The Arkansas Craft School will be hosting a weekend workshop with international bead artist Beau Anderson. Beau Anderson was introduced to the torch by his mother, Sage Holland, at the young age of seven. Although he has diverse interests, Beau’s focus within glass art has explored beadmaking and its history; as well as integrative multi-media projects. He has demonstrated and instructed the art of glass beadmaking throughout the Americas, both at a grassroots level and at such prestigious institutions as Corning Museum of Glass, Pittsburgh Glass Center and Pilchuck Glass School; as well as internationally in France, Germany, Denmark and Spain. Beau’s work has been published in Ornament magazine; as well as in Beads of Glass, Beading for the Soul and The History of Beads.
A recent grant from a major foundation has allowed the Craft School to purchase new bead making equipment in order to furnish students the tools they need. This course is an intermediate level class designed to heighten students’ command of design in the making of glass beads, by advancing skills in a multitude of techniques from the history of beads. Some of these techniques are as follows – glass color blending, complex stringer work and surface details; twisted canes, multiple color canes and murine’s (small intricate pictures or geometric patterns); and metal foils and leafs (silver and gold). Better control in clear casing intricate details, many layered stratifications and dotwork; floral patterns and plunged flowers, off mandrel work, bent beads and sculptural work will also be covered.
A Slide Show will be given by Tom Holland on Saturday night for the students entitled “Beads Through the Ages”. The show will cover traditions from thousands of years of world-wide Glass Bead Making. This enlightening lecture will include slides from museums and from private collections.
The Arkansas Craft School, located in Mountain View, Arkansas is dedicated to the education of aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the Creative Economy. The Craft School partners with the Arkansas Craft Guild and Ozarka College; and offers Continuing Education credits for all of its courses. Scholarship grants are available for most courses. Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment of the Arts. Visit the Arkansas Craft School’s website, www.arkansascraftschool.org for more information on these and other upcoming classes; as well as information on scholarship applications.
