Broom Maker's Gathering Called SweepIn

Clean Sweep scheduled for Historic Broom Making Event

You'll see more brooms than you can shake a ...er... broomstick at

The Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View Arkansas will be the site of a historic gathering of craftspeople honoring the centuries old skill of broom making on Friday, April 23 through Saturday April 25, 2010.

The gathering, a first of it’s kind, has been named the “SweepIn” and will feature some of the most recognized Broom Squires in the United States.

“A lot of well known broom makers have signed up to be a part of this event. They’re bringing broom making styles, stories, and equipment from all over the United States and Canada,” says Shawn Hoefer, artist and broom squire. “Much of the SweepIn will be open to the visitors to the Ozark Folk Center, too. Once people enter the crafts village at the Ozark Folk Center they can view the demonstrations, look at the displays, participate in the talks and even take a class or two. There are some additional fees for some of the classes, though.”

Some of the activities in the works include learning how to make small hand brooms or a traditional round hearth broom, discuss the materials used in broommaking, see demonstrations of the dying of broomcorn, and watch demonstrations of fancy stitching and the creation of one-of-a-kind art brooms.

“Among some of the educational events,”, says Hoefer with a smile, “There will be someone there demonstrating the proper use of brooms… which does not involve straddling or flying!”

Information on the historic event or registration procedures can be obtained by emailing Shawn Hoefer at shawnhoefer@gmail.com.

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