Whitley County Cooperative Extension’s Community Arts office offering classes for all ages

The University of Kentucky’s Whitley County Fine Arts Extension offers a wide variety of programs and activities for the local community. Among those are the classes offered by the Extension’s Community Arts center, located at 428 Main Street in downtown Williamsburg.

Extension Assistant Mawnie Belcher recently talked about some of the activities taking place in Williamsburg, saying, “We mainly offer classes in the visual arts. Alice Fae Weiland is a basket artist, and one of our instructors. Duane Baysinger is a jeweler who owned his own business locally for many years, and now he teaches a lot of jewelry classes here. Then there is Sue Dee, who is over our Mountain Textiles group. They do everything related to textiles.”

Belcher said that one of the goals at the Community Arts center is to “bring in artists within the community to teach.” These teachers do get paid, although some, like Weiland, offer her time and expertise on a strictly volunteer basis.

In order to help cover the cost of materials, there is a fee to sign up for most Community Arts classes, but Belcher said that the idea is to try and offer the classes for as little, or in some cases, no cost at all, if possible.

Weiland, whose background is in education, said that exploring her creative side became a priority after she retired back in 2003.

“When I retired, I had two goals,” Weiland explained. “One was to make a quilt, and the other was to do a basket. I made my quilt, even though it took me over a year to do it, and then I got the basket made in just a week or two.”

Weiland said that she liked the fact that she could complete a woven basket project in a relatively short amount of time, so she continued to focus on those specifically. Now, twenty years later, she has spent countless hours honing the craft, and has successfully completed nearly 350 baskets.

When asked about what led her to begin teaching others how to make these unique creations, she said, “I just decided to try and help anyone that wanted to do one, and it kind of fell into me teaching these classes. I have been teaching them for over ten years now.”

Where Weiland’s passion lies in basket weaving, Sue Dee’s medium of choice is working with textiles. Specifically as it pertains to quilting, Dee said that she belongs to a group that makes and donates quilts to people in need, such as hospital patients, and first responders who might encounter young children during emergency situations.

“I like textiles in general,” said Dee, who prides herself on the fact that she dyes her own fabrics for her various projects. “I have sewn since I was a kid, making garments from the time that I was very young, but I got into quilting in 2001 after retiring from a career in sales, and I began teaching classes on it in 2005.”

Baysinger turned his passion into his profession in 1980 when he became a jeweler. Since that time, whether it has been for money or for pleasure, he said that he has always derived a great deal of enjoyment out of working with his hands, and creating unique pieces of art that can be displayed, or worn for others to enjoy.

“I didn’t do well in my classes until junior high school, when I discovered shop,” Baysinger said. “I learned then how satisfying it is to be working with my hands.”

Baysinger now teaches woodcarving, and three different metalworking classes, for the Community Arts center. In each class, he said that students will learn how to use a variety of tools, as well as how to work with different types of source materials.

Whether it is working on a wood or metal project with Baysinger, a textile project with Dee, or weaving a basket with Weiland, there are several benefits to being artistically active. Belcher spoke about some of the specific benefits for senior participants, saying, “We want a sense of community in the art center, and I think there is definitely a big benefit in just being able to socialize. It is also great for mental health, as focusing on a project can provide a time of peace and relaxation.”

Belcher also pointed out the benefits related to motor skills, since all of these projects require the use of one’s hands, and she commented that most classes will generally stimulate all the senses at one point or another. This is a good thing, especially for those who may have been experiencing periods of decreased activity.

Novices and students of all ages are welcome at the Whitley County Cooperative Extension’s Community Arts center. For more information on what classes are currently being offered, go by their downtown Williamsburg location to pick up a newsletter and get signed up to receive regular e-mail updates.

Those interested can also search for “Whitley County Cooperative Extension – Fine Arts” on Facebook, or they can call (606) 549-7373.

Class info and instructions on how to sign up can also be found at ukywhitley.pacecommunity.net.