2025-07-11 – A Matter of Time: A Revival of the Primstav (In-Person)
Schedule:
July 11-13 (9:00 am-5:00 pm CT)
Instructor:
Rebecca Hanna
Location:
This is an in-person class held at Vesterheim Folk Art School.
Life is busy. How did our ancestors keep track of all the important dates in their lives without an app? They created a calendar stick.
Join this class and learn all about the Primstav or calendar stick. Primstavs served as a farmer’s almanac, marked religious days, and changes in the seasons. Recreate one of the Primstavs in Vesterheim's collection, which is dated from 1566 or another historical Primstav dated 1707 from the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo Norway. Both Primstavs will allow students to create their own work using symbols from the past.
Later, at home, maybe you’ll be inspired to create your own calendar stick, marking all the important and memorable events in your life - your achievements, birthdays, weddings, etc.
Once you have transferred the design to the surface, the techniques of kroting and chip carving will bring your painted board to life!
No carving experience necessary.
Level of Instruction:
All are welcome
Supplies:
A materials list will be sent to you. There will be a supply fee for the wood and other miscellaneous expenses.
Enrollment Deadline:
Click here to learn more about instructor Rebecca Hanna.
Please read our COVID-19 Policies here.
Vesterheim's woodworking classes are supported in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from the Eric and Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust.