Stitch Buffalo is excited to share our love of textile arts and provide instruction to learners of all ages and skill levels. When you book a class, a Stitch Buffalo instructor will come to your location and provide comprehensive instruction to your group. All supplies for the project are included. Participants will learn fundamental techniques while developing design and collaborative skills in a relaxed environment that encourages exploration and personal expression. Our rextile art projects/skills reflect traditional techniques used in many cultures from around the world. These include: 1. Hand Embroidery 2. Block Printing 3. Pom-Pom Making 4. Jump Rope Making 5. Stencil and Appliqué 6. Macrame 7. Weaving For each of the seven core disciplines, we offer three related projects that correspond to different ages and ability levels: beginner (elementary school); intermediate (middle school); and advanced (high school through adult). We also provide information on the cultural context of each project, including how people from various cultures are practicing these traditional techniques today—right here in New York.

Fort Field Trip Bring history to life for your students with an unforgettable field trip to Fort William Henry Museum in Lake George, NY. Your students will step back in time as they explore a real 18th-century military fort and learn about the pivotal role it played during the French and Indian War. Our expert fort interpreters, dressed in period uniforms, will engage students with captivating stories and interactive demonstrations, making history both exciting and accessible. Through immersive storytelling, they’ll highlight how the events at Fort William Henry contributed to the eventual defeat of the French in North America, and how this conflict set the stage for the American Revolution. What to expect during your visit: Interactive Learning: Fort interpreters will link the events of the French and Indian War to the larger context of American history, showing students how the outcomes of this conflict directly influenced the colonies’ path toward independence. Live Demonstrations: Students will witness the dramatic loading and firing of a musket and cannon, giving them a powerful glimpse into 18th-century warfare and the skills soldiers needed to survive. Explore the Museum and Exhibits: After the demonstrations, students can wander through the fort’s museum buildings, where they’ll encounter exhibits filled with fascinating artifacts that tell the story of life at this remote outpost. From soldiers’ daily routines to the strategies that shaped battles, these displays offer a comprehensive look at military life on the frontier. Learn About Native American History: In addition to military history, students will explore the rich cultural heritage of the Native American peoples who lived in the region long before European settlement. Exhibits featuring artifacts, tools, and artwork provide a deeper understanding of their way of life and their role in the conflict between European powers. Scavenger Hunt: To enhance their experience, students will receive a scavenger hunt sheet that encourages them to find key information and artifacts throughout the fort. This fun and educational activity ensures that they stay engaged and curious as they explore. This field trip to Fort William Henry provides a unique opportunity for students to experience history firsthand, fostering a deeper understanding of the events that shaped the early American colonies. Combining live demonstrations, immersive storytelling, and hands-on learning, this trip is designed to inspire curiosity and a love of history in students of all ages. Reserve Your Trip Now!

I provide paintings, art prints, and photography services directly to clients. My work is featured in a number of private collections within (and beyond) Western New York. In 2016, I founded Avery & Harlow to grow my art business. I have individual and commercial clients, including Meet & Eat Charcuterie, Magic Bear Beer Cellar, Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House, Trocaire College, Canisius University, and TEAM VIA (New York City Real Estate Advisors). I've donated art to Lollypop Farm Humane Society of Greater Rochester, Massachusetts Avenue Project, Rochester Contemporary Art Center (as part of the 2023 and 2024 6x6 fundraiser exhibition) and the WNY Women's Foundation. In addition, I'm a former instructor (specializing in business and marketing) for the Arts Management Program at University at Buffalo. I'm also a Teaching Artist and marketing consultant for GWFA Gallery in Hamburg, New York.

