Birchbark Pyrography Workshop with Sierra Henries

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026 at 10:15 am to Sat, 27 Jun, 2026 at 10:15 am UTC-04:00

Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building | Washington

Smithsonian Folklife
Publisher/HostSmithsonian Folklife
Birchbark Pyrography Workshop with Sierra Henries
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Burn your custom design into natural birchbark using a pyrography tool, guided by instructor Sierra Henries
About this Event

Workshop Overview

Taught by: Sierra Henries

Time: Saturday, June 27, 10:15 AM - 5:15 PM EDT (7 hours)

Format: In-Person Workshop, hosted by Sierra Henries

Skill level: All skill levels; Ages 18+

Accessibility: ASL interpretation and other services are available upon request.

Participant Fee: $115

Registration Limit: 10 participants


Your Instructor:

Sierra Autumn Henries has been a multimedia artist for over thirty years and is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck (MA) living at the intersection of Passamaquoddy and Penobscot homelands. She and her family care for land and their home in a place that rests at the feet of both Schoodic and Black mountains, and sits alongside Flanders stream, which flows only a short distance to the ocean waters of Flanders Bay.

Consisting primarily of pyrography and birch bark, her art endeavors to honor the beauty of natural color and form while incorporating line work that lives harmoniously with the material. Her Eastern Woodlands culture plays a role in all aspects of her artistic process - from mindset and approach while gathering bark, to the creation and completion of a design. Each piece is meticulously cut, sketched, and burned free-hand, no stencils are used. Every piece of art is unique and comes into being with their own story.

Through intentional process and a reflection of her relationship with land and community (both human and otherwise), Sierra hopes that her art will foster conversation and connection with nature, as well as sparking an interest in others to explore their own creative-self expression.


Learn more about Sierra and her work!


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Workshop Outline

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to turn a piece of tree bark into art? In this workshop, you’ll learn about birch bark colors and textures, sketching a line-work design, and burning your completed design with a pyrography tool.

Sierra Autumn Henries, a member of the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck tribe, brings a 30+ year background in pyrography work, as well as nearly 20 years of incorporating birch bark into her practice.

Participants will be provided with a small sample of bark on which to create a design, in addition to the use of pencils, paper, pyrography tools, and inspirational items from nature.

This will be a very relaxed and welcoming workshop open to myriad levels of experience - we’re all learners here!


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Terms & Conditions and FAQs

Registration Requirements:

  • To register, you will need to provide credit card information for payment and your contact information.
  • If you have questions about this workshop before you register, please email us at [email protected] with Workshop Question in the subject line.

Refund Policy:

All sales are final. No refunds, credits, or transfers.

Cancellation Policy: We reserve the right to cancel workshops in the unlikely event of circumstances beyond our control. If a workshop is cancelled, our liability is limited to a refund of registration fees. We will process refunds within sixty days of cancellation.

Capacity: This workshop will be limited to 10 participants. Early registration is encouraged.

Language: English will be the main language used in the workshop.

Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to [email protected] with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”

Attending the Workshop:

  • Short breaks will be provided during the workshop. After each period of instruction and Q&A, there will be “open studio” time as attendees work on their individual projects.
  • All Information the artisans share during the workshop is proprietary to them and their communities. We ask that you do not duplicate or distribute it.





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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive Southwest, Washington, United States

Tickets

USD 115.00

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