RoyCroftCampusCorporation

What a Weekend!

Wow, what a weekend!

      The Roycroft Summer Festival was fantastic. Despite a few downpours, the weather was very conducive to browsing the many talented artisans. Live folk music played as I went from a pottery booth, to a woodworker's wares, to a display of hand made jewelry! The delicious smell of the local food vendors drifted past me as I came across the East Aurora Historical Society booth. I took my time perusing some very informative local books that may factor in to upcoming blogs!

      The Roycroft Campus Corporation was out in full swing. A table in front of the Copper Shop attracted passing visitors to sign up for a membership. You could also learn how to volunteer or just vote on your favorite epigram from the upcoming book 101 Epigrams. I stopped into the bustling Copper Shop where the printing press was being demonstrated. New displays of artisan pieces amidst Arts and Crafts literature pulled me to the back of the rambling gallery. Ah, everything was so enticing. In the back room Dorothy Markert was showing her screen printing techniques. There is always something going on around the next corner.

      Back out near the Appian Way, a jumble of antiques dealers had set out their wares. The Roycroft Antiques shop, Roycroft Pottery and Norberg's Framing also beckoned in the background. I was very tempted by the mission oak furniture, the Arts and Crafts embroidery, and the Mid-century pottery. I'll admit I gave in and added to my ever growing collection!

     The art show across the street was a joy. Such wonderful local talent. And don't forget the strawberry social and the rummage sale at Baker Memorial Church right down the street. I found a lovely hand painted china plate for my collection!

      I conclude my visit with a walk down Walnut Street, past the Alex Fournier House and the Roycroft Arts Museum (only open for showing during festivities and conferences). A few blocks away, the Elbert Hubbard museum was buzzing with activity too.

Truely, a weekend for the Roycroft soul!

-Amanda

Pottery Classes at the Roycroft Pottery!

      Calling all potters!   Here's a unique opportunity to learn in a historic atmosphere with a working artist.  The Roycroft Pottery is offering classes with Janice McDuffie.

      Janice writes, "A nine week Tuesday evening Pottery class will begin May 13th, continuing through July 8th.  Each three hour session (6-9:00) will focus on the development of basic wheel-throwing skills, trimming, and glaze application. The $450.00 fee covers all material costs, glazes, tools, bisque and glaze firings to cone 9 (2350 degrees) in our gas-fired reduction kiln."

     The class size is limited, so contact Janice McDuffie at janice@roycroftpottery.com. Or call 716-652-7422 between 10-4:00 Tuesday through Saturday.

     It's great to see another Campus building right next door house an upcoming pottery class!  The Roycroft Campus Corporation offers a variety of classes at our Copper Shop location. We have a jewelry class coming up and classes in screen printing as well. Check our calender for all types of opportunities!

-Amanda

Earth Day the Roycroft Way

     The Roycroft has always thought green, even in Elbert Hubbard's day. He was an outdoor enthusiast. He used local building materials, and relied on regional farms to provide food for his Inn.

     Presently, the Roycroft Campus is "thinking green" for Earth Day. A lecture on "Planning a Green Earth Day" is scheduled for April 10th from 6:30-8:30pm. The public is welcome for $5 at the Copper Shop at 31 South Grove St. in East Aurora, NY. Laurie Kutina, an energy manager with the Association of Energy Engeneers, will speak on topics relating to recycling, energy, and environmental living. All ages will learn ways that they can live a greener life.

     The Copper Shop hosts many lecture and classes. Just check our calender to find something to enhance your life! We are always adding something new, so stay tuned!

-Amanda

Football and Shopping - Roycroft Campus has it all.

The day after Thanksgiving represents watching those college football games on TV and shopping till you drop. So here is a little football and a little shopping:

In 1893 Elbert Hubbard went to Harvard for a short time. Here is an excerpt of a letter he wrote to his son during that time:

My Dear Bertie:

The Dartmouth football team played the Harvards yesterday and the Harvards won - 16 to 0. Both sides did a lot of slugging and the umpire sent two men from the field for butting other fellows in the bread basket. It was an awful rough game though - lots of men hurt at it.

(photo courtesy of HarvardMagazine.com)

This above excerpt is from the book As Bees in Honey Drown by Charles Hamilton. This very interesting book -  about the love, lives and letters between Alice and Elbert Hubbard  - would make a good holiday gift.

You will find lots of great holiday gifts, without fighting for a parking space, at the Copper Shop on the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, NY.  To find that perfect present for someone special, we welcome you to come explore unique handcrafted artisan items and delightful gift ideas and simply enjoy the ambiance of the Copper Shop dressed for the holidays!

Open 10:00 - 5:00pm daily.

Julie

Don't Catch the Flu, Catch Up with the Lectures at the Roycroft Campus!

       Weaving Your Way through History

                      at the Roycroft

     The Roycroft Campus Corporation is a wonderful organization to stay current with because of numerous events throughout the year. One such recent event was Head, Heart and Hand: the Textiles of the American Arts and Crafts Movement with Bonnie Klatt. With her business, Hands of Grace, Bonnie is a weaver who's work is featured at the Copper Shop.

    On this snowy Tuesday evening, guests were treated to an overview of the Arts and Crafts movement.  The major players, including Elbert Hubbard, were discussed in relationship to the hand crafted textiles they promoted. Bonnie stated that the Hubbard even employed "Roycroft Girls 70 years young" who cut, dyed and wove rugs for purchase through Roycroft advertisements.

