Inspired by the 18th- and 19th-century tradition of collecting natural specimens, artifacts, and unusual discoveries, this collaborative series brings together Historic Yellow Springs and Historic Sugartown for four workshops exploring botanical preservation, ceramics, paper marbling, cyanotype printing, and traditional bookbinding.

Each workshop can be enjoyed independently, or attend two or more to build a collection of materials for your own Cabinet of Curiosities journal.

• Saturday, October 24 | Historic Yellow Springs | 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Collecting & Preserving Specimens — Sarah Rafferty
  • Explore ways to collect, dry, and press botanical specimens. Create a small ceramic element by pressing a natural specimen into clay to make a unique button or fastener.
• Saturday, October 31 | Historic Sugartown | 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Traditional Paper Marbling — Ramon Townsend
  • Learn the historic art of paper marbling and create one-of-a-kind decorative papers for future covers, endpapers, or journal pages.
• Saturday, November 8 | Historic Yellow Springs | 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Cyanotype Specimens
  • Transform plants and natural objects into striking blue-and-white cyanotype prints for display, journaling, or future creative projects.
• Saturday, November 21 | Historic Sugartown | 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.Traditional Bookbinding — Ramon Townsend
  • Bring your collected materials together in Historic Sugartown’s working bindery. Learn traditional bookbinding techniques to create a handcrafted journal incorporating your marbled papers, cyanotypes, specimens, and other discoveries. Those attending two or more previous workshops can create a more finished, personalized Cabinet of Curiosities journal

Each workshop can be enjoyed independently, or attend two or more to build a collection of materials for your own Cabinet of Curiosities journal. No previous experience is required. To participate in the bookbinding workshop, you must attend at least one of the three preceding workshops so you have materials to incorporate into your journal.

• 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! 

Print, ink and repeat with plants from Historic Yellow Springs! Discover the excitement of printmaking and see your image come to life in each print. In this all day workshop, we’ll explore both monoprinting and linocut using nature as both inspiration and material to create beautiful artworks. Forage near the studio and explore the historic medicinal herb garden to gather materials for printing.

You’ll be guided through the entire process from drawing to carving to printing. Make multiple prints you can frame or give as a gift. Bonus: the printing plate is yours to keep for future printing. Try different colors, mix your own inks, and enjoy some creative camaraderie!

You’ll take home the custom plate you design for future use, along with all of the prints you create during the workshop.  $35 materials fee payable to the instructor.

• 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!

One of the most exciting techniques in gel plate printing is creating a “ghost print”—the beautiful image that’s left behind after the first pull—so I thought it would be a fun play on words for Halloween. The class would focus on layered prints using botanicals, vintage papers, image transfers, metallic accents, and rich autumn colors to create artwork that’s more whimsical and sophisticated than spooky.

$15 Materials Fee payable to the instructor

• 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 workshop is for Veterans or Active Service Members only

Dive into the world of relief printmaking! Perfect for beginners eager to explore a timeless art form, we'll earn the basics of designing, carving, and printing your own unique creations using linoleum blocks. With hands-on guidance and plenty of practice, you'll develop the skills to produce beautiful to share with friends and family.

• 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!

Explore Gel Plate Printmaking! Discover the creative possibilities of gel plate printmaking in this hands-on workshop with artist Heather Carey of Heather Carey Studios. Gel plate printing is an accessible mono-printing process that encourages experimentation through layers of color, texture, and pattern. Using acrylic paint, stencils, natural and found materials, participants will create a collection of one-of-a-kind prints while exploring a variety of techniques, including texture building, masking, and layered printing.

Throughout the workshop, students will develop an understanding of the gel plate printing process while embracing the unexpected results that make each print unique. Finished prints may stand alone as original works of art or become beautiful elements for collage, art journals, handmade books, greeting cards, and mixed media projects. Suitable for both beginners and experienced artists, this workshop offers an inviting opportunity to expand your creative practice, explore new techniques, and discover the expressive potential of mono-printing.

All materials are provided. Participants are welcome to bring fashion magazines or National Geographic magazines to incorporate transfers into their work, along with favorite textured materials such as leaves, lace, or bubble wrap. Please avoid bringing anything with sharp edges that could damage the gel plate.

$15 Materials Fee payable to the instructor

• 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!