• Collaborative Mural Painting (and Canvas Painting) with Bobbie Alsgaard-Lien Participants in this workshop will create a collaborative mural painting for the SW Minnesota Arts Council. This mural will be exhibited in the Arts Councils Marshall office upon completion. Each attendee will have an opportunity to create a canvas painting of their mural image to take home and add to their art collection.

• Nature Mandalas with Mary Jo Schimpelfenig Description: Nature Mandalas are a form of art using natural objects, such as flower blossoms, petals, leaves, feathers, pebbles, twigs, pinecones, berries, bark, seed pods acorns, etc.  I will have many natural items that you can use, but we will also go for a treasure hunt and collect nature items around the Folk School. There is no right or wrong way to make a nature mandala, you play with items of nature and make a beautiful creation. It is ephemeral, temporary, but we can take a picture of it for you to keep. Get ready to have some fun, but be forewarned, “Making Nature Mandalas” is addictive!! P.S. You can also bring some of the stones, shells, feathers you have collected over the years.

• "And Merengue!" with Purpose Artisans (John Salgado Maldonado & Nicole Arnhold) Learn this Latin dance and move your body!

• "Cozy Mystery" writing session wit M.E. Fuller Description: “How To Write a Cozy Mystery (and anything else)”: Open the door to your imagination as we expose secrets of murder, mystery, mayhem, and all manner of suspense! Writing sprints and discussion will get you thinking in mysterious ways plus plotting tips will help you keep readers engaged.  Fun for all skill levels. What to expect: writing sprints & discussion. What to bring: paper/pen or pencil (use of laptops is discouraged!)

• Ceili Dance with Jess Robinson

• Community Theatre with Ashley Hansen 

• Mandala Drawing with gel pens & colored pencils with Monica Villars (15 student limit, sign up with registration)“JUMPING OFF THE COLORING BOOK TO THE MANDALA”: Participants will be guided to create a multi-circle design on black illustration board using repetitive shapes. Colored pencils & gel pens will be used to fill in and/or blend the shapes. All materials will be provided but you may want to bring your own pens & pencils to use as well. The class is designed for beginning artists but also allows for more complex designs for those artists that want more of a challenge. (Participants may need extended class time)

• Community Drumming with Purpose Artisans of Willmar (John Salgado Maldonado & Nicole Arnhold) Description: Purpose Artisans is about bringing people together and bridging cultures. Would you guess that a group of strangers could create unique rhythms within minutes?! Drumming is an ancient way of communicating, it comes from deep inside. And merengue! Learn this Latin dance and move your body.

• E-Z Cut Printmaking with Brad Hall and assistant Krystl Louwagie (15 student limit, sign up with registration) Description: “E-Z Cut Printmaking”: Learn to carve on easy cut & linoleum blocks. Create a 5x7 and print it. All materials are provided. Don’t know what to make? Don’t worry! The instructor will bring a variety of design ideas. This is a beginner level class intended to introduce people to the art of linoleum block printing.

• Poetry with Saara Myrene Raappana

• Eco-Print Scarf Dyeing with Kerry Kolke Bonk (class limit 12, sign up with registration) “Eco Printing – an Introduction”  This class is for those who want to learn how to print onto a natural fabric using nature itself.  Students will end up with a finished silk scarf to take home.  To participate in this class, you will come to the first session to learn how to lay out/roll the leaves onto the scarf…Kerry will then steam the scarves to be unrolled and rinsed when you come back for the second session.  All supplies will be provided but if you want to bring your own leaves…Oak, Maple, Rose and Black Walnut print well…just be sure to keep them flat.  (Between magazine pages works well for a few days.) CLASS LIMIT: 12

• Southwest Minnesota Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board Grant Opportunities for Artists & Needs Assessment with SMAC Staff

• "Cartoon You" with Krystl Louwagie Are you curious about making your own comics, but don't know where to start? How about with what you know best: you! In this introductory session, artist Krystl Louwagie will supply exercises to help you visualize how you can make your own cartoon version of yourself (or those close to you). You don't have to have traditional drawing skills, just an open mind and the right tools (have fun and don't take yourself too seriously)!

FEES:

• Friday afternoon only: $15 for workshops & meals*
• Saturday only: $15 for workshops & meals*
• $30 total for both days of workshops*
• Overnight Lodging-Private Room: $35
• Overnight Lodging-Shared Room: $20
• Overnight Lodging-Private room with bath: $70