Billy Lamont’s poetry workshops, designed to strengthen student’s writing skills, are aligned with New York State English Language Arts Standards for Reading and Writing. Lamont explains the different forms of poetry, giving examples from his own poetry, and speaks about the importance of knowledge, imagination, and wisdom of heart and mind for success in life. Lamont affirms that students have a right to their own feelings and that it is healthy to express themselves through poetry. Lamont recites his poem, ‘Dignity’ to help students understand their unique value and to inspire them to fulfill their great potential. In support of The Dignity Act, he tells students that they can gain an understanding and empathy of other people, including those from different cultures, through reading their poetry. He emphasizes the importance of empathy in building community and stopping bullying in our schools. BILLY LAMONT BIO 2025 Billy Lamont is a NY based American poet, spoken word artist, recording artist, and experimental multi-media performance poet, with a reformer spirit, and international reach. He has been interviewed and performed on national television a number of times, including Joe Franklin Show, MTV, and MUCH MUSIC Television broadcast from Toronto, Canada. He has toured and performed with Lollapalooza rock festival several times including in the Poetry Tent in 1994, on The Lab side stage in 1995, and representing Jubilee USA/International in The World Of Just BeCauses activism tent while performing poems of activism on the Booty Camp side stage in 2003. He has appeared on college and major radio stations across the U.S. including Z-100 live from Lollapalooza in NY in 1994. He has also given in-store book signing events at major and independent bookstores throughout the U.S. Lamont has three books of poetry, and as a recording artist has nine album CD/digital download releases. His latest book Words Ripped From A Soul Still Bleeding: Poems For The Future Edition is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon as a paperback, or as an eBook, and all his albums can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music. He was awarded a Guinness World Record for his poetry performance contribution to a benefit song for Love Hope Strength Foundation and those fighting cancer, that was recorded by Mike Peters of The Alarm in 2014, and was the ‘longest officially released song ever.’ This song titled The Scriptures was written as a seed of peace for Muslims, Christians and Jews in The Holy Land. His 1998 debut album CD/digital release Into The 21st Century was a benefit for Teen Challenge, with performances by two of his greatest influences, the legendary Allen Ginsberg and the brilliant Mike Peters of The Alarm on the title track. In his later years, Ginsberg expressed his love and support for Lamont’s poetry with permission to use an audio sample from one of his first recitals of the Beat Generation epic poem Howl. The passion to inspire hope and to be a voice for everyday people is at the heart of his poetry. His poems encourage dignity, uphold life and have been a catalyst for many people to live in a more loving way, to find their own voice and for personal and social reform

Living Wall Fiber Art Community Program The Living Wall is a community based, collaborative art program that focuses on the hands-on art of wet felting. During this program students learn a variety of felting techniques to experience how wool can be sculpted and painted with to create three dimensional forms, patterns and unique fiber creations. Over the course of three sessions, participating classes will learn to wet felt flowers, mushrooms, moths, leaves, stones and vines using different hands on felting techniques. They range from techniques that are purely hand based, meaning no extra tools are needed which are best for grades k-2 and techniques that require felting mats that are provided by myself, the teaching artist, which are best for grades 3 and up. Those felted pieces of flora and fauna are then added to one large piece of background felt to create the look and feel of a living wall. It is an organically textured quilt or 3D sculptural base is made entirely of hand felted wool and will sometimes represent trees, roots and branches. The final piece will be hung at the school in the location of the schools choosing. The Living Wall is meant to be a reminder of how important green spaces are to human beings, how important our environment is and how we need nature in our lives to be healthy and happy. It serves as a lesson in using, understanding and appreciating natural fibers, as well as learning about the sustainability of wool. It is also a symbol of community and the beauty of working together to create one beautiful piece of work. In the same way an ecosystem has many individual elements that work together in harmony to create beautiful natural spaces and systems that benefit us all. The cost of this residency program is $6250 which includes all materials, tools, in class time and the assembly of the final sculpture. There may be an additional cost to the program that will be dependent on the distance to the school and the length of the program to cover travel costs.

Brooklyn Robot Foundry - Lower Hudson Valley provides a STEAM program that combines creativity through art with hands-on engineering builds that teach foundational STEM concepts - essentially, 21st-century skills and science through art. Each class introduces a new project featuring different robot components and art materials. Many projects incorporate sculpting, drawing, painting, and mixed-media decoration, allowing students to explore both artistic expression and scientific principles in an integrated, hands-on way.All robots designed and built by students are functional and interactive - some move, light up, vibrate, or even throw objects. Every creation is unique, reflecting each student’s artistic vision and creative approach. The program is currently active across multiple counties in New York State, offered in both public and private schools as after-school enrichment, in-school residencies, workshops, assemblies, and special events. Our program is recognized by STEM.org as one of the Top 5% “Best in STEM” programs for 2025. The robots we build in class are never the same — while the building process is guided, each student’s artistic vision and design make every creation unique.

