Wheatland Music Organization

What will MiddleGround do? We are sponsoring traditional activities and crafts for those who have outgrown Kid’s Hill. MiddleGround encourages mentoring to pass skills to one another and is staffed primarily by young volunteers. We also provide opportunity for emerging muscians to perform at WMO in styles which interest young people. MiddleGround will sponsor alcohol/smoke-free dances at Stage Two on Friday and Saturday nights. MiddleGround has also set up many activities and programs throughout the weekend.

Where will MiddleGround be? Follow the “Funky Feet” to find us, just west of the Gladys Wernette Building, across from the Drumming T ent.

MiddleGround would like to thank WMO for providing this opportunity for growth and participation. Grateful acknowledgem ents to Alice Birney, Activity Coordinator; Brian Hosmer, Music Coordinator; Mandy Rid enour, Volunteer Liason; Kate Sumbler, WMG Program Editor; Tom Wellman, Data Entry and Eric Smith, Volunteer Coordinator for their year round efforts

Activities and Programs:

Henna with Mona Patel
People have been using henna for centuries to decorate themselves and now you can too. We will have henna paste available for you to experiment with or, if you prefer, volunteers will be available to apply a variety of designs. This is Mona’s third year working with henna. Attention Parents: Henna may last up to 4 weeks. If you have concerns, please talk to your children.

Juggle Sticks with Sean Joghart & Josh WengerJuggle Sticks are a fun, challenging activity that can be done anywhere by anyone. It exercises hand-eye coordination, dexterity, balance and focus. Participants will learn different techniques to juggle one stick in the air using two other sticks. Josh has been to Wheatland 10 out of the 14 years of his life, this is his second year volunteering. Sean, age 17, is new to volunteering but has been a Wheatland attendee his entire life.

Hemp Jewelry with Sarah FreemanCome and make jewelry out of hemp. Learn how to incorporate several different knots as well as add beads. It is an art that will become a fun and inexpensive hobby that you can continue to do on your own. Sarah is a junior at Grand Valley State University, majoring in elementary education. This is her 19^th Wheatland and she has been teaching the art of hemp jewelry here for six years.

Wire Wrapped Stones with Michelle JohnsonLearn to wrap stones with wire to create a decorative bead that can be put on a chain, woven into a necklace or used on a keychain. This will be Michelle’s first year leading this activity at MiddleGround.

Juggling with Bryan Benton, Lee Ribble, Dean Shooltz and Rob SumblerDo you know how to juggle? Would you like to? Experienced jugglers will be on hand to teach novice to advanced juggling techniques with demonstrations of tricks from simple juggling to complex four juggler patterns. Rob, Lee, Dean and Bryan have been juggling together at Wheatland for over four years. Years ago, Dean first introduced Rob and Bryan, within five minutes the three were performing for a crowd of 10,000 people!

Hacky Sac with Pete NovelloHacky-sac, also known as footbag, originated in Oregon in the early 1970’s. It soon took off in England and was endorsed by many parents as a football substitute that would drastically reduce the number of broken bones and broken windows! The World Footbag Association has over 64,000 members worldwide. Pete is a student at University of Michigan studying Electrical Engineering in Music. He plays guitar, mandolin, hand drums and any other instrument he can get his hands on! Pete has been with MiddleGround since its beginning.

Crocheting with Lynn Webster
Learn a simple crochet stitch or expand your existing crochet skills with a variety of small projects. Lynn has been a teacher for 12 years, working with elementary through high school aged students. She enjoys relaxing with the meditative effect of crocheting.

Head Wreaths with Caroline BirneyUnleash your creativity and make a beautiful head wreath made from herbs and dried flowers to wear around the festival. Caroline is a recent graduate of Okemos High School and currently attending Lansing Community College. A lifelong Wheatland attendee, this is her second year coordinating this activity.

