JK Lectures
Jim Krenov continues to lecture on a weekly basis. Segments from these lectures will soon be available on our website. We are very grateful for Jim's evolvement with the school. His words continue to inspire a new generation of craftsman.
This week we asked Jim to reflect back on the making of his silver chest. David Welter graciously sent copies of Jim's original drawings this week which were nice to have on hand for the Jim's lecture. As a student and a teacher, I continue to be inspired as he refelcets back on our craft.
Journeyman Program
Jason Klager from Prince George British Columbia teaches Marquetry to this years class. This is Jason's second visit taking part in our Journeyman Program. We are very happy that he plans on making this yearly pilgrimage back to the school. Robert & Yvonne held a Elephants in his honor at their home on Friday. We were joined by students, faculty, alumni, family and friends for a pot luck supper. We are hoping to bring Jason back for the end of the year push for the show and graduation ceremonies. Robert was grateful for the time at his bench.
Jason's Benchroom
Resident Craftsman Program
Dry fit and dialed in cabinet by Doug Ives from Gibsons British Columbia. Doug is finishing off his hinges and will soon begin the dozen or so glue ups of his carcass before changing his focus on the ten drawers, two doors and stand which will feature tapered laminations. In addition to his own work Doug is always willing to assist his fellow students and is a fine ambassador to our craft and our school.
With his veneer and applied edges work nearly complete Resident Craftsman Juan Carlos Fernandez from Caracas Venezuela lays out for his offset compound angled hinges to allow free travel of his doors with minimal extension of the hinge. It has been a real pleasure for me to watch the progress of this innovative craftsman over the past two years. I look forward to his evolvement in a teaching capacity with the school.
Craftsman Program
Ed Tickle from Kamloops British Columbia completed his first piece a while back but decided to hold off and present with Walker, Dan and Paul this week. The table is a based on a table of Rio Rosewood made by JK in 1968. Ed made his out of some very sweet Kwila and attached the top to the base with brass plates which had to be made with mortises milled at forty five degrees to accommodate wood movement. This is Ed's first ever piece of furniture. It's workmanship is at a level of which I am proud to exhibit in our gallery. Ed has a tabletop cabinet underway for his second piece in Shedua, Boxwood and Aframosia. His second piece will incorporate veneer, tapered laminations, dowel construction, pierce carving and hardware.
Erik Copeland from Richmond Hill Ontario has his laminated components out of the forms and has parted out the remaining parts of Red Cabruva. Erik has completed his shop drawings of the joinery for the chair. The chair will be made using multiple live and slip mortise and tenon joinery. The seat and back will be woven of a material yet to be determined perhaps Hickory bark? Erik will enjoy the complexity of the joinery he will soon have underway.
A very focused Matt Hales from London England edge glues his shop sawn Macassar Ebony veneers for the back of his liquor cabinet. Matt had sawn Cedar of Lebanon for the cabinets interior but was unable to make the graphics work. Matt discussed this with visiting craftsman Jason Klager and rather than force the wood they made the decision to go back and look for alternatives. A no compromise approached encouraged at the school. Matt will be looking for wood for his stand over the break and of course spending time with his wife Catherine. Woodworkers really seem to be blessed with supportive life partners.
Walker Savage from Seattle Washington presented his beautiful box of English Brown Oak, Olive, Cedar of Lebanon and silk to the class this week. The above photograph shows the detail of his hand woven silk lid stay dyed in black coffee attached to the carved Olive button on the interior of the box. A opening has been carved out of the tray's side to allow the tray to move against the side of the box. This is the kind of details that brings a smile to my face and gives me that warm fuzzy feeling that our students really get the thoughtful approach to our craft embraced by this school. Walker's presentation echoed his passion of his chosen craft. Walker will be heading down to Seattle over the Break to be with his family. Upon his return he will be making JK's silver chest in Claro Walnut following the break.
Box by Douglas Hagerman from Gibsons British Columbia. Douglas completed his angled offset hinges this past week. Students are required to make their hardware when possible. Many find it a nice side activity. Having spoken to several of our graduates, I am pleased to hear many have continued with this practice. The box features angled and proud dovetails and curved frame and panel lids that will meet in a rebate. The box and frames are of Indian Rosewood and the panels of Tiger Myrtle, a gift from Robert. The bottom panels are of fragrant Red Cabruva. The selection of materials and workmanship of this piece is lovely. Douglas will be taking on a writing desk in Claro Walnut for his next piece. Wood he selected while at Gilmers. Before leaving for break, he will try to get his Claro Walnut parted out and in our dehumidification kiln to condition while he completes the box.
