Save the Date! Summer Craft Fair Weekend - July 9 & 10

Our Summer Craft Fair Weekend will be on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, from 10am - 4pm. Admission is $4 per person or $3 per person with a coupon that can be found on our website (shakerheritage.org). SHS Members and those under 18 admitted free.

Come explore the fantastic work of over 75 local crafters, featuring jewelry, ornaments, toys, apparel, household goods, gourmet foods, and more! All merchandise in the Shaker Gift Shop will be on sale.

This year for the first time, the Fair will feature Abenaki Nation traditional artists. Demonstrations will include: Jacques Watso, traditional Abenaki music and drumming, miniature Birchbark canoes and containers, traditional wood carving and displays of museum quality Birch Bark Baskets, woodcarvings and more. Throughout their history, the Shakers interacted with Native Americans who influenced their basket making and other craft traditions.

Free guided tours of the site are offered on both days at 11:30am and 1:30pm. There will also be FREE pony rides on Sunday ONLY from 1pm - 3pm!

Come enjoy the work of talented local artists, a piece of pie, explore the historic site, and support the Shaker Heritage Society! We make you kindly welcome!

Music in the Meeting House

Join us this Saturday, April 16 for "Music in the Meeting House" with the Friends Union Band. Enjoy an evening of Celtic, Appalachian and traditional music while supporting the Shaker Heritage Society. Tickets are $10 or $8 for SHS Members, seniors and students, payable at the door. Those under 18 are admitted for free.

For more information about the Friends Union Band, please check out their website at http://friendsunionband.com/

This is a special opportunity to experience the unique acoustics of the Shaker Meeting House.

We Make You Kindly Welcome!

Upcoming Events at the Shaker Heritage Society

We've planned some interesting events to keep you busy while we endure the last few weeks of winter. Please join us and learn about Shaker history through these interactive workshops.

Shaker Cooking Workshops
The Shaker Heritage Society has teamed up with Diane Conroy LaCivita of the Harmony House Bakery in Cohoes to present a series of four hands-on cooking workshops. We will meet in Cohoes on Tuesday evenings in March between 6 and 8pm. These classes are a unique opportunity to learn about and experience history in a truly delicious way. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon!

March 1: Shaker Baking

March 8: Shaker Meats

March 15: Shaker Vegetables

March 22: Shaker Desserts

Prices for the series are:

Shaker Heritage Society Members: $40.00 Not-Yet Members: $50.00

All materials and ingredients are included in fee. Pre-Registration is required by February 25.

Please contact us at (518) 456-7890 Ext. 25 or ShakerEducator at gmail.com with questions or to register.

http://www.harmonyhousemarketplace.com/index.html

Shaker Chair Taping Class
Saturday, March 19

10:00 – 1:00

Learn how to weave a chair seat in the Shaker style. At the end of the workshop, you will have a comfortable chair you will be proud to have your guests sit on. Participants provide their own chair, chair tape and stuffing. One inch chair tape is available from the Shaker Heritage Society gift shop. We encourage participants to purchase their tape at least a few days before the class.

The class is limited to 8 participants. Cost is $30.00 per person, $25.00 for SHS Members. Please contact us at (518) 456-7890 Ext. 25 or ShakerEducator at gmail.com with questions or to register. Pre-registration is required by March 15.

Make a Twill Weave Market Basket
Saturday, March 26 10:00 – 3:30

This lovely basket is made of reed and an oak handle and is perfect to take to your favorite farmers’ market or to your own garden to gather vegetables. Height: 5” deep with a 12” tall handle. Base measures 8” X 12” Top measures 17” X 8.” This is a 5 hour class. Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch. All tools and materials will be provided. Cost is $60 for SHS members and $65 for not-yet members. Please contact us at (518) 456-7890 Ext. 25 or ShakerEducator at gmail.com with questions or to register.

Join us at our Christmas Craft Fair

Our Christmas Craft Fair recently opened and we have an amazing array of beautiful, locally made items. While we have a number of holiday items, we also have a vast assortment of gifts for all occasions.

Locally made honey and beeswax candles...

Hand-knit wool sweaters...

Handmade jewelry...

A wide selection of handmade baskets...

Paper crane mobiles...

Handmade soaps...