Tie-Dye with Amanda & Matt JonesCome and enjoy the art of tie dying. Choose a S, M, L or XL t-shirt or a bandanna, which will be provided for you. First come, first served. Come prepared to wait in line, making amends for the weather conditions. Look for the tie-dyed banner! Amanda & Matt Jones live in Branch, MI. They have enjoyed tie-dye for many years and are constantly working to improve techniques.

Patchwork Purse with Andrea Coombs
Learn basic sewing to piece together fabric and make a small bag to carry your belongings. Andrea is a quilting enthusiast who enjoys other textile arts including tatting and crocheting.

Felted Coin Purse with Bridget Patrick
Learn to take carded wool, felt it, dry, cut and sew into a colorful coin purse. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Bridget has been felting wool and making gifts from the material for over 5 years. She has a small farm north of Mason in Ingham County.

Polarity with Kathie KuhnIn this workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of polarity therapy through discussion, guided meditation and hands on (and off) practice. People are encouraged to wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a partner. Open to all ages. Kathie is a student in the massage therapy program at Lansing Community College, has studied qui-gong. She is a peace activist, musician, gardener and writer who believes everyone is an artist and a healer.

Open Mic with Chris HuntoonCome join the fun and express yourself! As the MC for our Middle Ground Open Mic Stage, Chris will be providing the opportunity for you to perform and entertain the MiddleGround community. Will be available when MiddleGround activities are offered. Sign up is available on a first come first serve basis at the MiddleGround stage. All are welcome to participate, but if demand is too high preference will be given to "up and coming" artists. We hope to see (and hear!) you at MiddleGround.
Middle Ground Schedule Band Performances - Second Stage
FRIDAY
Deep Blue Underground 9:30-10:45 p.m.
Legusta 11:15-12:30 a.m.

SATURDAY
Green Sky Bluegrass 10:30-11:45 p.m.
Sprout and The Orange 12:15-1:30 a.m.

Activities

FRIDAY 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Wire wrapped stone bead pendants, crocheting, felt purse, juggling (4-6 pm), hacky sac, head wreaths, polarity therapy, hair wraps and acoustic open mic

SATURDAY NOON - 3:00 PM
Crocheting, felt purse, juggling (4-6 pm), hacky sac, head wreaths, patchwork purse, polarity therapy, tie dye, hemp necklaces and acoustic music open mic

SATURDAY 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Stonewrap, patchwork purses, hair wraps, henna, juggling, juggling sticks, hacky sac and open mic

SUNDAY NOON - 3:00 PM
Wire wrapped stone bead pendants, henna, hemp jewelry, juggling, hacky sac, juggle sticks, patchwork purses and acoustic music open mic

Honoring MiddleGround's Volunteers Not only do they work hard at Wheatland on festival weekend, our MiddleGround Volunteers (MGVs) also spend many hours preparing for this event. Many MGVs work all year round gathering supplies and materials, meet at members' homes to organize the music, building wooden signs, sewing, or travel to meetings at the cabin at Wheatland. This often entails traveling many hours through snow and ice storms. The majority of our MGVs are college or high school students, some making two trips on Wheatland weekend to take an exam, or rushing to Wheatland on Friday night because they had to play in the band concert at their high school. There are MGVs promoting donations of millet to fill juggling bags, washing and drying tie-dyed T-shirts, or spending hours practicing with their bands to play at Wheatland MiddleGround Dance. In the "middle" of all these activities we have MGVs studying, organizing their careers, raising families, changing jobs, looking for jobs, and giving their extra days and minutes to Wheatland.

As you are participating in MiddleGround activities or enjoying the MiddleGround Dance at Wheatland Music Festival this weekend, take the opportunity to look for the MGVs in their tie dyed shirts, and thank them for their efforts. These MGVs are the future of Wheatland, and are practicing the "art of volunteering."



