National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Announces “Living Arts” Class Schedule for
National Championship Shoot
September 10th-18th, 2011
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s Living Arts program will be sponsoring a number of traditional craft classes at the National Championship Shoot. All classes will take place on the grounds of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association in Friendship, Indiana in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center, or in the Education Building
.
Constructing a Simple Rifleman’s Bag
September 12th & 13th, 8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. each day; Education Building
NMLRA Board member and NMLRA Life Member Dean Freund will host a leather bag making class in the Education Building September 14th & 15th from 8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. each day. Dean is a retired outdoor education teacher with 36 years of service. An avid 4-H volunteer, Dean has instructed numerous living history classes during adult training weekends for 4-H and has also instructed at numerous Ohio state-wide shooting education summer camps. He co-authored Ohio’s “Living History” curriculum and the member record book for youth participants, and was honored to teach muzzleloading at one of the national 4-H instructor training sessions. He has taught numerous leather bag classes in many venues, including the Log Cabin Shop’s series of heritage crafts classes.
He will begin his class with a brief introduction illustrating bag design, and will share information about materials, tools and their suppliers. Participants will create a plain and simply constructed rifleman’s bag in a period correct size no larger than 6” x 9”. It will have a 1 inch hand forged iron buckle and a keeper. Dyes and stains will be used to create an “aged” or antique look. The bag will be a one of a kind, unique creation. The bag will not be lined or include an interior pocket, welt, or gusset. The class fee of $83.00 includes basic tools and supplies, and enough leather to make one bag in class and a similar sized bag at home. A second hand forged iron buckle is available for an additional $6.00. The class is structured in this way to give the interested student the opportunity to reinforce learned skills after the initial class session. To register, contact Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register.
Leather Stitching Class
September 12th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; Primitive Encampment/Living History Center
Wayne Troup of Vintage Leather will be teaching a class on basic leather stitching September 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center at his tent. Wayne has been
a professional leatherworker for over thirty years. He demonstrates at many living history events, including the Feast of the Hunters’ Moon and Mississinewa 1812. Wayne will demonstrate his stitching technique and discuss basic leather construction. Class participants will learn how to start, stop, splice, and split thread, and punch and space holes. At the end of the session they will have completed a belt pouch with a deer antler button catch. The class fee of $60.00, payable at the time of the class, includes a leather awl, needle, and the materials to make the pouch. For registration information, contact the instructor at 812.331.4050.
Primitive Bow Making Class
September 13th & 14th, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day; Primitive Encampment/Living History Center
Navio Occhialini, master bow maker and head of the NMLRA’s Bow Range, will offer his class on the art of primitive bow making at the Primitive Encampment/Living History Center September 13th – 14th. Navio is a well known bow maker, and his classes are eagerly anticipated each year. Instructor supplies the materials to build a hickory Woodland-style bow, Flemish twist bow string, and three arrows, and will supply a “how to” DVD. Some tools are required, and a list can be obtained from contacting the instructor. Cost of the class is $200.00, and is payable at the time of the class. Pre-registration is required, as class size is limited! Contact the instructor at 317.872.4920 or at cocch@sbcglobal.net for more details.
Basic Gourd Basket With Rope Handle Class
September 16th, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Education Building
Perry Riley Jr., MFA, is an artisan who specializes in gourd crafts. Scheduled for September 16th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Education Building, this class is intended to give the participants the basic concept of gourd basketry made by coil weaving a rope on top of a hard shell gourd. Beginning with a pre-cut and pre-drilled gourd, students will learn how to attach a rope onto the rim with a basic stitch pattern. This basic technique has many possibilities for developing into personalized works of art. The technique can also be applied to other types of materials to be used on gourd baskets. The completed basket will be fully functional for a variety of applications.
Class content covered includes a brief overview of the gourd medium, safety practices when working with gourds, how to select the right gourd, how to prepare the gourd, preparing the rope, coil weaving the rope onto the rim, making the handle loop, general care of gourds, and a list of resources and suppliers of gourds. Class fee is $45.00, and includes all materials. Participants are asked to bring scissors, paper, and pencils. To register, contact Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register.
Gourd Bowl with Pine Needle Rim Class
September 16th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Education Building
Gourd artisan Perry Riley Jr., MFA, instructs this class on the basic concept of coil weaving on top of a hard shell gourd on September 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Education Building. Raised on a farm, Perry was surrounded by the beauty of nature. Trained as a professional artist, Perry’s love for nature led to his interest in gourds, where he was intrigued that he could grown his own “canvas,” a gourd, and could reconnect with the oldest cultivated plant known to humans. Beginning with a pre-cut and pre-drilled gourd, students will learn how to weave a protective pine needle rim onto a gourd with a basic stitch pattern. This technique can also be applied to other types of materials for gourd rims. Students will complete their gourd in class.
Class content covered includes a brief overview of the gourd medium, safety practices when working with gourds, how to select the right gourd, how to prepare the gourd, preparing pine needles for weaving, coil weaving of pine needles onto the rim, general care of gourds, and a list of resources and suppliers of gourds. Class fee is $45.00, and includes all materials. Participants are asked to bring scissors, paper, and pencils. To register, contact Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792,
nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register.
Drawing in Perspective
September 15th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; Education Building
Perry Riley Jr., MFA, has designed a class to give participants the basic understanding of the traditional European illusion of depth perspective to be held September 15th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Students will work in a sketchbook format while learning the basic rules and concepts of illusionist space and how to apply them. This technique has many applications in the heritage crafts. Class applications will focus on drawing buildings and how to apply the techniques to any situation, including still lifes. The instructor will be sharing time saving techniques and the tricks of the trade. Upon completion of the class, students will be better informed on how to accurately evaluate and draw in an illusionist space. Class fee is $$35.00. Students are asked to bring a #2 pencil, eraser, ruler, drawing paper, and a drawing board or pad and paper to take notes. Sketch books are greatly encouraged. To register, contact Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register.
Introduction to Watercolor
September 15th, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Education Building
This class, instructed by Perry Riley Jr., MFA, is intended to introduce students to the basic fundamental techniques used in the watercolor medium. The basic principles of this transparent medium will be examined and how to apply that knowledge when work is in progress. Participants will be working in a sketch book format creating their own samples of each technique and combining techniques as the class progresses. The instructor encourages creativity and exploration of new discoveries in this medium of working. Upon completion of the class, students will have finished their own collection of samples of techniques with notes to better enable them to explore the many possibilities this wonderful medium has to offer. Class fee is $35.00 Students are asked to bring a selection of watercolor pigments, variety of watercolor brushes, watercolor paper, cellulose sponge, paper towels, small water bowl or cup, pencil, ruler, and paper for taking notes. Sketch books are greatly encouraged. To register, contact Leslie Martin Conwell, NMLRA American History Events Coordinator, at 765.563.6792, nmlraevents@seidata.com. Participants must pre-register.
