It has been a busy few months in the Fellowship since our last update in April. The summer is always a busy time in the Fellowship, and the long hours of sunlight seem to translate into long work hours. Since April, the program has seen a number of CFC alumni pass through, as well as Center instructors.

Furniture Intensive assistant Adam Howell shows off his essentials: ear protection, notepad, and (empty) cup of coffee. Our hardworking assistants are often graduates of our Furniture Comprehensive and Furniture Intensive courses, and their positions on campus give them the opportunity to share the skills they have with current students, as well as develop new ones. From changing a bandsaw blade to making a dovetailing jig to teaching an out-of-towner the best way to crack a lobster tail, the workday of an assistant is endlessly varied.

With our workshop season swinging into full gear this week, campus is bustling with new students and visitors and activities, like our weekly potlucks and faculty slideshows. With so much happening this time of year it may be easy to overlook how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep the workshops humming. This blog post is dedicated to our highly skilled and hardworking facilities staff, who go above and beyond all year long to keep the shops tidy, the machines running smoothly, and the buildings and grounds looking their finest.

The Messler Gallery hosts four exhibits a year, and our student show is always one of the most anticipated among students and staff. There is usually a flurry of activity in the workshops in the weeks prior to the show, as students strive to get their pieces gallery-ready.

Our Nine-Month Comprehensive students have just returned from CraftBoston Spring, where they exhibited their work alongside that of nearly 90 other craftspeople.

Our Studio Fellowship provides up to six emerging and established furniture makers with the opportunity to explore new directions in their work. Fellows share the 5,400 square foot Jackson Building, which includes a bench room and full machine room. Often participants are graduates of our Nine-month Comprehensive and Furniture Intensive programs, and occasionally instructors will extend their stay on campus to explore their own work.