Home Search What are traditional arts? Who We Are Our Mission Wheatland's History Facilities and Grounds Our Trademark Contact Us! On-line Store Community Education Traditional Arts Weekend Wheatland Music Festival Volunteering Giving and Receiving Maps Photo Album Lodging Links Board of Directors Newsletters Contact Us Press Releases Privacy Statement	Middle Ground Archive What is MiddleGround? MiddleGround was created to provide a place where young people could have fun and learn the ancient art of volunteering. Look for the red tie-dyed Wheatland t-shirts to identify MiddleGround volunteers. What will MiddleGround do? We are sponsoring traditional activities and crafts for those who have outgrown Kid’s Hill. MiddleGround encourages mentoring to pass skills to one another and is staffed primarily by young volunteers. We also provide opportunity for emerging muscians to perform at WMO in styles which interest young people. MiddleGround will sponsor alcohol/smoke-free dances at Stage Two on Friday and Saturday nights. MiddleGround has also set up many activities and programs throughout the weekend. Where will MiddleGround be? Follow the “Funky Feet” to find us, just west of the Gladys Wernette Building, across from the Drumming T ent. MiddleGround would like to thank WMO for providing this opportunity for growth and participation. Grateful acknowledgem ents to Alice Birney, Activity Coordinator; Brian Hosmer, Music Coordinator; Mandy Rid enour, Volunteer Liason; Kate Sumbler, WMG Program Editor; Tom Wellman, Data Entry and Eric Smith, Volunteer Coordinator for their year round efforts Activities and Programs: Henna with Mona Patel People have been using henna for centuries to decorate themselves and now you can too. We will have henna paste available for you to experiment with or, if you prefer, volunteers will be available to apply a variety of designs. This is Mona’s third year working with henna. Attention Parents: Henna may last up to 4 weeks. If you have concerns, please talk to your children. Juggle Sticks with Sean Joghart & Josh WengerJuggle Sticks are a fun, challenging activity that can be done anywhere by anyone. It exercises hand-eye coordination, dexterity, balance and focus. Participants will learn different techniques to juggle one stick in the air using two other sticks. Josh has been to Wheatland 10 out of the 14 years of his life, this is his second year volunteering. Sean, age 17, is new to volunteering but has been a Wheatland attendee his entire life. Hemp Jewelry with Sarah FreemanCome and make jewelry out of hemp. Learn how to incorporate several different knots as well as add beads. It is an art that will become a fun and inexpensive hobby that you can continue to do on your own. Sarah is a junior at Grand Valley State University, majoring in elementary education. This is her 19^th Wheatland and she has been teaching the art of hemp jewelry here for six years. Wire Wrapped Stones with Michelle JohnsonLearn to wrap stones with wire to create a decorative bead that can be put on a chain, woven into a necklace or used on a keychain. This will be Michelle’s first year leading this activity at MiddleGround. Juggling with Bryan Benton, Lee Ribble, Dean Shooltz and Rob SumblerDo you know how to juggle? Would you like to? Experienced jugglers will be on hand to teach novice to advanced juggling techniques with demonstrations of tricks from simple juggling to complex four juggler patterns. Rob, Lee, Dean and Bryan have been juggling together at Wheatland for over four years. Years ago, Dean first introduced Rob and Bryan, within five minutes the three were performing for a crowd of 10,000 people! Hacky Sac with Pete NovelloHacky-sac, also known as footbag, originated in Oregon in the early 1970’s. It soon took off in England and was endorsed by many parents as a football substitute that would drastically reduce the number of broken bones and broken windows! The World Footbag Association has over 64,000 members worldwide. Pete is a student at University of Michigan studying Electrical Engineering in Music. He plays guitar, mandolin, hand drums and any other instrument he can get his hands on! Pete has been with MiddleGround since its beginning. Crocheting with Lynn Webster Learn a simple crochet stitch or expand your existing crochet skills with a variety of small projects. Lynn has been a teacher for 12 years, working with elementary through high school aged students. She enjoys relaxing with the meditative effect of crocheting. Head Wreaths with Caroline BirneyUnleash your creativity and make a