A full day of historic workshops!
GCV&M is delighted to present a full day of historic skill workshops with SEVEN to choose from! Immerse yourself in the past by choosing a workshop from the morning session, afternoon session, or one from both. Discover and master a timeless skill that you can cherish and pass down to future generations. Join us for a day of learning, creativity, and connections to history!
Please note: the Historic Hairwork Workshops takes place all day. Purchasers must attend both sessions.
(Workshop Friday is a miniature version of the previously marketed skills conference without the conference fee or days-long commitment.)
Historic Hairwork
Susan Doran, Hairwork Artist
Join us in the John L. Wehle Gallery for this 2-part workshop all about 19th-century hairwork artistry, hosted by hairwork artist and expert Susan Doran. The morning session will begin with a presentation introducing the history, significance, and techniques of Victorian Hair Art – an intricate and deeply meaningful practice rooted in love, remembrance, and craftsmanship.
Following the presentation, we’ll begin preparing the hair, allowing time for it to dry over lunch. In the afternoon session, guests will have the opportunity to create either a hair-woven mini pendant or a palette-work framed memento, using traditional methods inspired by 19th -century artisans.
Guest MUST attend both session (fee covers both morning and afternoon). Guests will be provided a small frame. We will have plenty of hair available for practice and creating your piece. But, if you would like to personalize your item, please bring a lock of hair that is 3-6 inches long, clean and dry, and in an envelope or baggie to keep the hair together and all in one direction.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. AND 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Museum Member: $45
Non-Member: $50
Everything but the Wheat
Learn about cooking and baking on a 19th c. woodstove while exploring wheatless recipes. Workshop is located in 1850’s Jones Farm kitchen.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Museum Member: $45
Non-Member: $50
Resistance Gardening
Even during wartime, everyone needs to eat. During WWI and WWII, American students and civilians were compelled to start school gardens, war gardens, and “Victory gardens” to contribute to the war effort by growing their own food! Learn about this fascinating history while also learning the basics of starting your own garden, from hardy, easy-to-grow plants to seed saving! Guests will get a packet of seeds and a small garden workbook to take home.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Museum Member: $32
Non-Member: $35
Tin Type Photography
Ben Rosiek, Photographer
Try your hand at wet plate photography, the leading form of photography from the 1850s through the 1880s. This class will review a brief history of photography, the chemicals used, and safety required. Take home your very own photograph!
The chemicals for this process stain, please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Gloves will be provided.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Museum Member: $85
Non-Member: $90
Sewing the Civil War Way
Guy Gane, Old Timey Rags
Learn all about buttonhole sewing with Guy Gane! How to sew them, plus variations with different fabrics and the stitches that best suit them.
Guy Gane is a gifted tailor, specializing in historic eras following up to and including the Vietnam war, and owner company Old Timey Casting, LLC. With thirty years of material culture research, Guy moved forward with a side project of making bespoke historical garments for the discerning Living Historian and national museums. His work can be seen in many historical features & TV shows as well as being featured in the new U.S. Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, VA.
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Museum Member: $45
Non-Member: $50
A Legacy of Resilience: Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork
Veronica Reitter
(Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan)
When glass beads became available through European contact in the 17th century, designs once found on pottery, antler combs, and quillwork evolved into vibrant beadwork motifs that affirmed indigenous identity and sovereignty. In response to the cultural devastation of the 19th century, beadwork became a vital form of self-expression, linking generations through patterns that reflect cultural beliefs, political values, and the changing world. Stories, lovingly interwoven into every beaded flower, petal, and stalk, tell of what it means to be Hodinöhsö:ni´.
In this beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop, participants will learn the delicate technique of edge beading while creating a small heart-shaped piece. The instructor will also share examples of their own beadwork, offering insight into this enduring art form and its significance in Hodinöhsö:ni´ culture.
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Museum Member: $45
Non-Member: $50
Weaving Resistance: The Enduring Art of Bobbin Lace
Deborah VanDieren
Before the Industrial Revolution mechanized textile production, lace was painstakingly crafted by hand—an art that required patience, skill, and precision. This beginner-friendly workshop invites you to step into the world of 15th-century lacemakers and explore a craft that has persisted through centuries of social and political upheaval.
You’ll learn the two foundational stitches that form the basis of all bobbin lace styles while creating a Torchon lace rainbow ornament. Also known as “Bagger’s Lace,” this technique is a working-class tradition found across cultures, including in early America. Despite the rise of industrial manufacturing, bobbin lace remained a symbol of artisanship and tradition, a quiet act of resistance against mass production.
All necessary materials, including lace pillows prepped with bobbins, will be provided—so you can start making lace immediately.
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Museum Member: $45
Non-Member: $50
Pillows and bobbins provided by the Genesee County Lace Guild.
FAQs
Yes! Park in any of the main lots at the front of the Museum, and please leave the first bays available for handicap parking unless you have the appropriate tag to park there.
Check-in will be in the Meeting Center Lounge, to the immediate right of Admissions when facing the front of the Museum.
We will be checking you in by name on this date. However, we do recommend either printing out OR taking a screenshot of your ticket(s) or invoice as backup.
Yes! While there will be some walking between buildings, this workshop will be held indoors. The Museum will only cancel in the case of a severe weather emergency.
Leashed service animals are welcome with proper identification.
Tickets may be refunded only up to 7 days prior to the event date and are strictly non-transferable by date, entry time, or program.
