RoycroftCampusCorporation

New Year's Resolution to Learn Can be Achieved at the Roycroft

Was your New Year's resolution to learn something new or improve on a skill? For lovers of Arts & Crafts the RCC offers artisan classes all year long so come join other A&C fans learning from skilled artisans in small classes. You will leave with a new skill, a completed project and the satisfaction of knowing your class fee supports not only the instructor but the ongoing restoration of the Roycroft Campus. Check the RCC Web site Class information for details on classes, fees, registration information, and the latest schedule.

 

- Sue

 

 

Roycroft @ Chautauqua's 2nd Annual Buffalo Day

The 2nd Annual Buffalo Day at Chautauqua (Tuesday, August 16, 2011) was picture perfect weather-wise and typically chock full of inspirational lectures, art and entertainment thanks to Dennis Galucki, founder of the Center for the Study of Art, Architecture, History and Nature (C-SAAHN), and our gracious hosts, the wonderful staff and administrators of Chautauqua.

 

Every day at Chautauqua gives one a cornucopia of choices. Buffalo Day for me included the morning amphitheater lecture by Dev Patnaik. He had everyone coming away thinking about how they could be more empathetic in their jobs and volunteer work - read more in his book, Wired to Care. Following the lecture, a flower arranging class inspired me to try incorporating vegetables into my next centerpiece. Then it was onto a presentation by Visit Buffalo Niagara which explained the bid process that secured The National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference coming to Buffalo this October.

 

In the afternoon, the WNED documentary, Elbert Hubard, an American Original, was shown at the Hall of Christ to a full house, with filmmaker Paul Lamont on hand for commentary. Unfortunately, some people had to be turned away since it was a capacity crowd. About a third of the audience stayed for Q&A after the film. Roycroft Campus Corporation Executive Director, Christine Peters, and Board President, Doug Swift, were impressed with the caliber of questions. Afterward Doug said, “This group had some of the most thought provoking questions I have ever taken during a presentation.” Linda Ulrich-Hagner, Chautauqua resident, long time RCC volunteer, and the “grease” that brought Roycroft back to Chautauqua on this day, explained to Doug, “Chautauquans do their homework before lectures,” adding, “they probably all googled Elbert Hubbard beforehand.”

 

Yours truly proselytized for the RCC by handing out Roycroft walking tour pamphlets at the door and took notes as Chautauqua Archivist and Historian Jon Schmitz gave an informative introduction to the Roycroft film, describing the various connections between Chautauqua, Elbert Hubbard, the Roycroft and the Arts & Crafts Movement. Stay tuned as I will share this information in future posts.

 

- Sue

Buffalo Day at Chautauqua Includes Elbert Hubbard Documentary

Chautauqua Institute is holding their second “Buffalo Day” on Tuesday, August 16, and one event that day is devoted to the Roycroft. From 3:30 - 5:15 p.m. the WNED Documentary (shown nationally on PBS), “Elbert Hubbard - An American Original,” wil be presented, at the Hall of Christ, followed with a question and answer period led by writer and director, Paul Lamont.

      It is fitting that Chautauqua and the Roycroft are reunited on this day. Connections between the two date from the early days of both institutions. Elbert met his second wife through a Chautauqua reading group in East Aurora, and winter lecture sessions of Chautauqua were held at the Roycroft.

      Come experience the wonderful synergy of natural surroundings, inspiring architecture, intellectual inquiry and delightful WNY hospitality at both Chautauqua and the Roycroft.

- Sue

RCC Docent Training Begins in March

If you are interested in becoming a docent to give Roycroft Campus tours, the next docent training session will begin Saturday, March 19th at 9 a.m. in the Roycroft Copper Shop, 31 South Grove Street, East Aurora. Classes will continue for four more Saturday mornings, March 26, April 2, 9, 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be weekly reading assignments as well as in-class presentations. Your "graduation tour" will be scheduled after the training session ends in April. Yours truly will be the instructor again this year.

Please call the Copper Shop to register for this class (716) 655-0261.

 

- Sue

Glass Blowing Class at RCC

I am one of the few people in WNY that has not been to the Corning Glass Museum but I promise that will change this summer. Why? Because I just took a glass flame working class at the Roycroft Campus with artisan Ben Leonard and his trusty friend and fellow glass artist, Geof. 

I have always liked art glass, but never took the time to learn more about it. So I jumped at this hands-on opportunity when the Roycroft E-News announcement appeared in my e-mail this spring. 

I had no idea what to expect, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. Good that I didn’t know I was going to be working with a 700 degree propane torch all day for two days and bad that I didn’t know I was going to be working with a 700 degree propane torch all day for two days.

I knew heat had to be involved, but was tentative when I saw how close my hands would have to come to it. Ben and Geof demonstrated how to stay well away from the flame using the glass "puntys" as our “hands”. Then we heated the glass rods to stretch them, getting a feel for the material’s plasticity at different temperatures. 

“Gathering” was our next skill to acquire - bringing the molten glass in on itself forming a  ball to then manipulate into various shapes. Our first day was spent on these and other  initial skills  doing simple projects like pendants and leaves with loops for hanging them. Ben and Geof gave us breaks doing demonstrations that resulted in very cool objects which we all coveted.

