Have you ever wanted to try your hand at making a custom instrument? Are you interested in the history of folk songs about and by working people?
Celebrate May Day (a.k.a. International Worker's Day) weekend with a series of all-ages instrument-making workshops facilitated by Syracuse-based designer, maker and musician Zeke Leonard. These workshops will culminate in an afternoon May Day celebration at WAHC with treats, and performances by workshop participants and Hamilton's Tuesday Choir. This weekend's festivities is a co-presentation of the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre and the Hamilton and District Labour Council. All are welcome!
Friday, April 29th, 7-9 pm and Saturday, April 30th, 9 am-3 pm All-Ages Instrument Making Workshop with Zeke Leonard
Learn how to make a fully-functional Can-Jo-- an instrument a little like a banjo that is simple for people of all ages to make-- and a fully functional Slide Guitar out of salvaged items. All children under 12 taking part in the workshop should be supervised by an adult. All materials and equipment for the workshop will be provided. There is a $10 materials fee per participant/family, that should be paid at the time of registration. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Deadline for workshop sign-up is Thursday, April 28th at Noon.
Sunday, May 1st, 1-4 pm May Day Celebration and Performance with Workshop Participants and Tuesday Choir
Spend an afternoon at the museum! Take in some interactive activities, treats and performances! All are welcome to attend!
Pre-registration for workshops is required; workshop participants are required to take both Friday evening and Saturday workshops. Registration can be done over the phone at (905) 522-3003 ex. 29, or with this form by mail or email (doc or pdf). For more information about these workshops, contact Tara Bursey, Program Coordinator at tara@wahc-museum.ca.
Slider Image Credit (guitars): David Broda
Zeke Leonard is a furniture designer, musician, educator and maker in Syracuse, New York. Formerly a theatrical set designer who participated in a continuous cycle of making beautiful things and then putting them in the trash, he now tries to reverse that process by taking cast-off objects and making them into beautiful things.
Tuesday Choir began on a Tuesday night in the Spring of 2014 on the second floor of the Winking Judge Pub. The choir has grown steadily since its first weekly session (the active choir is about 30 members), and has developed a collaborative consensual approach to repertoire selection and arrangement. They have performed throughout the city, as part of the Hamilton Arts Awards, the 2015 Juno celebrations, the TH&B art receptions, and events at the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre.
The Hamilton and District Labour Council is the voice of working people in Hamilton. By pursuing jobs, peace and security, the HDLC seeks to build a community that values human dignity and basic fairness.
