Greetings, Free Skoolers! Just wanted to let all of our faithful followers know that we are still alive, doin' fine, and imbued with new energy to coordinate events to help bring our community together in the spirit of shared learning! If you, or anyone you know, is interested in getting involved as a teacher, host, coordinator, or facilitator, stop by Cafe Ambrosia (326 Maynard St Ann Arbor, MI 48104) Wednesday nights at 6PM and join the discussion! We can also be reached at a2freeskool@gmail.com Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming events in the near future! Peace- a2freeskool

BIG CHANGES at Ann Arbor Free Skool

For a little while now, we have been discussing Free Skool’s place and relevance in our community as well as our current capacities as organizers to support the Free Skool. We have decided to make some changes based on the interests of our community and the best management of our resources. We believe these changes will better support and engage our teachers, students, organizers, and the greater Free Skool network.

We’re excited about this new shift – we hope you’ll be too!

We're going to be taking a curriculum in a slightly different direction. We will no longer be printing calendars or doing extensive organizational support for ongoing classes (finding locations, promotions, gathering supplies). We will continue to maintain an online calendar of existing classes, workshops, learning groups and events that are free and fit in with our mission statement. We'll still be meeting on a regular basis as organizers to hash out the logistics of our projects.

This scaling back on regular classes will allow us to focus our energy in two directions:

DIY Fests

Being that DIY Fests are freaking awesome and well attended, we're going to start consolidating our classes and workshops into day long events that will take place every month or every other month.  This means TEACHERS will have more students in every class, STUDENTS only have to clear their schedules once to attend a bunch of workshops, ORGANIZERS will be able to focus our energy & resources on creating one amazing event and EVERYONE will be able to experience unique community skill-share events on a regular basis.

We're also going to start exploring the world of themed DIY Fests:

Drawings from our Figure Drawing class at the most recent DIY Fest

Think about it – a day of DIY art classes for example – with painting, poetry, figure drawing, photography and more where you can get your creative juices flowing for an entire day with other artists. Or a day on DIY Food – starting with gardening workshops and classes on buying local, and ending with cooking classes and a community potluck FEAST.

There’s a lot of opportunities here for collaboration with other groups and creating unique learning experiences. Get Excited! Because we are.

Research projects and knowledge record-keeping

Katy sharing her zine for A Queer History of Ann Arbor - at our most recent DIY Fest

With the recent success of two workshop-spawned zines, we're going to direct some of our energy (and funds) toward archiving the knowledge we are sharing with each other. This can include physical copies of zines and other literature to accompany workshops at DIY Fests, as well as an online archive project where we scan in Free Skool documents of past and present, creating a freely accessible online database of sweet, sweet knowledge.

We’ll also be continuing our monthly Zine-making workshops and be thinking of other unique ways to support these projects. This is a great new opportunity to share your knowledge with the Free Skool and the community.

What this means...

More of this!

...For teachers:

If you're interested in teaching a class, sharing a skill, or facilitating a workshop, we want to hear from you! We'll still need folks to teach and share at DIY Fests. If you know of an ongoing class or learning group that already has a location and aligns with our mission statement, send us the deets! Tell us the date, time, location and address of the class, and give us a brief description, and we'll add it to our online calendar. We are not currently able to find locations, flier, or purchase supplies for ongoing classes, but we do want to continue to support a community of learning.

...For you:

Less facebook invites. MORE DIY Fests. MORE zines. No printed calendars. An online archive of zines and literature from past workshops and classes, documenting our work together and creating a freely accessed database of knowledge – coming soon! Plus, you'll be able to check out our online calendar anytime for info on free, ongoing classes.

Thoughts or questions about the changes? Can't bear to see printed calendars go?

Pick up the slack and churn them out yourself! We'd be happy to show you everything we know about making calendars and supporting ongoing classes. Remember, Free Skool is a non-hierarchical, volunteer-based collective. We would love to have you join us in imagining, shaping and facilitating this project. We’re still meeting Sundays at 7pm at Café Ambrosia. If you can't make it to organizing meetings but want to get more involved or have your opinion heard, shoot us an e-mail and we'll help make it happen!

DIY Fest is THIS FRIDAY, FEB. 24 2-7PM at Hotel Midwest!!!!

This Friday the organizers of Ann Arbor Free Skool and Sneeze The Beak join forces to bring you 10 workshops and skillshares by local artisans, crafters, ziners and musicians all LIVE at Hotel Midwest. Enjoy out FREE STORE and COMMUNITY POTLUCK all day long. This event is the kick-off for Sneeze the Beak! Get your zines with all the details for the weekend and STB T-Shirts screen printed LIVE here!

What's Sneeze the Beak? Here's Everything you need to know

Hotel Midwest is located at 1508 Jewett. Here is a map.

Let us know you're coming on Facebook.

We're bringing you outstanding workshops and skillshares ALL DAY LONG. Here is our full schedule:

2-3pm

A Radical* Queer History of Ann Arbor

Facilitated by Katy Clark

It's hard to find out what radical queers were up to in traditional history books. We've scoured the library, town archives, and old publications & zines and will share what we've learned with you. Leave with your own zine on AA’s queer history!