On our second day the class was able to jump right in, lighting the torches without any difficulty and start in on small projects. But Ben and Geof weren’t content to leave us at this stage. They demonstrated glass blowing and taught us how to blow ornaments and jars on the second day. 

Every student in the class came away with a treasure trove of trinkets - pendants, ornaments, small lop-sided jars (we weren’t experts yet!) - and a new-found appreciation of glass  flame working. We can identify techniques now and can’t wait to try our hand at it again. 

This is my second RCC artisan class (I took a copper repousse class, see blog "Copper Class at Roycroft Campus", June 2, 2008) and once again it was a unique experience learning about a cool craft from funky, artsy dudes among a great group of people. One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend.

- Sue

A History of the Roycroft Copper Shop Presented By Doug McFarland

'The Orchard Park Presbyterian Church is sponsoring the next Silver Foxes Luncheon Presentation on Thursday, November 12 from noon-2p.m. in the church's new Reception Room, 4369 South Buffalo Street.

A History of the Roycroft Copper Shop will be presented by featured speaker Orchard Park Realtor, Doug McFarland.

Cost of the luncheon will include Caesar salad, cider brine pork roast, dessert and beverage.  Cash or checks made payable to the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church will be accepted at the door on the day of the program.

Persons interested in attending must call 662-9348 by Thursday, November 5 in order to make a reservation.'  This is an announcement found in the Orchard Park Penny Saver. 

Also, we just want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Halloween. BOO!

Claudia

Alice Paul: The Struggle For Suffrage

Katherine H. Adams knows all about Alice Paul and her campaign for women's rights. Professor Adams is the Hutchinson Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of English at Loyola University New Orleans.  Her book is titled "Alice Paul and the American Suffrage Campaign". The evening was presented by The Little Journeys Lyceum, with  live music and a reception on Monday, October 12 at The Roycroft Inn, 40 Grove Street, East Aurora, NY.  

Professor Adams conversed about the role of Alice Paul and other suffragists during the early years of the past century, which included the years during Woodrow Wilson's Presidency and WWI.  I don't think anyone could have heard a pin drop during Professor Adams' discussion about Paul's experiences as a fighter for our rights.  Listening to this charming lady we learned how Paul's use of nonviolence and visual rhetoric was eventually effective in achieving the vote for women in 1920, though she and her contemporaries suffered much violence on the streets and in prison.  Alice Paul's campaign was influential for other campaigns such as the civil right movements.

Try to see HBO's biographical film, Iron Jawed Angels featuring Hillary Swank in the role of Alice Paul.   "Alice Paul and the American Suffrage Campaign" is available at The Copper Shop, 31 S. Grove St, East Aurora, NY.    

Claudia

Little Journeys Lyceum 1st Lecture at Inn

Following in Elbert Hubbard’s footsteps of providing lectures on Campus for the edification of all, a new lecture series will debut October 12th, 2009, 7:00 PM at the Roycroft Inn. The Little Journeys Lyceum presents Katherine H. Adams, the William and Audrey Distinguished Professor of Loyola University, New Orleans, speaking  on the subject of “Alice Paul: The Struggle for Suffrage”.

Katherine Adams is the author of Alice Paul and the American Suffrage Campaign, which is the first complete accounting of Ms. Paul’s contribution to the suffrage movement. At the time of the American campaign for suffrage, Elbert and Alice Hubbard’s support of women’s right to vote was very public: “VOTES FOR WOMEN” was emblazoned in three foot tall letters on the silo at the Roycroft farm and subtler yellow Roycroft roses* decorated teacups served on Campus.  

The Little Journeys Lyceum is sponsored by: Roycrofters At-Large Association, Aurora Historical Society, Roycroft Campus Corporation, Roycroft Inn, and Foundation at Roycroft. The lecture is FREE and open to the public. Please come early as seating is limited. 

Katherine Adams’ book, Alice Paul and the American Suffrage Campaign, is for sale at the Roycroft Copper Shop, 31 South Grove Street, East Aurora. 716-655-0261. Come in to buy your copy of the book and then attend the lecture to learn more about the campaign which was very important to the original Roycrofters.

- Sue

* the yellow rose was a symbol of the suffrage movement

Roycroft Offers Classes with Buffalo Botanical Gardens

Did you know that the Roycroft is now offering classes in conjunction with the

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens? 

 

The Botanical Gardens are a major attraction in Buffalo on grounds designed by landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted over a century ago. The building it self is breathtaking. Beautiful domed greenhouses let light stream in. The plants are invitingly arranged and taken care of. It's a lovely place to stroll around. Schedule a class or just stop in to refresh your spirit.

Check out our website for these and other classes offered through the Roycroft Campus Corporation. This year you can choose Rock Painting, Butterfly Gardening or a Lecture on Orchids. There was even one on making Sea Glass Jewelry that was so popular it sold out! Participants can choose to take the class at the Roycroft Campus Copper Shop or the Botanical Gardens in Lackawanna (near Buffalo). Isn't it great to have so many choices for learning something in your community?

 

-Amanda

 

 

 

(photos: Amanda Dembik)

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