MONROE - After a weekend at Cheese Days, visitors can take home more than beer and cheese - perhaps a little talent in the Swiss folk arts.
Elda Schiesser and Linda Schiesser of New Glarus will be among the numerous artisans demonstrating Swiss folk arts and traditions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Grand Hall of Turner Hall.
Elda and Linda, self-taught mother and daughter artisans, have been designing and producing exquisite Scherenschnitte for 25 years.
Scherenschnitte (pronounced sher-en-schnit-uh) is the Swiss folk art of cutting (schnitte) paper with a tiny, pointed scissors (scheren). You will know Elda by the simple pair of cuticle scissors hanging by a ribbon around her neck.
Folk art is "neither art nor a craft," Elda said. But it is valuable, because "It identifies a community and expresses its culture," she added.
The process of paper cutting is simple. Trace a design backward on the back of a piece of paper, and start cutting. The Schiessers make most of their art out of black paper, because traditionally, Scherenschnitte is a black design mounted on a white background.
The Schiessers use a black paper that is white on the opposite side, which makes it easier to see the design when cutting, said Elda.
But Scherenschnitte requires a talent that not everyone has: patience. A simple design, measuring only 8 inches square, could take more 20 hours to cut out, depending on the intricacy of the details.
"I find it relaxing," said Elda, who is now 92 years old.
"Oh, yes," Linda added. "At night we'll both be sitting in our big chairs watching television and snipping away."
Elda said the hardest part is drawing a design, which she has done since first learning the craft.
"You have to know what should be cut to bring out the image, but still keep the paper in one piece," she said. "The difference is like a stencil versus a potato print."
Elda's and Linda's designs are complementary to each other in theme and subject matter.
Elda's designs range from decorative symmetrical images to detailed scenery and historic depictions. Linda's designs take on a more modern look and may represent present day events, such as Cheese Days.
The Schiessers have gone beyond snipping paper to educating folks in the art of paper cutting and in other aspects of Swiss culture. While at public events, Elda demonstrates much of the snipping, while Linda takes the role of educator. Both are pure Swiss and they are often dressed in Swiss attire at their demonstrations.
Linda, a retired teacher, and her mother lean heavily toward the philosophy that "people should be educated."
Before any event, they discuss what specific aspect of paper cutting they will be featuring. They are well versed in paper-cutting arts from a variety of different countries and have even cut samples to display the differences.
The women said Scherenschnitte demonstrations have also broadened their own education.
"Every experience we've been in, and the people we've met, has been educational - to us," Linda said.
Many of Elda's productions have been on exhibit at well-known locations, such as the Swiss National Museum in Zurich; the Museum of American Folk Art in New York; the Smithsonian Institute's Festival of American Folklife in Washington, D.C.; and the Wisconsin Folklife Festival in Madison. One piece even hung on the Christmas tree in the White House in 2002.
The old Alpine folk art of Scherenschnitte dates back to the 16th century, but Elda and Linda are proof that the art - that's not an art - can be learned and enjoyed by anyone of any age.
Admission to the Monroe Swiss Singers Heart of Cheese Days Exhibit, held at 1217 17th Ave., is free with a a $2 Cheese Days button. Children need to be accompanied by a parent. Other demonstrations and exhibits include Swiss cabinetry and woodworking, chip-carving, Bauernmalerei (Swiss folk painting), ethnic foods and Bräzelis (cookies made on a special iron).
Elda Schiesser and Linda Schiesser of New Glarus will be among the numerous artisans demonstrating Swiss folk arts and traditions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Grand Hall of Turner Hall.
Elda and Linda, self-taught mother and daughter artisans, have been designing and producing exquisite Scherenschnitte for 25 years.
Scherenschnitte (pronounced sher-en-schnit-uh) is the Swiss folk art of cutting (schnitte) paper with a tiny, pointed scissors (scheren). You will know Elda by the simple pair of cuticle scissors hanging by a ribbon around her neck.
Folk art is "neither art nor a craft," Elda said. But it is valuable, because "It identifies a community and expresses its culture," she added.
The process of paper cutting is simple. Trace a design backward on the back of a piece of paper, and start cutting. The Schiessers make most of their art out of black paper, because traditionally, Scherenschnitte is a black design mounted on a white background.
The Schiessers use a black paper that is white on the opposite side, which makes it easier to see the design when cutting, said Elda.
But Scherenschnitte requires a talent that not everyone has: patience. A simple design, measuring only 8 inches square, could take more 20 hours to cut out, depending on the intricacy of the details.
"I find it relaxing," said Elda, who is now 92 years old.
"Oh, yes," Linda added. "At night we'll both be sitting in our big chairs watching television and snipping away."
Elda said the hardest part is drawing a design, which she has done since first learning the craft.
"You have to know what should be cut to bring out the image, but still keep the paper in one piece," she said. "The difference is like a stencil versus a potato print."
Elda's and Linda's designs are complementary to each other in theme and subject matter.
Elda's designs range from decorative symmetrical images to detailed scenery and historic depictions. Linda's designs take on a more modern look and may represent present day events, such as Cheese Days.
The Schiessers have gone beyond snipping paper to educating folks in the art of paper cutting and in other aspects of Swiss culture. While at public events, Elda demonstrates much of the snipping, while Linda takes the role of educator. Both are pure Swiss and they are often dressed in Swiss attire at their demonstrations.
Linda, a retired teacher, and her mother lean heavily toward the philosophy that "people should be educated."
Before any event, they discuss what specific aspect of paper cutting they will be featuring. They are well versed in paper-cutting arts from a variety of different countries and have even cut samples to display the differences.
The women said Scherenschnitte demonstrations have also broadened their own education.
"Every experience we've been in, and the people we've met, has been educational - to us," Linda said.
Many of Elda's productions have been on exhibit at well-known locations, such as the Swiss National Museum in Zurich; the Museum of American Folk Art in New York; the Smithsonian Institute's Festival of American Folklife in Washington, D.C.; and the Wisconsin Folklife Festival in Madison. One piece even hung on the Christmas tree in the White House in 2002.
The old Alpine folk art of Scherenschnitte dates back to the 16th century, but Elda and Linda are proof that the art - that's not an art - can be learned and enjoyed by anyone of any age.
Admission to the Monroe Swiss Singers Heart of Cheese Days Exhibit, held at 1217 17th Ave., is free with a a $2 Cheese Days button. Children need to be accompanied by a parent. Other demonstrations and exhibits include Swiss cabinetry and woodworking, chip-carving, Bauernmalerei (Swiss folk painting), ethnic foods and Bräzelis (cookies made on a special iron).