We offer hands-on learning experiences for all levels and ages in the creation of woven three dimensional baskets, lanterns, living structures and sculpture.

You Can Do a Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Meme, or Zine Categories: Creative Writing, Visual Arts Curriculum. Costs VIRTUAL PROGRAMS (ZOOM) One-hour interactive classes, unlimited participants: $500.00 LIVE IN-PERSON PROGRAMS One day: $1,200.00 Four days: $3,800.00 Eight days: $6,500.00 For venues more than 40 miles from Hudson, NY travel cost of $0.50 mile will be added. For venues more than 40 miles from Valatie, NY travel cost of $0.50 mile will be added. Available year-round. Program Theme: Students learn how to create a graphic novel beginning with a six page comic. It doesn’t matter if they can draw. Stick figures are an expressive way for the reluctant artist to begin. Participants are encouraged to bring their sketchbooks and characters they may already be working on. They will learn about The Creative Process, how to write a Character Study, focus on the beginning, middle, end and twist of a story, and Create Layouts. If the program is an assembly, Barbara talks though the program with on-screen illustrations of the process. The school is to provide a computer, projector and screen. Program Description: Each program is custom tailored to the grade, number of students in the class, and number of sessions. If there are four or more sessions per class, the program finishes with a Graphic Novel Exhibition (see below). The Creative Process: 20 creative tips. Creating Characters: Participants complete bio sheets with the character’s name, age, best friend/side kick, powers (if any), biggest fear, life goal, etc. Plotting: Learning how to plot challenges the student to complete a story. Too many begin the story and throw it out somewhere in the middle. The student learns to plot by color code, a method used by film/tv/graphic novel writers. Layout: Participants learn about panels, thumbnails, dialogue balloons, sequence, and making a page pop. Rather than drawing “talking heads,” they draw a close-up, pull back for a long shot, followed by interior, exterior, bird’s eye views. Everybody works at their own pace. Some are advanced artists/writers while others are beginners. It doesn’t matter where they begin as long as they get going. I hand out a “character bible” sheet and encourage them to think about the beginning, middle, end and twist of their story. The twist is what makes the story interesting. I bring in samples of character bibles from Marvel comics which they can keep, and scripts written by professionals. Feedback is an important part of the program. It usually begins when I hold up a student’s drawing and ask them to suggest a name, age, or character trait. The student can take the suggestions or discard them, however, it opens up discussions. In the first session, students are sometimes quiet/shy with other students but by the second, they open up about their characters and stories. After the last workshop, the doors open to parents, friends, relatives, the community, and the local press. Students show and talk about their work…where they got their inspiration for characters/story. The “Graphic Novel Exhibition” attracts a lot of attention and often results in newspaper articles. Having artwork in the newspaper is great for a student’s self-esteem and for their portfolio. Copies of Barbara's textbook You Can Do a Graphic Novel can be ordered for the school library, and discounts are available from the publisher for class-size orders. http://youcandoagraphicnovel.com/students1.htm

The Memory Project is a unique initiative in which students create artwork for children facing substantial challenges around the world. We begin by matching you with children on our waiting list and emailing their photos to you. Advanced art students can then make portraits for them, while novice art students can make "identity art" focusing on the children's names and positive affirmations. Next, you mail the finished artwork to us, and we deliver it to the children. We'd love to have you and your students involved!

On Monday they’re cast as characters. By Saturday, they’ve GAINED CHARACTER. The kind that really counts! A week-long residency STARRING 50-60 of your local school age children in a full-scale musical. A tour team arrives in your town in their Red Truck loaded with a set, lights, costumes, and props, everything it takes to put on a play…except the cast. The team holds an open audition and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and two public performances are presented at the end of the week! Our Mission: Empowering children and adults through theatre education and performance to develop lifelong skills while enriching communities worldwide through live productions.

A standard visit consists of three presentations of up to an hour each. With younger children I focus the talk around my first picture book, The Foolish Giant. For grades three and up I generally use my novel The Monster's Ring. Each session begins with some high energy storytelling and includes a fair amount of humor. Along the way I address where ideas come from, issues of editing and rewriting, and demonstrate how a story is put together. The sessions are designed to include practical tips on writing that teachers can immediately put to use in the classroom.

Ballet Performances