Skip to content
Contact USI

Artisans


Bookbinder/Paper Marbler: John Bielik is an itinerant artisan, instructor and living history interpreter. John's paper and products are featured in the shops at Colonial Williamsburg and the Atheneum at Historic New Harmony.

Thomas Say: Portraying a figure known as the “Father of American Entomology,” this interpreter will focus on Say’s scientific discoveries and touch on how the natural sciences were a large part of New Harmony’s second utopian community.

Oxen: Mark Hufford will be bringing two oxen, Louis and Clark, to demonstrate the important role oxen played throughout history in the western expansion and in the Indiana and Kentucky territories. He will demonstrate how to yoke the oxen, how they respond to commands and how they were used to help clear the land using forestry tools.

Rope maker: The original Harmonist rope walk stretched 1100 feet. The Harmonists grew hemp to make rope. Along the rope walk they stretched it out to dry and also to twist it. Bob Etienne will demonstrate flax processing and rope making.

Tinsmith: Adam Clark will be demonstrating the art of working with tin.

Hat Maker: Cindie Etienne will demonstrate the historic practice of wool hat making.

Beekeeping: Becky Clinton shows the practice of beekeeping.

Hide Tanning: Kevin Clinton will give hide tanning demonstrations and show other primitive living skills.

Candle Dipper: People in the early 1800s made candles from the tallow or animal fat in a hand dipped process.

Weaver: Peggy Taylor first learned to weave in 1976 in New Harmony, Indiana. Today, Peggy creates work from linen, cotton and wool, often spinning wool yarn from the fleece of her own flock of Shetland sheep.

1800s Doctor: Albert Roberts, the 19th century doctor, gives a dramatic first person presentation that explains and demonstrates common surgical techniques and medical practices during the early 1800s. The contrast of his presentation with the students' knowledge of current medical practices will help them better understand what life was like 200 years ago.

Blacksmith: John Lovin will demonstrate metal working using the centuries old techniques of blacksmithing, using a coal forge, anvil and various hand tools commonly used in a blacksmith shop of 200 years ago. 

Basket Weaving: Beth Lovin will demonstrate basket weaving.

1800s diorama and games: Visit the Salomon Wolf House for kids games and a detailed diorama of the town of New Harmony.

Tree of 40 Fruits: Sculpted through the process of grafting, each unique tree grows over forty different types of fruit.

Oculus: Jim Buchanan, an artist from Scotland, converted this pioneer cabin in New Harmony into a camera obscura – a walk-in pinhole camera.