September 30–October 4, 2026

Learn more about visiting artist David Lane at davidlane-theatre.com.

Flexible participation: Attend the full workshop or contribute when you can!

Join visiting artist David Lane for a unique hands-on opportunity to bring a large-scale illuminated puppet to life. Together, participants will create a whimsical glowing creature for The Dairy Barn’s Witch Walk on October 30 and the Honey for the Heart Parade on Halloween. We will also construct smaller illuminated “minions” to travel ahead of the puppet and help set the scene along the parade route.

This workshop was created with many layers of our community in mind, including practicing artists, school art teachers seeking professional development, partner-organization staff, university students, teen leaders, and curious community members interested in learning new skills.

You do not need to attend every day. Join us for the full Wednesday-through-Sunday experience or contribute for a few hours, depending on your availability. Because this is a collaborative project, each participant’s contribution will become part of something much larger.

This opportunity is supported by an Ohio Arts Council ArtsNEXT grant, helping The Dairy Barn bring specialized artistic knowledge to our region, strengthen connections among local makers and educators, and expand our community’s capacity to create ambitious public art together.

Wednesday, September 30 | 1–7 PM

Introduction to the materials, techniques, and collaborative project. Participants will begin learning soaked-reed armature construction, thermoplastic fabrication, articulated joints, and LED lighting.

Thursday, October 1 | 1–7 PM

Work together to construct the large-scale glowing puppet and develop its structure, movement, and character.

Friday, October 2 | 1–7 PM

Build, skin, illuminate, and refine the puppet while exploring paper and fabric skinning, controls, joints, lighting, and movement. Create smaller glowing characters and “minions” to accompany the large puppet during the Witch Walk and Honey for the Heart Parade. 

Saturday, October 3 | 12–4 PM

Complete the puppets, add final details, test lighting and movement, and prepare the creations for their public debut.

Sunday, October 4 | 12–4 PM

Community collaborators are welcome to drop in to help finish, decorate, illuminate, and test the large puppet. No previous puppet-building experience is required.

Please complete the class registration even if you plan to attend only part of the workshop. Registration information helps The Dairy Barn document participation and community impact for the grant.

After registering, we will send a SignUpGenius link to select the days and hours you expect to attend. You may update your availability if your plans change. Each 2-hour time frame will have a 20-person limit.

Financial assistance and full scholarships are available. Contact Education@DairyBarn.org to request a promotional code. We don't want cost to be a barrier to your participation.

**Dairy Barn Members at the Individual Level or higher enjoy a 10% Discount**

For Ages 50+

Missy Whaley, M.F.A., will guide you through the process of creating a whimsical Witchy Goddess using wool felting techniques.

Bring your creativity and welcome the beauty of autumn!

If you wish, your finished Witchy Goddess may be displayed at the 2nd Annual Witch Walk on October 30th.

Missy Whaley Instructor Bio

Dairy Barn Education Policies and Info (refunds, inclement weather, etc.)

**Dairy Barn Members at the Individual Level or higher enjoy a 10% Discount**

Beginner to Intermediate

Get a head start on your holiday handmade gifts! Learn and practice knitting skills while creating a cozy wool scarf, hat, or bandana.

Whether you're new to knitting or looking to build your skills, this class is a welcoming place to create, learn, and enjoy the season.

Missy Whaley Instructor Bio

Dairy Barn Education Policies and Info (refunds, inclement weather, etc.)

**Dairy Barn Members at the Individual Level or higher enjoy a 10% Discount**

For Ages 16+

In this 4 part course, we’ll make a zine that tells a unique story using a single sheet of printer paper.  Inspired by the books “Cartooning” by Ivan Brunetti, and “Making Comics” by Lynda Barry, plus the instructor's own experiences making comics, students will go through the process of designing characters, writing a story, and laying out their comic so it fits on a single 8.5x10” sheet of paper folded into a booklet with 6 pages- a front and back cover- plus a possible bonus image on the reverse side of their comic pages.  

This course will include weekly drawing exercises to help get the creative juices flowing, and hone the skills needed to visually tell a simple story.  Comix Guild doesn’t require advanced drawing skills, or any kind of fancy equipment. Although drawing is the primary medium, collage elements (if desired) can be included in final zines.

Students should purchase their own mixed-media sketchbook in size of choice.  

