Upcoming Events
MONDAY NIGHT ARTS JAM
Monday Night Arts Jam
Art, music, and dinner for young people, free every Monday this fall.
Grab your friends and come make some noise! The Monday Night Arts Jam is a free weekly gathering where kids and teens ages 8–18 can get creative, share a meal, and learn to play traditional Appalachian music. No experience is needed, and there's nothing to bring. We provide everything, from art supplies to instruments.
When
Every Monday, October 5 – December 7
4:30 – 7:00 PM
What to Expect
Each evening has three parts:
4:30 – 5:30 | Art Class. Explore hands-on projects and try new materials and techniques.
5:30 – 6:00 | Dinner. Take a break and share a meal together.
6:00 – 7:00 | Music Class. Learn to play banjo, guitar, fiddle, or ukulele from experienced teachers in the tradition of mountain music.
The Details
Who: Young people ages 8–18
Cost: Free
What to bring: Just yourself. Everything is provided.
Our Partners
The Monday Night Arts Jam is made possible by the Kentucky Arts Council, Pine Mountain Settlement School, and Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), a program that helps young people in Appalachia learn and carry on the region's musical traditions.
Lexington Meet & Greet
We're thrilled to discover that a large number of our followers and supporters call Lexington home, so we thought it was time we met some of you in person! We're excited to announce that we'll be hosting a meetup at Mirror Twin Brewery on October 8th from 6-9pm, and we'd love for you to join us!
To make the evening even more special, we've collaborated with the brewery to create two signature drinks just for the occasion: the Lady Lager and Heart N' Craven. Don't worry, you definitely don't need to be a beer enthusiast to join in on the fun - we just want to hang out and get to know the people who make our community so awesome! We'll have games, good company, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends, so mark your calendars for October 8th and come on down to Mirror Twin Brewery. We can't wait to see you at 730 National Ave, Lexington, KY 40502.
Guided yoga session and forest walk with foraged tea
Join us for a Forest Therapy Walk and outdoor yoga!
This event is free, no need to register!
Hearth and Holler: A Traditional Arts Weekend
Join us for a weekend of arts!!
Food and Lodging is included in the price!
Hearth & Holler
Join us for a weekend of arts! Spend three days at Pine Mountain Settlement School learning traditional and contemporary Appalachian crafts from working artists, surrounded by the fall colors of the holler.
The Workshops
Photography
About the Workshop
This workshop concentrates on the art and power of photography. It assumes you already know the basics of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Requirements
- A working understanding of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO
- An adjustable camera — mirrorless or DSLR with interchangeable lenses
Questions about whether this workshop is right for you? Feel free to reach out — we're happy to help.
Foraging
About the Instructor
Savanna has had a fascination for nature from a very early age. Growing up in rural Kentucky, Savanna has been a lifelong forager and learned about gardening from her parents and grandparents. Her passion for foraging grew quickly in her late teen years, leading to the start of her online “Foraging Kentucky” social media pages, where she posts educational videos about plants and mushrooms. Savanna also enjoys growing fruit trees, native plants, vegetables, and mushrooms in her gardens.
Workshop Schedule
- 8:00–9:00Breakfast
- 9:00–10:00Mini pancakes with homemade maple syrup — intro and Q&A on making maple syrup at home
- 10:00–12:00Guided hike and forage
- 12:00–1:00Lunch
- 1:00–2:00Fall foraging lecture
- 2:00–4:00Guided hike and forage
- 4:00–5:30Cooking demo: creamy mushroom soup
- 5:30–6:00Lecture: What is a mushroom?
- 6:00–7:00Dinner
- 7:00–8:30Cooking demo: persimmon bread and passion fruit mocktail/cocktail
- 8:00–9:00Breakfast
- 9:00–11:00Guided hike and forage
- 11:00–12:00Lecture: Fungal relationships
- 12:00–1:30Cooking demo: mushroom shawarma
Improv Quilting
About the Instructor
Sam Christian (they/them) is a Richmond, VA native and mixed media fiber artist who is deeply committed to celebrating Black and queer stories, exploring both their light and their shadows. Their artistic practice is an homage to storytelling, influenced by their roots in the American South, the wisdom passed down by their quilting grandmother, and their experience as a parentified firstborn navigating the complexities of the “American Dream.” From fiber arts to writing and performance, Sam’s work interweaves layers of memory, liberation, and community care, always rooted in the preservation and utility of Black art.
