Milan Village Arts School

Specializing in the Folk Arts

MILAN VILLAGE

ARTS SCHOOL

2021 Spoon Gathering

The Spoon Peddler (Franz Allbert Richter: 1969 Oil on wood)

 

2021 Spoon Gathering Announcement (Mar 24, 2021)

Greetings supporters and attendees of the Milan Village Arts School Spoon Gathering,
Here we are again making decisions about the upcoming Spoon Gathering. The school was hoping the situation would be much improved by now. In July of 2020, the school set the following requirements for the reopening of the school.
  • A viable vaccine for COVID-19 must be available. The vaccine must be effective, safe, affordable and accessible for all.
  • Adequate testing for COVID-19. Testing must be reliable and accessible to all who wish to be tested. If the students and instructor can test prior to the class and thus guarantee their COVID free status, then classes can resume in safety.
  • A significant reduction in US COVID-19 cases nationally. If the situation becomes a manageable one, then the school can start reassessing the possibility of reopening classes.
In December 2020, it was clear none of these 3 requirements had been met. Cases were at an all time high and the vaccine rollout had just begun. The school made the decision to remain closed till April 1, 2021. Since then, there have been remarkable improvements in the COVID situation. After a slow beginning, the vaccine rollout has been gathering pace and the goal now is for everyone wishing to be vaccinated to have access by May 1. Testing is easier and home tests with results in 15 minutes are becoming available. The number of daily positive tests have fallen dramatically from 250,000 in January to 55,000 today.
Everything is certainly heading in the right direction, but the school is running up against a tight deadline. Many organizations with much bigger resources that MVAS have already cancelled events in the second half of the year. It takes a lot of lead time and effort to put an event together, including arranging presenters, demonstrators and guest artists. If the event were scheduled for March, it would not be possible as both the CDC and Minnesota State Health Department guidelines would prevent the event from going ahead. June is still unclear and the guidelines are changing on a weekly basis. Conditions are generally on the improve, but if I have learnt anything in the last year, it is to suspect the unexpected and do not lock in long term plans.
While the dawn is breaking and there are better days ahead, the Milan Village Arts School has made the decision to postpone the Spoon Gathering again. Our priority is to hold an event that is safe for all, including attendees, guest artists, staff, and the residents of Milan. Logistically, it would be too difficult with the resources at hand to do this in June. Be assured, the school will hold a Spoon Gathering when the conditions are right. 
The Milan Village Arts School is firmly committed to holding the finest wood spoon carving and green woodworking event of its type in the world. The Spoon Gathering is the oldest wood spoon carving festival in the United States and the school is excited to continue this tradition. We hope to see all of you before too long.
I am sure there are questions, so please feel free to contact the school at any time. Updates will also be posted our Facebook page “The Spoon Gathering”.
MVAS wishes everyone well for the summer and we all look forward to a safe Spoon Gathering in the not too distant future.
Ron Porep
MVAS Director

 

For those of you who registered for the 2020 or 2021 Spoon Gathering you have several options. Please email the school with your preferred option.

1.   Transfer your registration to the 2021 Spoon Gathering. Each year, the working committee sets the registration fee. Though we try to keep the registration fee as low as possible, the event grows and costs increase. There may be a small increase next year, or not. Either way, your Registration Fee for this year will cover next year’s event. If circumstances change and you can not attend, MVAS is happy to refund at any time.
2.   Donation.  A donation would support the school, the arts, and a give us the opportunity to organize an even better Spoon Gathering next year.
3.  Full refund. As with our classes, MVAS understands these cancellations are not the fault of our supporters. All cancellation fees have been waived at the school and a full refund will be given.

 

 

Milan Village Arts School Spoon Gathering

Join us in Milan Minnesota for 3 enjoyable days of wood spoon carving, green woodworking, demonstrations, workshops, presentations, networking, and friendship. Check our website for pre-event courses.

What started as a small gathering of passionate wood spoon carvers in St. Paul, Minnesota has evolved into a vibrant festival of spoon carving, green woodworking and the decorative arts. Attracting spoon carvers from across the United States and abroad, the Spoon Gathering today offers a family friendly event catering to both novice and experienced carvers.

Apart from ample carving time, expect to experience a variety of demonstrations, workshops and presentations from some of the best in their field, including bowl carving, kuksa carving, kolrosing, chip carving, incising, tool sharpening, and of course spoon carving.

Free camping facilities are available. The Spoon Gathering is a carving weekend, so bring your spoon blanks and carving tools or just come to watch and enjoy the weekend. Blanks are available on site.

Click here for the 2020 Information Package. If you have questions, please contact the school or visit our website at milanvillageartsschool.org. You can also find up-to-date information on our Facebook page. Go to www.facebook.com and search “The Spoon Gathering.”

If you would like to be added to the email list for updates and notifications, please email the school at admin@milanvillageartsschool.org.

Questions? Please contact MVAS: 320-734-4807 or admin@milanvillageartsschool.org.