A Mother for America: How Betsy Ross Became the Most Famous Woman in American History 

Join us for an engaging talk with historian Charles Hardy as he explores the fascinating story of Betsy Ross and how she became one of the most recognizable figures in American history.

In A Mother for America, Hardy examines how the Betsy Ross story evolved from family memory into a powerful national symbol, revealing how history, myth, patriotism, and cultural identity shape the stories Americans remember.

About the Speaker: Charles Hardy III is Professor of History Emeritus at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. His work focuses on public history, Pennsylvania history, oral history, and digital storytelling.

Advanced registration prefered

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Join master potter, teacher, and writer Jack Troy for this immersive two-day hands-on workshop exploring the transformation of wheel-thrown forms through alteration and intuitive process. Using the potter’s wheel as a starting point, participants will create a range of bottle forms that evolve beyond their original shapes through paddling, shaping, and manipulation at both soft and leather-hard stages.

Through guided demonstrations and studio exploration, participants will develop sensitivity to clay’s changing responsiveness while learning how enclosed forms can be altered around trapped air pockets into dynamic organic and geometric shapes that are both sculptural and functional.

The workshop will also introduce Troy’s ongoing exploration of ishi no sasayaki—Japanese for “stone with secret voice.” These enclosed ceramic forms contain hidden rattles that create subtle, shifting sounds unique to each finished piece, bringing an unexpected sense of life and mystery to the work.

This lively workshop encourages curiosity, experimentation, and the expansion of personal form vocabulary beyond familiar approaches.

Participants should be comfortable throwing bottles 6" tall or larger.

Please bring a ceramic object you have lived with for several years that holds personal meaning and that you would be willing to share with the group.

Join Historic Yellow Springs for a guided visit to the Wharton Esherick Museum, home and studio of pioneering artist and designer Wharton Esherick. Often considered the father of the Studio Furniture movement, Esherick transformed wood into sculptural furniture, interiors, and architectural elements that blurred the line between art and everyday life.

Participants will experience the museum’s signature guided tour, exploring Esherick’s remarkable studio-home, grounds, and creative legacy. Along the way, you'll discover his deep connection to nature, innovative approach to design, and lasting influence on contemporary craft, furniture, and sculpture.

Participants will drive independently to the museum. Plan to meet at the visitors center 9:45. This unique field trip offers inspiration for artists, makers, designers, and anyone interested in the intersection of art, craft, and daily life.

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. 
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts! 

Join Historic Yellow Springs for a guided visit to the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum, the historic workshop founded by historian and artist Henry Chapman Mercer. Participants will tour the site, learn about Mercer's tile-making legacy, and take part in a hands-on sgraffito tile-making workshop.

Finished tiles will be fired and glazed by the studio and available for pickup approximately 3–4 weeks after the visit.

Participants will drive independently to the museum and should plan to arrive by 10:50 AM for an 11:00 AM tour.

Scholarships & Membership: 

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. 
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts! 

In this immersive eight-week journey, we invite you to explore the profound dynamics between the world around us and the stories within us, viewed through the lens of nature and history.

Just as the mineral springs here have carved their way through the earth over centuries, our personal histories are shaped by the environments we inhabit. We will look to the surrounding landscape—the ancient trees, the weathered stone architecture, and the medicinal springs—as a mirror for our own lived experiences. Participants will be encouraged to explore how their personal history intersects with the broader legacy of Yellow Springs, finding where individual memory meets collective heritage.

A Multi-Sensory Approach to Storytelling Writing a memoir is often seen as a solitary act of pen and paper, but true expression often requires more than words alone. This course introduces creative free-writing as a foundation, but we break the boundaries of the page by incorporating mixed media. All artistic abilities are welcome!

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

Calling all teens and tweens eager to enhance their artistic abilities! Join the Teen Drawing and Painting Class to sharpen both your eyes and hands while delving into a variety of drawing and painting techniques. Learn essential principles such as composition, values, shading, color mixing, and traditional methods using pencils, pastels, and acrylic paints. Enroll now to unleash your creativity, with personalized instruction at your own pace and all materials provided for in-class exploration!

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

This class is for students who have a basic understanding of wheel throwing from wedging to shaping on the wheel. Our goal is to provide an open environment for pushing limits and experimentation. I base demonstrations off of class interests but we will focus on altering forms on and off the wheel as well as creating multi-part forms. 

This class is held in a ADA accessable studio space

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

This course breaks down the process of portraiture into manageable steps—from blocking in basic shapes, establishing accurate proportions using reference points, to building up value progressions. You’ll learn the best way to approach each stage of a portrait, from initial sketch to final details. We begin by working from photo references to develop your ability to capture likeness, culminating in a live model session. Whether you prefer to sketch loosely or render in detail, you'll learn techniques that adapt to your artistic goals. Model fee included

Click HERE for a materials list for this course.

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!