Welcome to the final publication of Benchroom this Week for the Craftsman Program 2007-2008. I would like to take the opportunity to thank each of our students, this school not only exists for you but because of you. A special thank you to Jim and Britta Krenov for facilitating our weekly talks. Jim's words continue to inspire all of us at the school. Our teachers, Ian Godfrey and Gary Kent. Finally, my soul mate Yvonne for keeping the school and our family on course. Benchroom this week will resume on Friday May 23, 2008 following the first week of the Artisan Program.
Warmest Regards,
Robert
New Student Work
A lovely box by Douglas Hagerman of Gibsons British Columbia. The box is made of Indian rosewood, tiger myrtle, red cabruva and makore and features proud and angled dovetails, curved frame and panel lids, bent laminations and shop made hinges.
Michael Miller of Halfmoon Bay British Columbia made this wall cabinet from teak, olive, bocote, London plane and Port Orford cedar. Michael made all the hardware for this piece including the hinges and wall hangers.
Box made by Daisuke Tanaka from Nishio-shi, Aichi-ken Japan. The box is made of curly ash, spalted beech, kwila, silk and brass. The workmanship of this piece is exquisite.
Upcoming Show
If you would like to attend and require accommodation please visit the Bed and Breakfast page on our website.
JK Lectures
Jim will deliver his Farewell Address to this years class on Friday May 9th at 2pm. From all of us at Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jim and his wife Britta for facilitating our weekly talks. Jim will continue his weekly talks during the Artisan Programs. We will be attempting to upload exerts from Jim's lectures over the coming months. Thank you for your on going patience
Journeyman Program
Craftsman Program alumni Jacques Breau from Blackland New Brunswick will be joining us to assist with final week of this years program. We are delighted to have this fine young craftsman join us at a very busy time at the school. After a busy fall of commission work, Jacques recently spent a month with alumni Jason Klager in his shop located just outside of Prince George British Columbia where he has begun a speculative wall cabinet. While it will not be ready for the show, it will soon be posted on the Jacques Breau alumni web page.
Class of 2007-2008
back row from left - Ed, Erik, Paul, Robert & Michael
middle row from left - Yvonne, Gary, Doug, Douglas, Dan & Ian
front row from left - Adam, Daisuke, Juan Carlos, Matt & Walker
foreground - Indy & Chi Chi
Resident Craftsman Program
Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking ambassador of fine karma, Doug Ives from Gibsons British Columbia. Doug has really taken on a leadership role this year and we are very grateful for Doug's ongoing evolvement with the school. I fine craftsman and a warm and gentle person. Doug will be staying on at the school for an indefient period of time. Doug is dialing the legs and composing the upper laminated arches of his stand as I write.
Juan Carlos Fernandez from Caracas Venezuela will be taking part in our resident Journeyman Program for the Artisan Program before taking on the role as Resident Craftsman & Teacher this fall. Our school is delighted to have such a fine young craftsman join our teaching staff. Juan's compound curved cabinet of redwood burl shop sawn veneered parquetry patern really is an exceptional piece, one of many to come. With the doors of his cabinet fit, Juan Carlos has moved onto the stand.
Craftsman Program
Ed Tickle from Kamloops British Columbia received some assistance from resident craftsman Juan Carlos with the fret work of his Islamic inspired panel which will be carved and receive a lip to be placed into a frame with laminated frame members. Ed has been a real delight at the school. The progress he has made since arriving at the school is incredible. Ed will be returning to Kamloops and begin putting his shop together. Robert is looking forward to heading out for a shop setting up visit sometime this summer.
Erik Copeland from Richmond Hill Ontario cuts the shoulders for a compound angled live tenon on the bandsaw. Robert used this method for many years for chair work. It requires less jigging up than a table saw and with a fine blade it needs only minor tuning with a chisel and file. Erik and his wife Erika will be returning to Ontario where Erik intends to work for another furniture maker while setting up a shop.
Liquor cabinet by Matt Hales from London England. The carcass is Macassar ebony with an apple interior. The jatoba stand is under way and will be doweled between each of the three cabinets. Matt intends to work for a furniture maker in Vancouver before he opens his own shop. Matt and his partner Catherine intend to move to the Sunshine Coast in the new year.
