The Folk School at Midsummer

June 12 – September 10, 2025

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Musical performance beginning at 7pm

HANCOCK, MI – The Finlandia Gallery, in collaboration with the Finnish American Folk School will present The Folk School at Midsummer, the fourth annual group exhibit presenting the work of the folk school instructors and students.

The exhibit will be held at The Finlandia Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC), Hancock from June 12 to September 10, 2025. 

A reception for the artists will take place at the gallery, Thursday, June 12, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  The reception is free and open to the public, refreshments will be served.

Members of the Ilon Kaiku Kantele Ensemble and folk school jouhikko students will present a musical performance beginning at 7:00 pm. 

The Finnish American Folk School (FAFS) has had a remarkable year of instruction including workshops in weaving, spoon carving, knitting, clay whistle making, reusable resources design-build projects, fabric stenciling, canoe paddle building, himmeli making,  music and more! 

“Something I really enjoy about this annual show is the opportunity to see a wide range of folk arts all together in a gallery setting, with the work of amateurs and professionals exhibited side-by-side.,” says Folk School Director Clare Zuraw.  “It’s a lovely representation of some of what we do at the folk school.”

In May 2025, Alex Yerks presented a popular spoon carving workshop for the Finnish American Folk School.  A daily practitioner of Slöjd (the tradition of making practical and beautiful objects from wood using simple tools) for fifteen years, Yerks teaches classes every month at various folk schools, museums, universities, woodlands and barns all around the world. When he’s not teaching or experimenting in the workshop, Alex travels to cross pollinate with other craftspeople to record their stories, collaborate, share skills with the idea of preserving tradition and techniques.

“I teach folk art to continue the stories,” says instructor Yerks. “In a world of plastic factory throw away culture, we rarely make things that last, or things that truly leave our mark. Most of it is disposable, and rarely does it tell a story. I am attempting to normalize something that has now become abnormal in our homes today, the handmade.”

“Folk art tradition to me is about community, exchanging knowledge, being good stewards of our materials and natural surroundings where they grow, honoring our past, but also fixing or mending what we use,” says Yerks.  “I teach folk art as a rebellion against the ever-changing times, the throw away culture, against the buy more when it’s broken culture.”

2024-25 has been a busy year for FAFS Instructor Lindsey Heiden.   Besides serving as the FAFS Ceramics Studio Manager, in the past year Heiden has taught Beginning Wheel Throwing, Beginning & Continuing Wheel Throwing, Working Big with Clay, Clay Ornament Making, Clay Whistle Making and Clay Plant Labels. 

“Teaching at the Finnish American Folk School is dreamy,” says Heiden. “Being able to share my passion with the community, teaching folks new skills, or guiding them with the skills they already have, has been extremely rewarding. There is something so beautiful about watching a student start with a lump of clay and working with it, transforming it into something new.”

Heiden also introduced a new program at the Folk School this year, Date Night with Clay.   “Date nights are super fun and always filled with laughter,” notes Heiden.  “The creative energy that has been building in the ceramic studio is contagious. I can’t wait to offer more classes this summer!”

Her own ceramic work combines storytelling, whimsy and powerful messages about the environment in clay pieces ranging from sculptural to functional.

“Daydreaming and making up tales and is how I spend most of my time in the studio. This act of daydreaming is where the decorations and stories are born,” says Heiden. 

“I draw on my training as a painter to embellish these forms, adding a narrative with animals or a colorful motif. All of my work is either pinched or formed using a slump mold. This keeps me close to the form, allowing me to manipulate it in a way that includes a back story. Each pinch mark is a direct connection from my hand to the larger over-all narrative that I tell,” explains Heiden.

Besides the talented instructors, the Finnish American Folk School and Finlandia Art Gallery have incredible patrons that bring so much creativity and enthusiastic energy to our programming. Two such patrons are Marci and Robert Schneider. 

“The Finnish American Folk School and Finlandia Art Gallery have been an endless source of creativity and community for me,” says Marci.  “I’m always excited to learn something new or find inspiration at an exhibit.” 

“I took a class in making ceramic whistles from Lindsey Heiden at the Finnish-American Folk School,” says Robert.  “Then I continued to explore the physics of whistles in the open clay studio (I am a mathematician). It is an invaluable benefit to the community — and to me — to have access to the excellent training and facilities that are offered by the Folk School.”

The Folk School at Midsummer exhibition will feature the work of these Folk School instructors, students and more.  “With 9 instructors and 14 students entering work into the exhibit, there is something for everyone to enjoy,” says Gallery Director Carrie Vander Veen.  “Look closely at the careful work and attention to detail of the work created at the Folk School, it celebrates the hand made and in our world of mass produced objects, celebrating the hand made feels powerful!”

The Folk School at Midsummerwill be on display at The Finlandia Gallery through September 10, 2025.

The Finlandia Art Gallery is located in the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Please call 906-487-7309 or email gallery@finlandiafoundation.org for more information.