Learn the Art of Shaker Oval Box Making

Here is a great one day class for just you, or maybe you and your daughter or son. On May 7th we are holding a Shaker Oval Box making course. It's fun and creative. Better yet, at the end of the day you'll have something that's useful, but also attractive and would make a great gift. A child 12 years or older can accompany an adult for this class. We will take you through each step of the process from soaking and bending the wood to fitting the tops and bottoms. You will make a series of three oval boxes. We will also discuss different types of finishes you can apply when you get home.

So, join us at Banner Hill and sign up early. Visit us at BannerHillLLC.com to view this course and others.

Painting With Light

Stained glass can be traced back in time for centuries, and from the Middle Ages on, has flourished as an art form. Besides design, proportion, tonal control, and color, the "canvas" of the stained glass artist must be appreciated, for stained glass is the only art form that relies entirely on light for its effect. Every other art form, from painting and sculpture to tapestry and jewellery, is designed to be appreciated by reflected light and thus the artist controls his shapes and colors knowing that the purely physical reflection in the spectator's eye will be exactly as he plans it. With a stained glass piece, however, the artist must control a powerful energy which will be transmitted through his medium of expression. The artist must paint with light itself. ~Lawrence Lee, Stained Glass

This Summer and Fall learn the ancient art of painting with light at Banner Hill School:

Stained Glass Workshop I ~ 1 day course ~ Instructor: Connie Pruiksma

offered: May 7, July 1 or, Sept. 10

Stained Glass Workshop II ~ 1 day course ~ Instructor: Connie Pruiksma

offered: June 11, Aug. 12 or, Oct. 8

Master Stained Glass Intensive ~ 4 day course ~ Instructor: Doris Cultraro

offered: July 25-28

Stained Glass Computer Design Program ~ 1 day course ~ Instructor: Doris Cultraro
offered: July 29

For more information on these courses and registration please visit: BannerHillLLC.com

2011 Summer/Fall Schedule

The past few blogs, facebook and tweets have been about our summer/fall schedule of classes. On the Banner Blog you will be able to read about each class in more detail.

Last year we began offering a furniture woodworking course for women only taught by our very own Mary LaCafe. Mary is a very talented and creative self taught furniture maker and has been with the school for 3 years. When she's not at the school she's busy creating in her own studio. We have redesigned this class from a two week course to one week to make it easier to attend. In this class you will learn simple but very useful design techniques that will be employed by you to design your own unique piece of furniture. Mary will take you through the wood selection process and milling, teach and demonstrate layout of joinery work, use of hand tools and machines. Step by step she will lead you to create your own unique and individualized piece of furniture.

So, sign up early for this one as it is sure to fill up. This course will be offered July 11th through the 19th.

For those who who have a connection with the beauty of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River valley that inspire the Hudson River School of Painters you won't want miss this very special workshop. The very talented Thomas Locker will lead this workshop off with a discussion of the techniques used by such acclaimed artists as Thomas Cole. Lauren Sansaricq and Erik Koepple will then lead the workshop teaching and through practical demonstrations. You can read about all three of these artists by visiting our website at BannerHillLLC.com and click on guest artists.

The date of this workshop will be announced soon, so stay tuned.

To view other courses please visit BannerHillLLC.com, email us at BannerHillWindham@mac.com or give us a call at 518 929 7821

The Kaaterskill Outdoor Chair


Wondering what to do this spring? How about a two day course here at Banner Hill. We'll help you get ready with this classic out door chair you can put on the porch, pool side, the barbecue, etc. And once you learn how to build this simple chair you will be able to build more at home. We'll take you step by step right to the finish; paint, stain, varnish. This is an easy piece of outdoor furniture to make. You will learn about structural elements, plan and design as they relate to creating a functional piece.

Visit our website at BannerHillLLC.com for more information and other class offerings in woodworking, ceramics, paper making, painting and more.

Kip Christie

You may have seen me mention about spring on Banner Hill's facebook. Although it may not be here officially there are plenty of signs outside that it is coming. And, one of the surest signs inside here at Banner Hill is the newly arrived catalog of Summer/Fall courses. They're all out in the mail, however, if you desire one just email us at BannerHillWindham@mac.com or visit our website at BannerHillLLC.com.

We have worker hard all these months to bring you an interesting a diverse spectrum of offerings. We not only added to the listing in ceramics and woodworking but have brought in other unique and challenging courses in paper making, stain glass, gilding, portrait and landscape painting to name a few. Not only that but a number of courses this year will offer more than one craft medium. For example, if you take the Japanese floor lamp course you will not only be working in wood but you will be making the shade from paper. That is, you will make the paper! Did we mention functionality?

As we launch into the 2011 summer season we will be doing highlights up coming classes and the artists who will be instructing them. You may see them on facebook, read a tweet or receive an e-burst. But, for the details you'll want to visit the blog where you will be able to comment, ask a question or post your thoughts. You can always email us or do we dare say call us. Yes, we are all too glad to receive your calls at 1 518 929 7821.

So, start making you summer plans now. And by the way, there are plenty of other things to do in the Windham area when you venture out of the shop and studios. Are you into road cycling? We have plenty of that and the local cycle shop in town has Thursday night rides. Visit the the Thomas Cole house or just across the river, the Hudson River, is Frederic Church's magnificent Olana with sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains. Or, if you just prefer to relax and chill out, take one of our Kaaterskill chairs over to the pond. Take a dip or bring your fishing or fly rod and try your luck.

We look forward to having to at Banner Hill.

Kip Christie