Renaissance Institute for Renewal of Past Arts and the Artist

SENIOR VACATION SPECIAL: The Renaissance of Human Creativity
September 26 to October 2, 2011, 5 days: $300 (6th day optional, no charge)

OVERVIEW: The Renaissance of Human Creativity

History buff? Itching to step off the beaten track? Yearn to try historic art and craft? Venture back to the renaissance, immerse yourself in Elizabethan times in a rustic village, and apprentice with masters to learn art, culture, trade crafts, and visit with people whose names and history-making events you have read in tomes, plays, and novels. Five-day program from Tuesday through Saturday is hosted by the NorCal Renaissance Institute for Renewal of Past Arts and the Artist, Inc. (nonprofit) www.reninstitute.org. Enrollment includes three days of renaissance-period hand craft workshops with curriculum options; a day of living history with renaissance culture and politic; plus Saturday attendance at the 46-year old NorCal Renaissance Faire. Seniors are welcome to enjoy the Renaissance Faire on Sunday at no charge. Open to seniors 50+ and their friends or caregivers.

Near the garlic capital of the U.S., at Casa de Fruta in Hollister, CA, weather is comfortable (mid-70s to 80s), but a light jacket or sweatshirt and long pants are good at night. Wear rubber-soled shoes for uneven ground. We also recommend bringing a small seat cushion for comfort, hat, sun screen, a notebook, and water bottle. If you want to "get into a character" for the Faire, bring your costume. Registration is limited; students will advance register to guarantee space and materials in their chosen programs. Minimum registration for programs required.

THE VILLAGE AS A CLASSROOM

Workshop classes will be held at the shady Past-Times Workshop Garden under a large overhead tent. Seating for workshops is at picnic tables and tables and chairs, and stages with hay-bale seating for Friday's interactive performance. The ambiance is a renaissance country village—at rest during the week and fully awake on weekends. The village comes alive on weekends with renaissance re-enactors in the street, 7 stages of fine to bawdy talent, our Queen's court in Her Majesty's glade, historic guilds in action, parades, a full-contact joust, artists-in-action, vendors hawking, more workshops, games of skill and chance, and sumptuous odors of traditional foods during the market festival on the weekend. Seniors will be right at home by the weekend whether costumed for the period or dressed as conventional on-lookers.

Foods: Lunches and re-energizing breaks

Lunches and break foods are planned to allow some choices to accommodate food preferences. Beverages (hot and cold) and light snacks will be served mid-morning and mid-afternoon during classes. Tap water, available in the village-site, is from state approved water sources. Your Saturday foods are within the Faire Food Court with a meal ticket; choose your favorites or try something new.

Getting to the Site

Route 152 to Casa de Fruta can be reached by auto or RV from either route 5 (Sacramento to LA) or route 101 (San Jose to LA). Persons flying in to the Bay Area will find San Jose Airport closest to Hollister, about an hour's drive.

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities or Medical Conditions

The road in the village is unpaved with natural roughness. Power chairs (or scooters) work in the "village"; there are no stairs. Two hills set the village in its glen-like setting; these are not heart-threatening, and the steeper one can be avoided. During workshops, we will gather under shade structures with tables and chairs where sunlight is filtered. Generally, hats, sun block, and lace shoes are recommended. Ponchos are a good idea in case of unseasonable drizzle. We appreciate knowing in advance about special medical conditions and will keep this information confidential except for informing our on-site nurse.

Activity Level: Students will park in the parking lot, although it is possible to drive on site to drop someone off. The walk from the parking lot to the workshop area and to the dining tent is about one-half mile. Persons with limited lung capacity or unaided mobility problems are not advised to register. Workshops are hands-on; persons with arthritis may find it necessary to take breaks from working. Questions will gladly be answered before registering.

Medical Services

A nurse will be in residence during the week. Emergency and full-service hospitals are in the cities of Hollister and Gilroy, 15 miles away. EMT service is readily available on call on weekdays and on-site on weekends.

REGISTRATION

Workshops are limited to 16 students. Choices are available until a workshop is filled. Workshops with fewer than 5 students registered may be cancelled (with full refund). Confirmation notice will be sent via U.S. mail or email as soon as registration is received. Fifty percent of the fee is required as deposit with the remainder due September 17, 2011. Cancellations will be honored with 90% of amount paid refunded until September 10. After September 10th, half of the amount paid will be refunded, excepting in cases where medical problems can be verified, then 90 percent will be returned.

