Learning a local art form

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/08/2018 (2725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

The Seven Oaks House Museum (50 Mac St.) is offering a hands-on experience for all.

 

On Aug. 19 and Sept. 2, Eric Napier, SOHM’s manager and curator, will be teaching visitors how to do Métis beadwork. The Introduction to Métis Beadwork workshop starts at 1 p.m. with a behind-the-scenes tour where participants will be able to explore the museum behind the barriers, see storage spaces and get a close-up look at the items while learning the history of the people who used to live inside the house.

After the tour, Napier will take participants to the garden where the Inkster-Sinclair family may have done beadwork more than 150 years ago, and he will teach the people the technique.

“We have pieces in the museum that were made by the Inkster family,” he added.

Napier became interested in beading while working in the museum and noticing the many pieces which make up their collection. He said he wanted to learn more about them and how they were made, so he started studying with beading artist Jennine Krauchi who encouraged him to start teaching other people. 

“We are hoping that it will be popular enough that we can offer it as a continuing series in the off-season,” he said, adding the museum is planning other kinds of workshops to offer in the fall and winter. “If the workshop does well, we are going to try and turn it into an off-site program where we can bring it to community centres and schools.”

Other museums teach beadwork, but they are not accessible to everyone, Napier said. The SOHM three-hour workshop only costs $10 with all the material included. Participants can take the supplied home to finish their floral project.

Having these kinds of workshops was something that Napier has wanted to do for a while, and now he feels he has enough of the skills to share with people. He also said it was also difficult to pick who would be teaching these traditions since they are a Métis historical site, but Krauchi’s incentive was essential for his decision.

“I think it’s going to be a neat opportunity for people to learn a unique art form that was developed here and it’s totally local,” Napier added.

There are about 10 spots per session, and Napier said each session is nearly half filled. For those who would like to register contact SOHM at sohmuseum@gmail.com or 204-339-7429.