Workshops in Traditional Celtic arts to be offered at Celtic Festival

Sponsored by the Garrett County Arts Council, the workshops are free but have limited seats, so registration is recommended. Visit gccelticfestival.com/workshops to register. Participants must purchase tickets to the festival online or at the gate.

A lost of workshops follows:

Celtic Symbolism in Copper and Silver: This workshop is with Lisa Morshead, who has been studying metal-smithing for the past eight years and has a fully equipped home studio. Her metals instructor is a “blacksmith turned metalsmith” at Penn Alps Artisan Village in Grantsville. Her work is influenced by her mentor’s background in blacksmithing, and this is reflected in the degree of metal forging she does (shaping metal with a hammer) in creating her works, as well as her use of base metals such as copper and bronze.

In this workshop, you will create a Celtic-themed pendant in copper or silver.

Tartans and the Art of Weaving: This workshop is with Kathy Wells, Clan Hay. Wells practices the ancient art of weaving and is the creator of the Pittsburgh St. Andrews Society Tartan, now registered in the official Scottish Register of Tartans. Learn how the intricate patterns on the Scottish Tartans are created and crafted, a process starting with raw wool and progressing through to the famous Highland kilts.

In this workshop, while listening to her story about creating her design, you will create on a portable loom a small woven piece for use or framing.

Traditional Celtic Wheat Dolls and Symbols: This workshop is with Ruthanne E. Ankney, who performs and teaches residency programs, workshops, community celebrations and festival programs for a wide age range. Ankney can be found at festivals, museums, theaters, libraries, historical and seasonal events performing stories, music, folk theater and dance. Her colorful presentation combines seasonal folklore and folk traditions.

In this workshop, you will weave an Imbolc doll, a Celtic knot or mixed media artwork to take home.

Quilt a Block: This workshop is with the Friendsville Library Quilters. The members have produced many beautiful quilts, auctioning one annually to raise funds for the purchase of books and other contents for the Friendsville Library. You are invited to enjoy these friends’ camaraderie and expertise while you create in this traditional art form. You can also buy a raffle ticket for this year’s beautiful Irish Chain quilt, with proceeds supporting the Ruth Enlow Library.

Makayla Maule will also be doing adult face and body painting.

Alfonso Diaz will speak about the traditional Asturian art of scything while demonstrating maintenance. A scythe will be given away.

Tickets are available online or at the gate, which will open at 9 a.m. on June 3. More information about the festival can be found at gccelticfestival.com, on Facebook or by calling 301-501-0304.

The festival is sponsored in part by the Community Trust Fund, Garrett County Arts Council, and businesses and individuals.