It’s not often we have two classes in session that predominately use hammers, pliers, saws, knives, drills, gouges, torches, burners and more, but it happened when both Kay Rashka’s Metalwork Jewelry Boot Camp and Woodcarving with Jerry Landwehr were here earlier in September. Where a set of carving tools can fit in a nice case or box, the many hundreds of pounds of metalwork tools, equipment and supplies need the space Kay’s entire pickup truck offers. However, this post is not just about the tools, it’s about what you can do with the tools! To create metalwork art jewelry, there’s cutting, filing, stamping, etching, piercing and soldering. Along with all the “-ing’s” you do with the various tools, there’s an […]
A good blend
From the very beginning, Walter Schutz felt Washington Island was the ideal place for learning and specifically as a place for Sievers School of Fiber Arts. He wrote in 1979, “What could be more ideal than creating in pleasant surroundings such as these?” Also, “…a positive cultural advance – the Island is ideally suited for this. I am convinced (Sievers) would not be as successful in other places…” and, from 1984, “I hope, too, that it will help you regard the Island with more reverence, help maintain its rustic, unspoiled atmosphere and above all keep it, as much as possible, the sort of place it is. It truly is ‘north of the tension line’ (and) opens the door to the […]
Two at a time-part one
These summer weeks are going by so quickly! In a few days, we’ll have reached the half-way point in our classes for the 2021 season. To continue to catch up with the past several classes, there will be three consecutive “Two at a time” posts to bring you up to date. We start the week of July 19 – 26 and two classes taught by Mary Sue Fenner, “One-Of-A-Kind Jacket” and “Sew a Patchy Vest”. Learning from Mary Sue and using her mix of contemporary and classic methods brings the fabrics, patterns and students together in a special way. Her array of garments is inspiring, fun, eclectic and amazing. Students brought fabulous fabrics for the 5-day jacket class and worked […]
The how and why at Riverside High
Walter Schutz, founder of Sievers, continues his rememberances by saying, “…high school opened the door to what I was seeking: a place where the how and why could be explored and where the teachers urged us on and on.” “Students in our district were sent to East Side High at Cass and Knapp Streets. Milwaukee found itself in a bind for high school facilities. East Side had been condemned and we expected to attend the brand new Riverside High; however, it was not finished by February of 1915, so we were sent to North Division High on 12th and Center. It was already crowded with not enough rooms, seats, teachers or lockers. When fall arrived, Riverside opened to students. It […]
The ABC’s and the 1,2,3’s
Continuing with our school theme, we’re sharing Walter Schutz’s school memories from his book, “It Was Fun Being Young.” “The children in our neighborhood attended the 6th District School #3, located at Harmon Street (now Brown Street) and Island Avenue (now Palmer Street). Later the name was changed to the Island Avenue School.” “As well as I can determine, this must have been my 5th grade class (1911 or 1912). I am standing at the back of the room wearing a big flowing red tie. The man we all feared for his mean thinking and cruel actions, Mr. Ulrich, the principal, is next to me. The boy at the front row desk with folded hands is Elmer Krieger, who was […]
Thoughts, memories, anecdotes and information…
…is how Walter Schutz introduced his collection of childhood rememberances. We heard from a number of you that you’d like to read more his stories from Christmas in the early 1900’s (and more). This, then is a continuation of our Sievers Facebook posts since the last Sievers News was sent out. We’ll do one more focused on New Year’s festivities closer to that time. Walter continues, “A magic set was another favored gift. My brother had taken me to see several matinees at the Bijou where Thurston the Magician was playing. They were amazing and almost frightening experiences and never forgotten. It was only natural that I should try some of the most simple that were shown in a leaflet […]
It Was Fun Being Young
For the past week or so our Sievers Facebook friends have seen a series of posts featuring the childhood rememberances of Christmas from Walter Schutz. Walter was born in 1900 and grew up in Milwaukee on Holton Street, about three blocks from the Milwaukee River. He had a remarkable memory, going back to his very early years. Sharing excerpts (and the illustrations of Marguerite Jewell) from his book, It Was Fun Being Young, is one way of weaving a thread of traditions from the early 1900’s through today. Through December we’ll be sharing more of Walter’s Christmas and New Year’s memories on our Facebook page. He writes, “It was only a week or two before the 25th that children and […]
