Do you enjoy bracing mountain air, congenial surroundings with like minded basketry artists? If so this is THE retreat for you. The retreat is held in the beautiful mountain area near Julien. Camp Stevens provides sleeping quarters for 48 persons in 8 rooms with double built-in bunkbeds. Large restrooms are located just across the hall. Classes will be held upstairs in a large meeting room that divides into three rooms that overlook a meadow. Blum Lodge includes two fireplaces, a small kitchenette for snacks, and a library. Delicious food is served family-style in a common dining room. Meals feature homemade breads and rolls, fresh fruits and vegetables and excellent entrees. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available. Use the above Camp Stevens link for more information on this lovely site.

Classes

Natural Beginnings by Peggie Wilcox
This basket begins with a square cedar bark stake base and is twined with bulrush and iris leaves plus various wild naturals. A woven boarder will be used to finish the basket. Materials Fee: $45.00

Black Ash Baskets by JoAnn Catsos
Weaving with finely prepared black ash splint over a 4" mod, students will explore basic and twill weaves, handle and rim possibilities will be explored. Using natural brown heartwood, whiter sapwood, stain, waxed linen and your own embellishments you will create at least 2 unique pieces. Materials fee to be determined.

Creating Biomorphic Basketry Forms out of Metal Mesh by Lanny Bergner
Class goals and objectives Students will learn basic techniques associated with making basketry structures out of metal mesh. They will gain familiarity with the use of the simple hand tools needed to make metal mesh structures. Students will learn surface embellishment techniques and employ some of the demonstrated techniques to a basketry structure of their own creation. Students will make one at least one biomorphic basketry piece related to the instructor’s demonstration.

Outline of daily activities: During the first part of class the instructor will give a short presentation showing examples of the variety of structures he has made from aluminum, brass, stainless steel and bronze mesh and other mixed media materials. He will then demonstrate simple, but unique techniques he has developed to create the basketry forms that make up his signature works. He will also demonstrate how to create vines, branches and berry-like forms out of wire, (cold process) glass frit and silicone. He will also demonstrate other surface embellishment techniques using silicone and glass frit. After the instructor’s demonstrations students will familiarize themselves hands-on with the materials and experiment with construction techniques.

On the 2nd day the instructor will demonstrate how to make a particular biomorphic basketry structure (Spine dot basket image) out of metal mesh. Students will be asked to design a similar or related structure out of metal mesh. During the rest of the day the instructor will assist the students to create the biomorphic forms they envision.

Students will learn basic techniques associated with making baskets out of metal mesh as well as learning surface embellishment techniques to create at least 1 biomorphic basketry piece. Materials fee $30.00

Cost for the Retreat is $300.00 for members and $325 for non-members (you get a 2-year membership in the guild)

To pre-reserve space you can send a $50.00 deposit to Judy Robelotto, 18007 Regina Avenue, Torrance, CA 90504. For more information contact Suzye Ogawa at: suzye@adelphia.net or (310) 392-7385.

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