Craft To Culture

I have been thinking today about the relationship of craft to culture. The crafts that I work in are fiber and earth. My first love is functional ware, linens, scarves, plates, cups. For me, the hand of the craftsman is always present when you wear or use a handmade object. The difference between handmade and machine made is not so much in the beauty of the object, but in the invisible relationship to the maker. Whenever I pick up a mug made by a potter, I can feel the workmanship and the craftsmanship. For me, that is the experience and why I continue to make pots and fabric. I am certain that it is the same with wood. Just running my hand over the work being done by the craftsmen at Banner Hill puts me in touch with the person, their intention and their love of the materials. In a society longing for connections and communication, could this be a step in that direction?

~Candace Christiansen, teacher

Painting The Claudian Tree class Winter 2011

As the leaves disappear in the Catskills, my thoughts turn to winter. One of the many things that the mountains have to offer this winter, in addition to beautiful snow landscapes, are the classes at Banner Hill. During February, when thoughts turn to the coming spring as the winter continues its hold, Banner Hill School will present a very special painting class entitled Painting The Claudian Tree with Thomas Locker, Erik Koeppel, and Lauren Sansaricq.


These three painters have studied the classical painting methods of the Old Masters and are coming to Banner Hill to share their intense and beautiful studies of nature. Thomas has been working in this genre for over 50 years. Erik has painted and taught in the finest painting academies in NYC and Lauren is young, energetic, and enthusiastic having just received a fellowship at the Thomas Cole house after studying at The Grand Central Academy for the past three years. This combination of wisdom, youth, and excellence should make those gray, cold, long days of late winter disappear and leave students with many dreams until well into the spring.

~Candace Christiansen

(for description and further info. on this course, please visit www.BannerHillLLC.com)