WEN Summer Workshop 2007
THE RIVIERA OF THE MIDWEST
The 14th annual Wood Engravers Network workshop, hosted by Kathee Kiesselbach, will be held in Niles, and St. Joseph, Michigan. The welcome dinner will be on Sunday, August 12 at 5:00 pm, and the farewell dinner will be on Friday, August 17th. Workshop fee: $50 deposit to be mailed to Kathee Kiesselbach, 1528 Ferndale Blvd., Niles, MI 49120; remainder due at the workshop will be $175.00, payable to "Wood Engravers Network."
Our special guest artist will be acclaimed wood engraver Judith Jaidinger (1941, Chicago). Judith has a BFA in drawing, painting, and printmaking from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She studied wood engraving with Adam Troy. Judith will give a brief presentation of her work, and do a demonstration of her engraving.
This workshop showcases some of Southwestern Michigan’s lush wonders, including Lake Michigan and the Lake District.
Tentative Schedule
Sunday, August 12
Transport from airport for those who request it (15-20 min from South Bend Regional Airport (SBN) SOUTH BEND, IN). Welcome cookout dinner at Kathee and Bill's house, Niles, Michigan. Midwest summer fare.
Monday, August 13
Breakfast on own. Working day in Kiesselbach garden. Lunch provided. Dinner on own.
Tuesday, August 14
Breakfast on own. Working day in Kiesselbach garden. Lunch provided.
4-5:00 pm, Rare Book Room, Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame, private showing of wood engravings and historic press work, including the Eric Gill collection. Introduction and Q&A by Benjamin Panciera, Rare Book Librarian.
6:30 pm, Family-style dinner at Elia's Mediterranean Restaurant, South Bend, Indiana.
Wednesday, August 15
Breakfast on own. Morning transport to Box Factory, St. Joseph, Michigan (35 min).
Working day at Box Factory. WEN traveling exhibit on display. Lunch & dinner on own. Evening transport back to hotels (35 min).
Thursday, August 16
Breakfast on own. Morning transport to Box Factory, St. Joseph, St. Joseph, Michigan. Working day at the Box Factory. Lunch and dinner on own. Evening transport back to hotels.
Friday, August 17
Breakfast on own. Morning Transport to Box Factory; Working day at Box; Farewell dinner together, St. Joseph, Michigan. Evening transport back to hotels.
Saturday, August 18
Airport transport for those who request it.
The workshop will begin in Niles, Michigan, at the Kiesselbach garden. We'll have a couple working days to draw, paint, or photograph new subjects, as well as work on engraving. The garden is 1.5 acres of heavily landscaped property, on two levels. The lower level, or “downstairs” is surrounded on two sides by the Brandywine Creek, a top quality coldwater trout stream that flows through southwestern Cass County and southeastern Berrien County. It is a small, second-order 8.2-mile long stream that flows in a westerly direction through the city limits of Niles, Michigan, before it empties into the St. Joseph River. The “downstairs” garden also has a gazebo, a 40-foot long lily pond with waterfal, and gorgeous flowering plants and wildlife.
The “upstairs” garden features a 12-foot x 12-foot herb garden, two bee hives, fountains, Koi pond, the rhododendron garden, and shade gardens with rare plantings, a covered veranda where we will work, and much more. The house, in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, is built of glass, redwood, and white Indiana limestone, has a flat roof, star-burst beamed semi-circular living room, lots of built-ins throughout, and is inhabited by two friendly and sometimes over enthusiastic Newfoundland dogs named Brocka and Misty.
In the rather rustic garage-printshop here, a newly acquired Damon & Peets 1887 platen press and 4 type cabinets full of gorgeous type, and a small Vandercook "0" proof press.
In the evening, I have arranged a private viewing of historical broadsides and wood engravings (Private Press Collections include Cuala Press, Golden Cockerel Press, Kelmscott Press, Limited Editions Club, Overbrook Press, Perishable Press, St. Dominic's Press, Stamford Abbey Press) in the rare book room of the Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame.
* * *
The second half of the workshop will be spent at the Box Factory for the Arts, St. Joseph, Michigan (35 minutes from Kathee’s home in Niles, MI/ 2 blocks from Lake Michigan) where we will work in front of the public. We will offer instruction and contacts to anyone who wishes to learn. The Box Factory has sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking shops, 40+ private artist’s studios, and boasts a small printmaking studio with a Vandercook 15-21 proof press (1955), three type cabinets of type, a Vandercook #14 proof press, a Charles Brand etching press, and a Charles Brand Lithography Press. The Box also has three galleries, one of which will be scheduled for an exhibition of WEN member work. The Box also has a cafe, and evening events, including concerts, poetry readings, writing workshops, and classes.
Alternately, spend the day in St. Joseph on the beach, visit the Krasel Art Center, shop, or visit other famous artists’ towns, Saugatuk and Douglas.
Nestled on the southern tip of "The Riviera of the Midwest," St. Joseph is located just 90 miles from downtown Chicago. The location is famous for sport fishing, and perfect for weekend adventure, antiquing, or walking through the many shops and art galleries—with some of the best stretches of beach on Lake Michigan.
What to Bring:
Shorts, T-shirts, sandals, sneakers, jacket or sweatshirt, hat, sun glasses, sun lotion, beach towel, bathing suit, camera, wood engraving tools, show & tell items, favorite water bottle, bee sting kit, bicycle optional.
Lodging:
Kathee’s recommendation: Unless you will have a car, stick with hotels in South Bend on US Highway 933, Dixieway North or South, or in Niles, Michigan on South 11th Street. Oddly enough, these are all the same road! They are less expensive than hotels in St. Joseph, MI, and close enough to my house that someone can pick up and drop off easily. If you are driving, these recommendaitons are all close to the toll road exit for Notre Dame; and just minutes from the airport—and 15 minutes from my house.
If money is no object, and you have transportation, stay in St. Joseph on the Lake, and drive back and forth to my house for the first couple days of the workshop.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites South Bend – Niles—from $95.00
1265 SOUTH 11TH STREET
Niles, MI
800-465-4329
Inn at Saint Mary's Hotel & Suites, South Bend—from $113.00
Note: Great ratings
53993 US 933
South Bend, IN 46637
574-232-4000
Comfort Suites, South Bend—average $80.00
Note: pretty good reviews
52939 US 933 North
South Bend, IN 46637
574-272-1500
Knights Inn—from $50.39
This place is kind of dumpy, but in a nice safe area, close to the other hotels here. If the only way you can come is to keep it down, this is your best bet.
South Bend Knights Inn
236 Dixie Hwy. North
South Bend, IN USA 46637
574-277-2960
Hampton Inn and Suites—from $89.00
Note: Ranks #6 of 22 hotels in South Bend in TripAdvisor's popularity index
52709 U.S. HIGHWAY 31 NORTH
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46637
574-277-9373
South Bend Days Inn--from $71.99
52757 SR 933
South Bend, IN USA 46637
800-329-7466
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