Antique Art of Chair Caning Offered Among Adult Workshops at Darien Arts Center

The Darien Arts Center is offering the unique opportunity for beginners to learn the traditional art of chair caning from expert instructor, Barry Davis. ‘Beginning Chair Caning’ will take place on two Saturdays, Nov. 1 and 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the DAC Visual Arts Studio.

Davis, who has won Best in Show at the Woodstock Fair, will teach the basics of the old craft of chair caning to completion, and will allow participants to repair their own broken cane chair from home. Chairs must have drilled holes and not grooves and participants will need all their own materials for this class.

A list of local and on-line vendors will be provided in advance. Supplies can also be provided for a fee of $90. Fee for this adult workshop is $160 per person and there is no cost for registration.

Adult Painting Class

The DAC is also offering ‘For the Love of Flowers’, an adult painting class led by Vicki French Smith, who will teach participants how to paint basic leaf shapes and colorful varieties of flowers.

Smith is a local award-winning oil painter and watercolorist who has studied at the Yard School of Art, Ducret University, Center for Visual Arts, and Silvermine School of Art. She will teach students wet into wet techniques, glazing, masking and negative painting while colors move and mingle giving the illusion of depth. All mediums are welcome.

‘For the Love of Flowers’ is on Saturday, November 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the DAC Visual Arts Studio. Fee for the workshop is $80 per person and there is no registration fee.

For more information or to register for ‘Beginning Chair Caning’ or ‘For the Love of Flowers’, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The Darien Arts Center is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind Town Hall.

Founded in 1975, the Darien Arts Center (DAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual and performing arts programs and events for the community. The DAC offers educational programs in Dance, Visual Arts, Music & Theatre, & special events & live theatre performances by DAC Stage. Private donations, grants, tuition fees & ticket sales fund the DAC, which is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. For further information, call (203) 655-8683 or visit darienarts.org.