The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — The Clifton Forge Public Library is currently featuring a display highlighting the 2019 Winter/Spring semester of classes at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts.
During this session, the Clifton Forge School of the Arts is presenting 63 courses which are offered 253 times over the course of the semester.
The exhibit is comprised of examples of projects that students will make in many of this semester’s courses.
Examples include Copper Repousse, a hand-carved bear such as might be made in the traditional stone carving workshop; hand-turned wooden candlesticks, a bowl, a twig pot, and an ice cream scoop to highlight the woodworking classes; a shawl and pairs of socks to show course projects in knitting classes; pieces from the stained and fused glass studio; examples of calligraphy; a hand-forged candleholder which an advanced blacksmith might make; and a calico teddy bear and baby bunnies from the “Bunny Family” hand-sewing class.
A hand-thrown pot by instructor Cyndy Littleton, who teaches beginning and intermediate pottery classes, will inspire students of all ages to come check out the impressive clay studio at the school of the arts.
Vincent Van Gogh reminds viewers that drawing lessons are available every Saturday by arrangement and that courses in painting are also offered.
The display also features a painting titled “Unbound” by area artist and Clifton Forge School of the Arts instructor Josh Thompson.
Yoga chickens remind students that the school of the arts offers both chair yoga and mindful yoga classes. A Tibetan singing bowl highlights the monthly “Guided Meditation and Sound Bath” classes offered by Greg Burns, a certified sound practitioner, of Metta Vibrations.
Other classes offered during the semester include spray paint art from March through May, weekly knitting and crocheting classes, pioneer hand quilting, studio painting in oils or acrylics, beginning or advanced barn quilt painting, contemporary Oshi-e, several types of stained and fused glass classes, jewelry making classes using precious metal clay, and many photography classes with area artist Chuck Almarez.
In the woodshop students may build small pieces of furniture or build a project of their choice with the assistance of the instructor. Many children’s classes are offered including clay handbuilding, embroidery, hand-sewing, and “Crazy About Animals.” Customized courses for children are available.
Beginning and advanced barn quilt painting classes are very popular.
The school is the home of the Allegheny Mountain String Project which teaches cello, viola and violin and also offers clarinet, piano, saxophone and trumpet lessons. Open studios and customized classes are available in many subjects.
The school welcomes requests for private individual and group lessons. Contact the school’s executive director, Laura Rainone, to discuss your needs.
For more information on the school’s classes, visit www.cfsota.org, call the Clifton Forge School of the Arts at 862-7275, or visit them at 518 Church Street.
The school of the arts welcomes visitors to view art exhibits in their gallery. Through Feb. 23, the gallery exhibit is the “Selective Eye Series: The Collection of Stephen E. Sivonda.”
Other special programs during the 2019 Winter/ Spring semester include a free bluegrass jam session on the third Friday of each month at 7 p.m., the Hammer-In blacksmithing event on Saturday, April 13, and the Mayfaire on May 4-5.
Established in 2011, the Clifton Forge School of the Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to teaching the fine and applied arts to people of all ages in the Alleghany High-lands and surrounding communities.
The school is funded through tuition and rental revenues, the generosity of private donors, and for special projects through The Alleghany Foundation; the Richard S. Reynolds Charitable Foundation; the William Reynolds Foun-dation; WestRock Corporation; the town of Clifton Forge; the Virginia Commission for the Arts; the Covington/Hot Springs Rotary Club; and the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany.
The Winter/Spring semester exhibit will be on display at the Clifton Forge Public Library throughout January.
The Clifton Forge Public Library is located at 535 Church St. For information on any library programs or activities, phone 863-2519.
