ARTS & SKILLS Service
Shell Art Printmaking Workshop
January 26, 28, & 29, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Helena Keeffe
January 26, 28, & 29, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Helena Keeffe
During World War I, German, French, Belgian, and British soldiers made flower vases by engraving brass artillery shell casings with images of flowers, birds, and insects. American Soldiers in the Vietnam War carved their names into metal mess kits and incised Zippo lighters with personal symbols and slogans. From medals of honor to body armor and tattoos, this three-day workshop explored techniques of permanent mark making. Participants made rubbings from original trench art vases, heard music created from “lyrics” engraved on Zippo lighters, and learned basic printmaking techniques in order to make an edition of prints using their own imagery.
WWI Pincushion Workshop
February 15, 18, & 19, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Allison Smith
February 15, 18, & 19, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Allison Smith
During World War I, British soldiers recovering in hospitals created elaborately beaded pin cushions in a variety of forms including hearts and stars, while Turkish prisoners of war created colorful beaded snakes and lizards. Whether to pass the time, stave off boredom, or survive the situation, handiwork has an age-old connection to comfort and healing. In this three-day workshop, participants created soft sculptures using fabric, glass beads, sequins, embroidery, and beaded crochet techniques in order to make their own contemporary love tokens and souvenirs of survival.
Wheat Weaving Workshop with Nan Rohan
March 10, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Allison Smith
March 10, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Allison Smith
During the Napoleonic Wars, French prisoners of war interned in British prison camps created a variety of boxes, models made from soup bones, marquetry boxes and other objects using cut, dyed, and braided straw. During World War II, Japanese detainees in American internment camps made brooches depicting birds and flowers made of found wood and seashells. Using a variety of natural materials (found wood, bone, wheat, and seashells), participants in this three-day workshop learned basic wood carving/whittling, scrimshaw, straw braiding/wheat weaving, and seashell arts and crafts techniques to make their own sculptural objects in miniature.
Bunting Making and Embroidery Workshop
April 4, 7, & 8, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Helena Keeffe
April 4, 7, & 8, 2012
FOR-SITE Pavilion, The Presidio, San Francisco
Photo credit Helena Keeffe
During World War I, embroidered postcards and handkerchiefs were popular souvenirs collected by soldiers and sent home to family members. Throughout many wars, commemorative textiles have been printed or woven and made into bandanas and clothing. These textiles express public opinions about war, reflecting wartime attitudes of patriotism, protest, and sacrifice. In this workshop, participants will learn basic fabric printing and embroidering techniques in order to create their own commemorative textiles.