Tuesday, Dec. 12th, 5:00-6:00pm & 6:00-7:00pm

Thursday, Dec. 21st, 4:00-5:00pm & 5:00-6:00pm

Studio

$20/person, per timeslot

Registration Deadline: December 5th & December 14th

Experience level: beginner

Create a new type of holiday decoration that you can take home to add to your decor. All participants will receive a large white votive candle and use melted tea light candles of various colors to paint designs around the outside of the candle. Make it holiday themed, or paint designs that would work for a year-round decoration.

There are 4 chances to participate in this folk school class. Choose one (or 2) that best fits your schedule.

Instructor Bio

Olivia Bunting is the Senior Program Coordinator at Allerton Park & Retreat Center. She loves being outside, tending her plants while trying not to kill them, and crafting. The Farms gives her an excuse to learn new things and finish those half-done crafts she's been meaning to complete for a while.

Tuesday, Dec. 12th, 5:00-6:00pm & 6:00-7:00pm

Thursday, Dec. 21st, 4:00-5:00pm & 5:00-6:00pm

Studio

$20/person, per timeslot

Registration Deadline: December 5th & December 14th

Experience level: beginner

Create a new type of holiday decoration that you can take home to add to your decor. All participants will receive a large white votive candle and use melted tea light candles of various colors to paint designs around the outside of the candle. Make it holiday themed, or paint designs that would work for a year-round decoration.

There are 4 chances to participate in this folk school class. Choose one (or 2) that best fits your schedule.

Instructor Bio

Olivia Bunting is the Senior Program Coordinator at Allerton Park & Retreat Center. She loves being outside, tending her plants while trying not to kill them, and crafting. The Farms gives her an excuse to learn new things and finish those half-done crafts she's been meaning to complete for a while.

Get ready for a fun and festive holiday-themed event, where you will be able to blend your own scents to create a lovely festive candle. Professional candle artist Kayla Brown of Fire Doll Studio will lead you through a magical candle making journey that includes a fun variety of holiday scents to choose from. She will also provide some fun history, science, and techniques, along with her expertise as you make your own! Materials will be provided — including an apron — but dress accordingly, as we cannot guarantee you won’t end up with a little wax on your clothes.

NOTE: Your candle will require two hours of cure time, so will need to be picked up the next day; or it can be shipped to you for a fee of $8.

Registration deadline: December 6, 2023

Urbana-based local artist Kari Keller of Kari’s Occasions will demonstrate simple but fun techniques to paint and decorate glass bulb ornaments. Participants will create their own keepsake ornament for the holidays.

Instructor Bio: My name is Kari Keller. I have been an arts and crafts enthusiast since I was a very young child. I have a lot of experience in drawing and painting, and have dabbled in a large variety of other art forms including macramé, perler bead art, cake topper design, painting ceramic plates, acrylic pouring, and digital art. I also have a thriving side business as a face painter for these past 8 years. I love trying new things and making new friends!

Tuesday, Dec. 12th, 5:00-6:00pm & 6:00-7:00pm

Thursday, Dec. 21st, 4:00-5:00pm & 5:00-6:00pm

Studio

$20/person, per timeslot

Registration Deadline: December 5th & December 14th

Experience level: beginner

Create a new type of holiday decoration that you can take home to add to your decor. All participants will receive a large white votive candle and use melted tea light candles of various colors to paint designs around the outside of the candle. Make it holiday themed, or paint designs that would work for a year-round decoration.

There are 4 chances to participate in this folk school class. Choose one (or 2) that best fits your schedule.

Instructor Bio

Olivia Bunting is the Senior Program Coordinator at Allerton Park & Retreat Center. She loves being outside, tending her plants while trying not to kill them, and crafting. The Farms gives her an excuse to learn new things and finish those half-done crafts she's been meaning to complete for a while.

