Mennonite Heritage Center to hold Fanciful Frakur Bird workshop

The Mennonite Heritage Center will hold a Fanciful Fraktur Bird workshop on March 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Instructor and artist Emily Smucker-Beidler will introduce students to fraktur through the history and creation of one of its most popular motifs: birds. An art educator for over 30 years, Smucker-Beidler is passionate about fraktur and teaching the art form to all ages and ability levels, said a Mennonite Heritage Center press release.

At the three-hour workshop, participants will learn what birds were prevalent in southeastern Pennsylvania in the 1700s, find connections through fraktur images and learn where the polka-dot, checkerboard and various striped patterns came from that are now enjoyed in fraktur.

Then, participants will be shown some “tricks” to drawing their own fanciful birds in the fraktur style, as well as adapting patterns from original, historic works using light boards. They will then complete a small, five-by-seven fraktur bird, said the release.

Fraktur is an artistic teaching tool that was introduced by schoolmasters in colonial America. The term comes from its broken or fractured German lettering style. The designs of fraktur draw upon medieval manuscript illumination and nature. It flourished in this area from roughly 1750 to 1840 and waned before experiencing revivals in the 1930s and 1970s.

The cost of the workshop is $60 for members ($65 nonmembers) and includes all materials. Individuals ages 13-100 and all ability levels are welcome. Students can bring their own watercolors or buy a set from Emily for $20. Preregistration is required, and class size is limited. To register, visit mhep.org/events or call 215-256-3020.

Programming at the Mennonite Heritage Center shares Anabaptist-Mennonite stories in order to educate, inspire, and witness to the church and community. To learn more about the Center’s work, visit mhep.org.