... And thousands of other items, just waiting to be discovered.


Please join us.

We are open Monday - Saturday, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

We are closed on Sundays and for the Thanksgiving holiday.

October 30 - December 18

We make you kindly welcome!

The Great Divorce

After seeing posters and other publicity for our upcoming event, many have curiously asked what a book called The Great Divorce has to do with the celibate Shakers. Yet this new work from author Ilyon Woo explores the story of Eunice Chapman, a woman who fought to regain custody of her children after her husband took them and joined the Shakers at Watervliet.

Ilyon Woo will be at the Shaker Heritage Society on Thursday, October 21st for a signing and reading. Visitors are welcome to arrive at 7:00 pm and explore the exhibit room and pick up a copy of The Great Divorce in the gift shop. The signing and reading begins at 7:30.

This article from the Troy Record explains more about the upcoming event at SHS.

This article from the Times Union offers an interview with author Ilyon Woo.

Save the Date! Fall Harvest Craft Fair Weekend - September 11 & 12

Our Fall Harvest Craft Fair Weekend will be on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, from 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is $4.00 per person, $3.00 with a coupon (shown at the bottom of the post). SHS Members and those under 18 admitted free.

Visit many diverse crafters' booths, explore the historic site, enjoy a piece of pie and support the Shaker Heritage Society! We make you kindly welcome!

More information will follow soon!

(To receive $1.00 off the admission fee, print the coupon shown below!)

Albany County Family Day

Visit the Shaker Site on Saturday, August 7th for a day of fun activities, including

• Carnival Games
• Face Painting
• Petting Zoo
• Shaker Craft Demonstrations
• Bouncy Bounce
• Prizes and Drawings
• Site Tours
• Food Vendors
• Various Music Performers through the day

For more information, call (518) 447-7100 or visit Albany County's website.

The event will run from 10am - 4pm.

The Shaker Heritage Society is located across from Albany International Airport on Meeting House Road off of Heritage Lane.

Shaker Summer Craft Fair

Saturday, July 10 & Sunday, July 11

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

This stained glass ornament was made by SHS volunteer Rebecca Langer.

Find the perfect item for your home or gift for a friend at our Shaker Summer Craft Fair! Explore the booths of over 75 crafters on the grounds of the Shaker Heritage Society. Jewelry, apparel, household goods, toys and gourmet foods are among the popular items. A Family Activitiy Station will host activities for all ages. FREE Pony rides will be availalable to children on Saturday between 1:00 and 3:00. Site tours will be offered at 11:30 and 1:30 on both days.

Admission is $4.00 per person or $3.00 with this ad.

SHS members and those under 18 are admitted free.

.

Forensic Photography and Paranormal Research Worskshop

This hands-on workshop will cover the techniques that Ann DeMarco, a local paranormal investigator, uses in her investigations. The basics of near infrared photography and the physics of a haunting will also be explored. You will also learn some of the basic analysis techniques and be provided with tips and suggestions on improving your ability to capture the most sought after evidence in paranormal research, the apparition.

This type of activity is in keeping with Shaker traditions since the Shakers believed that they could communicate with the spirit world. They even attended séances in hopes of receiving spirit communications.

Participants are able to register for one Session A and one Session B. An optional wrap up meeting will follow.

Session A: Instruction on Forensic Photography and Paranormal Research
Friday, March 5, 6-8pm OR Wednesday, March 10, 6-8pm

Session B: Photographic Opportunities in Multiple Shaker Buildings
Saturday, March 20: 6-8pm OR Friday, March 26: 6-8pm

Session C: Review of Findings- Optional - Saturday, March 27, 1-3pm

Cost per person is $45.00 for the series. Pre-registration is required by March 4.

Please call the site at (518) 456-7890, ext. 23 with any questions or to register.

Shaker Craftsmanship Classes

In partnership with the Northeastern Woodworker's Association, the Shaker Heritage Society is hosting two great classes this spring.

