
Fredrick G. Livesay | Education
White Bear Lake Area High School
May 29, 1984
B.A., Art History
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Emphasis on American Material Culture, Decorative Arts & Scandinavian Folk Arts
March 21, 1992
M.A., History Museum Studies
State University of New York
Oneonta, New York
Cooperstown Program
Snow Foundation Fellowship
December 19, 1994
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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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