Nina Nightingale's Charm School is in session.
From silhouette portraits and hair reliquaries to postage stamp flirtation and suffragette tea parties, join curiosity artist and host Nina Nightingale in exploring history's most fascinating disciplines and their hidden origins! During each hour-long virtual live show, Nina will guide you through the basics of a specific craft, tell you about its often surprising importance in the cultural landscape, and take any questions that might come up along the way. Part Home Ec, part AP History, Nina Nightingale’s Charm School won't teach you how to be more genteel, but you’ll learn why crafting was never that polite anyway.
Nina Nightingale's Charm School is in session.
From silhouette portraits and hair reliquaries to postage stamp flirtation and suffragette tea parties, join curiosity artist and host Nina Nightingale in exploring history's most fascinating disciplines and their hidden origins! During each hour-long virtual live show, Nina will guide you through the basics of a specific craft, tell you about its often surprising importance in the cultural landscape, and take any questions that might come up along the way. Part Home Ec, part AP History, Nina Nightingale’s Charm School won't teach you how to be more genteel, but you’ll learn why crafting was never that polite anyway.
Art and design historians often reference the 1400s and the invention of Gutenberg's printing press as the genesis of printmaking, but did you know that the first movable type was made of porcelain by the inventor Bi Sheng in China around 1040 CE? By the early 16th century, the Western art world caught up and since then, we’ve been able to quickly reproduce information and imagery, communicating dissent, rebellion, and memes ever since. In this episode of Charm School, we’ll dig into the fascinating history of printmaking across cultures and then make our own using household items. It'll be up to you if you use this skill to make pretty tea towels, to inspire revolution,or both!
Supplies (if you wish to work along)
cardboard box
scissors
craft knife or box cutter
glue or tape
acrylic paint or printing ink
paper to print on
pen or pencil
paint brush
Optional Supplies:
brayer or paint roller
tea towel or bandana
scrap styrofoam from takeout, plate, or butcher tray
ZOOM!
Hello! My name is Nina Nightingale and I am a professional fine artist practicing the very rare art of SILHOUETTE PORTRAITURE, in which I cut your likeness from paper with no writing instruments—simply freehand drawing with scissors. This art of "shadow cutting" was popular before photography was made affordable. Silhouette portraiture is one part history and one part how-does-she-do-it?
Once registered, you can access the Zoom room for this experience through your confirmation email or Eventbrite account. Atlas Obscura online experiences are recommended for attendees age 13+.
This online experience will be recorded. A temporary link to the recording will be provided in a follow-up email to all ticket holders within 72 hours after the event. Access to this recording will be available for seven days.
This event is one of Atlas Obscura’s Online Experiences. At Atlas Obscura, our mission has always been to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. Now, more than ever, there’s a need to stay connected—not only to our sense of wonder, but to each other.
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