The 27th Bois D'Arc Primitive Skills Gathering and Knap-In
Last year, I wrote about our first visit to the Bois D'Arc Primitive Skills Gathering and Knap-In. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many like minded folks, and we couldn't wait to go back this year. We had hoped to participate in a few of the workshops, but once again, we were just too busy. Still, it was fun to slip away and visit this year's knap-in.
Like last year, there was an impressive array of primitive skills being displayed. We walked past booths where people were learning to carve bows out of branches and shape arrow heads out of flint. Various artists also displayed unique jewelry, decor, leatherwork, and knives.
As we were making our rounds, we met Don Brink -- one of the co-founders of the gathering. I read about Don and Bo Brown (the other founder) when I first heard about the knap-in, so it was fun to finally put a face to the name. Don talked to us about the knap-in and how they have held it every year (except for 2020) since the late 90s. It was fun hearing first hand how Don got started -- going from a retired musician to a wilderness expert. His knowledge base doesn't come from a classroom. Rather, it stems from a passion that drove wilderness hobbies throughout his life. Don and the other craftsmen at the knap-in are reminders that for most of human history, skills weren't learned in a classroom -- they passed organically from one person to another.
As my sisters and I strolled through the booths, we made connections with several other experts and artists. We enjoyed meeting Jack Mitchel, who specializes in survival and wilderness supplies. He makes backpacking kits of various kinds -- from sewing kits that fit in a straw to tiny fishing packets. He demonstrated a blow gun for his customers, showing how simple items can be used to hunt when needed. He also spoke a bit about cordage -- how you can make rope of various kinds with natural materials. After hearing his brief description of making honeysuckle into twine, I was interested in hearing more.
We also had fun meeting Barbie Little Eagle Duran -- a basket-maker who talked to us for a long time about the merits of various weaving materials. She displayed beautiful pine needle baskets, as well as some created from grasses, willow, and more. She teaches classes each year, and I told her she would hopefully be seeing us next fall.
We also enjoyed visiting with Jane Moreland, owner of Two More Rocks. Her husband, Ed Moreland is a lithic artist. Jane uses some of his flint scraps in her jewelry pieces, which are both stunning and unique. The Morelands are from Ohio, and they proudly showed us what makes Ohio flint so special. The colors were so dynamic, the jewelry looked like it was developed from precious stones -- not what I think of as flint.
During our hours at the knap-in, we met several other friendly craftsman whose artistry inspired us. It remains a pleasant surprise to me that we live so close to such an amazing gathering -- and we didn't even know about it when we came here. We all hope to participate more fully next year. There is so much to learn, and we feel so blessed to have this resource at our fingertips. It's just one more thing to look forward to in this very busy, full, good, homesteading life.
