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Can of worms! Education

R

Ricc Havens

Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
354
Likes
338
Location
Elkhart, IN
Website
www.riccsdesigns.com
Just like everyone has opinions on CA glue brands or bowl gouge grind angle I'm going to opent he can of worms on education.

Last December I applied for AAW's Educational Opportunity Grant. They are awarded at the first of the year. Due to unforeseen circumstances (thanks gmail! spam controls) I was not aware I was awarded a EOG grant until I just got a phone call wanting to know if I was going to sign the paperwork and send it back or if I was no longer interested since it had been so long. Of course I'm still interested!! Normally they like a report by the end of September how the Grant money was used. I told them that most of the educational programs are winding down by now and are limited or are sold out. They graciously extended the use of the grant through 2019.

So here's the can of worms - (looking for hands-on not symposium type seminars) - any recommendations, opinions (both good or bad) about places and/or classes at Marc Adams School of Woodworking, John C. Campbell Folk School, Arrowmont, or any I may not know of, etc.

I consider myself an intermediate turner. Have done a lot of basic & nat edge bowls, stoppers, birdhouse ornaments, pens, a few basic hollow forms, etc. Looking to expand my capabilities maybe into box & finial turning, learning to segment, or other more artsy things.

Thanks
Ricc Havens
Elkhart, IN
 
I would suggest looking up the available classes for Marc Adams and Arrowmont online. I believe the available classes are all listed there with at least brief descriptions. I have not taken turning classes from Marc Adams but have taken other classes there and know that Marc Adams brings in some of the best craftsman and artists around to teach these classes; all hands-on. Also, you might look at David Marks' website. He offers a 5-day turning class for students of all levels in early October (djmarks.com). As far as I can tell there are still openings in that class. David is an amazing artist and teacher. I have not taken one of his turning classes, but have met and talked with him at Marc Adams when he was still teaching there once in awhile. A class from David would be well worth it I'm sure.
 
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FWIW, Arrowmont is in Gatlinburg, TN which is at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It's an excellent school with the bonus of some of the southeast's greatest natural wonders. The Smokies are one of the most diverse biospheres in the country. JMHO.
 
Congratulations.

First decide what you want to learn. I think it is more important to pick the subject and/or the instructor than the craft school.
Focus on what you want to learn - How to xxxxx or who you want to learn from. Scan the advertisements in the back of the AAW Journal.
Then get the catalogs for the craft schools Cambell, Arrowmont, Marc Adams. Etc. Anderson Ranch in Colorado is probably too far away.
Consider a class in the studio of David Ellsworth, Trent Bosch, Johannes Michelson, Jimmy Clewes, Rudy Lopez etc.

Many of the woodturning instructors rotate through the craft schools doing one or two each year. If you want a class with Al Stirt he will likely be at one of those craft schools and unlikely to be at two in the same year. Rudy Lopez told me he was asked to teach at Marc Adams I’m guessing that will be at least a year out. I know he is at Cambell soon and I think Arrowmont later.

The classes in the studios have more individual attention and customized programs because of the small class sizes of 4 or so. The craft school classes run 10-14 but there is an assistant instructor that is usually a super added benefit. The interaction with other students and other classes at the craft schools is a plus.

For Boxes & finials look for Cindy Drozda,
jimmy Clewes does a variety of boxes
 
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Remote seminars and learning has great potential, when you add the potential of the student to use a video camera at his location to provide feed-back to the instructor for each of the students participating in a remote class or seminar. The company I work for has about 300,000 employees world wide and remote meetings, seminars and training is becoming more of the standard practice. We have a number of media rooms set up in strategic areas to provide facilities that are set up with video and audio equipment for various sized meetings and training. With a video camera set-up on the students lathe the instructor could easily critic the students tool technique and methods and carry on a 2-way conversation.
 
Congratulations!! When I was nominated by my club, I was checking my email hourly... I was given a scholarship and chose Arrowmont. First class place! Great shop, amazing food, good company, all in all the experience of a lifetime. Highly recommended. Best of luck.
 
Paul M. Kaplowitz said:
a weekend with David Ellsworth. He taught me more in three days than I could have learned by myself in 10 years
Click to expand...
True for me too!
I had the good fortune to have Maryland Hall for the creative Arts nearby.
Took a week long class with Liam O’Neil 24 years ago and a week long class with David Ellsworth the next year.

I was self taught and doing okay on the small stuff. My skill with the gouge took a giant leap. The intangibles about wood, esthetics, philosophy, and my own goals&direction was perhaps more important.

In the past few years David did a couple of classes in my shop where I got to be the gofor and assist a little. A terrific teacher. Great person.

I have had countless rewarding experiences in wood turning - most of them are because I left David’s class being able use the gouge better than most. With years of practice I got a little bit better.
 
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Hi Ric,
I'm one of the 2 Lathe Room assistants at Marc Adams School of Woodworking. I agree with the already given advise of finding an instructor who is offering what you are wanting to learn. I'll not advocate for our school over another, as I feel ANY quality education is better than none. (BUT, I am a lil' biased toward MASW...) MASW has a very rich website, FB and Insta pages, too. After you do your 'due diligence' and have any questions, I'd be happy to chat with you regarding any questions, concerns, etc. you still may have. Contact the school, and I'll get back to ya. Or continue the chat here. Best of all good things turning your way!
 
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