For Information Call Maureen Glancy (650 )504-1572 or email mglancy@coastside.net

To register: Use registration form to mail personal information and deposit or full fee to:

Cost Fee of $300.00 includes 4 days of instructional workshops, all workshop materials, hospitality, lunch Tuesday through Friday, Saturday Renaissance Food Court ticket, and entry to the Faire for the weekend. Overnight accommodation is the responsibility of persons coming from a distance.

Lodging Motel accommodations are located Santa Nella (Holiday Inn Express), Hollister, and Gilroy, all about 15 miles from the Faire site. RV accommodations with full hook-up and modern restrooms are adjacent to the Faire site at the Casa de Fruta Park, a Good Sam facility.

Check-In Students are welcome to check-in Monday afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 with an orientation to the site or Tuesday morning between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.

WORKSHOPS Tuesday through Thursday
choose one for mornings and one for afternoons

A1-Historical Blackwork Embroidery (mornings 9:30-12 noon; afternoons 1:30-4:00 optional) Join a member of the Royal School of Needlework to learn history, materials, and techniques. Work on an Elizabethan blackwork embroidery project with instruction. Gain insight into avoiding problems and creating heritage needlework. Students may choose to continue instruction in blackwork in the afternoons. Kits will be provided and standing hoops (on loan) will make working as it was in the period. If you have a magnifier or your own stand, you are welcome to bring it. Electricity for lights is generally not available. Instructor: Linda Kilgore, Royal School of Needlework.

A2-Show Me Your Metal!! Chain Maille (mornings 9:30-12 noon) Gather under the spreading Live Oak trees to learn the historic trade craft that is sweeping the modern craft world. Join master artist of chain maille and historic wire art to learn basic and advanced chain maille techniques. Make wearable bracelets and chains (suitable for men and women) and, if time allows, perhaps start a chain mail belt or other project. Instructor: Kelli Gray-Beard, Obsidian Moon Creations

B1-Genealogy of Queen Elizabeth I and You (afternoons 1:30-4:00) See evidence why the rule of 7 pertains to you…we are more closely related than we can imagine! Learn how to research your family heritage and discuss the family trees of Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Frances Drake. Learn how these family lines came to the U.S. and why they may be among your ancestors. Your grandchildren may be very impressed with who their relatives are! Students are welcome to bring their own computers (with wireless capability) or share one of ours. Also – bring a list of family names and places where ancestors may have lived to jog your memory when researching. Instructor: Michelle Amsbury, Genealogist

B2-Ancient Weaves, Old Weaves (afternoons 1:30-4:00) Explore several different weaving techniques, some going back 2,000 years. The horns of the Lucet, prior to crochet, Japanese Kumihimo braiding, Viking wire weaving, Inkle Loom weaving, "Egyptian" tablet weaving, and "Swedish" weaving will be taught on an elective basis. Make copper bracelets and necklaces, cording for accents, and broad, flat weaves for belts or trim. This will be a learning workshop that will allow students to create their own applications…jewelry, accessories, lamp shade deco, purse or hat trimming, trims that ID "your" cup or tools…whatever the technique leads you to do. Instructors: Kelli Gray-Beard, Maureen Glancy, and others will teach, coach, and invite you on to try weaving on the edge!

FRIDAY WORKSHOPS

Living History (all day: 9:30-12 noon and 1:30-4:00) Visit with the people who made history. Performance, discussion, and playful interacting fill your morning and afternoon. Sir Frances Drake (said to be Elizabeth's consort), will lead you into renaissance life. Expect laughter and learning with him. He's quite a character! Meet a swordsman who will teach about the use of the sword in the renaissance and invite you to heft a (WOODEN) sword to learn a few stage moves yourself. Appearing as herself, Queen Elizabeth makes a courtly visit and shares her view of history in the making. Find yourself admiring this woman and her seemingly impossible journey to reign over the British Empire. She will prepare you to enter the historic village alive with knowledge, discoveries, work and trade, and lots of gossip. Of course history is written by the winners, but the boundary territories in England are not necessarily what you might expect. But we'll let the Scots tell you history as they live it. (In real life, these living history re-enactors are actors and/or working professionals)

Weekend: ENJOY THE FAIRE

On Saturday enter the realm of old England for adventure, entertainment, and engaging with the past at the historic Renaissance Faire now in its 46th year. Use your meal ticket to choose your favorite renaissance foods during the day.

Saturday Evening Celtic Rock Concert ends the day at the Renaissance Faire.

PROGRAM SHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE