04/18/2019
May 11 and 12, 2019 Mothers’ Day Weekend • Saturday 11-5, Sunday 1-5
When Spring finally arrives in the Finger Lakes, it is time to pay a visit to the singular attraction in Middlesex, the Rochester Folk Art Guild. Artisans at the Guild’s East Hill Farm welcome the public to their craft studios and the East Hill Gallery on Mothers’ Day weekend. On Saturday May 11 the hours are 11am-5pm, and Sunday May 12, 1pm-5pm. The Guild’s address is 1445 Upper Hill Rd, Middlesex, NY 14507, off Route 364 between the hamlets of Middlesex and Potter. Look for the signs for East Hill Gallery.
This is an opportunity to see the latest Guild creations in the workshops, visit with the craftspeople, and peek into the Gallery for a broad selection of all the crafts. The Book Room has a new selection of books for all ages. This on-site event gives friends and neighbors a chance to purchase the latest work in time for graduation and wedding season gift giving. What better place to bring Mom for an outing?
Looking into the East Hill Gallery, besides the tasty refreshments we find eco-printed and hand dyed accessories and home goods using avocados, eucalyptus, onion skins, and leaves of all types on display. The Natural Fiber Clothing Designs Studio craftswomen have immersed themselves in creating silk scarves, womens’ clothing, lavender filled sachets, relaxation-inducing eye pillows, note cards, pillows, table runners and napkins. Sometimes you need a special treat for yourself.
In the Pottery Studio, the potters have been working with a low fire earthenware that is wheel thrown, carved, burnished and fired using a small brick kiln with sawdust as the fuel. The results are varied from rich black to tan or white depending on the smoldering sawdust. There is a variety of crackle ware, that peculiar glaze that beads up on the outside of the pot, white with a dark blue underneath. There will be lots of functional work, bowls in all shapes and sizes, mugs, carved, crackle, decorated, small and large. Teapots, casseroles, plates, platters, and a large variety of planters abound. Ikebana containers, vases, and an endless variation of pitchers line the shelves.
Large pots for the garden, birdbaths, and garden lamps make a unique landscaping statement.
There are stops in the Weaving, Graphic Arts, and the Woodshop. Each is a world of creation with its own natural materials. The weavers show small and large shawls, and light ponchos to ward off the chill of a spring evening. The woodworkers have been turning wonderful purple beech from Sonnenberg Gardens, into handled bowls for soup or cereal. In Graphics, besides the favorite flower cards, a neighbor has been playing with photographs and splashing nature scenes with bold colors. The combination of effects has to be seen– it can’t be described adequately!
For more information about the Guild and a calendar of events, workshops, and classes, please visit www.folkartguild.org or call 585-554-3539. The Folk Art Guild, (East Hill Farm) is located at 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex, NY 14507.
About the Rochester Folk Art Guild
A not-for-profit arts community and educational institution, the Guild began its work in crafts more than 60 years ago. Located on a 350-acre farm in New York’s Finger Lakes Region, the Guild has grown to receive worldwide recognition for its handcrafts, which have found their place in museums, private collections, shops, and galleries through the United States and abroad. The Guild also offers workshops for adults and conducts educational outreach programs for children. Its Apprenticeship Program is designed for young people who are searching for a practical, hands-on approach to learning and living. Working alongside experienced master craftspeople, apprentices learn proficiency in a craft and how to live alongside others in a community setting. Over the past dozen years, the Guild has offered an annual Craft Weekend in July for all ages, with fifteen hours of studio time.