Shaker Oval Box Making
April 27 & 28, 2010
The most recognized artifact of Shaker life is the classic oval box. Its simplicity of form, economy of materials and utility of function immediately says "Shaker" to even the most casual of observers. No craftsman today embodies box making in the Shaker tradition more than John Wilson. John's unique blend as a woodworker, teacher and social anthropologist has led to his being referred to as the “Johnny Appleseed of Shaker Boxes.” He frequently writes for Popular Woodworking and Fine Woodworking magazines and travels the country presenting workshops on Shaker Boxes. His business “The Home Shop” in Charlotte, Michigan offers classes on box making and other traditional woodcrafts and is the primary supplier of materials to box makers worldwide.

This class marks the continuation of a co-operative program between NWA and the Shaker Heritage Society. All sessions will be held in the 1848 Shaker Meeting House. The workshop gives participants hands-on experience in making a nesting set of five oval boxes in cherry. Fee includes all materials, use of tools and an instructional booklet. The class is intended for both new and experienced woodworkers. John will also provide background commentary on Shaker life and craftsmanship.

Making Shaker Boxes at the first Shaker settlement in America...now what could be more inspiring than that? Don't miss this special opportunity to experience this time honored craft first hand and bring the spirit of the Shakers to life in this historic setting.

Build a Spoke Shave
April 28 & 29, 2010

While the Shakers are best known for their furniture production they were also prodigious makers of tools. One of the basic tools in the woodshop was, and continues to be, the spoke shave. As the name implies, spoke shaves are used to make wheel spokes. Yet this versatile tool can also be used to make chair spindles, broom handles or anything else with a cylindrical handle or curved surface.

This class will take participants through all of the steps in making a shave- shaping the wooden parts, cutting out the metal parts, tempering, sharpening, mounting and tuning and finally to making shavings. You will leave with a completed spoke shave that will become an essential tool in your home workshop.
____________________________________________________

Classes are $125 each or $225 for both.
For more information or to register for these classes please send an e-mail to hfinkbei@nycap.rr.com or call 518-371-9145

This is a cooperative program between Northeastern Woodworkers Association and the Shaker Heritage Society.
All sessions will be held at the 1848 Shaker Meeting House in Albany, New York.

www.ShakerHeritage.org
www.Woodworker.org
www.ShakerOvalBox.com

Last Chance for the Christmas Craft Fair

Our Christmas Craft Fair is quickly drawing to a close. The past couple months at SHS have been filled with creativity, fun and camaraderie. If you haven't yet checked out the many items available, this is a perfect time to visit. While the crafters have been successful and sold many items, many have dutifully refilled their booths when necessary with new and wonderful things.

We will be open from 10 - 4, through Saturday, December 19.

If you are still trying to figure out what to get for someone, let us offer a few ideas. All items were made by artisans represented at our Craft Fair.

For the Manly Man...

• Bank Made of an Original Post Office Box
• Carved Wooden Bowl
• Golf Ball Wine Stopper
• Flattened Beer Bottle Cheese Board
• "Harley Fund" Ceramic Bank
• "At the Cabin" Key Holder

For the Fashionable Lady...

• Beaded Purple Purse
• Lavender Sprigs
• Knitted Scarf
• Beaded Necklace
• Hand Painted Votive Holder
• Lilac Room Spray and Lotion
• Grapefruit Candle
• Tapestry Covered Photo Album

For a hostess...

• Ceramic Chip and Dip Bowl
• Hand Painted Glasses
• Pumpkin Spice Dip Mix

The Christmas Craft Fair is Now Open!

Today marked the first day of our annual Christmas Craft Fair. Didn't make it over here today? Don't despair! We will be open Monday - Saturday, from 10 am - 4 pm through December 19. We will be closed on Sundays and on Thanksgiving Day. There is no admission fee to enter the fair, located in the 1848 Shaker Meeting House.

Our Craft Fairs are an opportunity for visitors to discover the unique and beautiful items made by local artisans. Each purchase supports the Shaker Heritage Society as well as the artists and crafters represented in the fair.

We are located on Heritage Lane. For directions, please see this post about how to find us. (Please note: If you are using a GPS device or an online mapping service, please be advised that 875 Watervliet Shaker Road is our mailing address, not our physical location.)

The following photos showcase just a fraction of the items available at our Craft Fair.

After the Concert

We are still recovering from some very exciting recent events at the Shaker Heritage Society. In the next week, we will be posting some personal stories from the staff and volunteers about our experiences and most memorable moments during the concert. We received some great coverage in the press and wanted to share the links.

