Floral Wycinanki with Laura Geryk

Come try wycinanki--a beautiful traditional Polish folk craft! Join Laura Geryk at The Local Art Gallery Sunday, May 4 from 1-3:30pm to explore a floral pattern - perfect for Mother's Day. Invite your mother figure to join you at this class or gift it to a loved one. A great activity for all levels—suitable for both returning snippers and newbies!

Wycinanki (pronounced vee-chee-nan-key) is a traditional Polish craft of paper cutting which is used for home decor that focuses on stylized images of nature and rural life. In this two-hour workshop, you will explore the Lowicz style of wycinanki, where layers of colored paper are cut, layered, and glued to create vibrant images. Participants will complete one piece in class, and will then have the skills and materials to make additional ones at home.

$30. All materials provided. Ages 8+ with adult accompaniment due to use of sharp instruments.

Check out our events calendar to find out what other artists are lined up for our Sunday Art Space each week that are hosting afternoon summer art classes, activities, or workshops.

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Artist Bio:

Wycinanki, the Polish word for papercutting, is a traditional Polish folk art from the 19th and early 20th century. Polish peasants used this style of artwork to decorate their cottages, typically pasting the wycinanki directly on the walls or roof beams.

Laura Geryk first learned to make wycinanki as a teenager from an elderly relative from Poland who was visiting the United States. Although Laura didn't know any Polish, and Dziadziu didn't know any English, they spent afternoons together making wycinanki, communicating through the language of art.

Laura still uses traditional methods of creating the papercuts: hand drawing her own patterns, hand cutting the paper with scissors, and assembling them with tweezers and glue. She tends to focus on the wycinanki from from the Lowicz region, which focuses on layers of brightly colored paper, arranged symmetrically, with themes from nature, especially flowers and animals.

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Note: Participants will be added to the Mill District Local Art Gallery email list. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time.

Note: Photos and video images will be captured during the event. Please tell Local Art Gallery staff working the event if you do not wish to have your image included. Thank you.

Also check out other Arts events in Amherst, Workshops in Amherst, Fine Arts events in Amherst.