Wood

Wood Workshops at Penland

Penland offers intensive workshops of varying lengths, taught by visiting instructors in our well-equipped studios. Class topics include furniture design and construction, wood sculpture, joinery, boat building, wooden instruments, wood carving, and more. Workshops are open to serious students of all levels unless specified in course description; beginners welcome.

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  • Please read this note about our session schedules.
Wood Spring Concentration
March 3 – April 26, 2024 (8 Weeks)
Ellie Richards
Freeform Furniture

Using furniture and functionality as our muse, this workshop will use traditional techniques to create compelling and imaginative objects that communicate ideas and feelings beyond their utility. We’ll cover traditional methods of processing, joining, bending, and carving wood to make sculptural furniture forms. A variety of surface explorations and wood finishes will be presented, and the use of alternative materials (leather, cork, felt) along with high-quality hardware will be encouraged. Through a cycle of playing and building, students will strengthen their voice while working to question convention, break free of archetypes, and explore the abstract. By the end of the session, Freeform Furniture will take on a shape all its own. All levels. 

Studio artist; teaching: Yestermorrow (VT), Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Haystack (ME), Penland; residencies: Center for Art in Wood (ME), San Diego State University (CA), University of Wisconsin-Madison, former Penland Resident Artist; exhibitions: Mint Museum (NC), Center for Craft (NC), SOFA Chicago, Society of Contemporary Craft (Pittsburgh).

ellie-richards.com | @ellieinthewoods

Ellie Richards, New Heights, chainsaw sculpted, polychromed red oak, shellac, 48 x 44 x 24 inches
Ellie Richards, New Heights, chainsaw sculpted, polychromed red oak, shellac, 48 x 44 x 24 inches
Ellie Richards, Wishbone Bench V, sawmill offcut spalted maple, milk paint, 18 x 36 x 12 inches
Ellie Richards, Wishbone Bench V, sawmill offcut spalted maple, milk paint, 18 x 36 x 12 inches
Wood – Spring Short Session
April 28 – May 3, 2024 (4 studio days)
J. Bud Smith
Woodcarving: A Cherokee Perspective

During this workshop students will learn the unique characteristics of the Cherokee style of carving, including technical, historical, and cultural information. We’ll cover safety; basic chisel, knife, and finishing techniques; Cherokee stylistic techniques; and the fundamentals of creating a wood sculpture from start to finish. The workshop will also include introductions to Cherokee carvers throughout history, giving students an understanding of the evolution of Cherokee woodcarving from meeting the utilitarian needs of the past to becoming a contemporary art form. All levels.

Studio artist and educator; teaching: Oakland City University (IN), Museum of the Cherokee Indian (NC), and at the high school level; exhibitions: Santa Fe Indian Market (NM), Heard Museum (AZ), Eiteljorg Museum (IN), Red Earth Show (OK), Cherokee Art Market (OK); member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 

jbudart.com 

J. Bud Smith, The Kiss, buckeye, walnut, 30 x 8 inches
J. Bud Smith, The Kiss, buckeye, walnut, 30 x 8 inches
WOOD – SUMMER SESSION 1
May 26-31, 2024 (4 STUDIO DAYS)
Sarah Reagan
Can You Handle This?

This engaging, beginner-level workshop will teach you how to breathe new life into forgotten and cast-aside tools. Using a skillful blend of machinery and hand tools, we will use transformative techniques like joinery and bent lamination to turn everyday tools into eccentrically “useless” marvels or to restore their original function. Other topics will include milling, shaping, sanding, and finishing. Step-by-step demonstrations will guide you as you unlock your potential to create unique and expressive pieces. Join us for this transformative and hands-on experience bringing together alternative design, sculpture, and woodworking. Beginning level. 

