by popular demand, this class is an introduction to this classic basket weaving technique. You will learn how to extract and dye fibers, then begin to weave a basket  with sisal fibers. An expert weavers takes about 7 hours to weave a small basket, so we’ve designed a miniature basket for your introduction to this art.

Imigongo Design 1: Two Medium Paintings

This is a 4-week class for beginners who wish to learn how to make this traditional Rwandan art.

You will start by learning a bit about the history of the Imigongo and the meaning of the traditional designs.  You will then create your own design and work alongside an expert artisan, preparing the mud and cow dung mixture, molding the form, sanding and then painting your two medium Imigongos.

Sunday Afternoon Classes (with lunch!)

Join us for a fun afternoon from 1-6pm, including free lunch and expert teaching from beginning to end!

Spoon Carving Class

Artisan Sylvere will guide you through the basics of woodcarving, then teach you how to carve your own wooden spoon!

Traditional Pottery Class

Artisan expert Francine will instruct you through the process of preparing clay and guide you in forming the shape until you make your own candle holder. You will leave your candle holder at the studio so that when it drys Francine burns it and you are welcome to drop in the Studio another day and paint it.

Miniature Bowl Weaving Class
In this class you will learn how to extract and dye fibers, then begin to weave a small bowl. An expert weavers takes about 8 hours to weave a small bowl, so we’ve designed a miniature bowl for your introduction to this art.

Imigongo Class
Artisan Alexi will introduce you to the history and symbolism of imigongo painting, then guide you in creating your own design in cow dung. By the end of the day you will have created and painted a set of two small imigongo paintings of your own.