Walker Savage from Seattle Washington had to leave the program a few weeks early but will be returning for our second Artisan Program and will be assisting for the first week of next years Craftsman Program. Sweet man and fine craftsman.
Douglas Hagerman from Gibsons British Columbia read from Robert Frost when he presented his box to the class last month. Since moving onto his second piece he has been riding a train of enthusiasm and is expected to complete his sculpture stand in time for the show. As I write this Doug Ives and visiting journeyman Jacques Breau are assisting Douglas with the assembly of this fine piece made of Claro walnut and London Plane. Douglas will remain on the coast and will be setting up shop in Gibsons.
Paul Nielsen from Evergreen Alabama has taken advantage of the many hour available to him taking on a very ambitious piece. The fly tying desk incorporates a stand of English brown oak with top and gallery of shop sawn shedua veneer. Paul is staying on for the first Artisan Program to complete the piece. Paul and his lovely wife Robyn will be returning home to Alabama where Paul intends to set up his shop. A very talented young man with a promising career ahead of him. Both Paul and Robyn's parents and friends made the trip from Alabama for the show.
Daisuke Tanaka from Nishio-shi, Aichi-ken Japan uses some rather complex joinery on his stool of eastern maple. It has been a real pleasure watching this fine young craftsman develop. We are very grateful that Daisuke will be joining us for a second year of study. I enjoy watching Daisuke work, it's nice to teach someone who reaches first for a hand tool that can effectively and yes, efficiently complete the task. He enjoys his work and it shows.
Adam Larson from Edmonton Alberta uses a tapered block to support his rail as he cuts the mortises for floating tenons. Adam hopes to return this fall and take part in the Journeyman Program. A fine craftsman and an even finer person. He, his wife Jodie and daughter Franka will all be dearly missed at this school. Adam has really embraced the philosophy taught here at the school.
Dan Cearley from San Jose California has spent the last two weeks of the program making lofting ducks. He carved three different styles and sizes and made the forms of plaster of paris. The lead used was recycled from the local tire shop. The ducks were then fitted with hooks made from braising rod. Dan's abilities as a craftsman extend well beyond woodworking. We look forward to Dan's return in Journeyman Program.
Michael Miller from Halfmoon Bay British Columbia with a dry run of back of his bubinga chair. I will miss Michael on Monday morning. His long bouncy stride and big smile coming through the back door quarter to seven each morning for the last nine months. Mostly, I will miss our talks and his passion for this craft. We are grateful that Michael will be joining us in the spring of 2009 when he returns for the Resident Journeyman Program.
Faculty
Detail of pull by Craftsman & Teacher Ian Godfrey. This pull is attached to Ian's side board featured in Fine Woodworking magazine last fall. The cabinet has since been sold and will be heading to Germany this fall. Don't miss the opportunity to see this exceptional piece proudly exhibited in our annual student alumni and faculty show.
Relief Craftsman & Teacher Gary Kent arranged a tour of Bradley Hunt and son's commission in Roberts Creek. Incredible work by three very fine craftsman. It is a joy to watch this fine father and son team work. A special thankyou for Gary for filling in the gaps this year.
Resident Craftsman & Teacher Robert Van Norman demonstrated the joinery he used in entrance doors early on in his career. On Friday Robert will demonstrate upholstery, rounding out the years lectures.
Candid
Two very sweet men.
Facility
Craftsman Alumni Bruce Rigby, recently installed an eight foot full spectrum light above the kiln and press table. Make the need for flashlights almost obsolete.
Alumni
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 -2009
There is limited space available in our Artisan Programs for 2008. 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.
We have recently posted our Artisan Program dates for 2009.
New Program
Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking is pleased to announce the addition of a new program at the school. The Resident Artisan Program picks up where the Artisan Program leaves off allowing graduates of our Artisan Program the opportunity to return to the school and for the designing and making of a fine piece of furniture under the direction of Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking Faculty and Resident Craftsman.
The Resident Artisan Program provides a great opportunity to refine existing skills and develop new skills in a relaxed and creative environment conducive to doing fine work.
There is limited space in this program. Currently the first session is full and we are accepting registrations for the second session which runs from July 14th to August 22nd 2008. If you would like more information about this program contact Yvonne at 1.877.943.9663 and arrange for an initial consultation with our Program Director.