RoyCroftCampusCorporation

A Painting Class That'll Be Smooth as Silk

Now here's something you can't learn everyday: Painting on silk!

     Kristine Baker, a Roycroft Renaissance Artisan, is teaching a class about painting on silk. The class is coming up Saturday July 26, 2008 between 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at The Copper Shop Gallery. You can create beautiful silk art pieces of you own. Exploration of color mixing and design will be encouraged throughout the one day workshop. Your finished piece can be framed or be incorporated into another project.

     Take the opportunity to learn something completely unique! Check out the Roycroft Campus Corporation calender for this and other ways to express yourself!

-Amanda

See Boy Scout Kwahadi Dancers at The Roycroft Campus July 29th

Tuesday, July 22nd

Just a Reminder that the Boy Scout Kwahadi Dancers are coming to tour the Roycroft Campus and will give a free performance Monday July 28th at Noon on the grassy area in front of the Roycroft Print Shop/ Cornell Cooperative Extension; this is on South Grove Street, in the first block south of Main Street, East Aurora. In case you don't know about this group, I have re-run my earlier blog explaining their connection to the Roycroft here:

     What do Boy Scouts in Texas have in common with the Roycroft? Elbert Hubbard’s son, Ralph, was a fan of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. He was so enamored of the wild west, cowboys and Indians, that he went west and in the 1920's purchased a ranch in Colorado. He learned the lore and wrangling skills from cowboys and Native Americans and shared all he knew of camping, archery, horsemanship, native crafts and native dancing by hosting Scout Troops at the ranch in the summers.

       One of the camp counselors was Dr. Charles E. Colgate of St. Louis Missouri. Dr. Colgate was fascinated with the native dancing and formed a troop of dancing Scouts in St. Louis and later in Amarillo, Texas. The Texas group, Troop 9, put together a performance of their native dancing for the Scout skills annual show and that was the beginning of the Kwahadi Dancers. Word of mouth brought many requests for their performances to the point that since 1944 over 1600 boys have been in the Kwahadi show performing throughout the U.S. and overseas wearing costumes they make themselves.

        The Kwahadi dancers are coming to visit and perform outside on the Roycroft Campus grounds from Noon to 12:45 pm on Monday July 28, 2008. In case of rain, this free performance will be held at the East Aurora Middle School. The dancers are excited to visit the Roycroft and we are most fortunate that they have made this one of their many stops as they perform in various cities over the summer months.    

       The RCC would like to thank those responsible for bringing the group to our area: local coordinators Turgeon & Fred Thornley, Chairpersons Mary Hubbard & Onda Dylewski, Boy Scout Troop #56 of East Aurora, and The Foundation for the Study of Arts & Crafts at Roycroft. And thanks to those making the Scouts' visit enjoyable: Kitty Turgeon providing their tour and East Aurora Tops Market and various volunteers for providing the Boy Scouts' lunch.

       For more information call The East Aurora Boy Scouts  at 716-655-5594. You can read more about the Kwahadi dancers at www.kwahadi.com.

- Sue

Monday Mottos

So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.

- Elbert Hubbard

What does "Wicked the musical" have in common with Roycroft?

I recently saw the Broadway musical Wicked. I really enjoyed it! If you are not familiar with it, Wicked is the the story of the witches before the Wizard of Oz.

Wicked has broken box office records around the world. The show has been nominated for 10 Tony awards.

So what does this hit show have in common with the Roycroft?

The 1900 original book of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum was illustrated by W.W. Denslow. Denslow was a Roycrofter. He was the head of the illumination department for a time.

A sad foot note to Denslow: The royalties from the print and stage versions of The Wizard of Oz were sufficient to allow Denslow to purchase an island off the coast of Bermuda and crown himself King Denslow. However, he drank his money away, and on May 27, 1915, died in obscurity, of pneumonia.

Julie

The Roycroft featured in the New York Times!

     Looking for somewhere to go for your summer vacation? East Aurora, NY is the place to be! Whether it's in your own backyard or across the country, The Roycroft Campus is bustling with activities to keep everyone busy this summer.

     You don't have to take my word for it! The Roycroft Campus was recently featured in the New York Times! Check out this article in the New York Times with the Roycroft Campus as a great vacation destination! Click here for a link to the full article.

With so much to do, it's time to start planning your summer break now!

