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 – 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).
Wood – Spring Concentration
March 2 – April 25, 2025 (8 Weeks)
Mark Melonas
Concrete: It’s Hard
This workshop is an exploration of the possibilities, challenges, and beauty of concrete. By using multiple moldmaking methods, mix recipes, and casting techniques, students will gain an understanding of this seductive material. We will create samples of many mix formulas to investigate color, texture, and particle placement. Students will explore modern artisan approaches and combine them to create their own language with concrete. Working backwards and forwards and back again, we will use design skills and problem solving to design objects and the molds used to make them. Possible outcomes include furniture, vessels, and hollow or solid sculptural forms. All levels.
Designer, artisan, and owner of LUKE WORKS Studio (Baltimore) creating concrete, metal, and wood furniture, sinks, and objects for local and national clients; visiting artist: Virginia Commonwealth University, IYRS School of Technology & Trades (RI), Maryland Institute College of Art; teaching: Baltimore School for the Arts, Peters Valley (NJ), Workshop of Our Own (Baltimore), Arrowmont (TN), Penland.
markmelonas.net | lukeworks.com | @lukeworks
Regular enrollment begins October 2.
Wood – Spring Short Session
April 27 – May 2, 2025 (4 studio days)
Sarah Marriage
Tambour Time
In this workshop, we will explore the basic principles at play behind one of woodworking’s most magical techniques: the tambour door. We will begin with a discussion of the history of tambours and a variety of techniques for creating them. Students will use a classic canvas-backing technique to create their own tambour panel. We will also build small, simple cabinets with all the necessary tracks, escape routes, and other details to bring our tambours to life. All levels.
Furniture maker and educator; founder and president of A Workshop of Our Own (MD); teaching: A Workshop of Our Own (MD),The Krenov School (CA), Haystack (ME), Anderson Ranch (CO); exhibitions: Center for Art in Wood (PA), Area 405 (MD), Grace Hudson Museum (CA), Pritam & Eames (NY).
sarahmarriage.com | aworkshopofourown.com | @sarah_marriage
Scholarship application deadline is August 15.
Regular enrollment begins October 2.
