Bring your favorite folk art—rosemaling, acanthus carving, dragonstil carving, or even runic designs—to new levels through sculpture. George will inspire you to create original art by looking at the natural world around you and at objects created by artists from the past. You will start from the beginning to learn the basic techniques and to develop skills. The choice of materials, principles of design, and attention to detail all affect the final outcome. You will develop a better awareness and appreciation for sculpture by attending this class. During class, you will work with two different mediums: concrete and clay. Concrete is a relatively durable and inexpensive material. Once cast into a block and cured, the concrete can be easily carved with simple tools. One project with concrete will be a 16 x 16 x 3 inch tile with relief carving inspired by Norwegian designs like runes, acanthus, and rosemaling. The other concrete project will be a 6 x 6 x 18 inch vertical form of abstract design. Concrete projects can be kept outdoors and make great stepping stones. The class will also work with a self-hardening clay-like material that can be manipulated and finished with paint and wax. This medium will allow you to create figurative pieces. The finished clay objects are for indoor enjoyment only. The class will visit Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Sculptor, the exhibition at Vesterheim. There will be a materials fee.

Level of instruction: All levels. Youth ages 16 and 17 signed up with a participating adult receive a 25% discount.

George Lowe is an assistant professor of art at Luther College, where he currently teaches pottery classes and sculpture. In his sculpture classes students learn about three-dimensional art and work with a wide range of materials and fabrication techniques. Classes involve technical skills development, knowledge of historical and contemporary three-dimensional art, and critical discussion of artistic expression. George’s professional career as a potter has taken him to many different places around the world and he has presented lectures and workshops across the country. He has been invited to some of the top-ranked juried art festivals in the country and has received many awards for his work at them. His work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions and can be found in several art galleries. George received his B.A. in art from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his M.F.A. in ceramics at Witchita State University in Kansas.