For Ages: 18+

Description: Students will learn how to make a Birdhouse Basket. This basket is a very cute and unusual presentation of birdhouses and a picket fence just for the spring. It is constructed with traditional weaving techniques, but in a different way. This is sure to be a hit for your spring and summer decorating!

Class will begin promptly at 10:00am, students should arrive a few minutes early to set up their workstation. 

Supplies List: (Students should bring these items with them)

• Old towel
• Bucket or basin to hold approximately 2 gallons of water
• Sharpened pencil
• Measuring tape
• 12 large wooden clip style clothespins
• A brick or something similar wrapped in plastic wrap
• Spray bottle
• A regular screw driver with a straight slot
• Sharp good-sized scissors
• A pocket knife
• A packed lunch, snacks and drink

Teacher Bio: Joan Betzold grew up in a family of craftsmen/women and attributes much of her success to her “crafty” genes. Healthcare was another part of Joan’s family background; so loving both, she got her B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation so she could share her love of crafting/recreation with many special populations. After pursuing her Master’s degree, she founded a healthcare consulting firm to assist troubled healthcare providers to survive and thrive. In 1998, after the sudden death of her husband, a retired U.S. Army officer, from Agent Orange from Vietnam service, Joan decided life really was too short. After her two children were on their own, Joan began her second career as a basket weaver by turning a hobby into a full time passion. Joan has won many awards in local and state fairs, as well as art shows. She has been featured in Maryland Life Magazine and participates in as many as 45 art/colonial market fairs/craft shows annually in the mid-Atlantic area. Joan’s passion for basket weaving has produced many awards and she is humbled by the fact that she has won “Basket of the Year”, Recycling Project of the Year and People’s Choice Award all at the Maryland State Fair and many other awards at prestigious art shows. For three years she has been honored to be the Basket Weaving Judge at the Maryland State Fair. In 2018, Joan was honored to be the Featured Artist for the Pennsylvania Herb and Garden Show and the Featured Artist for Heart of Lancaster Arts and Craft Show. 

Joan weaves very traditionally, using age old techniques with no molds, nails, glue, tape or staples. Each basket is “one of a kind, made one at a time. “ Joan restores chairs including, caning, splinting, and rushing. Another passion of Joan is repurposing. She combines these two interests in what are becoming her signature unique baskets incorporating vintage kitchen items, gardening and other tools. Joan loves to do custom work and coming up with just the right thing for a customer. Joan enjoys teaching and demonstrating, especially to children as a way for them to be introduced to weaving and handcrafts of the past. This passion has expanded into demonstrating weaving at all shows she attends and teaching weaving almost weekly at a dozen museums/sites in the mid-Atlantic area. Joan is thrilled to have nearly 800 students across the mid Atlantic, many who drive several hours to take a class. Joan’s customers include stores, gift shops, art galleries, individuals, companies, political figures, members of the military, municipalities and other government entities.

Members receive 10% off with promo code MEMBER

For Ages: 18+ 

Description: Elaborate the narrative of a personal photograph using collage/assemblage techniques. In this workshop participants will create a collage or assemblage using found materials/objects to elaborate the story of a personal, meaningful photograph. The photograph can be of a person, place, animal, event. Materials can include papers, fabrics, and small objects. I will share concepts, techniques and tips from my studio practice. I will share a power point presentation and examples of narrative collages and assemblages.

Supplies: 

• meaningful, personal photograph (people, places, animals, events) can be a copy
• materials such as papers (newspaper, maps, letters, stamps, music, recipes, scoresheets, tickets, etc.), fabrics, dried flowers, small objects

Instructor Bio: Linda Popp is originally from Chicago but has lived in the Baltimore area since 1974. She retired in 2016 after a 41-year career, teaching visual arts with Baltimore County Public Schools (30 years in secondary art and 11 years as the Visual Arts Coordinator). She then taught in the Maryland Institute, College of Art MAT Program for one year. Linda supervised art education student teachers at Towson University, and then retired again in 2021. She is on the Maryland Art Education Association Council and even has an MAEA Leadership Award named in her honor. Linda has served on the National Art Education Association Council as the Secondary Division Director and Eastern Region Vice-President and is a NAEA Distinguished Fellow. Since retiring, she has been able to shift her focus full-time to her studio work. Linda is a member of Hamilton Arts Collective, Towson Arts Collective, Creative Alliance, Maryland Federation of Art, York Art Association, and The Art League of Ocean City. She consistently exhibits her work in these galleries and also other venues outside of the area. She maintains a website, www.lindapopp.com, and www.bakerartists.org/portfolio/linda-popp and presents her work on Instagram @lpoppart. She has had solo exhibits at Gallery Blue Door in Baltimore, and the Leu Gallery, Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and was invited to participate in the Baltimore Assemblage Exhibit at Hamilton Art Gallery, 2023. Linda was selected for the “Constructed Stories & Fabricated Forms” Exhibit, Assemblage Sculpture by Eight Regional Artists, at Gallery 220 in Havre de Grace, 2024. She has created several videos documenting aspects of her assemblage process on her YouTube channel that have been used in classrooms and by individuals. Linda continues to host assemblage workshops in-person and via zoom from her studio. She has presented workshops at Frederick Community College, Towson University, Stevenson University, Belmont University, Towson Arts Collective, and the National Art Education Association Conference. 2025 she is the artist in residence at St. James Academy, Monkton, MD teaching assemblage sculpture to 400 preK-grade 8 students.      

Members receive 10% off with promo code MEMBER

For Ages: 5 - 8

Description: This camp is designed to ignite your creativity and passion for the arts through a series of engaging art projects. Each day will be a new adventure as we explore various techniques, styles, and mediums.

Members receive 10% off with promo code MEMBER

For Ages: 9 - 12

Description: This camp is designed to ignite your creativity and passion for the arts through a series of engaging art projects. Each day will be a new adventure as we explore various techniques, styles, and mediums.

Members receive 10% off with promo code MEMBER

For Ages: 6-9

Description: Each day, campers will focus on a different illustrated books and complete an art project, a reading or math activity, and make a snack that ties into the book. We will learn about illustrations and many different books. 

Members receive 10% off with promo code MEMBER