Fredrick G. Livesay | CV

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1979-1986

Wheelwright & Carriage Builder Apprentice

Served formal apprenticeship that included a variety of woodworking skills, upholstery, basketry, blacksmithing, refinishing, restoration work an painting.

Myer’s Buggy Shop

Marine on the St. Croix, Minnesota

 

1982-1984 

Handcraft Instructor 

Salolampi, Concordia Finnish Language Camp

Taught handcraft courses for the Finnish Language summer camps.

Cass Lake, Minnesota

 

1991-1992

Assistant Curator 

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

1995-2001

Curator, Exhibits Designer & Builder

Carver County Historical Society

Oversaw the organization, moving and re-cataloging of the museum collections and the designing, building and installation of new exhibits in a new facility. Collaborated with staff in creating new educational programs for visitors.

Waconia, Minnesota

 

1997 to Present

Founding Instructor of North House Folk School

Founded a folk school with other instructors and taught a broad range of classes based on my skill sets & have continued to teach and develop classes and lead discussions with staff and students.

Grand Marais, Minnesota

 

2001 to Present

Instructor, American Swedish Institute

Teach classes in spoon carving, birch bark weaving, shrink boxes, kolrosing, and birch bark boxes, and regularly lead demonstrations during museum events.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

2005-Present

Founding Member

Spoon Gathering, Milan Village Art School

Founding member of the oldest spoon gathering and teaching event aimed at promoting the handcraft of wooden spoon carving, fostering the benefits of engaging in handwork, and creating an international and local community of craft.

Milan, Minnesota

 

2005 to Present

Instructor, Milan Village Art School

Yearly instructor of spoon carving, shaving horses, shrink boxes, birch bark boxes and sharpening.

Milan, Minnesota

 

2008

Student

Spent three of five weeks studying blacksmithing, and spruce root basketry of Sweden & Fäbodliv in a class involving the making of hay rakes, scything, building traditional fence, cheese making, broom making, and weaving moss mats.

Sätergläntan, Insjon and Dalarna, Sweden

 

2014 to Present

Instructor

Vesterheim Folk School

Teach classes in spoon carving, birch bark weaving, shrink boxes, and birch bark boxes and demonstrate at events held at the the Vesterheim Museum.

Decorah, Iowa

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2012-2014

Slöjd Instructor

Minnesota Waldorf School

Taught 80 craft classes annually at each school directly tied to the children’s learning curricula.

Roseville, Minnesota & City of Lakes Waldorf School

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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2017-2018

Contributor and Concept Development

Spoons: Crafting a Community, Exhibition for Vesterheim Museum

Served as a major intellectual contributor for the exhibition; worked closely with staff on the concept.

Decorah, Iowa

 

2018

Contributor and Concept Development

A Year of Craft, Exhibition for the American Swedish Institute

Conceived of the exhibition to promote local craftspeople; worked closely with exhibition staff.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

1999 to Present

Restoration Carpenter & Finish Carpenter

Using museum studies background in historic preservation, active in restoring houses and buildings from 1856 through the 1930s both exterior and interior work, as well as historic paint research.

Saint Paul & Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

2021-2022

American Scandinavian Foundation Fellow

Project Title:  Knutkorgar: Migration & Exchange of a Living Tradition

Sweden, Finland and The Netherlands

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