Times Union
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=846845


CRUMBS.net (Capital Region Unofficial Musicians and Bands Site)
http://blog.timesunion.com/localmusic/picture-this-natalie-merchant/1929/


The Schenectady Gazette
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/sep/27/0927_merchant/

How to get to the 1848 Meeting House

We decided to film a video showing guests how to get from I-87 to the Shaker Heritage Society. Starting in the northbound lane of I-87, between exits two and four (fun fact: there is no exit 3), we began filming, to show visitors some of the intersections and landmarks to watch for. It is a long video (of course we managed to catch almost every red light), so it may take some time to download on some computers and connections.

We have found that different GPS systems and mapping devices offer different directions. Please be cautious using these, as they may take you to an incorrect location. You may want to print the following directions, in case there is any confusion.

From the northbound lane of I-87:

-Take Exit Four. Once on the ramp, try to be in the left lane.

-Turn left. (If you are early and want to explore food options on Wolf Road, turn right.)

-At the next intersection, which is only a couple hundred feet away, turn left. You will travel under the I-87 bridges.

-At the next intersection, keep going straight.

-At the next intersection (where one would normally bear right to go to the airport), keep going straight.

-At the intersection with Heritage Lane, turn left. You will see the Albany County Nursing home on your right and then the large Shaker barn on your left.

- Turn left after the just after the Shaker Barn.

- The Shaker Meeting House is the second building on the right.

- Parking is available on either side of the building (Handicapped accessible parking is on the far side of the building next to the ramp. A doorbell is located next to the ramp door, please ring this if you need assistance.)

A Few Spaces Left for Paranormal Workshop

This hands-on workshop will discuss the techniques that Ann DeMarco, a local paranormal investigator, uses in her investigations. The basics of near infrared photography and the physics of a haunting will also be explored. You will also learn some of the basic analysis techniques and be provided with tips and suggestions on improving your ability to capture the most sought after evidence in paranormal research, the apparition.

This type of activity is in keeping with Shaker traditions since the Shakers believed that they could communicate with the spirit world. They even held séances in hopes of receiving spirit communications. Look for a future blog post with more information about this fascinating and mysterious aspect of Shaker life.
This program will involve three Saturday sessions.
Saturday, September 19: 2 - 4pm
Saturday, September 26: 6 - 8pm
Saturday, October 3: 2 - 4pm
Cost per person is $45.00 for the series. Registration and payment to SHS is required by September 17th. Please call (518) 456-7890 for more information or to register.

Both Concerts Sold Out

Please be advised that both Natalie Merchant concerts (Sunday, September 27) are now sold out. Thank you so much for your interest!

Fall Harvest Craft Fair

Saturday, September 12

&

Sunday, September 13

10am – 4 pm

Enjoy the outdoors as you explore booths representing over 75 different crafters at our Fall Harvest Craft Fair. Get an early start on your holiday shopping as you discover jewelry, jams, quilts, apparel, pottery, soaps and decorative items for your home. A Family Activity Station will feature activities for all ages throughout the weekend and pony rides will be available on Saturday from 1pm to 3pm. Site tours are scheduled on both days at 11:30m, 12:30 and 1:30.

Admission: $4 per person or $3 with this ad.

Under 18 admitted free.

Forensic Photography and Paranormal Research Workshop

This hands-on workshop will discuss the techniques that Ann DeMarco, a local paranormal investigator, uses in her investigations. The basics of near infrared photography and the physics of a haunting will also be explored. You will also learn some of the basic analysis techniques and be provided with tips and suggestions on improving your ability to capture the most sought after evidence in paranormal research, the apparition.

This type of activity is in keeping with Shaker traditions since the Shakers believed that they could communicate with the spirit world. They even held séances in hopes of receiving spirit communications. Look for a future blog post with more information about this fascinating and mysterious aspect of Shaker life.

This program will involve three Saturday sessions.

Saturday, September 19: 2 - 4pm

Saturday, September 26: 6 - 8pm

Saturday, October 3: 2 - 4pm

Cost per person is $45.00 for the series. Registration and payment to SHS is required by September 14th. Please call (518) 456-7890 for more information or to register.

