Author: robert@insidepassage.ca
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June 11, 2012
Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is proud and grateful to present a sampling of work from this years Craftsman and Resident Craftsman Programs. It should be note that the work was done by students with little or no experience in the craft prior to attending classes at IPSFC.
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Shane Brown — Sydney, Australia
I completed the artisan program in 2012. I have always been someone who was interested in woodworking but had never spent enough time practicing to get really good at cabinetmaking. I was also alone in my craft and wasn’t aware of what was required to get the kind of results I achieved at the course at Inside Passage. I have a busy job in Australia as the director of a charity helping children and young people in Sydney and after many years in the position decided to take an extended break to follow that passion. I searched online and found Inside Passage; I emailed Yvonne the schools administrator to find out more about the program. I was worried about whether I would qualify for the course. She assured me that I would be fine and that there were people at different skills level attending and I would be able to complete the work. She was right and I felt very confortable in the classroom.
Yvonne also sent me an accommodation list of people in Roberts Creek who are happy to rent a room, I contacted a local and stayed in a beautiful house at a very reasonable cost that was two minutes from the College. I am still in contact with some local people; two visited me in Australia recently.
Robert Van Norman the Resident Craftsman and Teacher made me feel valued and respected as a student and was always willing to help me fix mistakes Id made, “not that I made that many mistakes”.
The course changed my understanding of the craft and I learned so much about how to sharpen tools, appreciate timber and its qualities, use hand tools and machinery and produce a beautiful piece of furniture. It was intensive and very instructive with Robert demonstrating every step of the way. As I said other students were at different skills levels and we often worked in teams, this helped me to build confidence in the work.
Apart from the new skills I learned I also made new friends in the course and am in contact with some of my fellow students to this day. Robert and Yvonne made me welcome and I am deeply indebted to their kindness support and friendship. Roberts Creek is a beautiful place in the forest and on the sea. The experience did change my life and I know that I will return to the School one day for further study.
Now that I’m back in Sydney I have begun to build a number of pieces of furniture including a side table and two chairs. I am also designing a series of pencil cases in Jarrah a native Australian timber.
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May 5, 2012
Our annual Student Alumni and Faculty Exhibition took place just two weeks ago at the Roberts Creek Community Hall. Each of the first seven years had representation. Some students made significant sacrifice to attend this years exhibition, including Kylle and Haley Sebree who traveled all the way from San Diego California. Kyle’s table in Claro walnut, which he harvested, was exceptionally well done, something we have come to expect from this fine young craftsman. Family and friends came from as far off as Israel to join us for this years celebration.
An Alumni brunch took place the following morning at the Gumboot Restaurant adjacent to the school. Yvonne and I would like to thank all who attended and joined us in a weekend of celebration of work and of course the journey. Photography of student and alumni work took place during the final week which will be posted in the coming weeks when it returns from our photographer. (more…)
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2011 — 2012
Resident Craftsman & Teacher
Robert Van Norman — Canada
Admissions & Student Services
Yvonne Van Norman* — Canada
Relief Teacher
Gary Kent — Canada
Guest Faculty
Jacques Breau — Canada
Resident Craftsman
Joshua Edwards — Canada
Melissa Moure Evans — Canada
Raul Favela — Mexico
Brendan Johnson — Canada
Jay Miron — CanadaJourneyman Program
Craftsman Program
Walker Dosdall — Canada
Oren Feigenbaum — Israel
Peter Flaxman — United States
Peter Freeman — Canada
Marjolein Hermans — Belgium
Marty Kenney — United States
Eupho Kubota — Japan
Morgan Miller — Canada
Akihiko Oshima — Japan
Candice Smith — Canada
Mike Weremczuk — CanadaArtisan Program
Shane Brown — Australia
Tom Buchanan — United States
Donal Matthews — Ireland
Stephen Murphy — Canada
Yvonne Van Norman — Canada -
Raul Favela — Chihuahua, Mexico
Inside Passage, two words that make me feel so many things. I was fortunate in attending the two year program this school has to offer, the “school of life” I will always refer to it. This place is a place in which I learned to respect so many things, the process on working with wood, the hands that make it happen and the state of mind that is required to make work of this quality. I was intimidated when I first got there, I had little experience in working with wood, and the technique I brought to the school was nothing but a confused mind trying to make something happen. I never imagined that so many shapes and processes could be made in such a “simple – complex” way. Once started, I realized how fortunate I was in having Robert Van Norman as my teacher, a true honor for me sharing that space with him. Yvonne and Robert have put together a program in a way that I learned concepts and practical solutions that I couldn’t even think about. This program made me be conscious about my skill as a craftsman and as a human being. Roberts Creek is a place in which you will bring your game to the highest possible level, a place in which your mind will flow with the rhythm that nature offers, learning every day about yourself and about your work. Skill is hidden within our selves, and will remain in there if we are not able to recognize our strengths and weaknesses. Mr. James Krenov sends a strong message on each one of his books, messages that will teach each one of us differently. Robert is loyal to the way of teaching that Mr. Krenov will like to see happen in this school; more important to the simplicity of life once you discover yourself. Mr. Krenov wrote on one of his books, “I don’t love working – it is working well that I love.” Inside Passage taught me how to work more than well, it will be now time to make my dreams happen, I am prepared to do so.
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April 15, 2012
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…)
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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…)
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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…)