Saturday, August 3, 2024, 4-7pm
Artist Reception
Saturday, August 10, 2024, 4:30 – 5:30
Observational Sketching Workshop with Melinda Byrd
Join our featured artist, Melinda Byrd, for an opportunity to learn sketching as a way to see things more clearly. Not coincidently, your sketches turn out better than ever when you truly look at your subject. Bring along a sketch pad of any size and a few pens or pencils. We will sit for a while and get pumped for the experience with pep talk and a few observation challenges. Then we’ll take a short walk to draw from nature and from the farm. If the weather is bad, we’ll move into the brewery for the sketching experience. No stress—no embarrassment. No charge. Registration not required. We can accommodate the first 16 people who arrive with sketchpads. Adults age 12 and up.
Friday, August 16, 2024, Drop-in between 4-6:00 PM
Rya and Bee-yah at Milkhouse
Attention fiber artists! Stop by the taproom to look over Melinda Byrd’s shoulder as she knots her rya rug. Ask questions and maybe try making a few knots. Learn a bit about the art of rya rug making which dates back to the days of the Vikings in the Nordic countries. In midcentury modern times, Nordic weavers began weaving rya backings so anyone–with or without a loom–could make these high-quality rugs. Melinda Byrd grew up with rya rugs. Her grandparents were distributors for a Swedish rya supply company from 1955-1970s. She worked for them for about 5 years while developing her own designing techniques. Forty years later she wrote a book to help keep the craft alive. Learn why rya almost disappeared for 30 years. Ask questions. Enjoy a beer. Direct questions to byrdcallstudio@gmail.com.