Newark Valley Historical Society

All programs in the Folk Art Series are held at the Bement-Billing Farmstead from June 5 through September 24. Your seat in a workshop is confirmed when registration is complete and pre-payment is received. Both concerts are open and free to the public.

Concert by Chris Koldewey and Joy Bennett, Sept 11, 2 - 4 FREE
Newark Valley Historical Society - Bement-Billings Museum, Newark Valley, NY . Enjoy traditional folk music and songs of the sea. Chris performs as a Chantyman at Mystic Seaport and plays guitar, claw hammer banjo, fiddle, and concertina. Joy, a professional vocalist, is located in NYC where she performs folk music and sings with The Johnson Girls, website www.TheJohnsonGirls.com

Chris and Joy perform at the North East Folk Festival and are know throughout the northeast for their support of folk music. They each hold positions with the Folk Music Society of NY, Joy as President and Chris as Chairman.He is a music teacher at Binghamton High School, and co-ordinates the Cranberry Coffee House. This is part of a Folk Art Series, designed for the general public and those interested in history and traditional crafts, held at the Bement-Billings Museum, an early 19th century farmstead located on Rt. 38, one mile north of the Village of Newark Valley, NY. Take a tour through Museum while on grounds, 12-4pm. This program is made possible in part, with public funds provided by New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered locally by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Ukrainian Pysanky Eggs, Sept 25, 1pm-4pm, $5 material fee

Participants will learn of the art history, symbols and designs used in egg decorating as well as the significance of the egg designs. After designing their egg using a simple design, students will apply wax and dye their creations in many layers. Students will gain appreciation for preserving ones cultural heritage. All materials are provided for the workshop fee. Also, tool sets are available for those who wish to purchase one to take home. Many superb and cherished family pysanky and embroidered shirts will be on view.

The instructor, Ellen Stasko Baxendale is of Ukrainian decent and learned egg decorating through her mother and father. She has done "writing of eggs" since she was a small child and has shared this art form with many groups in the local area. Ellen is employed as a seamstress and also vet technician.

The eggs date back to pagan times, pre 988 in Rus-Ukraine and each region had their own designs and symbols. Pagan peoples used the eggs as good luck charms and to ward off evil spirits and would place them in their livestock barns and in the doorways of their homes. When Christianity came to the land of Rus-Ukraine these designs took on Christian meanings; each region has their own unqiue styles and designs as they do costumes and embriodery. Nowadays the eggs are exchanged among family members at Eastertime, and are placed in Easter baskets and blessed in Church. Also among the single people it is tradition that a young girl will give her best pysanky to a young man she favors. Pysanky with chickens as a fertility symbol are given to young brides to ensure large families. Many times pysanky are enjoyed as art objects and can take on non-traditional art designs.

Material fee is $5.00. Must call to pre-register by Sept 22, call (607) 642-9974 for info.

This workshop is part of a Folk Art Series(FAS), designed for the general public and those interested in history and traditional crafts. All workshops are held at the Bement-Billings Museum, an early 19th century farmstead located on Rt. 38, one mile north of the Village of Newark Valley, NY. Take a tour through Museum while on grounds, 12-4pm. Your seat in a workshop is confirmed when registration is complete and pre-payment is received.

This program is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered locally by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

FOLK ART SERIES WORKSHOPS