Tuesday, Dec. 12th, 5:00-6:00pm & 6:00-7:00pm

Thursday, Dec. 21st, 4:00-5:00pm & 5:00-6:00pm

Studio

$20/person, per timeslot

Registration Deadline: December 5th & December 14th

Experience level: beginner

Create a new type of holiday decoration that you can take home to add to your decor. All participants will receive a large white votive candle and use melted tea light candles of various colors to paint designs around the outside of the candle. Make it holiday themed, or paint designs that would work for a year-round decoration.

There are 4 chances to participate in this folk school class. Choose one (or 2) that best fits your schedule.

Instructor Bio

Olivia Bunting is the Senior Program Coordinator at Allerton Park & Retreat Center. She loves being outside, tending her plants while trying not to kill them, and crafting. The Farms gives her an excuse to learn new things and finish those half-done crafts she's been meaning to complete for a while.

Bookbinding for Artists’ Books

Led by: Peter Bushell

Tuesdays: January 16, 23, 20; February 6, 13

5:00-8:00pm

Studio

Registration Deadline: 1/2/2024

Skill level: Beginner

Registration fee: $120/series

Course Description:

This course will introduce you to a variety of binding options for artist’s books that can be produced by hand. Each class will be a 3-4 hour studio experience getting introduced to a particular book style and binding technique; then there will be time for hands-on production. The first class will include a survey of artist’s books and binding styles, as well as an introduction to terms of book anatomy and commercial binding. Subsequent classes will be organized per binding style and allow time for production. Each book produced will be a blank model, but additional discussion will be possible if the student has ideas for further development of books with content.

About the Instructor:

Peter Bushell recently retired from a 29-year career as a graphic design professor from Illinois State University. While there he reveled in teaching students a variety of subjects including typography, image making, mark making and branding, information design, interactive and web design, as well as letterpress printmaking, book arts and book binding. Bushell’s creative efforts in design, book arts, and letterpress printmaking have garnered awards and recognition from regional, national, and international competitions, exhibitions, and publications. Currently he continues to be active as a freelance graphic designer, a book artist, and a letterpress printmaker. Bushell is compelled to create, and in all his creative endeavors—whether graphic design and typography, book arts or letterpress printmaking—he strives for an excellent marriage of concept and form. He is excited for the opportunity to share with you some excellent examples of artist’s books and the practical details related to a variety of binding forms and hopes the lessons you’ll learn in this course will feed your next creative venture into artist’s books and bookbinding.

Afro-Brazilian Traditions – Capoeira Angola & Samba de Roda

Led by: Mark Becker

Thursdays: January 18; February 1, 8, 15, 22

Please note this class does not meet on January 25th.

6:00-7:30pm

Library

Registration Deadline: 1/11/2024; 1 week before each subsequent class

Skill level: Beginner

Registration fee: $25/class OR $100/series

Course Description:

In this course, participants will be introduced to the richness of Afro-Brazilian movement, music, language, and culture through the traditions of Capoeira Angola and Samba de Roda. This course will be designed with all ages, skill levels, and physical abilities in mind and will have a welcoming environment where community members can learn from an instructor with 19 years of experience in a hands-on, active, and joyful space.

Capoeira Angola is a martial art that combines fluid, low-impact movements with music to encourage self-expression and self-control. Samba de Roda is a musical tradition that combines several percussion and stringed instruments in a call-and-response setting that also welcomes dancing from participants. All these traditions have their roots in the Congo region of Africa but were developed and shared with the world in Brazil.

About the Instructor:

Lead instructor Mark Becker, a student of Capoeira Angola in the tradition of Mestre João Grande who has studied under Contramestre Denis Chiaramonte for 8 years, with 19 years of experience in the art of Capoeira. He is also a student of traditional Samba Chula, an art form from the Recôncavo region of Bahia, Brazil while also serving as the Director of the Bloco Gavião, a community drum ensemble focused on Afro-Brazilian drumming traditions such as samba-reggae, maracatu and afoxé. Mark has a master’s degree in education from the University of Illinois and enjoys designing learning experiences for all ages to feel belonging in the exploration of Brazilian culture.