beautiful head wreath made from herbs and dried flowers to wear around the festival. Caroline is a recent graduate of Okemos High School and currently attending Lansing Community College. A lifelong Wheatland attendee, this is her second year coordinating this activity. Tie-Dye with Amanda & Matt JonesCome and enjoy the art of tie dying. Choose a S, M, L or XL t-shirt or a bandanna, which will be provided for you. First come, first served. Come prepared to wait in line, making amends for the weather conditions. Look for the tie-dyed banner! Amanda & Matt Jones live in Branch, MI. They have enjoyed tie-dye for many years and are constantly working to improve techniques. Patchwork Purse with Andrea Coombs Learn basic sewing to piece together fabric and make a small bag to carry your belongings. Andrea is a quilting enthusiast who enjoys other textile arts including tatting and crocheting. Felted Coin Purse with Bridget Patrick Learn to take carded wool, felt it, dry, cut and sew into a colorful coin purse. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Bridget has been felting wool and making gifts from the material for over 5 years. She has a small farm north of Mason in Ingham County. Polarity with Kathie KuhnIn this workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of polarity therapy through discussion, guided meditation and hands on (and off) practice. People are encouraged to wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a partner. Open to all ages. Kathie is a student in the massage therapy program at Lansing Community College, has studied qui-gong. She is a peace activist, musician, gardener and writer who believes everyone is an artist and a healer. Open Mic with Chris HuntoonCome join the fun and express yourself! As the MC for our Middle Ground Open Mic Stage, Chris will be providing the opportunity for you to perform and entertain the MiddleGround community. Will be available when MiddleGround activities are offered. Sign up is available on a first come first serve basis at the MiddleGround stage. All are welcome to participate, but if demand is too high preference will be given to "up and coming" artists. We hope to see (and hear!) you at MiddleGround. Middle Ground Schedule Band Performances - Second Stage FRIDAY Deep Blue Underground 9:30-10:45 p.m. Legusta 11:15-12:30 a.m. SATURDAY Green Sky Bluegrass 10:30-11:45 p.m. Sprout and The Orange 12:15-1:30 a.m. Activities FRIDAY 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wire wrapped stone bead pendants, crocheting, felt purse, juggling (4-6 pm), hacky sac, head wreaths, polarity therapy, hair wraps and acoustic open mic SATURDAY NOON - 3:00 PM Crocheting, felt purse, juggling (4-6 pm), hacky sac, head wreaths, patchwork purse, polarity therapy, tie dye, hemp necklaces and acoustic music open mic SATURDAY 3:00 - 6:00 pm Stonewrap, patchwork purses, hair wraps, henna, juggling, juggling sticks, hacky sac and open mic SUNDAY NOON - 3:00 PM Wire wrapped stone bead pendants, henna, hemp jewelry, juggling, hacky sac, juggle sticks, patchwork purses and acoustic music open mic Honoring MiddleGround's Volunteers Not only do they work hard at Wheatland on festival weekend, our MiddleGround Volunteers (MGVs) also spend many hours preparing for this event. Many MGVs work all year round gathering supplies and materials, meet at members' homes to organize the music, building wooden signs, sewing, or travel to meetings at the cabin at Wheatland. This often entails traveling many hours through snow and ice storms. The majority of our MGVs are college or high school students, some making two trips on Wheatland weekend to take an exam, or rushing to Wheatland on Friday night because they had to play in the band concert at their high school. There are MGVs promoting donations of millet to fill juggling bags, washing and drying tie-dyed T-shirts, or spending hours practicing with their bands to play at Wheatland MiddleGround Dance. In the "middle" of all these activities we have MGVs studying, organizing their careers, raising families, changing jobs, looking for jobs, and giving their extra days and minutes to Wheatland. As you are participating in MiddleGround activities or enjoying the MiddleGround Dance at Wheatland Music Festival this weekend, take the opportunity to look for the MGVs in their tie dyed shirts, and thank them for their efforts. These MGVs are the future of Wheatland, and are practicing the "art of volunteering."

©2005 Wheatland Music Organization

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Middle Ground Archive