While kids everywhere are cheering the end of teachers, books and dirty looks, as a grown up and ex-instructor, I find myself sniffing nostalgically at the very idea of school. Because, as dorky as it may sound, there is no way to describe how much I love learning new stuff. So when Brooklyn based coop 3rd Ward emailed DC to tell us all about their awesome summer class offerings, my heart leaped at the thought of taking welding, or bookbinding, or screen printing, or — gasp!– digital textile design (wiping the drool off my face).
Damn you, 3rd Ward, why aren’t you in Austin? Well, this post will serve as a PSA for all you lucky New Yorkers, as well as inspiration for the rest of us. Don’t just waste your summer away on silly activities like booze and swimming… Learn something, already!
So, 3rd Ward offers a brazillion classes that range from Vacation Bible School cheap to summer camp in the Poconos not so cheap. Clockwise from the top left, we have Digital Textile Design, Photoshop (which is apparently taught by mimes… just kidding, but that would be awesome!), Digital Bookmaking and Thermochromatic Embroidery. Huh, what? Apparently there is such a thing as wired embroidery thread that changes colors when a switch is flipped. I like the idea of having an electronic hat very, very much.
Once upon a time, I took a jewelry class, and for the first time in the history of my education, I hated my teacher. I would like a do over at 3rd Ward, please. Did you know you could cast jewelry from cuttlefish bones? Stinky, but fun.
I also took a welding class in grad school that changed my life. I went from confusing a socket wrench with a monkey wrench, to TIG welding like a rock star. Karlypants also took welding in school and we both agree that knowing how to use tools with confidence is totally empowering. Plus I feel that everything should be on casters, so this Welding Techniques for Sculpture and Furniture class would bring me one step closer to my plan of world domination on wheels.
For all my tool swagger, I can’t wield a brush worth a damn, so it’s unlikely I would find myself in the Oil Painting class. On the other hand, if they can teach me how to paint this sexy lady, I am so there.
Perhaps I should start with the Drawing From Chaos class… Although I am very distracted by the Handmade Skincare class. Knowing me, however, I would accidentally concoct a tincture of poison ivy instead of St John’s Wort. Doh! I used to teach bookmaking, so maybe I’d be safest in the Bookbinding class. Yeah, I know — way to stretch out of my comfort zone.
I am a very impatient lady, so I would consider taking the Extraordinary Embroidery class sponsored by Etsy to work on my sit still skillz.
This class wins the award for best title — How To Make Crappy Stuff Awesome. Love it, love the concept. In fact, this class describes my theory for decorating: Step One – Collect trash. Step Two – Shrug? Step Three – Awesome! Ok, so maybe I should take the class, as I obviously need some help filling in the particulars for Step Two.
Finally, Business Plan Boot Camp is not to be missed. Because all the awesome crafts and art in the world will not market themselves. You gotta know how to pimp your wares. When I taught art, I ALWAYS recommended for art majors to minor in business. If you missed the business boat (like I did), then this class is for you.
So remember when I chastised you for boozing your summer away instead of spending your free time learnin’ stuff? Well, if you can’t set down that case of Pabst Blue Ribbon, consider taking the very informal Drink and Draw class on a Wednesday night at 3rd Ward. Because you know your drawings always look better when viewed through a haze of drunkenness. At least mine do.
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Argh, New York. Like what they got isn’t enough already.
I wish I could go to these.
I’m self taught when it comes to “how to make crappy stuff awesome”, but I’d love to see what other people do with their dumpster/flea market treasures!!! Maybe they’d consider offering the class online!?!
Design Crisis is so very, very fantastic & double-delicious-Can’t start my creative day without you! Thanks!
These classes look so insane it hurts. I say we start a petition to get an Austin Chapter. I promise that, despite my thrifty nature, I will save every penny I have to take at least 6 of those classes. How to make crappy stuff awesome will most certainly be first.
Just another reason to want to move to NYC! Although, to be completely honest, I could hit some of these if I wanted to. A 45 min commute is not sooo bad. But I am very lazy, I mean, bizzy. The Drink and Draw class is SUPER tempting. Thanks for posting these!
Allene, you are a sweetheart — thanks for stopping by!
Kristin, go do some drinking and drawing for us, and then report back! We need firsthand information, here, so you could write a guest blog…?
oh, i need to do classes right now, i’m chocked full of ideas that need to be channeled somehow. screen printing would be my number one choice. siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. sometimes living in the country sucks AND blows.
I WANT TO TAKE A WELDING CLASS!!! and photoshop!!! and ceramics!! and and and!!! dammit!
EB, I’m betting you loved college as much as I did. I poured over the course catalog for hours marking all of the classes that looked interesting and then ending up settling for my requireds. I wish I could could have taken more outside my majors, but double degrees didn’t allow a lot of extra time.
I’m thinking about going back for my Masters in Museum Studies (because I want a guarantee of constant future unemployment), but my post-pregnancy Swiss cheese brain may not allow it.
No fair! I want to Drink and Draw! Or was that one a joke?
Amy, I would never joke about something as seriously awesome as a class that encourages drinking and drawing!
Yeah, drink and draw is real. With naked models no less. It’s funny because I’ve known about this place for a long time (since I work for a Brooklyn-centric organization), but I didn’t realize that they had all these classes! DC informs once again!
So yeah, I live in New York City, and I TOTALLY want to know how to make furniture, but I have NO SPARE TIME!!! Argh! Certainly not enough to make it to Bushwick. The fine print here is that this place is kind of off the beaten path.
Cassie, you must — simply MUST — drink, draw and post! It would be awesome!
I can’t draw! Even sober!
But you can read (more than you ever wanted to know) about the event here:
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/4/32_4_gk_nude_angle.html
Hmmm, 8 on a Wednesday… it is SO tempting!!! I will have to give this more thought. Wish I had a buddy, although I could always try to drag the hubby. Hey, that rhymes!
Wait, no it so does not rhyme.
I want to sign up for every single class. EVERY SINGLE CLASS. Especially embroidery and oil painting and welding. And drink and draw is the best idea ever. Nothing like a little brew to get the pencil moving. Love love love this post!
I want to sign up for every single class. EVERY SINGLE CLASS. Especially embroidery and oil painting and welding. And drink and draw is the best idea ever. Nothing like a little brew to get the pencil moving. Love love love this post!