Studio artist; teaching: Arrowmont (TN), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Commonwealth University; residencies/fellowships: The Wassaic Project (NY), Anderson Ranch (CO); exhibitions: Messler Gallery (ME), Coletivo Corrente de Ar (Lisbon), City College Art Gallery (San Diego), Studio Two Three (Richmond), Minneapolis International Airport.

sarahreaganstudio.com | @ahorasarah
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Sarah Reagan, Nail Biter, hickory, steel, found bent nail, 16 x 4 x 2 inches
Sarah Reagan, Nail Biter, hickory, steel, found bent nail, 16 x 4 x 2 inches
WOOD – SUMMER SESSION 2
June 2-14, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Chelsea Witt
Table or Not, Here We Come

Tables are usually built for the purpose of holding other objects. In this unconventional furniture-making workshop, we will explore what a table can become if we separate it from its functional expectations. We will cover the basics of woodworking, traditional joinery techniques, and foundational machine skills while expanding creative sculptural and conceptual ideas. Students will focus on smaller-scale tables such as pedestal, entryway, or night stand. Come play, learn, and explore how you can use this everyday object to tell a story that goes beyond function. This workshop will be a welcoming environment for beginning to advanced furniture makers. All levels.

Furniture maker, educator, community organizer; education chair with the Chair Maker’s Toolbox; teaching: Moorestown Friends School (NJ), Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (ME), Pocosin Arts (NC), Peters Valley (NJ), Port Townsend (WA), Haystack (ME), Center for Maine Contemporary Art (ME), Penland; exhibitions: Centre Gallery (FL), Messler Gallery (ME).

chelseacarinawitt.com | @littleforestswontdo
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Chelsea Witt, Pedestals, spalted maple, oxidized Douglas fir, milk paint, soap finish, 36 x 12 x 12 inches
Chelsea Witt, Pedestals, spalted maple, oxidized Douglas fir, milk paint, soap finish, 36 x 12 x 12 inches
WOOD – SUMMER SESSION 3
June 16-28, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Matthew Hebert
Digital Carving in Wood

This workshop will introduce the exciting potential of carving and shaping wood using a CNC router. We will start with the basics of 3D modeling and quickly develop designs for small sculptures or vessels that will be carved from wooden blanks. We will work with Rhino software and Penland’s Shopbot. After the CNC process is done, there will be time to explore finishes such as painting, patina, burning, etc. Demonstrations and discussions will cover contemporary techniques of digital design and manufacture ranging from surface modeling to photogrammetry (creating 3D meshes through photography). These processes can be useful for a range of materials and studio practices. All levels. 

NOTE: Students in this workshop should bring a laptop computer if they can. If you are enrolled and cannot bring a computer, please contact Nadia Massoud at studio_operations@penland.org.

Associate professor at San Diego State University (CA); residencies: Emma International Collaboration (Canada), Artifact Gallery University of California, San Diego (CA); exhibitions: Athenaeum Music and Arts Library (CA), Mingei International Museum (CA), Blue Spiral 1 (NC), Wayne Art Center (PA); collections: City of San Diego (CA), Athenaeum Music and Arts Library (CA). 

eleetwarez.net | @eleetwarez
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Matthew Hebert, Functional Abject: Atlanta Bowl, wood, steel, spray paint, 24 x 24 x 2 inches
Matthew Hebert, Functional Abject: Atlanta Bowl, wood, steel, spray paint, 24 x 24 x 2 inches
PHOTO/MIXED MEDIA – SUMMER SESSION 4
June 30-July 12, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Sally Van Gorder
Photographing Your Work: Documentation for Artists

Photographic records are essential to every art practice. They can describe a work, provide an exhibition view, supply installation instructions, ensure accurate color for print reproduction, or communicate the character of a practice.They can also express an aesthetic and convey a narrative. This workshop considers the many contexts in which these images are made and used. We will work digitally and explore the technical requirements for quality pictures. Demonstrations will cover camera control, natural and artificial lighting, and post-production workflows, including color correction, retouching, file output, and storage. We will cover everything you need to get the best images of your work from the conditions and equipment you’re working with, whether you have a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or cell phone. This workshop is for any art/craft practitioner wanting to photograph their work. All levels. Photography studio.

