JCCFS: Where are you from? What do you do outside of the Folk School? 

NS: I grew up outside Washington D.C. in Arlington, Virginia, and now live in Staunton, Virginia, a small town in the Shenandoah Valley. Outside of Folk School, I love spending time on my bike, exploring the small towns in the valley, and enjoying a long morning at home with my partner and our cats listening to a record, drinking coffee, and doing something crafty. 

JCCFS: What led you to the Folk School?

NS: My good friend Sarah Bluestein did the work study program in 2018, and since then I’ve been receiving the catalog in the mail and dreaming about being a work study student myself. I’m so glad that I was finally able to make it work this fall! 

JCCFS: What classes did you take while you were at the Folk School as a Work Study?

NS: My first class was “Tin Can Art” with the wonderful Trish Nicholas. In addition to making all kinds of whimsical things out of scrap metal, what made this class really special was that my mom Celia, who is a photographer and mixed media artist, was able to come down from Virginia and take the class with me. I then took “Playing and Singing Appalachian Style” with Aubrey Atwater at the suggestion of fellow work study student Natalie Warren. Natalie and I were so inspired by the class that we now both have our own dulcimers! Finally, I took “Crankies: Storytelling Machines” with Katherine Fahey and Dan VanAllen. 

Nat & Fiona Bike riding

Nat in class

Nat & Fiona

Nat Performing the Crankie at closing ceremony

JCCFS: What were your favorite parts of the Crankie class?

NS: I was in heaven during the crankie class. Katherine and Dan shared so much knowledge about the history of scroll-based art and the contemporary world of crankies. I really loved learning from them. Every day, Katherine and Dan performed at least one of Katherine’s crankies which was such a treat. I also loved seeing my classmates put their scrolls together. We were a small, very dedicated group so I got to enjoy a lot of time outside of class in the studio with everyone.

JCCFS: How did you meet your partner? Tell us a little bit about your love story!

NS: My partner Fiona and I met in  Salt Lake City during our time as students in the University of Utah’s Environmental Humanities graduate program. In a small class of only ten students, Fiona and I quickly became friends. After a year of devising road trips, bike rides, and book clubs as excuses to spend more time together, we confessed our more-than-friend feelings and began dating. 

I feel lucky that we met in school, because I had the chance to fall in love with Fiona’s mind as well as her kindness, adventurous spirit, and sense of humor. We also took good advantage of the school breaks–traveling to national and state parks all over the region. While Fiona and I both love the Intermountain West, when it came time to put down roots, we wanted something smaller than Salt Lake City and closer to my family in Virginia. We took a road trip through the Shenandoah Valley and fell in love with Staunton–a small town known for its vibrant arts scene, proximity to the mountains, and historic downtown. Starting a life together in Staunton feels like a beautiful next step for us. 

JCCFS: What inspired you to propose using a Crankie?

NS: Something I love about Fiona is her love of the homemade and whimsical. I knew that I wanted to propose using something handmade and personal. I also wanted to include our friends in Salt Lake City, who became our chosen family during our time in Utah. A crankie is something I could design from scratch and we could keep forever. I also knew having our friends play and sing the song would make it even more special. Many thanks to everyone who helped with the proposal! And an extra thank you to Amelia for playing guitar, Rae for the lights, Syd for the flowers, Sav for being host and shadow puppeteer, and Liz for the candles! 

While we have a number of special songs, I love “Our House” (the song the crankie illustrates) for its representation of love in its most simple moments–sitting by the fire, listening to a record, putting the flowers in the vase. Calm, certainty, and simple moments of joy have been defining features of my relationship with Fiona. Also, Fiona and I have two cats, Ermine and Marten, who we couldn’t be more obsessed with. The line in the song about “two cats in the yard” really sealed the deal for me because I wanted to make sure I could include them too! 

JCCFS: What is your favorite aspect or part of the Folk School?

NS: My favorite part of the Folk School is how effectively it pushes back on the high-speed, consumerist pressures of modern life. Taking the time to learn and appreciate a craft or share a long meal with new friends can be such a wonderful reset for your mind. I believe my time at folk school fundamentally changed my relationship to objects, and encouraged me to live more in line with my values. 

JCCFS: Do you have any plans to return with your partner?

NS: Fiona and I definitely talk about making it to Brasstown, whether for a weekend or for another round of the work study program! I think it would be lovely to make our wedding bands at Folk School.

JCCFS: What has been your favorite part about being a Work Study?

NS: My favorite part about being a work study has been time with the other work studies! It was very special to spend time with people making the same choice to step outside of their daily lives and dedicate two months to this experience. I loved our contra dancing and hula hooping, hours passed laughing and whittling during David Lynch marathons, and explorations of the surrounding areas.

JCCFS: What advice would you give someone who is considering coming to the Folk School, either as a student or as part of the Work Study program?

NS: I would recommend doing your best to be present and fully experience the folk school. Turn off your phone, walk the grounds, be open to surprising conversations and connections. For work study students, I’d also recommend finding time for yourself.

Nat with fellow work studies