Their series Personal Affects represents their effort to challenge what a family’s narrative can be and do, blurring the lines between function and abstraction, tradition and experimentation. Sam redefines a quilt not just as a piece of fabric stitched together, but as a repository of memory and a living artifact. The project invites people to confront their own family’s history — be it intimate, historical, or fantastical; good or bad. These works show up as quilts, assemblages of everyday objects, pieces of writing, and performance art, becoming vessels for collective storytelling.
Workshop Schedule
Introductions and a little quilting history, our first writing prompt — “I am the one who…” — and a quick machine demo to prep for the first full day!
Community conversation: “Improv Quilting: Function and Release.” We’ll start the day discussing and reading a passage about Gee’s Bend that speaks to grief and craft. Then we start our blocks with a demo and a single-color block activity before break. After break, we jump into our main blocks that will carry us into the last day!
Wrap up our blocks and talk through the process of batting, backing, and binding. Finished blocks!
Shaker Tape Stools
About the Instructor
Tristan Bray is the Appalachian Craft and Culture Coordinator at Pine Mountain Settlement School. With a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Appalachian Studies, she has found her niche in Appalachian craft and culture. Tristan has studied drawing, stained glass, and woodworking with professionals at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and has taught all ages, from elementary students to adults. She currently teaches classes on traditional and new-age Appalachian crafts such as corn shuck crafts, block printing, weaving, and stained glass.
Workshop Schedule
- 9:00–12:00Shop safety, measurements, and shaping legs
- 1:00–6:00Finish shaping, glue-up, and varnish
- 9:00–12:00Weave your stool seat with Shaker tape
Natural Dyes: Mordants & Modifiers
About the Workshop
Demystify the natural dye process by taking a deep dive into how different mordants and modifiers can be used to yield a range of colors from your dye plants. We’ll experiment together by immersion dyeing fabric samples and make keepsake swatchbooks to record the results.
About the Instructor
Jessamine Michler is a textile artist, educator, and curator of sustainable art practices. Her work with plant-dyed textiles explores how growing and harvesting materials for contemporary art and craft not only provides a unique place-based color palette, but also connects us to landscape, agricultural heritage, and community.
Follow along on Instagram: @cultivatingcolors
Workshop Schedule
- 8:00–9:00Breakfast
- 9:00–12:00Intro talk, then mordant fibers and prepare dyebaths
- 12:00–1:00Lunch
- 1:00–5:00Dye sample swatches and explore color-shifting afterbaths
- 6:00–7:00Dinner
- 8:00–9:00Breakfast
- MorningAdd color swatches to our dye journals and discuss final conclusions
All dyebaths are made from plant dyes, including a study with madder root.
Intermediate Blacksmithing
About the Workshop
A two-day intermediate workshop that builds on core blacksmithing technique at the propane forge. Participants should come with some prior forging experience and will refine their skills while working toward one or more finished pieces to take home.
About the Instructor
Jonathan Hansel is a self-taught blacksmith from Big Laurel, Kentucky, who first picked up the craft to make his own tools.
Pass It On: Soap making
Join us for a free soap making class. Participants will learn how to make their own soap and take it home with them. Soap should be ready by the time the Holidays roll around!
Located in the Plant Center
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides support for programs and services to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Joy Regime: A Writing Workshop
The Joy Regime
At such a joy-stealing—even joy-crushing—time, how might we cultivate joy, especially as many of us are overwhelmed, unable to write from emotions other than grief and rage? How might we reclaim joy without guilt or shame, much less write from such an "inappropriate" emotion when joy might be seen as betrayal of pain given the state of the world? How might you give yourself permission not only to experience joy but to write it onto the page? In our time together guided by award-winning poet Nickole Brown, we'll explore how a number of poets face this dilemma to find their joy and delight, despite (and even because of) the news. Our time together will be dedicated to sharing pragmatic, achievable steps you can take, and then we'll try our hand at writing and sharing words that proclaim joy as necessary, because it is. Because joy—like poetry—can be an act of resistance, can be a way to move towards solidarity and survival and justice, and ultimately, may well be a refusal to surrender what might make life worth the fight to keep living.