-Amanda

Review of A Message to Garcia Movie Night

     Well "movie night" at the Inn was a success. The Inn hosted the event with free popcorn, licorice, candy and drinks. The film was not based on Elbert Hubbard's article, but rather on the event itself which inspired him: Lt. Rowan's mission to deliver a message from America's President to General Garcia fighting the Spaniards in the jungles of Cuba. Hubbard's article did not go into detail about the mission itself. Instead he wrote about the strength of character and focus that Rowan demonstrated in carrying out his mission so quickly, no questions asked. I am sure the popularity of Hubbard's article - reprinted for use by railroad companies, businesses and the army to name a few - is what led to the movie being produced.

     The film was full of typical Hollywood moments: a monkey trying to steal "the message"; a love interest in Barbara Stanwyck as the Cuban sister of a soldier in Garcia's army who becomes Rowan's guide; a few comic sidekicks; chase and gunfire scenes with the Spaniards; and Rowan fighting off a swamp full of alligators - by banging their snouts with sticks - this gave us all a good laugh.

     It was a lovely summer night, but we still managed to get a crowd of 64 to come inside for a bit of old time black and white movie magic. Hubbard probably would have scoffed at Hollywood's version, but I know he would be pleased to see the philanstery filled.

- Sue

Monday Mottos

Reversing your treatment of the man you have wronged is better than asking his forgiveness.

- Elbert Hubbard

Roycroft Artisan Class for the youth

As you must know by now, The Roycroft Campus Corporation holds many classes: screen printing, hand illumination, metal smithing etc. Elbert Hubbard would be thrilled to know that the spirit of learning and working with one's hands is still in demand.

One of the newest classes is geared toward youth ages 11 to 111 (if you are 112 we'll bend the rules I'm sure). The class is called Rock on, Rock Painters.

Join artist Linn Nowicki to learn the basics of choosing, preparing, priming, painting, detailing and finishing two rock projects. All materials are supplied, even the rocks! Class dates: July 16 or July 23. Class fee is $25 + $10 materials. Call 716-655-0261. The last class sold out so don't miss this popular class!

Julie

PS. Don't forget "A Message to Garcia" movie night on July 10th!

For a full list of classes and event information check the RCC website at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com

Shopping Stories

Takes One to Know One

     By now you know I'm quite the antique shopper! I always have my eye out for that special something. The Roycroft Campus is the perfect place for people like me.

     Steeped in history, there is the Roycroft Antiques and the fantastic Copper Shop Gallery. On the Roycroft Summer Festival weekend it had even more shopping opportunities! There were booths of Roycroft Renaissance Artists and antiques dealers across the whole Campus!

     I'm not the only one with an eye for treasures!

      Our Roycroft Campus Corporation President, Doug Swift, indulged in opportunity as well! We spotted him examining a vintage chair from a booth right outside the Copper Shop. He stroked his beard, chatted quickly with the dealer and the chair was his! A look of pride on his face, he briskly carried his treasure away!

     The Roycroft Campus is the place to find that perfect thing that makes your heart race. Stop in the Copper Shop Gallery, open 9-5 everyday. You never know what treasure is waiting for you!

Elbert Hubbard's Editor at the Roycroft

I have found Roycrofter Felix Shay's book Elbert Hubbard of East Aurora to be a wonderful volume of stories and details about life on the Roycroft Campus. One detail I was relieved to discover was that Elbert had an editor. He wrote SO much I was beginning to think he was super human. It is nice to learn about the people that made it possible for Elbert to produce so much. Here is the excerpt on his editor:

     "For a round dozen years, Hoyle was the Man-behind-the-scenes. He was the “technical editor” for the three Roycroft publications: The Philistine, The Fra, and Little Journeys - or whatever you care to call him. Hubbard leaned on him, depended on him, had faith in him. Hoyle was the Human Encyclopedia. He knew everything; and what he didn’t know he knew how to find out.

     Hubbard was a rapid, voluminous writer. Most of his copy was written in lead pencil, with interlines, and marginal notes, corrected and re-corrected. Much of it was turned over to Hoyle as-is, to be prepared for the press. Many times Hubbard never saw his stuff from the time he released the manuscript until the printed page was placed in his hands.

     To follow after Hubbard, to understand every historical reference, to grasp his thought and his meaning perfectly, to know exactly when he was serious and when he was joking, to sense the odd manner in which certain words were to be spelled or misspelled, required a fine feeling of fellowship,  and extra-special brains. (To wit: “I will arise,” said the famished Prodigal, “and go to my fodder.”)

     Hoyle had both, together with devotion to the task. He was not one of the most conspicuous members at the Roycroft, but he was one of the most necessary.

     He abominated an error, and there were few of them - few!  T'was a job for a smart and learned and a loyal man - and I am glad for the opportunity to pay him this tribute."

- Felix Shay,

Author of Elbert Hubbard of East Aurora

excerpt from page 505, hardcover Roycroft printed version