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Instructors

Karen Keenan

Duluth, MN
North House Folk School photo of instructor, Karen Keenan

Karen teaches table-made hair braiding, also known as hairwork, at NHFS and the American Swedish Institute. Hairwork was a popular late-1700’s to early 1900’s folk art done in Scandinavia, Europe, the United States and elsewhere. Students taking part in Karen’s classes explore the history and contemporary application of hairwork’s sentimental and decorative aspects, learn how to braid and assemble jewelry, and help bring to life this interesting and almost lost art form. With fellowship support from the American-Scandinavian Foundation, Karen apprentices with master hairworkers in Våmhus, Sweden, the community known for its professional hairworkers and home village of her ancestors. She has presented on the topic of Traditional Swedish Hair Jewelry for the Nordic Center, Duluth, MN, Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, Iowa, and the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, NM.

Visit Karen Keenan's Website

Current Courses Offered by Karen Keenan

Teaser image for Woven: Traditional Swedish Table-Made Hair Bracelet

Woven: Traditional Swedish Table-Made Hair Bracelet

Beautiful objects can be made with common and unusual renewable resources. Hairwork, an almost…
Thu, May 9th, 2024  –  Sun, May 12th, 2024
Day 1: 4-6pm; Days 2-3: 9am-5pm; Day 4: 9am-3pm
Instructor: Karen Keenan

Past Courses Offered by Karen Keenan

Woven: Traditional Swedish Table-Made Hair Jewelry

Woven: Traditional Swedish Table-Made Hair Necklace

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