Tom Kealy & Yuri Kobayashi
September 23 – October 4
This course is for woodworkers who want to explore designing and working adventurously with curved work. Each student comes prepared with sketches for a project—such as a small table, music stand, cabinet, or sculpture—that they develop during the course. More complex projects can be started but may be completed at home. The primary goal is to instil confidence in tackling curved projects!
Through lecture and demonstration, Tom and Yuri share their extensive knowledge of laminate bending, steam bending, and other techniques such as kerf bending, stack lamination and coopering, all of which may be achieved with straightforward equipment that is readily available. Topics include designing for curves, choosing the right bending techniques for work in solid wood and veneer, building forms, and working with vacuum bag technology and other clamping strategies. Evaluating joinery options for curved components will also be covered.
Tom Kealy designs and makes contemporary furniture to commission from his workshop in Somerset, England. He graduated from Parnham College in 1979 and worked as senior craftsman in the John Makepeace workshops for over ten years. Tom teaches at West Dean College in Sussex, and offers weekly classes at his own workshop. His website is tomkealy.com.
Yuri Kobayashi is a furniture maker and sculptor based in Rockport, Maine. Born in Japan, she earned a B.A. in architectural design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo and then a certificate in woodworking from Shinrin Takumi Juku in Takayama City. Yuri holds an M.F.A. in furniture design from San Diego State University, where she studied under Wendy Murayama and taught at the Rhode Island School of Design for over a decade. In addition to teaching, Yuri exhibits nationally and has been awarded competitive residencies, grants, and fellowships, including Windgate Artist-in-Residencies at SUNY Purchase, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Arizona State University Art Museum. For the last ten years, Yuri has been an instructor and studio fellow at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, where she continues to produce her work, from abstract sculpture to functional pieces of furniture. Yuri’s website is yurikobayashi.com.
Open to intermediate and more advanced woodworkers.