     Entrepreneur Anna Nott Shook's contribution to Arts and Crafts weaving through her portable looms was also discussed.  Particularly interesting to our readers is that she visited the Roycroft Campus. Her son, Raymond Nott, was a designer/artist at the Roycroft.

     This evening concluded with a question and answer period and a showing of books on the subject. It seems the more you know, the more you you want to know! Feel free to comment below about about Arts and Crafts textiles and the Roycroft connection!

     Be sure to inquire about the many other lectures and classes ongoing throughout the year at the Copper Shop. Stop in at 31 Grove St to see Bonnie's work or pick up a schedule of events.

     Get involved and find out for yourself that knowledge is contagious!

-Amanda               

                              (photos: unattributed designs from author's private collection)

Roycroft Power House - Visit the "before" so you will really appreciate the "after".

  This fall the Roycroft Campus Power House received some much needed attention. When visitors from out of town come to the Campus, asking about the partial building is a common question. It may never send energy to all the Campus buildings again but watching the transformation over the next year or two will energize our passion for the Roycroft Campus.

The Roycroft Campus Corporation has begin to stabilize what is left of the Power House and remove loose brick to reuse again. 

Eventually there will be even more photos as work progresses. We will have "before" photos - as in Elbert Hubbard's time; "after" photos - as in after the fire; and hopefully sometime in late 2008 or 2009 - the best "after" photos yet.

Did you know that on the side of this blog there is a great selection of Power House photos? Just click on the side photo to see more beginning restoration images.

Be sure to visit the Copper Shop to see some of our plans for the Power House, pick up a gift for the upcoming holidays, and to just say "Hi".

Julie

Nothing Good on TV? Read on: There's no Writer's Strike at the Roycroft Campus!

          DOROTHY MARKERT - THE PRINTMAKER

The weekend of The Connection 2007 was full of activity. You could visit with many Roycroft Artisans around the Roycroft Inn and Campus or stop in at the Copper Shop at 31 Grove Street.        

One of the activities at the Copper Shop was a printmaking demonstration by Roycroft Master Artisan Dorothy Markert. Dorothy demonstrated how she prints her hand-made Christmas cards for 2007.

     Her prints gracefully combine simplicity and beauty. The design for this year features a winter scene at the Roycroft. It was a unique opportunity to see the steps necessary to make this snowy landscape appear. You can even purchase some at the Copper Shop. What an original card to send to your loved ones this season!

     If you are curious about the process, Dorothy often teaches a class on printmaking at the Copper Shop as well. Check out our calender for dates on the many classes and lectures to look forward to with the Roycroft Campus Corporation.  Sign up here to learn something new or drop us a comment below if you've already been to any of our classes!

     Come see Dorothy's variety of prints featuring Arts and Crafts subjects displayed at the Copper Shop. She uses period pottery, flowering plants and decorative borders as her inspiration in creating artwork that compliments any season's decor.  Take a stroll through the newly enlarged Copper Shop Gallery at 31 South Grove Street to see Dorothy's prints and more. The gallery hours are Sunday through Saturday 10-5 and there is always something special to see!

-Amanda

Roycroft Blogging - Team style

Hello. My name is Julie and I am one of three bloggers that will be helping you get to know the Roycroft Campus. Just like in Hubbard's day, groups or teams of people make the job easier.

When I moved to East Aurora nine years ago, I was drawn to the beautiful buildings on Grove Street but I did not really know much about them.   Over the years I have become slightly obsessed with learning all I can about the Roycroft, the Arts and Crafts Movement and the quaint village of East Aurora.

One of the aspects of the Campus that draws me is that it does not take much imagination to visualize what the Campus would have looked like one hundred years ago. When you look at old photos of the Roycroft Campus, it is not really too different from today. Getting behind the RCC motto of *As if Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters never left* is not hard to do.

Living here in the village with my husband and two sons is a joy. I sometimes walk or ride my bike to the Roycroft Campus for the various volunteer projects I enjoy. My most recent research is exploring if my house was actually built by a Roycrofter. (Wouldn*t that be cool!?)

I hope in the coming months to write about the Campus and encourage you to visit not only the Roycroft buildings but learn about East Aurora, past and present artisans, and what it was like on the Roycroft Campus one hundred years ago.

Chair Caning Expert Does Demonstration to Roycroft Campus Copper Shop Visitors

           Retired elementary school teacher, Jim Bartoo, demonstrates his craft of caning chair seats to a family visiting from Illinois.  Fourteen year old Tim, had no idea what a caned seat was, let alone how it was done,  until he visited the Roycroft Campus recently. 

          The Roycroft Copper Shop, and Campus, frequently provide free demonstrations of a variety of Arts and Crafts.  Stop in to see what's going on and if you have a craft you think is interesting, and you'd be willing to demonstrate, feel free to call the Shop at (716)-655-0261 and offer.

          Roycroft Campus Copper Shop, open 10 am - 5 pm daily with extended hours Wednesday and Friday until 7 pm.

Roycroft Campus, Founded by Elbert Hubbard, Alive Again With Young Artists

          Summer vacation watercolor class begins on the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, NY, with Roycrofter-at-Large Master Artisan, Tom Bojanowski, and his recreation department assistant .  This group of young artists enjoy the shade of an old tree, sprawled on the lawn with their watercolors, creating their own interpretation of the Roycroft Inn.

         Visit the Roycroft Campus, bring your own watercolors or watch for a class being given at the Roycroft Campus Copper Shop.  A schedule of all classes is listed on our website at www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com