Tag: CT event

Honoring Native American Veterans on November 5 @ The Institute for American Indian Studies

Veterans’ Day is a National holiday that honors the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It keeps the importance of those who protect our homeland close to our hearts and reminds us of their bravery and valor. Native Americans have fought valiantly in the United States military in every conflict since the American Revolution, even before Native Americans gained U.S. citizenry in 1924.

#veteran

Honoring Native warriors and veterans has always been part of indigenous culture. It keeps the importance of those who protect our homeland close to our hearts and reminds us of their bravery and valor. Each year, in honor of Veterans Day, the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut honors the exceptional military service of Native Americans in a formal dedication. This year, the Institute is once again inviting the public to participate in the program that will honor Native and non-Native Americans whose passion and loyalty have helped to make America what it is today on Sunday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m. The Institute is located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

At this year’s event, veteran Gary Tinney, Paugussett, will lead the ceremony. New at this year’s event is the Yootay Singers Drum Group based out of Mashantucket, CT, which will perform honor songs recognizing the rich contributions of Native and Non-Native Americans who have bravely served side by side in the U.S. Armed Forces. Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe) will also join the ceremony and play Amazing Grace on his traditionally crafted flute. Attendees will be immersed in a meaningful ceremony that is a powerful experience.

The ceremony will be outside so attendees are advised to dress appropriately for the weather. In the event of rain, the ceremony or portions of it will be held inside the museum. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration and donations are always appreciated. Registration is at http://iaismuseum.org. For questions please call (860) 868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village, the award-winning Wigwam Escape, and a Museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allow visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

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Finding Your Bearings October 15 @ Institute For American Indian Studies

Did you know there was something besides Google Maps or Waze for directions? For centuries people around the world have used a variety of techniques to mark their boundaries, measure distances, and find their sense of place.

Native Americans used many different means to navigate their environment. Different methods were used to mark tribal territories and hunting boundaries, as well as to designate their trails and, to convey important messages. It is fascinating to learn how the natural environment was used for directions.

If you want to learn about the various ways to find directions, including traditional indigenous techniques as well as how to read a map and a compass, don’t miss the “Find Your Bearings Orienteering Workshop” on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. at the Institute for American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

Participants will join IAIS educator and ecologist, Susan Scherf for an interactive in-person workshop to learn how to get their bearings should their GPS lose its signal! A highlight of the workshop is to practice these newly acquired skills by completing an orienteering scavenger hunt on the Museum’s colorful autumn trails, which add to the fun.

Most of this program is being held outside, and some of the woodland terrain may be uneven, so wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Space is limited and pre-registration is requested at http://www.iaismusueum.org or by calling 860-868-0518 or via email at events@iaismuseum.org. This program costs $10 for non-members and $5 for members.

About the Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

JanetLeave a comment

Brew-Ski In Salisbury – Connecticut’s Most Unique Brew Fest -Sunday, October 8

Munich may be home to Oktoberfest and Frankenmuth, America’s Little Bavaria may have a Beer Expo, but something is brewing in Salisbury, Connecticut! The 14th Annual Brew-Ski Fest sponsored by Stateline Wine and Spirits returns to the Salisbury Ski Jumps on Sunday, October 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. with music, pumpkins, cornstalks, and nearly 40 craft breweries offering visitors well over 200 examples of their best brews. The brew line-up boasts popular beers and local favorites as well as a distinct selection of hard cider, hard soda, and distilled spirits by Full Moonshine, On the Rocks, and the Berkshire Mountain Distillery.

This popular event is set against the magnificent backdrop of Satre Hill on 80 Indian Cave Road, in the bucolic town of Salisbury where the oldest Ski Jump Competition on the East Coast takes place every February. The Salisbury Winter Sports Association is hosting the Brew-Ski Fest, to help defray the cost of the internationally acclaimed Salisbury Ski JumpFest and other programs for young ski jumpers this non-profit organizes. Tickets are on sale now online @ http://brewskifest.com for $30 and will be available at the gate for $35, with all proceeds going to the Salisbury Winter Sports Association.

