Join artists from across Southwest Minnesota for 1 1/2 days of networking and arts inspiration on May 9 & 10, 2025. Workshop sessions have been created to appeal to artists of all disciplines; register for one or both days. The workshops will be held at Danebod Folk School in Tyler, MN for a “get-away" learning atmosphere.
SW MN Arts Council 2025 Artist Retreat
Registration is full and is now closed.
Registration for the SMAC Artist Retreat is full, we are happy to host 60 people on both days of the retreat! If you missed out on the fun, check back next year in early May. However, every year SMAC hosts a performance on Friday evening of the Artist Retreat in Tyler that is free and open to the public, even if you are not attending the retreat! Please join us in the Danebod Gymnasium building at 7 pm on May 9th for a music performance by Malena Handeen, followed by an Open Mic, hosted by Betsy Pardick! There will be a sign up sheet with 10 minute slots, so if you’re a performer, come prepared to entertain and share your talents with an enthusiastic group!
Danebod Folk School
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May 09, 2025 12:00pm – May 10, 2025 05:00pm Add to Google · Outlook Web · Outlook Mobile · Yahoo · iCal |
Friday afternoon/evening, May 9 and all-day Saturday, May 10. You may choose to attend just Friday, or just Saturday… or join us for the entire event along with overnight lodging at the historic Danebod Folk School. Overnight accommodations will be available, but not required. Click here for a pdf of the schedule (pdf updated 4/29/24)
Prices for SMAC Region Residents:
•1 day of workshops (2 meals) $25
•2 days or workshops (4 meals) $50
Prices for attendees outside of SMAC region:
• 1 day of workshops (2 meals) $40
•2 days of workshops (4 meals) $75
Overnight lodging
• Private room/shared bathrooms & accessed by stairs $45 (SOLD OUT)
• Lodging Suites/personal bathroom & no stairs $75 (SOLD OUT)
Registration is full and is now closed.
Registration for the SMAC Artist Retreat is full, we are happy to host 60 people on both days of the retreat! If you missed out on the fun, check back next year in early May. However, every year SMAC hosts a performance on Friday evening of the Artist Retreat in Tyler that is free and open to the public, even if you are not attending the retreat! Please join us in the Danebod Gymnasium building at 7 pm on May 9th for a music performance by Malena Handeen, followed by an Open Mic, hosted by Betsy Pardick! There will be a sign up sheet with 10 minute slots, so if you’re a performer, come prepared to entertain and share your talents with an enthusiastic group!
*During registration you only have to specifically register for classes that have a limited size;
for the others, as long as your registered for the retreat, just plan to show up for your class of choice on the day of!
2025 SMAC Artist Retreat: SCHEDULE
**Some classes will be held in locations that require stairs. These are: Lodge Basement & the Lecture Hall**
Friday, May 9:
12 – 1:00 PM Check in/Room assignments/Light Lunch
Location: Dining Hall
1 – 2:45 PM SESSION #1 (Choose 1)
•“Writing Music from the Heart” with Betsy Pardick
Class description: Writing a song from the heart has the power to move your audience. It invokes feelings of pleasure, pain, intimacy and more that help you connect with people. It acts as an inspiration for all who hear it. If you can communicate through your words and music, you are writing your songs from your heart.
Location: Lodge Basement
• “Watercolor: From Basics to a Finished Image” with Cay Gjertson (limited to 12 participants)
This class is full, but we have added an additional watercolor class with Tamara Isfeld.
Class description: We will choose between two very different landscapes as an entire class, practice water control briefly, then mix colors to achieve the most natural watercolor painting in the time allowed. All materials will be provided, even a sketch to copy if needed, so no one needs to feel intimidated. You will leave with a painting suitable for framing and maybe even the desire to do more with watercolor paints.
Location: Dining Hall
• “Whimsical Watercolors: A Beginner’s Guide to Playful Painting” with Tamara Isfeld
Class description: Dive into the magical world of watercolor! This beginner-friendly class will introduce you to essential techniques like wet-on-wet, dry brush, color blending, and simple layering. No prior experience? No problem! We’ll keep things light and fun as we explore the fluid beauty of watercolors. Together, we’ll create a couple of whimsical, imaginative paintings—charming creatures, or abstract splashes of color that spark joy. With step-by-step guidance and plenty of room for creative play, you’ll leave with new skills, fresh inspiration, and your own unique watercolor painting. All supplies provided—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore!