Nickole Brown received her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, studied literature at Oxford University, and was the editorial assistant for the late Hunter S. Thompson. She worked at Sarabande Books for ten years. She’s the author of Sister, first published in 2007 with a new edition reissued in 2018. Her second book, Fanny Says (BOA Editions), won the Weatherford Award for Appalachian Poetry in 2015. Currently, she lives in Asheville, NC, where she volunteers at several different animal sanctuaries. Since 2016, she’s been writing about these animals, resisting the kind of pastorals that made her (and many of the working-class folks from the Kentucky that raised her) feel shut out of nature and the writing about it. To Those Who Were Our First Gods, a chapbook of these first nine poems, won the 2018 Rattle Prize, and her essay-in-poems, The Donkey Elegies, was published by Sibling Rivalry Press in 2020. Her poem “Parable” won the 2024 Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize and was published as part of the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day initiative. Every summer, she teaches as part of the low-residency MFA Program at the Sewanee School of Letters in Tennessee. She’s a proud Fellow of the Black Earth Institute and is President of the Hellbender Gathering of Poets, a nonprofit organization that aims to nurture a community hellbent on finding the words that protect and repair our climate-changed world.
Pass It On: Blacksmithing
Beginner friendly, Kids ages 15 and up may participate.
Join Jonathan Hansel for
a beginner friendly blacksmithing workshop. Materials and PPE will be provided, Located in Draper Basement.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides support for programs and services to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Gloaming
The Gloaming
Join us for an evening of art, music, and magic in the woods. Wander through the outdoor art exhibits during our free art walk, from 8-9 PM.
A $60 ticket gets you a farm-to-table dinner at 7 PM followed by a night walk through the illuminated art exhibits as dusk settles over the mountain.
Free admission (8–9 PM art walk) | $60 dinner + night art walk (6-9ish PM)
Call for Art: The Gloaming - A Light and Art Trail at Pine Mountain Settlement School
We invite artists, makers, and creative practitioners to submit proposals for The Gloaming, a temporary light and art trail at the historic grounds of Pine Mountain Settlement School, a designated National Historic Site in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. “The gloaming” describes the transformation of dusk and twilight. This exhibition will unfold along an outdoor trail, activating the landscape with site-responsive works that engage light, shadow, and atmosphere.
We are seeking works that respond to the land and its sensory dimensions at twilight. Projects that are immersive, and attuned to place are the highlights of what we are looking for. Installations will be experienced on foot as visitors move through the trail during dusk hours. We are especially welcome to proposals in, but not limited to:
light-based installation, sculpture, performance-based work, land art, and interdisciplinary practices. Selected artists will have the opportunity to exhibit work in a rare, historically significant Appalachian landscape with layered cultural and ecological narratives.
Guidelines:
Works must be suitable for outdoor installation and low-light conditions.
Installations should be safe and durable for the exhibition period.
Artists should consider environmental impact and accessibility in their proposals.
We are seeking thoughtful, resonant works that do not simply occupy space, but listen to it.
We look forward to your vision for The Gloaming.
Applications are now closed.
Art Exhibition
Jacob Dixon Pine Mountain Settlement School Chapel Solo Exhibit - Animate Compositions
This exhibit is meant to provide a visual display of observation, reflection, and being with the environment. Connection, alongside merge and distortion of the familiar are fundamental rules to my creative practice. Through these lenses, my exhibited forms pertain to ideas of movement, elegance, and the harmony of being. Using natural materials found in the surrounding environment, creating with the natural world became a choreography of rhythmically interdependent pieces of earth. In composing these works, I wish to allow the viewer to experience and carry forward the exaltation of existing among other conscious, intelligent life forms.
ARTIST BIO
Jacob Dixon is an artist from South Bend, Indiana with a passion for multimedia creation. Dixon finds most of his visual and conceptual inspiration within the environment. Dixon previously installed a bridge installation on Fallingwater’s Bear Run trail system, and worked with a UNESCO World Heritage Architect, Bisrat Engida, to install the designs. He also has been featured in galleries such as JR Gallery, Hershberger Gallery, and Good Library Gallery. Dixon is currently working as an artist-in-residence at Pine Mountain Settlement School, a National Historic Landmark embedded within the Appalachian mountains.
Dixon seeks to bridge gaps between people and their surrounding environment. The gift of experiencing life is something that Dixon wishes to sanction more awareness of, using art and the environment.
