Celebrating Harley Refsal: PBS Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion

On May 15, 2022, PBS and Vesterheim Folk Art School celebrated beloved instructor and Vesterheim Gold Medalist Harley Refsal! Award-Winning Producer Dana Conroy of Pioneer PBS created a 20-minute film about Refsal's teaching and legacy. In addition to screening the short documentary, we heard stories from Liesl Chatman and Charles Banks, carvers and instructors who studied with Refsal. This screening event was cosponsored by Iowa PBS.

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I had the fine honor of taking numerous classes with Harley, and also being his teaching assistant at the Campbell Folk School for a number of years. He is always so generous with information and technique - I learned SO MUCH from him. I think that Harley is the perfect blend of scholar, artist, and human being. He embodies understanding and inclusiveness and has a rare gift for encouraging and lifting others up. Harley has a wonderful way of creating safe space for carvers to explore the Wabi Sabi-ness of flat plane carving, and whenever I had the privilege of spending time with Harley, whether it was in the studio or sharing a meal, I ALWAYS felt like I grew as a person. Many of my favorite personal carvings happened with Harley’s gentle, laughter filled guidance, as if the basswood figure magically absorbed some of Harley’s warmth, wisdom, and humor. We are all better because of you. Thank you Harley!