Location: Lecture Hall
2:45 – 3:00 PM Snack/Break
3:00 – 5:00 PM SESSION #2 (Choose 1)
• “Drawing Poetic Inspiration from Expected & Unexpected Sources” with Athena Kildegaard
Class Description: During this 2- hour workshop, we’ll look at poems that draw inspiration from art and we’ll write our own poems using art and other sources for inspiration. Bring a notebook and pen or pencil.
Location: Lodge Basement
• “Painting Pancakes (Edible Art)” with Adam Preuss & Jessica Gorman
Class description: Who says pancakes have to be round or simply golden? In this class you will learn how to mix pancake batter with a variety of food colorings and pour that vibrant batter into endless shapes, images and designs. Students will cook their art cakes right on the spot! Leaving with or eating a finished product.
Location: Dining Hall
•“Create a Junk Journal you Love” with Kady Simpson
Class description: Over this course we will learn about different styles of junk journals, combining papers, fabrics and scraps to put together something you can use and love daily. We will also discuss ways to bedazzle your journal with journal jewelry! *OPTIONAL: bring your favorite papers or scraps to add*
Location: Lecture Hall
5:00PM Break
6 – 7 PM Supper provided
7 – 7:30 PM
Music performance from Malena Handeen! ~ OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
(Taking place at the Danebod Gym)
7:30 – 8:15 PM
Open Mic Night led by Betsy Pardick.~ OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ~ *Are you a musician, poet or other type of performer? Join in the fun and plan to share during OPEN MIC. Performers will have 10 minute sign up slots.
(Taking place at the Danebod Gym)
8:15 PM Networking with fellow artists at your leisure
–Open Visual art (Folk School sunny porch)
Saturday, May 10:
8 – 9:00 AM Registration for Saturday-only Attendees/Breakfast
9:00 AM Welcome
Location: Dining Hall
9:15 – 10:45 AM SESSION #3 Workshops: (Choose 1)
• “Handpieced, Upcycled Hexie Quilts as Portable Fiber Art” with Julie Walker
Class Description: Whether you are too busy to sit down at the sewing machine for hours of piecework, you have always wanted to sew but need a primer, or you have ADHD and you need a good fidget, this class is for you. This scrappy style hexagon quilt is perfect if you’re on the go but still want to keep your hands busy. Best of all, this class will focus on upcycling materials from old clothes or purchased second-hand (though you’re welcome to use new material if that’s your preference). By the end of the class, you will have several hexies sewn together and a plan for how to bind the material (as well as bonus projects you can use hexies for in the future)! **Bring your own cotton quilting fabric if you wish
Location: Lecture Hall
• “Body Flow” with Kristen Moses & “Chair Yoga” with Darwin Dyce
Class Descriptions:
Body Flow is a 45 minute class that will help to strengthen muscles, improve overall flexibility and mobility, and will leave you feeling centered and calm. Controlled breathing, concentration and a carefully structured series of stretches, moves and poses to music create a holistic workout that brings the body into a state of harmony and balance. You can expect the first half of class to be a warmup followed by standing bodyweight poses to warm the muscles and build overall strength. We will then move into seated and/or supine poses designed to build mobility and end with a brief meditation. **Bring your own yoga mat
Chair Yoga will be a 30-minute session that utilizes gentle upper and lower body stretches, done from a chair and includes some standing balance movements where the chair can be a support when one needs it. It is not about rigidity, being stoic or doing every move like everyone else. It is about opening to greater community, stillness, breath, stretching and listening to your body for guidance.
Location: Gym
• “Monochromatic Canvas Painting” with SammyJo Miller (Class limited to 25 participants)
Class Description: During this canvas painting session, everyone will create a unique landscape using the values of one color. We will discuss atmospheric perspective, shading techniques, and a few tips and tricks to a quick acrylic painting.