Ariel Martian Instructor Bio

Dairy Barn Education Policies and Info (refunds, inclement weather, etc.)

Family Friendly! Ages: 8-100 (Those under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.) Please register all participants.

Join us for a hands-on, creative experience where you can make a difference! We invite community members of all ages and skill levels to come together and create handbuilt ceramic bowls that will be donated to support local charitable events. Whether you’re an experienced ceramicist or new to clay, this workshop is a wonderful opportunity to learn, create, and give back.

Teaching Artist Chip Wagner will guide participants through the process of shaping slabs into bisque-mold forms, then stamping, carving, and personalizing the details of their bowls. Your unique creations will then be fired in The Dairy Barn's kilns and donated to local charitable initiatives including Athens Area Mediation Service's Souper Bowl and Amesville Elementary's Empty Bowls event benefiting the Athens County Food Pantry. This series of making and glazing events is available at no cost to participants, though pre-registration is required to ensure we have space for everyone. By participating, you’ll not only learn new artistic techniques but also contribute to a cause that helps strengthen our community. Come with your friends, family, or just yourself, all are welcome!

Teaching Artist Chip Wagner, is the recipient of the Foundation for Appalachia Ohio's Growing Home Fellowship. Instructor Bio

The Dairy Barn's Create to Donate events are supported, with gratitude, by the Columbus Clay Company.

Dairy Barn Education Policies and Info (refunds, inclement weather, etc.)

**Dairy Barn Members at the Individual Level or higher enjoy a 10% Discount**

For Ages 16+

Join teaching artist, Alix Rondy, on a guided adventure with brush and canvas. Participants will create a unique 11”x 14" painting based on a common theme. 

Join us and explore lush foliage, hidden wildlife, and quiet mystery as we dive into the dreamlike jungle paintings of Henri Rousseau. A self-taught artist who spent much of his life working as a customs officer, Rousseau never traveled to a tropical rainforest, yet he created some of history's most captivating jungle scenes using inspiration from botanical gardens, books, and his own vivid imagination. His paintings are heavy with mystery, blurring the line between reality and fantasy and inviting viewers into strange, peaceful worlds where anything feels possible.

Participants will learn how to layer imagery and create depth with overlapping shapes as they build their own dense jungle worlds. Along the way, we'll discuss how Rousseau's unconventional artistic journey and imaginative approach helped him develop a style unlike any of his contemporaries. We'll also explore how he used composition, color, and simplified forms to create a sense of wonder and mystery.

Each artist will personalize their painting with animals, flowers, or other imaginative details, making every finished piece a unique reflection of their own creative vision.

Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Neon Cow Bar will have wine, and beer available for purchase by participants over age 21. (Outside alcohol prohibited.)

Alix Rondy Teaching Artist Bio

**Dairy Barn Members at the Individual Level or higher enjoy a 10% Discount**

For Ages 16+

Discover how to use your cellphone's camera to create powerful visual stories.

Expand your modes of photographic self-expression to make uncommonly powerful photographs with your cellphone. Receive guidance on strategies for exposure, focus, color and tonal control, spatial organization, use of light and shadow, rhythm, balance, and visual coherence to express your distinctive narrative vision.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained valuable insight into personal expression and narrative development, and everyone will have the option to contribute their work(s) to a group exhibition or online publication opportunity.

Students with all levels of experienc, including none, are welcome! 

dee miller Teaching Artist Bio

**Dairy Barn Members at the Individual Level or higher enjoy a 10% Discount**

For Ages 16+

In this 4 part intensive we'll make a folded and stapled comic in the classic comic style with a cover, story, panels, word balloons:  the whole shebang.Inspired by the books “Cartooning” by Ivan Brunetti, and “Making Comics” by Lynda Barry, plus the instructor's own experiences making comics, students go through the process of designing characters, writing their story, and creating a 4-8 page staple-bound comic.  

This course will also include drawing exercises to help get the creative juices flowing, and help hone the skills needed to visually tell a story. The comics created in the course will be drawn by hand in pencil, and then inked and staple bound. The clas will clminate in discussing options for printing and distributing your comic. 

Students should purchase their own mixed-media sketchbook in size of choice.

Ariel Martian Instructor Bio

Dairy Barn Education Policies and Info (refunds, inclement weather, etc.)