Among the many things that make Brew-ski unique is its alpine location which helps set the mood. Best of all, Brew-ski affords the opportunity for folks to chat with the makers of the featured brews from around the country without waiting in long lines. If you love to try new things and are ready to branch out from industrial lagers then don’t miss Brew-Ski which celebrates craft beer and more. As for food, Sunday in the Country, (http://sundayinthecountry.org) a local non-profit is preparing a hardy mix of brats, hotdogs, hamburgers, and more for you to pair with your new favorite beer.

In addition to beer, there will be live music by the Steve Dunn Band, winners of the Mohegan Sun Casino’s Battle of the Bands, and nominated for the prestigious Telly Award in 2021. The fun doesn’t stop there. Make sure you participate in the only and only Ski Jump Golf Ball Roll! All you have to do is buy a numbered golf ball and watch as hundreds of them roll down the ski jump landing hill… the ball like the skier that travels the furthest wins the prize! And as for prizes, don’t forget to take your free pumpkin home when you leave the Fest!

ABOUT SALISBURY WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

In the winter of 1926, John Satre a resident of Salisbury jumped off the roof of his shed wearing skis to show his friends and neighbors a sport he learned in his native homeland of Norway. Town residents were so amazed as they watched Satre soar through the air that they decided to build a proper ski run that summer, and form the Salisbury Winter Sports Association. The Association hosted the first ski jump competition in January 1927. JumpFest has become a highly anticipated event in Connecticut and throughout the East Coast.

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Basket Weaving Classes offered by Award Winning Artist – Tina Puckett At Her Studio

Tina Puckett, owner of Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art in Winsted, Connecticut is a nationally and internationally award-winning woven artist specializing in everything from intricate baskets and bowls to woven sculptures and wall hangings. Puckett has just announced that she is offering a series of year-round classes for teens and adults on Saturday and Sunday and on Monday and Friday nights. “There is a universal and enduring appeal of baskets and woven bowls. The sensation of making something with your hands from reeds and bittersweet vines is empowering, and I want to share that feeling in my classes,” says Puckett.

Learn from an award winning artist

The classes, which are suitable for all skill levels, are offered for up to six people as well as for individuals who want an intensive session. During the weaving session, Tina will share her knowledge about the history of basket weaving and what inspires her work. This hands-on experience provides participants with the basic techniques to create their very own basket or bowl, an understanding of this time-honored craft, as well as improving their understanding of the beauty of bittersweet and reeds. Among the many things that make these classes different is that participants will learn that weaving with bittersweet defines the character and shape of the basket or bowl transforming it into a woven piece of art.

Have fun making this bittersweet tray!

All classes take place in Tina’s atmospherically inspiring Studio at Whiting Mills in Winsted. Part of the fun of is to choose the type of basket or bowl you want to weave, your color palate, and how much time you want to spend weaving it. Participants can choose a class on Saturday or Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Classes are also being offered Monday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All participants will leave the class with a finished basket or bowl to take home. All materials are provided including a piece of locally foraged bittersweet vine or a wooden hoop, and a choice of hand-colored, custom reeds. All classes are by advance reservation only and can be made by clicking https://www.tinasbaskets.com/classes

If you can’t make it to the studio, no worries, Tina is also offering classes via Zoom. Off-site classes are also available by special arrangement.

Learn how to make this colorful and useful basket

“I am excited to share what I know,” says Puckett. “It is a tradition that has been handed down through the centuries, in just about every culture around the world. Basketry weaving classes aren’t one of those things that are readily accessible to everybody, which is why I decided to offer classes year-round.”

About Tina’s Baskets

Tina Puckett is a nationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven art who is the owner of Tina’s Baskets which is located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet, and a variety of objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at a variety of galleries across the United States as well as at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Custom orders are accepted and appointments can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

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A Touch of Monet’s Giverny @ Norfolk’s Husky Meadow Farm’s Art and Cooking Intensive Farm Stay

October is the crown jewel of months in New England which is why Husky Meadows Farm, a certified organic working farm, in Norfolk, Connecticut has put together a farm stay that embraces the beauty of the season through art, cooking, garden walks, and the harvest. At the Fall Art Intensive Farm Stay with Marie Colette-Dupont-Nivet from Thursday, October 12 through Monday, October 16, guests will be treated to a French countryside experience inspired by Claude Monet’s Giverny in France in New England.