Location: Dining Hall
10:45 – 11:00 Break and network with other attendees
11:00 – 12:30 pm SESSION #4 Workshops: (Choose 1)
• “Screenprinting” with David Kelsey Bassett Class description: In this class, students will design and print their own artwork on cloth bags and shirts using painterly screen printing techniques. **Cloth bags provided or if you wish, bring your own t-shirt to print. The class will be divided into four parts: 1. Sketching & Planning – Students will begin by sketching their design ideas on paper, considering composition and how they will use liquid blockout to create their stencils. 2. Printing a Prepared Design – To get familiar with the process, students will print an already-prepared design onto a cloth bag or shirt. 3. Painting with Liquid Blockout – The majority of the class will be spent painting directly onto screen frames with liquid screen blockout, creating unique, hand-rendered designs. 4. Printing Original Designs – Once the blockout has dried, students will print their custom designs onto a cloth bag or shirt. This workshop emphasizes creative exploration, allowing students to experiment with painterly techniques in screen printing. Location: Lecture Hall |
• “Draw-ring by Dipper“ with David Strom
Class Description: Experience the old world techniques involved with pen and ink drawing. There is something fascinating and nostalgic about learning this ancient craft. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to work a dip pen, this is the class for you.
Location: Lodge Basement
• “Monochromatic Canvas Painting” with SammyJo Miller – CONTINUED Location: Dining Hall |
12:30 LUNCH
Location: Dining Hall
1:30 – 3:00 pm SESSION #5 Workshops: (Choose 1)
*Please note: Unfortunately the following class has been canceled due to instructor illness: “Native American beaded Medicine Bags“ with Fern Cloud. We have updated with 2 class options taught by SMAC Staff.
• “A quick study in Plein air using Gouache” with John Sterner
*Extended Class: 1pm – 3:30pm class time
Class Description: Using a handheld easel and a simple warm cool primary palette, we will learn to paint what we observe outside, if the day is nice. Otherwise we will paint something in the interior of Danebod. A quick how-to with a quick idea on composition and then an opportunity to practice and create a small study.
Location: Gym + Outside
• “Audio Engineering and Management – Gear tips, techniques, and addressing your needs” with Kyle Novak
Class description: You’re thinking about making audio management and production a bigger part of your creative vision – hosting live music and performance events, opening up a venue space for deeper community connections, creating marketing material for your organization, and archiving past content. But you’re hit with a feeling that you’ll be subjected to lots of complicated terminology and a confusingly long list of equipment options to choose from. So, what are eager creatives, venue owners, and institutions to do? This class has you covered! We will help you simplify and clarify, talk about gear you can use, and the audio engineering techniques you can implement to bring out the full potential of your creative space, wherever that may be! It doesn’t matter if you’re just getting off the ground, looking to expand your capabilities, or are ready for a fully-loaded setup that can handle it all, we’ll go step-by-step to talk about how you can most identify your needs and execute them with efficiency. The material in this class covers a wide range of beginner and advanced topics, no prior experience in sound is needed!
Location: Lodge Basement
• “Expressing Your Layers” with Krystl Louwagie
Class Description: Use semi-transparent sheets of vellum paper to create layers in your artwork. The possibilities are endless! The transparency of the paper allows for you to trace more complicated designs (even from portraits or photos) and lets you create a background on one sheet and an exciting character or top subject on another. Stack them up for a unique finished artwork! This class will have metallic markers that can draw over dark colors or paper to create even more layers. In this class you can choose to draw or trace everything, or even decide to include a background layer from a magazine page or photo. Lets get creative!
Location: TBD
• “Needle felting” with Nicole DeBoer
Class Description: Learn to create unique and textured 2D art using only wool felt and barbed needles! This course will introduce participants to the basics of creating a 2D felt “painting” with a variety of wool colors. Participants will have the opportunity to play with the texture and colors of dyed wool to bring their art to life with an art form that has opportunities for beginner and advanced artists alike.
Location: TBD
3:00 – 3:30 SNACK & More Networking
Location: Dining Hall
3:30 PM SESSION #6:
Group Session: SHOW & TELL (bring a personal artwork to share – or a piece from sessions during this retreat) Location: Dining Hall |
4 PM Workshop concludes
This activity is funded, in part, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from its arts and cultural heritage fund that was created by vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.
© 2024 Southwest Minnesota Arts Council. All Rights Reserved.