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Past Event

Ho-Chunk Porcupine Quill Workshop

18+

Experience the art of quillwork firsthand and engage in the entire process, from extracting quills from a Porcupine pelt to cleaning, dying, and using them as an embroidery fiber. The workshop will culminate in creating your own smoked, brain-tanned deerskin drawstring pouch adorned with embroidered quills.

Dates

June 9 – 13, 2025
One week session

Final Culmination

Friday, June 13, 2025
Parks Exhibition Center @ 4:00 PM

Ages

18+

Tuition, Room, and Board

$1,820

Day Student Tuition

$980

Lab Fee

$80

Application Fee

$50

Skill Level

All levels

Enrollment Capacity

Enrollment is limited to 12 students

Overview

Porcupine quill embroidery is a true American art form. Long before glass beads from Europe were exported and traded in the Americas, many natural materials were used to adorn traditional regalia. In this workshop, you will engage in the entire process of quillwork as you create your own smoked, brain-tanned deerskin and embroidered porcupine quill piece of art.

Join workshop participants as you learn to extract quills from a pelt, clean, and process them to use as an embroidery fiber on your project. You will begin by carefully removing quills (expect a few pokes!) and guard hairs from a natural porcupine pelt and washing the quills to remove dirt and oil. Sorting the quills according to size for embroidery, wrapping, and stringing methods will be taught.

You will also dye quills using vegetal and commercial dye baths. Once quills are prepared, you will engage in practice exercises and learn the zig-zag and banding embroidery methods, as well as quill wrapping on rawhide.

Once the materials are prepared, you will have the option of creating a drawstring medicine pouch to adorn with the quill embroidery, a medallion (necklace), or a cuff bracelet. By the at the end of class, you will have completed at least one of these projects. With time permitting, you are encouraged to embark on additional projects like beaded and quill earrings to accompany your pouches

Additional Information

Melanie Sainz (Melanie Tallmadge Sainz (Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin) has worked as an art educator in both public and private schools for over 30 years. As an artist who enjoys teaching about art, Melanie strives to educate students about appreciating art through the lens of the art maker. Her artwork has been shown in exhibitions throughout the US, and she has won awards at prestigious art markets, including the Eiteljorg Museum and the Heard Museum. Melanie is the Executive Director of Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF), a Native-led non-profit arts organization dedicated to preserving the arts and culture of Native people in the Western Great Lakes region through providing quality cultural arts education programming. https://littleeaglearts.org/

Includes beading and sewing needles, thread, beeswax, awl, brain-tanned deerskin, porcupine pelt.

Optional:
•Padded cushion for your seat
•Back support device
•Clamp-on light
•Clip on fan for comfort
•Reading glasses, if necessary
•Refillable water bottle

Your workshop starts at 9 a.m. each day. Lunch is served from 12 to 1 p.m. Workshops resume at 1 p.m. and wrap up at 4 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 to 7 p.m. You are welcome to join evening programming led by other adult art programs.

NOTE: Some instructors allow for after-hour work sessions. If the instructor(s) is/are willing and present in the classroom, you can work on your pieces after 4 pm.

Generous donors have made scholarships and fellowships for adult workshops available on a limited basis for these specific groups:

1) Native American Community Leaders, Artists, Members, and Teachers.
2) Inland Empire Teachers, Professors, and graduate students.

Scholarships include tuition, dorm housing, and all meals provided by the campus dining service. Transportation to and from campus is not provided, and the $50 registration fee is not included.

Scholarship Details:
1) Native American Community Members, Leaders, Artists, and Teachers

For adults 18 and older with current tribal affiliation, the scholarship brings community leaders, artists, members, and teachers to workshops at Idyllwild Arts to benefit both the scholarship recipients and those in their schools or tribal communities. Applicants with financial needs may receive priority. We also offer scholarships for Native American Teens for both the Summer Program and the Academy.

2) Inland Empire Teachers, Professors, and graduate students.
For adults 18 and older who are current teachers in lower and higher education who will benefit from learning about Native American Arts and Culture to take back into the classroom as well as currently enrolled graduate students. The scholarship is designed to provide professional development for those in education to share with their learning communities.

Click here for more information about adult scholarships.


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