Professor at North Carolina State University; other teaching: Virginia Commonwealth University (Qatar), Oregon College of Art and Craft, Pacific Northwest College of Art (OR); residencies: Brightwork Fellow at Anchorlight (NC); exhibitions: North Carolina Museum of Art, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (NC), Contemporary Art Museum (NC).

sallyvangorder.com | @sallyvangorder
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Sally Van Gorder, Setup for Precious Lovell documentation
Sally Van Gorder, Setup for Precious Lovell documentation
Sally Van Gorder, Setup for Precious Lovell documentation Precious Lovell, WangariMaathai, photograph by Sally Van Gorder
Precious Lovell, WangariMaathai, photograph by Sally Van Gorder
WOOD – SUMMER SESSION 4
June 30-July 12, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Osamu Sassa
Reimagining the Everyday

Taking a fresh look at objects from our everyday experience is a great way to explore new designs in wood. This workshop will challenge students to think outside the box and reimagine a familiar object. Individual instruction will help students refine their design and determine the best approach to bringing their newly envisioned everyday object to life. Topics covered will include the use of full-scale drawings, templates, and jigs. We will emphasize simple and elegant solutions that can be executed within the timeframe of the workshop. At the end of the session, each student will have a working prototype of their unique design. Intermediate/advanced level: students should have a general knowledge of woodshop machinery, including milling parts from rough lumber. 

Designer/maker with MUtsukuri (ME); teaching: Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (ME); residencies/fellowships: Haystack Open Studio Residency (ME), Penland Winter Residency, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship Fellowship (ME); exhibitions: Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (ME).

mutsukuri.com | @mu_tsukuri
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Osamu Sassa, Brush and Pan (collaboration with Aled Lewis), ash, brushed copper, waxed finish, 10-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 1-1/4 inches
Osamu Sassa, Brush and Pan (collaboration with Aled Lewis), ash, brushed copper, waxed finish, 10-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 1-1/4 inches
WOOD – SUMMER SESSION 5
July 14-26, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Robell Awake and Charlie Ryland
A Poynor Chair: From Logs to Ladderbacks

This workshop will be a deep dive into the tools and techniques used in the design and construction of ladderback chairs. Our exploration of the form will be based on one of the most influential examples: the classic side chair pioneered by Richard Poyner and his family. We will split parts from freshly felled logs, shape them using drawknives and spokeshaves, and join them with a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of wood’s natural structure and movement and a perspective on designing and building objects without the need for straight, flat, or square surfaces. Although most of the work will be done with hand tools, we will discuss options for working with power tools as well as kiln-dried lumber. Seat weaving will be demonstrated; students are welcome to bring their own weaving material. The work is physically demanding, but this workshop is open to all levels. 

Robell: studio artist; teaching: Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (ME), Arrowmont (TN); recent exhibitions: Center for Craft (NC), Verso (NY), North Bennet Street School (MA).

robellawake.com | @robellawake

Charlie: studio artist; teaching: North Bennet Street School (MA), Sterling College (VT), University of Rio Grande (OH), Arrowmont (TN), Pine Croft (KY), Florida School of Woodworking (FL), Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking (CT), North House Folk School (MN); residencies: Arrowmont (TN); Craft Research Fellowship from Center for Craft (NC).

@charlie.ryland
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Robell Awake, Baeza’s Chair, maple, hickory, paper cord, milk paint, 32-1/4 x 15 x 18 inches
Robell Awake, Baeza’s Chair, maple, hickory, paper cord, milk paint, 32-1/4 x 15 x 18 inches
Charlie Ryland, Poyner Side Chair, ash, hickory, paper cord, 34 x 18-1/2 x 18 inches
Charlie Ryland, Poyner Side Chair, ash, hickory, paper cord, 34 x 18-1/2 x 18 inches
WOOD/MIXED MEDIA– SUMMER SESSION 6
July 28-August 9, 2024 (11 STUDIO DAYS)
Annie Evelyn
Interconnection: Not Just for Woodworkers

The wood class that’s not just for woodworkers! This introductory class is designed to help you incorporate a pre-existing object or material into a table or stool. Is it clay? glass? metal? wood? fiber? found object? Don’t have anything yet? We’ll find something when you arrive. The interconnection of two materials creates an exciting opportunity for creativity and problem-solving. You will learn to safely use the jointer, planer, table saw, bandsaw, mortiser, Festool Domino, router, and various hand tools. Class vibes: having fun, supporting each other, and celebrating accomplishments. All levels. Wood studio.

Assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University; development director and co-founder of Crafting the Future; residencies: Penland Resident Artist Program, Windgate Resident Artist at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI), San Diego State University, Wornick Distinguished Visiting Professor at California College of the Arts; exhibitions: Center for Craft (NC), Tacoma Glass Museum (WA), Fuller Craft Museum (MA) Center for Art in Wood (PA).

annieevelyn.com | @annie_evelyn_furniture
January 15 – Regular enrollment opens

Annie Evelyn, Windsor Flower Chair, ash, glass vials, fresh flowers, 40 x 28 x 26 inches
Annie Evelyn, Windsor Flower Chair, ash, glass vials, fresh flowers, 40 x 28 x 26 inches
WOOD – SUMMER SESSION 7
August 11-16, 2024 (4 STUDIO DAYS)
Julia Harrison
Carving Cottonwood Bark

The bark that is shed by cottonwood trees is an intriguing material for carving that offers dramatically unpredictable patterns, irregular shapes, and a soft but smooth texture. Bark responds better to strategy than to force and is a great material for beginners or those with lower hand strength as well as experienced carvers looking to build skill and sensitivity. Students will learn bark preparation, layout and roughing, tool selection, detailing, and finishing. We will primarily use hand tools but demonstrations will also cover some power tools and creating larger carving blocks. This process requires patience; expect steady but slow progress. All levels.

Studio artist; teaching: Penland, Haystack (ME), Arrowmont (TN), Pratt Fine Arts Center (WA), Snow Farm (MA), 92nd St. Y (NYC); grants: World Wood Day Research Grant, North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grant, Campbell Folk School Traditional Craft Mentorship (NC); residencies: Museum for Art in Wood (PA), Bunnell Street Arts Center (AK), Penland; collections: University of Arkansas, Tacoma Art Museum (WA), Mint Museum (NC), Museum for Art in Wood (PA).

juliaharrison.net | @byjuliaharrison
October 15 – November 15: Scholarship applications accepted
January 14 – Regular enrollment opens

Julia Harrison, detail of Third Season, cottonwood bark, 7 x 4 x 1 inches
Julia Harrison, detail of Third Season, cottonwood bark, 7 x 4 x 1 inches
WOOD – FALL SHORT SESSION
SEPTEMBER 22 – 27, 2024 (4 STUDIO DAYS)
Chloris Lowe
Throwing Shade

Using an additive woodworking approach, students will create lanterns using freeform bending and binding techniques to transform linear components into unique organic forms. With a little help from steam and gentle coaxing, line will give way to volume and extend into shadow as each student creates their own unique, functional, hanging or free-standing light source. We will cover hand tools, the band saw, and basic electrical wiring. Come ready to experiment and explore within a fun and guided framework. All levels. 

Studio artist; teaching: Edgewood College (WI), Moore College of Art & Design (PA), Montgomery County Community College (PA); Center for Furniture Craftsmanship fellowship (ME); collections/permanent installations: CUNA Mutual-TruStage (WI), Biochemical Sciences UW Madison (WI).

chloris-lowe.com | @c.instalowe

Chloris Lowe, Light Form A, cedar, steel wire, lighting components, 20 x 32 x 16 inches
Chloris Lowe, Light Form A, cedar, steel wire, lighting components, 20 x 32 x 16 inches
lowe
WOOD – FALL WEEKEND
OCTOBER 18 – 21, 2024
Jenna Goldberg
Bandsaw Boxes

Bandsaw boxes are a simple way to make wooden box structures without the burden of complicated joinery. Students will learn the basics of cutting, gluing, and manipulating the material. We will also explore simple surface design treatments such as image transfers, color and painting techniques, texture, and surface carving. Demonstrations will include the safe use of machinery and sharpening chisels and carving tools. Personal exploration of form, surface, and imagery will be encouraged. All levels. 

Studio artist; teaching: Rhode Island School of Design, Arrowmont (TN), Haystack (ME), Anderson Ranch (CO), Penland; collections: Renwick Gallery (DC), Mint Museums (NC). 

@jenna43215

Jenna Goldberg, Bandsaw Boxes, painted and carved basswood, image transfers, 10 - 20 inches long
Jenna Goldberg, Bandsaw Boxes, painted and carved basswood, image transfers, 10 - 20 inches long