Take an art class this fall at Husky Meadows Farm

Like Monet’s fabled home, the autumn landscape of Husky Meadows Farm’s colorful gardens and orchards inspire a sense of serenity making them the perfect setting for an art workshop with Marie Colette-Dupont-Nivet originally from the storybook area of Alsace, France. Her specialty is decorative furniture painting in the historical tradition of using milk paint on wooden panels.

Milk Paint is a traditional way to update old furniture or give new pieces a rustic, farmhouse finish, which is so popular today. Participants will learn that milk paint is made with natural ingredients like lime, casein (a milk protein), and clay, unlike regular paint. Marie-Colette will guide participants through the process of making a decorative wooden piece that they will take home as a memento of this artistic experience. A highlight of the class will be to learn how to match the wood grain with pigments, how to marbleize, and, how to paint a landscape of flowers on wood using milk paint. To finish this project, Marie Colette will guide participants through the different techniques of glazing, varnishing, and waxing to complete the final look of the piece.

To add to the country French ambiance, there will be plenty of time to explore the property, engage in the rich bounty of the harvest, and participate in hands-on French-style cooking classes. Sunday night’s dinner will be a highlight of the stay because it will feature a sumptuous meal made from Monet’s recipes from Giverny that were once served in his famed yellow dining room. Sunday night’s dinner will be long cherished as the next best thing to sitting at Monet’s table!

Guests will enjoy the comfort of Husky Meadows’s luxurious suites; each offers something a little different. The Coop is the most private cottage with a fieldstone fireplace and loft bedroom. Wildflower is spacious and beautifully appointed with a private porch overlooking a wildflower meadow; and Wolftree’s arched ceiling, views, and steam shower make it cozy.

Farm Stays include all meals, beverages, and activities. The Fall Art Intensive is $2500 per person, single occupancy, for the all-inclusive experience. A non-lodging rate that includes all activities and meals is $1200 per person. To book the farm stay, visit huskymeadowsfarm.com or contact the Culinary Director at tracy@huskymeadowsfarm.

About Husky Meadows Farm
Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May – October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics.

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Finger Weaving Workshop offers Native American Instruction @ Institute for American Indian Studies Sept. 23, 2023

Most archeologists believe that the art of basket making is one of the oldest crafts in the world. In Native American culture, baskets have always been an integral part of their material culture. For centuries Native Americans have relied on baskets for gathering, storing, preparing, and cooking food. Finger weaving is one of several techniques used among Eastern Woodland Indigenous peoples to make baskets as well as an array of decorative and ceremonial items.

Make a Native American Inspired Basket

On Saturday, September 23 at 1 p.m. the Institute for American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is holding a finger-weaving basket workshop, ideal for those who want to learn this traditional art form. “We think that experiences learning about cultural art forms is important because it gives people insight into Native American culture, “ said Chris Combs, Executive Director.

The focus of September’s class is on the art of finger weaving using natural fibers like jute and raffia. Participants will join Pokanoket Nation and Tribe member, Eva Newell of Cape Sable Island Wampanoag, Nauset, and Cree ancestry for this finger-weaving workshop.

The essence of finger weaving is that it is like an elaborate braid where you move the warp and weft threads with your fingers in order to create beautiful baskets. What makes finger weaving unique is that the same threads are used for both warp and weft; they just change places as you work. In this finger-weaving workshop, two of the most important things participants will learn are how to position their fingers and the best way to hold their hands. Each participant will take home a small finger woven traditionally inspired coil basket.

Have fun embellishing your basket

This workshop is recommended for those 12 and older because of the patience and dexterity required for this project. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. The cost of the workshop, which includes all materials, is $35 for non-members and $30 for members. To register visit http://iaismuseum.org, For questions, email events@iaismuseum.org.

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