EXHIBIT INFO
This exhibit will be on display at Pine Mountain Settlement School in the campus Chapel from September 24nd, to the 26th. There will be a reception at 6 pm, Friday the 25th with an artist talk following.
Monday Night Arts Jam
Monday Night Arts Jam
Looking for a creative way to spend your Monday evenings? Join us for Monday Night Arts Jam, a free after-school program where young people can explore visual art, learn traditional Appalachian music, share a meal, and build community.
Participants ages 8-18 will enjoy hands-on art classes, a free dinner, and beginner-friendly music instruction in a welcoming environment. Whether you've never picked up an instrument or you're ready to build your skills, everyone is welcome.
Mondays | September 14 - December 7
4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Schedule
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Art Class
5:30 to 6:00 p.m. - Dinner
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. - Music Class
Students can learn:
Banjo
Guitar
Fiddle
Ukulele
All instruments, art supplies, and dinner are provided at no cost.
Monday Night Arts Jam is made possible through a partnership between Pine Mountain Settlement School, the Kentucky Arts Council, and Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM).
Space is limited, so register today to reserve your spot!
Heritage in Hand: A Traditional Arts Week
A week of Appalachian craft, taught by the people who still do it by hand — stained glass, blacksmithing, wild basketry, and natural dye, in small classes led by working artists and educators
Week at a glance
Instructional days per workshopQuilting with Natural Dyes from the Garden
Join Jessamine Michler for a two-day workshop at Pine Mountain Settlement School. Together we'll harvest flowers from the garden to dye fabric, then sew pinwheel quilt blocks from what we've colored by hand.
Participants don't need to bring any materials — everything is provided.
About the instructor
Jessamine Michler is a textile artist, educator, and curator of sustainable art practices. Her work with plant-dyed textiles explores how growing and harvesting materials for contemporary art and craft provides a unique place-based color palette, while connecting us to landscape, agricultural heritage, and community.
Approximate itinerary
| 9 AM – 12 PM | Harvest flowers in the garden and prepare dye pots (Draper) |
| 1 – 3 PM | Dye the fabric and hang it to dry overnight (Draper) |
| 9 AM – 12 PM | Sew quilt blocks (Sewing Room, Draper) |
| 1 – 3 PM | Finish quilt blocks (Sewing Room, Draper) |
Home School Retreat
We often hear that homeschooling families would like to participate in the programming enjoyed by our residential schools - here is your chance! Homeschool Field Days offers the same immersive experiences - meals, lodging, and programming! Families will participate in educational workshops centered around environmental literacy, Appalachian arts, and sustainable agriculture.
The pricing for this program includes Kentucky standards based programming, 6 meals for each child and parent, and lodging for each child and parent. (Children and parents will share a room in our historic dorms.)
Not wanting to stay in our dorms? Alternate lodging options are available, please reach out if interested to madison@pinemountainsettlementschool.com.
Pass it On Natural Dyes Workshop
Join us for a free class on natural dyes! Tour our dye garden, learn how to make a dye bath, and take home naturally dyed samples.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides support for programs and services to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Pass it On- Flower Hammering Workshop
Join Maggie Bowling for a unique and fascinating Flower Hammering workshop! In this hands-on, interactive class, participants will dive into the world of natural crafting, using an array of flowers, leaves, and other organic materials to create one-of-a-kind greeting cards that perfectly capture the essence of summer. This workshop is the perfect opportunity to unwind, get creative, and tap into your artistic side. And the best part? It's absolutely free! Materials are provided, so all you need to bring is your imagination and enthusiasm.
Limited spots are available, so be sure to sign up quickly.
Don't miss out on this amazing chance to explore your creativity and take home a beautiful, handmade piece of art!
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides support for programs and services to Pine Mountain Settlement School with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Pass It On: Plantain Oil and Salve Workshop
Please join us for a free workshop to learn how to use plantain- a plant that many consider a weed! In this workshop, participants will learn how to identify plantain, how to make an infused oil, and how to make a salve with the infused oil.
Foraging Weekend
Foraging Weekend at Pine Mountain Settlement School
Spend a weekend learning to see the mountain differently — forage wild edibles, dig into mountain medicinals with Clare, and explore plants & potions with Sydney. Add in bonfires, s'mores, live music from Ben Fugate, and good food all weekend long, and you've got a retreat you won't want to miss.
Spots are limited — come learn what the land has to teach.
