Spirit House: Personal Shrine
April 16th [Friday]
7 hours
Instructor: Guest Artist Carol Owen
Class Fee: $80.00
Bring a brownbag lunch for your half hour break.

Carol Owen sees her Spirit Houses as protective icons of family history, "My Spirit Houses are shrines to family memories. They make sacred those shards of the past that have made us what we are." Enshrining memories of family and home and incorporating personal mementos which celebrate the people, places, and events important to us, Carol's unique, three-dimensional assemblages honor people's most intimate histories and truest treasures.

In this day-long workshop, each student will learn how to construct a basic shrine that will tell their own story, using photos and memorabilia special to them. Using simple materials and techniques such as assemblage and collage, students will make a house-like structure rich in personal meaning. This is a chance to make a personal shrine, perhaps to someone special in your life, to a favorite place, a remembered trip, a beloved pet, or perhaps a fun event you'd like to commemorate. Carol will show you how to make the shrine; what you choose to celebrate is up to you!

Supply list: Bring your Basic Kit, plus

• A utility knife (a box cutter, not an x-acto knife) with a sharp blade
• A cutting mat
• Glue for paper: I use Sobo, a textile glue
• Glue for embellishments: I use Aileen's Tacky glue or Weldbond, but gel medium or Diamond glaze will also work
• 2 or 3 colors of acrylic paints: (fluid acrylics, tube acrylics or Lumieres will work)
• A couple of brushes for glue and paint: foam brushes or makeup sponges will also work
• Scissors, ruler (at least 12" long), pencil
• A styrofoam plate or aluminum pie plate for use as a palette
• Photocopies of paper items, such as photographs, letters, maps, etc. Make sure they will fit in a 4" x 5" size
• Embellishments: beads, buttons, keys, charms, shells, etc., any little bits and pieces you have on hand
• A sheet of foam board, 3/16" thick (can be found at large craft stores or art supply stores)
• 6 straight pins