November 2023 Newsletter
Cheril Barber
Welcome to our latest newsletter – just a quick catch up of what’s been happening here in the workshop – quite a lot actually....so many positive things happening in the world of fine woodworking....
2023 EXHIBITION
Coming soon is our stunning exhibition of work by the students graduating from the 2023 Furniture Makers’ Programme – a wonderful cause for a big celebration.
This is being hosted by Parker Gallery here in Nelson, and gives the students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their work in a highly respected commercial gallery.
A huge shout out to all of the students who have worked so hard over the last 32 weeks and created a collection of beautiful pieces.
Big thanks too to everyone involved in delivering this world class programme. Check it out.
Last orders for anyone who is still thinking about applying for the 2024 Furniture Makers’ Programme – full details are here. You know you want to!
Australian Wood Review - Maker of the Year
Congratulations to our two past students Natasha Courtney and Ben Tindall, and also our new tutor Lloyd Brook who were all shortlisted in the Top 100 pieces in this huge international competition.
Will Bayliss (who was the recipient of our 2020 Scholarship to attend the Michael Fortune residency programme and will be back here for the next residency as an assistant) took first place in the Art & Object Category with his Wilcannia cabinet. Fantastic news – so proud of you all.
Wood Review’s Maker of the Year is an international, unique and respected platform for elevating and highlighting contemporary finely designed and crafted works in wood.
Grab a cuppa and sit down and look at all the amazing work that is being created from all over the world.
‘Embrace’ Cabinet
Maple, Silver Beech, European Beech by Ben Tindall
Hot off the press with a new course.
We are delighted to have John Shaw who founded the school back in 2006 come along and teach this wonderful course with David Fleming from the US and Lachlan Park from NSW. John and David together were both students of James Krenov at the College of the Redwoods and Lachlan is a graduate of our full time programme in 2009. All three have made a career out of their passion for fine woodworking and furniture making,
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to come and make yourself a couple of beautiful planes and a setting hammer. Full details are here.
Making and using Wooden Planes
A 5-day deep dive into wooden planes
How to make and tune them and apply them to your practice as a craftsperson.
Tutors: John Shaw, David Fleming & Lachlan Park
These simple tools made popular by legendary woodworker James Krenov , whilst uncomplicated in their construction, offer infinite possibilities awaiting within these lovely tools.
From a palm size block plane to a curved sole or high angle scraping plane, these planes are not just any plane, but a tool made by you for you - a tool with personality, uniquely crafted for your work.
Gift Vouchers
THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO BUY YOUR LOVED ONES FOR CHRISTMAS?
Why not take the guess work out of giving and let your friends and family choose the creative experience that suits them best in the workshop? You can purchase a personalised gift voucher for any amount you want to nominate which can then be used towards a short course.
Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months. Get in touch here to organise a gift voucher.
Speaking of Exhibitions......
For anyone who is in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland between 1st December – 3rd March you absolutely mustn’t miss this wonderful exhibition at ObjectSpace in Ponsonby.
The Chair: A story of design and making in Aotearoa, curated by Kim Paton.
108 chairs, 170 years, 81 designers and makers, 13 of them unknown.
The premise of this exhibition is simple. One object type – the chair – explored from the earliest documented period of local production through to today.
It goes without saying that David Haig will have work in the exhibition, as will founder of our school, John Shaw. Past students Josephine Jelicich and Ted Synott each have a chair too.
We will have one last newsletter before we kiss goodbye to 2023 – sharing some photos of the graduate student work and an end of the year update.
Always keen to hear from you about your projects, what’s happening in your workshop or if you have any comments or ideas about what we do or could do!
Best wishes from us all here.