*Or just A Queer History of Ann Arbor. Most of it isn't radical, except for maybe the critical insight that most of it isn't radical.

Crochet Circle

Facilitated by Christine Barrera

Learn how to crochet, including patterns and techniques, or sit-in and work on your own project with us!! All levels of experience welcome.

Supplies you may want to bring: Some supplies will be provided, but please bring yr own if ya got it.

3-4pm

Improvised Music (Part 1 of 2)

Facilitated by Matthew Endahl

The first hour of this class will involve listening to various recordings of free improvisation through history, and a discussion of free improvisation as an approach to music.

Painting

Facilitated by Arian Monceaux

Group painting with constructive assistance and direction. Arian wants to help others make what we imagine visibly tangible in an open-ended way while still holding onto the basic principles of design. There will be still life subjects for use but it isn't required of the students to bring them into their paintings. It is for all kinds of artists, whether you are just trying to break into the medium or if you're just looking for people to be creative with.

Supplies you may want to bring: Some supplies will be provided, but please bring yr own if ya got it.

4-5pm

Improvised Music (Part 2 of 2)

Facilitated by Matthew Endahl

The second hour will be a workshop in which music will be made through collective improvisation. Various techniques will be explored.

Supplies you may want to bring: Bring an instrument, or anything that makes an interesting sound.

Potluck & Community Time

Take a breather in between classes to enjoy food from our Community Potluck, check out the Free Store, and listen to the music created by our improvised music class. You’ll have plenty of time to show off your crocheted & painted creations, or brag about your history knowledge. We’ll also be handing out zines for Sneeze the Beak detailing events for the rest of the weekend.

•  Free Store: Give your old bronzed walnut-shaped walnut cracker a new place to call home at the Free Store. Bring whatever you have that you think someone else would like (clothes, knick-knacks, food, art, tools, books - anything) and pick up some jazzy "new" treats for yourself. You'll be amazed at what you'll take home.
• Community Potluc*: Don't forget to whip up your favorite dish to pass for The Shared All Day Potluck. We need your help to make this happen. No food = No potluck.
•  Screen Printing: Change your boring old t-shirt, pants, socks, g-string into a work of art!We will be doing live silk screen printing with the original Sneeze the Beak design! Donations appreciated.

Supplies you may want to bring: FOOD, Stuff you want to give away at the Free Store, Something to Screen Print

5-6pm

Flower Essences

Facilitated by Heather Brumwell

Nature has so many ways that it helps us to feel comfortable here.  One of those is flower essences.  We will talk about what flower essences are and the many possibilities of how to use them.  There will be an option to take a personalized flower essence home with you too. 

Supplies you may want to bring: If you'd like to take a flower essence home, please bring your own small bottle with you. 

Figure Drawing

Facilitated by Becky Canary-King

Open to all skill levels. Class will feature one model doing a variety of poses in order to practice gestural drawing. Poses will slowly get longer to provide a longer time to complete sketches. Some instruction/facilitation provided.

Massage Therapy (2 Hours)

Facilitated by Ed Weymouth

Your hands are sad sometimes, massage makes them happy.  Help your extremities toward happiness with massage therapy, some reflexology and Thai massage used, a well as contemporary western.  Be ready to touch and be touched by other people.  There will be a short focusing and breathing session before we begin to help with intent, an important part of massage and then a basic work up on both hands and feet.  If we have extra time, shoulders and head. 

6-7pm

The Word Coop; Poetry Writing Workshop

Facilitated by David Trombley

Join us in celebrating creative self-expression through the spoken and written word.  Learn new ways to find your voice.  Share your journey of listening with others.  Bring copies of your poems to share and discuss if you’d like, or just bring yourself and be ready to discover that creative spark inside!  Beginners welcome!

Supplies you may want to bring: Copies of your poems to share

Radical Mental Health

Facilitated by Josiah Seng & Alex Husted

The Icarus Project envisions a new culture and language that resonates with our actual experiences of 'mental illness' rather than trying to fit our lives into a conventional framework.

We are a network of people living with and/or affected by experiences that are often diagnosed and labeled as psychiatric conditions. We believe these experiences are mad gifts needing cultivation and care, rather than diseases or disorders. By joining together as individuals and as a community, the intertwined threads of madness, creativity, and collaboration can inspire hope and transformation in an oppressive and damaged world. Participation in The Icarus Project helps us overcome alienation and tap into the true potential that lies between brilliance and madness.

Second Hour of Massage Therapy

Facilitated by Ed Weymouth

We hope to see you there!

Everything you need to know about Sneeze the Beak - FRIDAY, Feb. 24 - SUNDAY, Feb. 26

The FINAL SCHEDULE is out and there’s not a day or event to be missed! It’s cold out and you’re getting grumpy, so don’t hang around your house – come out to see LIVE MUSIC and get up to SCHENNNNANERGANS with us.

