This is a 4-hour IN-PERSON CLASS.
Spend an afternoon learning to make a handbroom with natural materials! In this class, learn to use a broom brake, twine, broomcorn, and natural embellishments to create your own bespoke cleaning, ritual, or display object to elevate your space and bring you closer to your task. In this class C. Murphy (@c.murphydoes), a local multimedia artist, crafter, and farmer, will demonstrate basic broommaking skills and demo multiple handbroom styles including whisks, hawk's tails, turkey wings, and if we have time, rooster tails. We will also go over how to weave a handle with split broomcorn stalks and discuss other materials for weaving.
Materials and tools will be provided - natural broomcorn and twine in a variety of colors are included in the fee; there will be enough for each participant to make multiple handbrooms. Leave with some lovely gifts for yourself or others and a new skill you won't want to put down!
Accessibility: moderate upper body strength and the ability to grip and hold tension are required; this class is focusing on smaller brooms so it isn't too tiring but it requires more than you'd expect!
All skill levels welcome. No prerequisites.
WOO is a non-profit safe space for training underrepresented genders in our field. As such, enrollment is limited to non-binary, trans, and woman-identifying folks over the age of 18.
C. Murphy (they/them) is a multimedia artist, farmer, and doer of a little bit of everything currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. They’ve had a variety of experiences in life, all with a unifying interest in learning, sharing knowledge, and a fascination with anthropology. When they aren't working on the next project, they're hanging out with their chickens, in the garden, or working on one of many additional side projects.
See more images of their work by visiting their instagram @c.murphydoes