Three Valentine’s DIY Events This Weekend
While drugstores have been painted red and pink for the past month, with February now less than 24 hours away, now’s the time for all you lucky love birds out there to really start thinking about that perfect Valentine’s Day gift.
And since no V-Day gift is ever complete without a card, I figured I’d give you a heads-up on these three workshops going down this weekend.
While snacking on pub grub and knocking back a few brewskies, Blackheart Letterpress welcomes you to print and customized one of their new V-Day-themed cards using their collection of old wood type. They’ll also be bringing along their selection of really cool, handmade prints, cards, coasters and bookmarks for you to purchase. If you can’t make it out this Sunday, don’t worry—another edition of LFL will be held at Community Cultural Exchange (706 South St.) next Saturday from 4-8pm. Sunday, 1-6pm. Free. @ Tattooed Mom (530 South St.)
Once again Fleisher Art Memorial invites you to come and learn about the printmaking processes as you create your very own Valentine’s Day cards from designs by several Philly artists. Three different workshops will be held throughout the day. The first two are open to all ages while the 5 p.m workshop is strictly 21 years and up (since wine and light refreshments will be served). Space is limited so be sure to register ASAP. Sunday, 10am-12pm, 1-3pm, 5-7pm. $10-$20. @ Fleisher Art Memorial (719 Catherine St.)
Local paper artisan, Jessica Eldredge will guide you through a love-inspired card-making afternoon, providing her hand-dyed papers and any other necessary supplies. Jessica also has a Make-Your-Own-Card Kit available for you to buy both in-store and online. Though the workshop is technically free, you do have to spend a minimum of $27 at Square Peg in order to score a seat. Fortunately, the handmade artisan boutique is currently stocked with a slew of one-of-a-kind items that would make for a perfect Valentine’s gift—from jewelry and clothing to home décor and bath and body products. Saturday, 2-4pm. @ Square Peg Artery & Salvage (108 S. 20th St.)
Fleisher fall courses now open!
Yesterday Fleisher opened up its Fall 2010 workshops and classes and if you are thinking about signing up, I suggest doing it quickly, some classes are already full! I decided to take advantage of the free adult classes and will be spending Thursdays this fall brushing up on some of my drawing skills in a Drawing Space and Form class.
If you’re like me and have allowed your brushes and charcoals to collect dust in recent years, Fleisher’s free classes are a great way to get the motivation you need to get over that creative hump. Classes run from September 13 through November 20 and range from free to $225. The more expensive workshops are more intensive, have smaller class sizes and longer studio hours. Additionally, the folks at Fleisher are really working for you to make art as accessible as possible. They have added caps to the number of students who can enroll in their free classes so that students aren’t packed into classrooms, they have a tuition assistance program for anyone who wants to take one of their more intensive workshops but might have some trouble with the fees and they have special offers on bundles of supplies that are specially created for the specific class you have signed up for in addition to offering the materials to you at a reduced price! I’m actually embarrassed to think that I’ve been living just three blocks from Fleisher for almost three years and this will be my first time as a student. Well, like they say, better late than never!
Stuffed stuff
Tomorrow is the opening of an exhibit of work created by the Fleisher Art Memorial animal sculpture class at the Wagner Free Institute of Science. There’s a speaker, Dr. Pat Morris of the University of London, who’s cosponsored by the decidedly unstuffy Brooklyn Observatory group, giving a talk on taxidermy to open the exhibit. From the Wagner’s website:
Dr. Morris is a leading British mammal ecologist who has been researching the history of taxidermy as a lifelong hobby. He has travelled throughout Europe and the USA seeking out interesting taxidermy specimens and stories.
His presentation will consider taxidermy from its roots as a business in the 19th century, reviewing the history of preserved animals, and attempts to find the oldest surviving specimens. Dr. Morris will also explore the diverse and amusing uses of taxidermy – including major museum exhibits, stuffed pets, hunting trophies, animal furniture, and squirrels playing cards. His lecture will also discuss changing public attitudes toward taxidermy.
As you may have guessed by the name of the venue, this event is free. And in case you don’t make it up to the 19121 a whole lot, the Wagner is up near Temple and the Cecil B. Moore stop on the Broad Street line.
A History of Taxidermy, Wednesday, April 7th, 2010, 5:30pm
Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 W. Montgomery Avenue