Summer

The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program offers workshops for all ages and abilities on our picturesque mountain campus. The tradition of gathering an impassioned community of artists during the summer months in Idyllwild dates back over seven decades and has served generations of musicians, painters, writers and performers in a variety of disciplines including dance and theatre. Join us in discovering the magic of an Idyllwild Arts summer, and explore your creativity in an inspiring setting with an enthusiastic community of students, faculty and staff. Residential options exist for adults and students aged 10 and up. Day programs exist for children aged 5 and up.

Past events

Past Event

Hopi Silver Overlay

18+

Explore the uniquely classic Hopi technique of silver overlay metalsmithing. Silver overlay, as a technique for conveying traditional Hopi designs in silver, originated in 1938 from drawings produced at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Later, Fred Kabotie (Hopi), a noted former Idyllwild Arts faculty, taught this technique for World War II veterans’ classes held from 1947-1951 in Arizona.

Past Event

Sterling Silver Chain Making Workshop

18+

Learn the art of sterling silver “paper-clip” chain making in this hands-on workshop, where you’ll craft your own unique necklace while exploring essential jewelry techniques in a creative and inspiring environment.

Past Event

Piano Performance

18+

This workshop is designed for experienced pianists to improve their performance skills and repertoire. Practice and learn alongside professional and performing piano artists in our beautiful William M. Lowman Concert Hall.

Past Event

Secret Techniques of Master Potters

18+

Spend a week with creative souls developing a new perspective on mastering the secret techniques of advanced wheel throwing! Create intricately detailed ceramic pieces while mastering size, design, and balance. Join us for a journey in creativity and skill-building!

Past Event

Hollow Build the Self-Referential Bust

18+

Using the self as source, students will learn an interwoven combination of slab, coil, and pinch construction methods to hollow-build a self-referential bust. Build skills in how to create an interior clay armature, enlarge a maquette, and sculpt the figure!

Past Event

WarBird Press Screen Printing Workshop

18+

This workshop, led by master screenprinter Jacob Meders, introduces the art of screen printing with a focus on cultural identity and altered perceptions of place. Participants will develop their own designs using 2-D principles, create a matrix for screen exposure, and experiment with techniques like rubylith cutting. The hands-on experience includes printing on paper, fabric, and t-shirts, allowing for an interdisciplinary exploration of personal and cultural expression.

Past Event

Art of Fire: Introduction to Glassblowing (Session 1)

18+

Learn the fundamentals of hot glass art and the technical and philosophical elements to inspire your work with expert one-on-one guidance from renowned Hopi glass artists.

*Due to popular demand, in addition to this first glassblowing session, we are also offering a second session. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, the second session will be an opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established glassmaking skills and advance to making larger objects with greater detail.

Past Event

Ho-Chunk Porcupine Quill Workshop

18+

Experience the art of quillwork firsthand and engage in the entire process, from extracting quills from a Porcupine pelt to cleaning, dying, and using them as an embroidery fiber. The workshop will culminate in creating your own smoked, brain-tanned deerskin drawstring pouch adorned with embroidered quills.

Past Event

Lakota Drum & Moccasin Workshop

18+

This hands-on workshop explores the artistry and cultural significance of Lakota-style hand drums and moccasins. Participants will craft a hand drum from elk hide and rawhide lacing while learning about its role in ceremonies and social songs, as well as create custom-fit moccasins using traditional materials like elk buckskin and latigo hide.

Past Event

Navajo Weaving I

18+

Idyllwild Arts is honored to welcome Diné master weavers and sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete for their 28th year teaching in the summer program. This workshop will provide a hands-on view of the world of Navajo weaving, supporting you as you weave your own Diné inspired rug.

Past Event

Creative Writing: Young Writers Workshop – Online

10 – 13

Welcome to The Young Writers Workshop, an ONLINE creative writing studio with Brendan Constantine. In these sessions (for beginning and advanced writers), we’ll explore poetry and storytelling, their history, and even create the genres of the future. No previous experience is needed. The final Saturday will not be a regular class but we will have a virtual, public reading of our work together.

Past Event

Wheel Throwing for the Soda Kiln

18+

Create wheel-thrown forms, learn underglazing and texturing techniques, and explore essential preparations and firing techniques for successful soda firing.

Past Event

Lots of Layers!

18+

This surface workshop explores screen-printing, stenciling, and underglaze transfers on greenware. Create layered, dynamic surfaces on hand-built forms, experiment with custom silk screens and color palettes, and learn techniques to enhance your decorative style.

Past Event

Art of Fire: Introduction to Glassblowing (Session 2)

18+

Learn the fundamentals of hot glass art and the technical and philosophical elements to inspire your work with expert one-on-one guidance from renowned Hopi glass artists.

*Due to popular demand, we are excited to offer this second glassblowing session. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, this second session is the opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established glassmaking skills and advance to making larger objects with greater detail.

Past Event

Cahuilla Basketry

18+

Learn to properly gather, process, and work with plant materials to create a Cahuilla Basket. Along the way, you will learn about Cahuilla Basketry’s cultural significance in Cahuilla communities.

Past Event

Navajo Weaving II

18+

Idyllwild Arts is honored to welcome Diné master weavers and sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete for their 28th year teaching in the summer program. This Level II workshop offers a more in-depth experience ideal for beginning weaving students as well as more advanced students who have projects they may need troubleshooting with or completing.

Past Event

Navajo Inlay Jewelry (Session 1)

18+

Design patterns and create colorful collages in semi-precious stones as you learn how to operate lapidary equipment to cut, grind, and polish stones to set into the silver form of your choice, such as bracelets, pendants, belt buckles, and rings, which you will create!

*Due to popular demand, we are excited to offer two Navajo Inlay Jewelry sessions.. You may enroll in both weeks or just one. For returning students, the second session provides the opportunity to dive deeper into your newly established jewelry making skills and work on additional projects or continue a larger project.

Past Event

Hopi Tewa Pottery

18+

Learn the Hopi-Tewa method of creating polychrome pottery, which utilizes traditional materials and techniques such as hand building, polishing, painting, and traditional firing.

Past Event

And the Bead Goes On: Open Beading Circle Workshop

18+

Join students of all levels to gather around a round table to bead, talk, laugh, and learn. You will receive detailed hands-on instruction and demonstrations on creating an array of beaded wearable art projects using quality materials such as Swarovski crystals and Czechoslovakian glass cut beads.

Past Event

Hopi Jewelry: Tufa Casting

18+

Explore Indigenous ingenuity and learn to cast jewelry utilizing a unique form of limestone called Tufa stone. This labor-intensive process involves many steps but will leave you with a lasting imprint and insight into a unique technique in silversmithing.

Past Event

Danish Cord Weaving

18+

Learn the basics of seat weaving with Danish paper cord and take home a completed walnut and Danish cord stool.

A painting of hands and blue butterflies.

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