Concert Seating Chart

We have heard that many of you would like to see how the room will be set up for the Natalie Merchant Concert on Sunday, September 27. The image posted above illustrates the different seating sections and the locations of the gift shop and exhibit room. Please note that the only two ways into the actual concert space on the day of the performance will be through the back door (at the top of the image, marked "entrance") and through the east side door where the handicapped entrance is located. Only those needing to use the ramp will be admitted through this door.

The colors of the chart correspond with the colors of the tickets.

Yellow: The first three rows (A - C) at $150 per ticket.

Blue: The fourth through tenth rows (D - J) at $75 per ticket.

Green: The "Rising Seats" benches (General Admission) at $50 per ticket.

Purple: The performance space.

The space is approximately 80' by 50' feet.

Concert Questions

We have received a number of questions about the concert and we wanted to take this opportunity to answer them. If you think of others, please pose them in the comments section. We are currently unable to publish the comments we have received (due to a computer or program issue), but we wanted to make sure we addressed all of the questions that have been raised.

1) Have you sold all of the tickets?
While we have fully sold out of tickets for the first (1:30 PM) show, we do still have a few tickets for the second (5 PM) show available at all pricing levels- $50, $75, $150. (As of 8/28/09.)
As of 9/1/09, we have sold out of the $50 General Admission Tickets for the 5PM show but still have $75 and $150 tickets left.

2) I tried calling for a really long time on Saturday (or Tuesday) and couldn't get through- Why?
We apologize for this inconvenience. We were taking as many calls as we could. The SHS office only has two phone lines and we had two people taking calls on them all day. We also had volunteers downstairs in our gift shop selling tickets all day. As a small historic site, we are very new to the concert business and are learning as we go. Please be patient with us!

Also, if you gave up on Saturday or Tuesday, please do stop by or try giving us a call back. It is much calmer here now and we do still have seats left. (We are open Tuesday - Saturday, 9:30AM - 4:00PM.)

3) Aren't you concerned about using the Meeting House for a fundraiser?
Our first priority is to protect and maintain these very historically significant Shaker buildings and educate the public about their importance. When Natalie Merchant offered to do a concert for us, we saw this as an opportunity to bring in funds that would help us meet these goals and raise public awareness of this site. Already, many people who had never visited the Shaker Heritage Society have stopped by to pick up their tickets and tour the site. This event will also encourage people to see this site not only as a museum, but also as a dynamic community resource, offering a variety of opportunities to learn about and enjoy this unique setting.

In addition, many active churches regularly hold fundraisers in their places of worship. Church Dinners, Craft Fairs and Bingo are all popular options for church fundraising. We believe that this concert, which will include Shaker spiritual music, is a fitting and respectful event for this building.

4) Why are you having this concert on a Sunday?
We only had a very limited number of dates to choose from for this concert and all the other dates were already booked. While we would have preferred to not have this concert on a Sunday, that was not possible without foregoing this amazing opportunity.

5) Why are the tickets so expensive? Or Why are the tickets so inexpensive?
Interestingly enough we have been asked both of these questions. From this experience we have learned that is impossible to please everyone. While we realize that these prices may be too much to spend for some, it is a fundraiser and we do have a responsibility to serve the best interests of this site. As for those who expected us to charge double or triple (or more) our current ticket prices, we wanted to make this concert as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. The fact that we have already sold out one concert and are over half way through the tickets for the second indicates that many people felt that the pricing was fair.

In addition, the venue is relatively small- we are only selling approximately 310 tickets for each performance. Therefore, everyone in attendance has the opportunity to be relatively close to the performance area, unlike in most larger concert halls or arenas. The concert committee spent a great deal of time discussing the pricing structure and, for the most part, response from the community has been favorable.

6) Can the concert be recorded?
No. We are not able to record these performances.

7) What has the process of organizing a concert been like?
While some elements of this have been somewhat overwhelming (designing, printing, cutting and organizing tickets, selling approximately 125 tickets in the first hour, and staring at detailed seating charts), we have been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support. Some of the nicest people have contacted us for information and to buy tickets. Individuals from California, Ontario, Florida, Arizona and Indiana are flying in for this event. Wonderful people who live just down the road have stopped by in the gift shop and chatted with our volunteers. It has been truly heartwarming to see how many people care about the history and the future of this site.