WG09General

Woodlanders Gatherings

create an atmosphere where people can relax and find the time for hands-on exploration and knowing of the natural world, and develop artful thinking. There is talking, visiting, wandering and organized workshops and activities. Everything is designed to foster freedom of exploration, insight, creativity, skill building, earth stewardship, and solid group experiences.The goal is to help people discover what is most wonderful about themselves and to foster awareness and appreciation of others, and the world around them. written by environmental artist, Laurie Seeman, about the workshops she offers. It's true about the Gatherings, where she also shares.

There are two Gatherings yearly: Mineral Point, WI in early July

and Warwick, NY in late August.

The New York Gathering is NOT a school or even a set of craft workshops. Oh yes, lots of making and some instruction happens, but the whole event began as a form of community-building. Pot Luck, Fellowship and Sharing are key elements of the Gatherings. Rob Gorrell started the tradition of bringing things, supplies, materials for a Big, Free Swap. There's also a For Sale area. which sometimes leaks into the Swap. There are two tents and 24 tables for a three-day series of never-ending workshops... which means the materials and tools are available all the time... and instruction and encouragement happens every once and a while.

The Gathering is a protected time to discover important marginal interests and sleeping passions in your life with natural materials. It's about Wonder. It is not primarily about job training, or even hobby work. It's an alternative learning opportunity for people who need it. It's about the interplay of Nature and Human Nature

2010 New York Gathering thoughts:

mid-late August, again in Warwick, at the Campgrounds
Big Tent of Materials/Tools/Work Areas
Schedule of single activities/workshops every 90 minutes or so by people coming.
Perhaps smaller meets/workshops every few months at Dan's Workshop
Carver Eric Bunn has offered a workshop on Sharpening

WHAT HAPPENS: Two Tents and 20 Tables of Art and Nature Experiences with tools & materials available all weekend-- with guidance

WHERE: The Warwick Center Campgrounds, Warwick, NY

COSTS: Pay what you can: Suggested $65/single day or $150 3/daysLODGING: options and costs Camping on site is about $30/night
FOOD: On-site lunch-only catering by Tuscan Cafe (about $9/lunch). We are about a mile from a shopping center/supermarket. We have Pot-Luck dinners together on Friday and Saturday nights and there is a small kitchen available

DIRECTIONS: driving public transportation (bus or train)

GETTING READY

POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES:

MAKING THINGS (09)

Making a Rustic Cedar Slab Leopold Bench, Bill Olendorf

Tramp Art-Chip Carving, Rob Gorrell

Weaving Chair/Stool Seats from Shaker Tape, Dan Mack

Bull Roarers, Rich Pillar

Make a Bamboo Flute, Matthew Fallon

Dyeing with Natural Materials, Rita Schwab

Rustic Plant Hangers

Mask making Leopold bench

Woodland Garments: imaginal tribal clothing

Working with Barks: Birch, Mulberry and Palm barks

Mark-Making with Mud, Clay or Charcoal

HEALING: Tissue Paper Collage, Arlene Geiger

HEALING: Mattering Spirit: Imaginal Cards, Dan Mack

HEALING: Making a Rope Labyrinth, Jim Caulfield++
Make a Bench Hook: a portable work area,

Hypertuffa: sand, peat moss, vermiculite, cement vessels

HEALING: Mattering Spirit: Imaginal Tool Workshop

Making a small rustic chair

FaerieWork and Garden Design

EXPERIENCES: EXPLORING NATURE & HUMAN NATURE

Edible, invasive and medicinal herb walk, Jessica Lawlor/Adam Hamer

Early Morning Dream Workshop, Kim, Andrea and all

Gyrokinesis, Hannah Maxwell

Nature-oriented improvisational acting workshop Integrating actions, simple objectives, changing imaginative circumstances, play with focusing, distractions, stillness, silence... with Grace Woodard

The lives of animals: Tracking and Bird Songs

Woods, Water and Road Tyme: field trips to natural locations with Laurie Seeman

Yoga Nidra--Yogic Sleep, a meditation technique, Victoria Mowrer