Friday, February 24




DIY Fest @ Hotel Midwest
1508 Jewett in Ann Arbor; 2pm – 7pm

Ann Arbor Free Skool and Sneeze The Beak join forces to bring you 10 workshops and skillshares by local artisans, crafters, ziners and musicians all LIVE at Hotel Midwest. Including our FAMOUS Free Store and Community Potluck. Pick up your Sneeze The Beak Zine & Schedule here and get your own T-Shirt/Bandana/Jorts screenprinted live with our original STB design. 

Full Schedule & Details.

Woods Evening Music Event; 8:30pm-?
Attend the DIY Fest for all the details.

Saturday, February 25

Saturday Morning Afternoon Cartoons
The Gravel Pit -  914 Fuller St in Ann Arbor; 2-5pm

Get cozy with warm drinks and old school cartoons as the Gravel Pit transforms into the Gravel Pit Cafe. We’ll try to have enough slippers for everyone, but you gotta bring your own snuggie.

Check out the list of shows we have, or bring your own! 

Sneeze the Beach: Indoor Beach Party 
The Dreamland Theater - 26 N. Washington in Ypsi;  9pm-3am

Killer bands. Tons of Shenanigans. Dance all night in your bikini at the Dreamland theater. It's better than spring break in Cabo. Featuring the sounds of The Plurals, Trabajabamos, Kkrusty, Dr. Striker, Watabou/Walk Your Bike & Inflatable Best Friend.

More Details on the artists. 

Sunday, February 26

Holistic Eco Polar Spirit Plunge
Huron Bridge Park (Map) 12-1pm

Shock your mind and body and aura and all that crap into total fucking harmony the natural way: by inducing trauma in the sympathetic nervous system, at one of Ann Arbor's many public natural freshwater reservoirs chilled just for you (by the universe).

Confirm your commitment on facebook.

World’s First (???) SAUNCERT
The Far House – 2606 Packard in Ann Arbor 2-7pm

We take you for a plunge, but then immediately warm you up. If there's anytime Sneeze the Beak will melt your frozen winter heart, it's at our Sauncert. We haven't checked but we're pretty sure it's the WORLD'S FIRST. Get steamy in our DIY Sauna in the backyard of Far House. Featuring LIVE TUNES by Sam Singleton-Freeman, Brian Tucker, Fear of Holes and the Josh Hedges Psychedelic Jungle Experience.

More Details on the artists.

Basement show finale!!
The Far House – 2606 Packard in Ann Arbor 7-11pm

Immediately following the world's first (and best!) ever Sauncert, come down into the basement of your favorite DIY house venue for even more live music by: JDSY, MKO, Pikoboy & DJ Cactus. This will also be Sneeze the Beak’s CLOSING CEREMONIES.

More Details on the artists. 

We hope to see you there!!!

February will warm your heart.

Skip worrying about Valentine's Day - we've got a schedule this month that will melt away the winter blues. In addition to our usual line-up of classes, we're also throwing a DIY fest and helping out with Sneeze the Beak, events guaranteed to get you out of the house and ready to face the season.

 Check out all class and event descriptions here.

Upcoming Events: SNEEZE THE BEAK and DIY FEST

Just like Seize the Week this summer, we're helping to throw a weekend full of kickass DIY events and shenanigans called Sneeze the Beak from February 24-26th. Our opening event will be a DIY fest hosted by Ann Arbor Free Skool on Friday.

Below is the schedule of events, but why wait to get involved with the action?  You can join in on the fun now by:

• Partying with us! Our second fundraiser is THIS FRIDAY (2/3) at Elks Lodge! Come lift yourself out of the winter blues by dancing your booty off: https://www.facebook.com/events/306425599409628/
• Attending Planning meetings - We still need doers, thinkers, movers & shakers to help us put this all together. Join us Sundays at 5:30pm at Cafe Ambrosia (right befoe the Free Skool meeting!)
• Liking us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sneezethebeak

What we're planning to do:

Friday, February 24

DIY Fest 2-7pm - Hotel Midwest Hosted by Ann Arbor Free Skool:  We've got classes ranging from winter survival skills to mental health care to the queer history of Ann Arbor. Full schedule will be out soon!
Woods Bar 8pm - ??? - Woods behind Elks Lodge:  Enjoy live & improvised music, a frozen bar with warm drinks & a rustic barbarian potluck while you keep warm by the fire

Saturday, February 25

Adult Sled: Daytime, Hunt Park:  Sledding, relays, maybe a guerilla ice rink? Come hang out in the snow with us & join our winter olympics
Summer Show Nighttime, Location TBA:  We've got some killer bands. Expect Shenanigans. 

Sunday, February 26

Polar Plunge Daytime, Huron River:  You know what this is, but are you up for it?
(First ever?) Sauncert Daytime, Far House:  Warm up from the plunge with live music in our DIY sauna.
Closing Ceremonies Nighttime, Far House:  Bring a winter offering to the Sneeze the Beak gods to have a great rest of the season. Will there be live music too? Duh.