The rolling hills of Woodfordia will once again spring to life when the home of Woodford Folk Festival hosts Artisan Camp – an immersive workshop experience from 30 April to 2 May 2019.
The third annual Artisan Camp invites visitors to learn directly from masters of their craft and offers a distinctive program featuring silversmithing, circus, songwriting, millinery, rhythm workshops, acrylic painting, dance, ukulele and comedy.
Guests in 2019 include a Guinness World Record-holder, a leading Australian percussionist, a globally renowned comedian, an artist who worked with Disney and an award-winning songwriter as well as artisans with hundreds of years of experience between them.They include:
Kirsten Fletcher who creates dynamic and sculptural wearable art pieces in a multi-layered discipline that draws from costume, sculpture and fashion. She has recently returned from an 11-year immersion in the world of costume and wearable crafts in London where she worked on a plethora of productions from Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to Onegin at the Royal Opera House. Kirsten’s time in London allowed her to expand her skills and love of millinery and related crafts.
Greg Sheehan is a leading figures in Australian percussion. As a performer, teacher and recording artist, he has been immersed in Australia’s music scene over almost 50 years. He has been a major influence on generations of musicians and has reshaped the map of rhythm.
Greg is a passionate visionary who has created a unique system of mathsmusic called ‘Rhythm Diamonds’ which is taught in music colleges around the country, pioneered his own body percussion style and reinvented his tambourine technique.
Chelsea McGuffin is a Brisbane-based acrobat, circus performer and director. She’s been an industry leader for decades and holds two Guinness World Records for walking on champagne bottles. On top of this, Chelsea co-owns contemporary circus company, Company 2.
Founded in 2010, Company 2 delivers high quality, thought-provoking and jaw-dropping work that has toured internationally. In Chelsea’s three-day workshop, learn the basics of circus and acrobatics, have a lot of fun and leave the camp with a few tricks up your sleeve!
RABKA Gold & Silversmiths have over 20 years of experience in the ancient craft of silver and gold-smithing. They specialise in handmade jewellery, corporate gifting and spreading the love of jewellery making with mobile jewellery workshops. In RABKA’s Silversmithing Workshop you will go from grasshopper to master in three days, learning how to create your own jewellery from start to finish and leaving with beautiful handmade silver jewellery pieces.
Growing up in Byron Bay, Vanessa Wallace spent innumerable hours of her youth engrossed in art-making and creative adventures. She began her professional life as a graphic designer working for advertising agencies both in Australia and the UK.
As a practising artist for 15 years, Vanessa continues to create and exhibit for various galleries. She loves nothing better than pinching porcelain, painting and decorating surfaces, splashing colour and travelling to find new sights and inspirations.
Philip Griffin has spent the past four decades performing, composing, teaching and conducting ensembles around Australia, New Zealand and Europe and plays ukulele, guitar, lutes, bass, oud and more. He has played with Woodford legend Linsey Pollak in many combinations for the past 35 years, including with the Balkanics. Playing, arranging and composing for the ukulele and leading ukulele ensembles is his particular passion.
With comparisons to Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, Patsy Cline and Brandi Carlile, Sue Ray’s sound is an eclectic mix of old school classic country steeped with a southern blues vibe to create her own unique, alternative country sound.
In the past five years, Sue has had accrued many awards and nominations, including Most Promising New Talent in the 2013 Deadly Awards to Female Artist of The Year at the QLD Music Awards that same year. In 2018 Sue won the World/Folk category in the QMusic awards for Junior Was His Name.
Dave Thornton has built a global reputation for his honest, engaging, whip-smart and damn funny comedy not just in Australia but internationally, too. He’s a regular on television and radio and has performed 14 solo stand-up shows.
Woodford Folk Festival General Manager Amanda Jackes said the fledgling Artisan Camp was held in the lead up to Woodfordia’s annual Planting Festival – which takes place 3 – 5 May 2019.
“Artisan Camp is a gathering that embraces a love of learning, creating and sharing,” said Jackes. “If there is anything that really motivates the team here at Woodfordia, it is crafting stunningly unique, completely immersive, beautiful moments. Artisan Camp is our new love and a total indulgence in that.”
Artisan Camp runs 30 April – 2 May 2019. For more information, and to book your experience, visit: www.artisancamp.com for details.
Image: Participants at the Artisan Camp (supplied)