Paul Nielsen from Evergreen Alabama gave one of the most thoughtful presentations done at our school to date. He read quotes from both Jim Krenov and David Pye and presented his beautiful table top cabinet of Doussie, China Berry, Cocobolo, Spanish Cedar and Secupera filled with delightful details to his lovely wife Robyn. Paul has the mockup of his desk complete and has begun the selecting of his material. The desk will be made of Shedua with the stand of English Brown Oak. Paul will be staying on for the summer at which time he will be building a chair for his desk. We are so pleased to have this fine young Craftsman and his wife remain with us for the summer. I very grateful to have the opportunity to work with this fine young man as he begins his journey in our craft.
Daisuke Tanaka from Nishio-shi, Aichi-ken Japan has completed his stand for his box and has begun making his drawers in Kwila and Ash. Daisuke's workmanship is among the best I have seen as a teacher. Daisuke embraces not the neglect of Machine tools but the emphasis of hand tools encouraged at the school. Daisuke's fiance Mia arrives from Japan today for spring break.
Adam Larson from Edmonton Alberta had to get creative when it came to the bent laminations for his chair parts. For shaping purposes, his outside laminations had to be significantly thicker, nearly an inch and would need to conform to an inside radius of less than ten inches. These laminations would require steam bending prior to the lamination process. As the only time Robert has used steam bending in his own work was to straighten out a piece of wood he decided to consult with Ejler Hjorth-Westh and Michael Fortune, craftsman who use steam bending regularly in their own work. It was suggested that we were really pushing the limits of the material, in this case Teak. After several failed attempts, Adam and Robert decided to try kerfing the inside of the lamination prior to steaming, which would eventually be removed in shaping which enabled Adam to successfully make the bend as shown above.
Exceptional joinery and details by Dan Cearley from San Jose California. Dan presented his box of locally harvested and splated Arbutus to the class this past week and has already begun work on a curved showcase cabinet which will feature pierced carving, marquetry and likely a piece or two of handmade hardware. One goal Dan had when he arrived at the school was to cut fine joiery by hand, I think it safe to cross that one off his list. A thoughtful piece by a thoughtful craftsman and man.
Michael Miller from Halfmoon Bay British Columbia cuts some very fine joinery for his drawers. The fronts are Bocote, a gift from Robert and the sides and backs are Ash. Michael will be completing this piece in the coming weeks and has already dialed in the mockup of a chair which he intends to make of Bubinga. Michael in addition to some Black Limba, Swiss Pear and Mesquite selected two tremendous planks of Bubinga while at Gilmers in November of which he also needs a stand for the desk he will build following the chair. It is a joy to watch Michael at his bench and in his life.
In addition to demonstrating the resawing of large timbers by hand, Craftsman & Teacher Ian Godfrey has been dialing in our machines which have seen a lot of use with the breaking out of material for second pieces.
With Jason Klager taking part in our Journeyman Program, Resident Craftsman & Teacher Robert Van Norman had the opportunity to work on his chair for a few days this past week. It also gave Robert the opportunity to reflect back on has passion for his craft.
Following spring break Robert will extend his teaching to five mornings a week and will work and be available at his bench in the afternoons, a schedule that will ensure the needs of our students and the schools faculty are met. Robert has always envisioned a working school, where students have the opportunity to observe the teachers in thier work.
Candid
Daisuke takes his turn at the Nastiest job at the school
Ed winds up Michael for the morning
Alumni
Our Annual Student Alumni & Faculty Show will once again take place at the James & Britta Krenov Gallery and Gallery Five located just across the courtyard on May 9th 2008 at 7pm. If you have any new work you would like to present for this event please contact Robert at the school.
We are in the process of setting up websites for each of our Craftsman Program alumni. Please forward any images or text you would like included on your web page including a biography to yvonne@insidepassage.ca.
Artisan & Craftsman for Programs 2008
There is limited space available in our Artisan Programs. If you would you would like more information or would like to register call Yvonne toll free at 1.877.943.9663. Alternatively registrations may be faxed to 1.604.885.9711.
We have confirmed our first-year students for the 2008-2009 Craftsman Program. The group consists of men and women from Japan, Ireland, Columbia, United States & Canada. We are currently accepting applications for the 2009-2010 Craftsman Program.
Guest Faculty Programs
As you may have noticed, with our Craftsman and Artisan Programs enjoying increasing popularity and after careful consideration we have cancelled our guest faculty programs for 2008. We have decided to reevaluate these programs for 2009. This summer, we will use these two weeks to make renovations and improvements to the school and gallery. We also hope to get away camping with our family and enjoy this incredible place in which we live.
Updates
Accreditation and website updates are still underway. Thank you for your patience. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our students past and present for their support, this school not only exists for you but because of you. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Ian Godfrey and Gary Kent our part time teachers for their assistance and of course Yvonne for keeping the school and our family on course.
Warmest Regards,
Robert