event-type

: Workshops + Courses

Chestina Dominguez leading a wa'paas weaving class at Maryhill Museum of Art. Courtesy Maryhill Museum of Art

This learning event is led by Chestina Dominguez, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Yakama Nation and descendant of the Warm Springs tribe. Chestina uses contemporary materials to create baskets using the ancient techniques of her ancestors.

Sally bags, known as wapaas and aqw’alkt respectively among the Wasco and Wishxam peoples, are woven with a unique full-turn twining method.

Goldendale,
WA
Workshops + Courses
Fiber
Vallero Star on tapestry weaving. Emily Trujillo

Take your tapestry weaving to the next level with precise planning!

Learn how to calculate basic shapes within a tapestry that can be applied to your weaving, accounting for chosen epi, weft, and personal technique.

The focus of this class is designing/understanding design, and not weaving techniques, but you will leave with at least one weaving showing what you learned that you can take home with you.

Los Ranchos,
NM
Workshops + Courses
Fiber
A woman is on a video call while sitting on a couch, smiling, with a laptop, yarn, and knitting needles. Virtual Makers Mornings. American Swedish Institute

Join a community of makers in a relaxed virtual setting hosted by ASI staff. Each week, makers share projects, work, experiences, and stories. All crafts and skill levels are welcome. Drop in as often as you like, for as long as you like. Free.

Minneapolis,
MN
Virtual
Virtual Workshops + Courses
Clay Fiber Glass Metal Mixed Media Other Paper Wood
A textured, multi-colored fiber art piece hangs from a wooden dowel against a white wall. American Swedish Institute

Learn the basics of rya weaving while making a small tapestry of your own design, inspired by pieces in ASI’s current exhibitions, Handwoven: Between Chaos and Order and Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art.

Students will learn learn history, technique, and get to explore oodles of colors and textures in this hands-on, beginner-friendly class.

Welcomes registrants ages 11-17 accompanied by an adult. $115 ($100 ASI member) + $15 Materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Fiber
A woman demonstrating how to use a drop spindle with fiber. American Swedish Institute

Discover the history and art of spinning yarn by hand in this one-day workshop.

Students will learn basic techniques for working with a bottom-whorl spindle and explore historical methods that predate the spinning wheel. Bring home a spindle and fiber, brand-new yarn, and foundational skills to continue spinning.

Suitable for ages 14+. $115 ($100 ASI member) + $25 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Fiber
A person is shown from the side, intently weaving a colorful patterned band on a small loom. American Swedish Institute

Learn to weave on an inkle loom, a useful, portable loom for weaving bands up to 3″ wide in a variety of patterns and styles.

Students will learn how to warp an inkle loom and start weaving a 1″ wide band, and will leave with a band up to 4″ long.

Suitable for ages 16+ $115 ($100 ASI member) + $20 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Fiber
A group of people are standing outdoors, some looking up and pointing at tree branches. American Swedish Institute

It’s unnecessary to trek into the wilderness to harvest wild edibles—there’s options right here in the city!

Join Maria of Four Season Foraging to explore the urban environment in search of seasonal wild foods, starting with ASI’s campus. Be prepared to be outside and walk up to 10 city blocks.

Suitable for ages 18+, or 11–17 alongside a registered adult. $45 ($40 ASI member).

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Other
A hand holds a stack of brightly colored, wooden bowls. American Swedish Institute

For centuries, round objects such as bowls, cups, plates, and furniture were produced using the simple technology of a foot-powered, spring pole lathe.

Students will join bowl turner David for this three-day introduction to the craft of turning bowls using this old tool.

Note: this class requires physical strength, stamina, and the ability to stand on one leg.

Suitable for ages 18+. $325 ($300 ASI member) + $50 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Wood
A collection of small, felted gnomes and animal figures are displayed on rocks in front of lush green foliage. American Swedish Institute

Make the sweetest little woolly tomte and critter friend ready for imaginative play in this intergenerational needle felting class.

Kids and their special adults will shape and decorate a pocket-sized tomte and its cute companion using the magical technique of needle felting.  Kids ages 9-17 are invited to join alongside an adult.

$55 adult/ child pair ($45 ASI member adult/child pair) + $25 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Fiber
A collection of small, handmade ceramic figures, including mushrooms, gnomes, hedgehogs, a fox, and a caterpillar, are arranged on a stone surface with grass in the background. American Swedish Institute

Get your fairy garden ready for spring with mushrooms, creatures, gnomes, and more!

Kids ages 9-17 and their special adults are invited to make a dozen tiny clay decorations perfect for tucking in a potted plant or fairy garden.

After students build and paint their creations with colorful underglazes, the projects will be fired in the instructor’s home studio and then returned to ASI for pickup.

$55 adult/youth pair ($45 ASI member adult/youth pair) + $20 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Clay

This beginner course will introduce students to the Scandinavian-style flat-plane carving tradition, with a lesson on basic knife grips and carving techniques.

Come carve and paint a couple of sweet miniature wooden vegetables for imagination play, display, or even making a statement necklace.

Suitable for ages 16+ or 11–15, accompanied by a registered adult. $70 ($60 ASI member) + $25 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Wood
A wooden workbench displays birch bark pieces, shavings, and a small knife with a wooden handle. American Swedish Institute

Get a taste of carving with fresh wood using traditional Scandinavian tools and techniques.

This quick intro class covers the basics of using a carving knife and working with “green” or fresh wood while making a small butter spreader. Note, carving requires good hand strength and flexibility.

Suitable for ages 16+, or ages 11–15, accompanied by a registered adult. $75 ($65 ASI member) + $20 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Wood
A hand holds a small, handmade wicker basket against a background of weathered wooden planks. The basket is woven with natural materials. American Swedish Institute

This course will teach beginners how to weave their first stake and strand willow basket. This very old basket style starts with a flat base, and builds the sides upwards with vertical “stakes” and horizontal “strands.”

While weaving their first basket (about 9”x 8”), students will also learn about harvesting, material selection, willow soaking, basket anatomy, and the benefits of different weaving patterns.

Suitable for ages 16+. $225 ($200 ASI member) + $45 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Wood
A collection of handmade wooden spoons of various sizes and wood types are piled on a weathered wooden surface. The spoons are carved and sanded, showcasing different wood grains and shapes. American Swedish Institute

Get your hands on a knife and fresh wood, and start spoon carving!

This two-day class walks students through carving a spoon from a green wood blank to its finished form. Suitable for students of all levels, though prior experience with green woodcarving, is recommended.

Suitable for ages 18+ or 16+ registered alongside an accompanying adult; note that spoon carving requires moderate hand and arm strength and flexibility. $205 ($185 ASI member) + $25 materials fee payable to instructor.

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Wood
A watercolor painting depicts a vibrant bouquet of pink and coral peonies, accented with delicate purple flowers. The flowers are arranged in a clear glass vase against a softly textured background. American Swedish Institute

Celebrate the return of warmth and light while creating an original floral watercolor design from the season’s buds and blooms.

In this two-day watercolor workshop, students will practice painting and drawing from props and leave with an original design suitable for framing or gifting.

Suitable for ages 18+. $275 ($250 ASI member).

Minneapolis,
MN
Workshops + Courses
Other Paper