Happy Veterans Day! Our Turning Intensive, Furniture Intensive, and Nine-month Comprehensive programs are approved for the use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits.
Here are our veterans currently on campus, along with Student Services Manager Dorrie Higbee. As the school's VA Certifying Official, Dorrie says, “It is an honor and privilege to work with all of our Veterans to facilitate their enrollment at the Center.”
The Curvature Workshop was a two week intermediate/advanced course for students interested in incorporating curvilinear designs in their woodworking. Instructors Tim Rousseau and Tom Kealy covered laminate bending, steam bending, coopering, and other techniques used to create curved lines and volumes in wood.
During the one week Lighting Workshop, instructor Julie Morringello led students through a series of exercises using unconventional materials, building models and prototypes for one-of-a-kind lighting. The course balanced sculptural investigation with concrete technical information about wiring and marketing. See more of Julie's work on her website here.
In the Bow-Back Windsor Chair Workshop, students enjoyed shaping their chair components with hand tools out in the fresh air.
This week, British carver Chris Pye is teaching on campus for the 20th consecutive year. In that time he has written six well-regarded books, carved numerous commissions and trophies, been elected a member of the Master Carvers Association, and founded an educational website. Pictured above is Chris with his current student Amy, who took a carving course with Chris 15 years ago here at the school.
The end of the summer Furniture Intensive is always a little tough to accept. The sun is bright, and folks sigh with relief as they enter the air-conditioned workshop from the hot outdoors. And so, if it weren't for the students packing up their cars and hugging goodbye, it would be easy for us to trick ourselves into believing that summer will never end. Alas, the bubblewrap and farewells remind us that in the next few weeks the nights will start earlier and feel cooler.
Before they depart, the students show off their work, and have the chance to discuss their experiences with the staff as well as friends and family. Many of the Furniture Intensive students come into the program with little or no woodworking experience, and yet they never fail to astonish us with their skill and creativity.
Furniture Intensive instructor Brian Reid is in the fellowship this month working on a piece which will be shown at The Gallery at Somes Sound this fall. The show will feature Brain's work alongside that of his woodworking students from the Maine Prison Program. Brian's project is being funded by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission.
