Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society Art Workshop Series Takes Inspiration from Fashion

mixsell-house-2Taking inspiration from the centuries of fashion now on display at the Sigal Museum in Easton, the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society (NCHGS) presents “The Lost Arts of Handicraft,” a series of workshops showcasing historical art found in textile artifacts.

The museum exhibition, Eras of Elegance, showcases 35 gowns dating from the 1750s to the 1920s, as well as accessories through the eras. Workshops will highlight the historic costumes and accoutrements on exhibit, while providing demonstration and hands-on activities that cultivate an interest in the “lost art” of creating “functional art” – focusing on those timeless, creative handiwork skills associated with costume-making and historic textile production. The “Lost Art” Workshops, all to be held at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street in Easton, have now been announced and registration is open. Registration fees include all materials for the take-home textile project and free museum admission.

Sunday May 17 1 pm “Quilts- Memories and Personal Stories” explores art, function, and reflection of the quilter, presented by Fashion Designer Susan Kolar. $20 registration fee includes project materials.

Sunday May 24 1 pm “Knitting for Kids” allows children age 6 and up to create functional textiles and they will be knitting and purling their own blankets. Presented by knitter Jessica Ytkin. $15 registration fee includes project materials.

Sunday, June 7 1 pm “Fanciful Flowers: Inspired Accessory” The artistry of fabric flowers is presented by Fashion Designer Susan Kolar. $20 registration fee includes project materials.

To register, call the Sigal Museum at 610.253.1222. Registration closes one week prior to workshop and class sizes are limited to ensure personal instruction. This art workshop series is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

About the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society (NCHGS)

NCHGS is steward of significant collections documenting the life and times of the region. Within its more than 60,000 item collection lies an extensive textile collection containing often unique and rare handmade fashions, some of which are currently on display at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, where the Society showcases more than thirty five costumes, plus accessories, in its Eras of Elegance exhibit, running through August of 2015. Additional textiles, including lovely quilts and coverlets are on permanent exhibit in the Decorative Arts Gallery. NCHGS’s Mixsell House Museum at 101-107 S. 4th St., Easton, following mechanical and security upgrades now underway, will showcase other items from the textile collection as well as serving as a textile research facility at its grand reopening in July.