Christian Folk Arts of Scandinavia Camp
Some people know that Scandinavia has a rich tradition of folk art- whittling, weaving, painting, etc. The peasants of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland brought their artistry to wood, cloth, the walls, and whatever they could find during the long cold winters! But did you know that the characteristic “C” and “S” shapes found in the decorative painting came to stand for “Christ Savior”? Or that the plants on the saddles of Dala horses were interpreted as the gourd tree under which Jonah sat? And “bonadsmaling,” or tapestry painting, was based on illustrations that the Swedish peasants encountered in German Picture Bibles!
In this class, Rising 6th-8th graders will have a chance to try their hand at painting a Dala Horse and Swedish tapestry as well as “rosemaling” a cheeseboard with C’s and S’s. Folk Art by its very definition uses simpler materials and techniques, making it perfect for a Summer Camp. We will also take some time to look at Scandinavian Folk Art in the past, as well as the work of folk artists carrying on the tradition today.
As well as ordering a few basic painting supplies from the art store, students will purchase (at-cost) the individually hand-carved dala horse and cheeseboard, made by a woodworker in Wisconsin, as well as a few other items, from the instructor. Please see the “Course Materials” tab and follow the links for your purchases.
Randi Maria Sider-Rose began painting icons over 20 years ago when she was able to travel to learn from different iconography teachers across the country. Since then, she has married Michael Sider-Rose and completed an MDiv at the University of Chicago Divinity School. As well as taking commissions from churches and individuals, Mrs. Sider-Rose loves to walk with students on the journey of learning to see better and more intentionally, using this “prayer of the hands” to grow in holiness, with God’s grace. Homeschooling her four children in an urban fixer-upper strewn with books, art projects, and Legos helps keep the whole operation real.
Mrs. Sider-Rose and her family attend Saint Moses the Black Orthodox Mission Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she has been blessed by His Grace Bishop Thomas to serve in the ministry of iconography.
E-mail: rsiderrose.raphaelschool@gmail.com
For more information about Mrs. Sider-Rose’s process, please visit her website at www.immanuelicons.org.
Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use.
To download Zoom:
- Visit zoom.us/download.
- Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
- Open and run the installer on your computer.
- In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
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This registration will be finalized when the student's placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.