Ben Grabacz Daily Mining Gazette
Phyllis Fredendall weaved with cotton on a four shaft table loom at the Finnish American Folk School’s open house on Saturday. Frendendall teaches weaving techniques she acquired while learning about the craft in Finland.
HANCOCK — The Finnish American Folk School held its first open house and fundraiser at the first floor of the Skyline Commons on Saturday for Copper Country residents to familiarize themselves with the classes they provide and what types of items they can craft and skills they can learn attached to Finnish culture and heritage.
The open house showcased the folk crafts of woodworking, ceramics and weaving. In addition a rummage sale featuring surplus materials and equipment was held with proceeds going back to the school. At each station, visitors were allowed to interact with students or instructors and have the opportunity to indulge in a limited form of the particular craft itself.
The Director of the Finnish American Folk School, Clare Zuraw, said the activities the school offers are a valuable community resource for the Hancock area.
“People can connect to what we do through their heritage, but they don’t have to be Finnish American to connect with our programming, and I’m an example of that,” Zuraw said. “I don’t have any Finnish descent. I don’t have Finnish heritage, but I love folk arts. I love weaving and knitting and music and folk music specifically. Crafting, working with your hands, and making music, especially in a community setting, has been proven to be very beneficial to mental health and community building in other ways as well.”
Zuraw was delighted by the turnout and was happy to see heightened interest as shown by questions regarding getting involved with the classes.
The weaving area was overseen by a former professor of fiber and fashion design at Finlandia University, Phyllis Fredendall. Frendendall demonstrated weaving cotton on a four shaft table loom. She teaches weaving classes for the school, which includes beginning classes and a rag rug waving class.
“I basically teach a really interesting Finnish weaving technique that I learned in Finland,” Frendendall said. “I had a fellowship there, and so I brought back what I learned.”
Frendendall was impressed with the open house and said she was excited to open more people to the craft, of which she hopes they will consider acquiring new skills.
“It’s really nice for people who don’t know what we do to be able to come in and see what we’re doing. For me, it’s really important to be able to pass on what I know at this stage of my life,” she said.
The ceramic studio had a student, Connor McAdams, working on a planter. As visitors watched him throwing the clay for his piece, they could speak with the class’ studio manager, Lindsay Heiden, or create garden labels out of clay. Heiden emphasized the importance of physical work and how it is a unique activity for people in a technological era.
“It’s a great way just to focus and to relax,” Heiden said. “And I think it’s really important when everything is so digital now to be able to use your hands in another way, and people are really receptive to that. Our classes are filling up.”
The last area showcased woodworking, with visitors observing multiple whittled Scandinavian cups and spoons. Folk School student Jon Robins cut up wood that would later be turned into utensils. Robins said the hobby is fulfilling because he can see his labor resulting in something visibly useful.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Robins said. “It’s really accessible. We’ve got great teachers who can work with anyone from beginners to intermediate to probably experts. I’m still a beginner myself, but we’ve got a great facility, lots of space, lots of tools available and lots of equipment that helps people get a get a feel for what they might want on their own without jumping in and purchasing a whole bunch of expensive tools up front.”
Those interested in seeing more classes the Finnish American Folk School offers or in signing up for classes can do so at the school’s website, finlandiafoundation.org/finnish-american-folk-school.