Yearly Archives for 2012
Wasting Time
When we began walkarounds this year I asked the students each week to read a chapter from Jim’s books and reflect on what it meant to them in their work. This past week we reflected on Composing – Another Approach to Design from The Impractical Cabinetmaker, which incidentally is one of my personal favorites. I remember reading it for the first time and feeling as though a weight had being lifted from my shoulders, as if I had been given permission to take a sensitive and impractical approach to my work. The following is passage was referenced by more than one of my students.
“As long as it feels right and you enjoy it, you should believe in what you are doing. Don’t let yourself be sidetracked by doubtful onlookers, people who say, “That’s not exciting, you don’t know where you’re going with all those pick and pock details. You’re wasting your time.” At such moments, know yourself, remember you are feeling good working this way. Maybe it’s a nice way to “waste” time…” – James Krenov More »
February 26, 2012
It has been a very busy time at the school. We have had several presentations including Raul’s chair, which he completed last month. He and his classmates have moved onto the passage and opus exercises.
Seven of our students joined Mary Boulding and myself on a two-day backcountry ski trip to Edwards cabin in the Tetrahedron Provincial Park. The journey began with a five-hour ski that took us through the less traveled Gilbert Lake route. We were fortunate to have Mary, Natasha and Reynold from the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club guide us through to the Edwards Cabin approximately seven kilometers from the parking lot. The route was a challenging one, but the reward, pristine wilderness and serinity. Once at the hut, Marty made a snow cave, in which he slept in and we all enjoyed a good meal. As we ate and sat around the fire we talked about the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of the day, something we coincidentally talk about at the school during walkarounds. More »
February 2, 2012
It has been some time since I have had the opportunity to sit down and write. Our Craftsman program students are in the process of completing their Upward Spiral exercise and many have begun the wood selection and breakout for the Passage exercise. Our Resident Craftsman program students are completing their chairs and have begun the mockup and working drawings for the Opus exercise. The school continues to keep me very busy however; I do enjoy my Sundays in my little shop, a time for which I am most grateful.
Teaching Assistant
Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is delighted to announce Melissa Moure Evans, shown above during the wrapping of her chair seat, as our new teaching assistant beginning fall 2012. Melissa is a two year graduate of the program. She possesses fine skills as a craftsman and equally fine people skills. Her woodworking education thus far has been entirely Krenovian influenced; More »
About the Journal RSS
Welcome to Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking's Journal, celebrating the work of our students, alumni and faculty.
Robert Van Norman
