We receive inquiries on a regular basis regarding suitability of programming for those with little or no experience in the craft. At Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking students with little or no experience can begin their journey in either the seven-week Artisan Program or our nine-month Craftsman Program. The marquetry shown here by Barbara Shelton was made in her second year at the school. Prior to attending our school, Barbara had no experience in the craft. Today, she has established herself as one of the finest craftsman to come out of our school.
Category: Uncategorized
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Melissa Moure Evans — Smithers, British Columbia
When I first applied to the Inside Passage, my knowledge of James Krenov was quite limited. Yes, I had heard of him but had not yet read any of his books. I was unprepared as to how profound of an impact this program was going to have on me.
Already in the four months I have attended the program, I know my life has been affected and changed forever. The learning atmosphere is one that resonates with me. Not only are we divulged into this craft and the qualities of wood but it is also a wonderful journey into the self of every single one of us. This has honestly been one of the most challenging, rewarding, and personal growth journeys I have experienced.
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January 29, 2011
Welcome to our web site and the current publication of Heart Hand and Eye, Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking’s newsletter celebrating the work of our students, alumni and faculty. (more…)
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December 5, 2010
Welcome to our web site and the current publication of Heart Hand and Eye, Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking’s newsletter celebrating the work of our students, alumni and faculty. (more…)
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“I’m an amateur and always will be. That’s the way I want to die. I’m an amateur by nature. David Pye wrote somewhere that the best work of this century would certainly be done by amateurs.” – James Krenov
Our Impractical Cabinetmaker Program, reflects JK’s final thoughts on the craft and offers four intakes per year. The first ten weeks of the program, Impractical Studies, maybe taken a week at a time, or as a complete program. Students taking the program, a week at a time are encouraged to complete the one week sessions in the order in which they have been presented. Following completion of Impractical Studies, students may continue their craft education with us for up to three years.
In the first year of study, students will make a established case piece and a chair. Each of these pieces builds on skills covered in Impractical studies and explores increasingly complex methods. In the second year of study, students will compose and will create a fine cabinet using veneer construction and may include curves and or glass. In the third year of residency, students assist with the program in lieu of tuition. They will receive a daily consult with the resident craftsman and teacher as they pursue independent work in a supportive and creative environment.
We have made these changes in an effort to provide better alignment of our programs and provide our students with flexibility of spreading out their craft education over several months or years. Multiple intakes also provides our students with the opportunity of observing their classmates at different stages of the journey.
A few months back, I was on the bus to do a few errands. I noticed that everyone on the bus, young and old, were engaged with some sort of electronic device. Wait, there is hope, I thought, a young woman near the front of the bus was knitting. Upon a closer look I discovered she was only untangling her earphones. While personally I find the intrusion of social media in our society a distraction, I do recognize the need to share the work of our students and faculty. The Journal, will now be published four times a year prior to each of our intakes. If you would like more recent updates, your can now follow us on Facebook.
We are in the process of updating our website to reflect some of these changes. If you have any questions please contact the school on our toll free number 1.877.943.9663 or by e-mail yvonne@insidepassage.ca. Be well and enjoy your work.
Robert Van Norman Resident Craftsman amp; Teacher Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking -
August 29, 2010
Peter from Brooklyn New York completed the above coopered door wall cabinet in French walnut, cedar of Lebanon, Tasmanian blackwood and local arbutus during the Resident Artisan Program. Peter took full advantage of his time at our school and served as a fine example to our second session of Artisan Program students. The cabinet features a coopered door hand planed to final shape and surface, dowel construction, frame and panel back, hand cut dovetailed drawers fitted with let go and shop made hardware including knife hinges.
The Resident Artisan Program at Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is a six week program running concurrent with our Artisan Program and is available to graduates of our Artisan Program. The program was designed to pick up where the Artisan Program leaves off. While the Artisan Program is a skill development program, the Resident Artisan Program gives students the opportunity to use their acquired skills to build a piece of fine furniture under the direction of Inside Passage Faculty.
Alumni News
Congratulations two year graduate Jason Dingess on his appointment as Craftsman for the Brian Boggs Collective.
Jason will maintain a bench at the collective where he will continue to explore and enjoy the many subtleties of our craft. Brian is very fortunate to have such fine young man with him.
The above are images of Jason’s final piece completed at the school. The lap desk is of Chinese elm which features curved edge joints. The drawer sides are of port Orford cedar, the bottom, curly European sycamore. The pulls are of olive, a gift from Robert, carved from a small billet from JK.
Daisuke Tanaka is back in Japan and is currently working in pst Inside Passage Guest Faculty Brian Newell’s shop. I am very grateful to have had this fine young craftsman with us for over three years as he began his journey in craft.
Guest Faculty 2011
Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is proud to announce our guest faculty for this years Craftsman Program.
Don Stenner
January 24th – February 4th
Don is from Golden British Columbia and will be assisting students during the making of their first piece. A sweet man and talented craftsman.
Nicholas Nelson
March 7th – 18th
Nick is from Minneapolis Minnesota and will be assisting our students during the completion of their second pieces. Nick has done some incredible work since leaving school including the above pear wood wall cabinet.
Jacques Breau
exc-527eb34de4b0856a29b30a9b April 25th – May 7th
Jacques Breau will be returning for his fourth year assisting students during the final push for our year end student, alumni and faculty exhibition which will be taking place on May 7th 2011. Jacques has a gentle, no nonsense approach and has become the keeper of the midnight flame in past years. We are very grateful to have him back.
Heartfelt Thank You
Jacques Breau will be returning for his fourth year assisting students during the final push for our year end student, alumni and faculty exhibition which will be taking place on May 7th 2011. Jacques has a gentle, no nonsense approach and has become the keeper of the midnight flame in past years. We are very grateful to have him back.
Yvonne and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our students for their ongoing support during this difficult year for our family. This school not only exists for you but because of you.
In just two weeks we begin the sixth year of our Craftsman Program. Our school is continues its dedication in providing quality craft education founded on the teachings of James Krenov. In an effort to bring more balance to all our programs we have added more structure and built in more time to reflect.
As you may have heard we will be running just one session of the Artisan Programs next summer. This allows me to return to my bench for nine full weeks prior to the Craftsman Program. This is the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ I have been waiting for, a scheduled block of time to return to the craft.
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Peter Flaxman — Brooklyn, New York
I can’t say enough good things about my experience at Inside Passage during the 12 weeks I spent at the school over the Summer of 2010. I’ve attended a few different woodworking schools, and finding a School that instills such thoroughness, integrity and commitment to excellence is very rare. You can tell that Robert really cares not only about the craft of fine furniture making, but also about being a great teacher.
I signed up for the Artisan Program, where I learned the fundamentals of fine furniture making using hand tools and machines, and then immediately followed that course with the six week Resident Artisan Program, where I was able to put my skills to use building a small cabinet.
I was amazed at how high a level of craftsmanship Robert was able to teach to all of us during the program. He never takes short cuts or lets students with less experience fall behind. He was very patient and always willing to answer questions, even those that were asked repeatedly. I appreciated how he would put in extra time for individual attention when anything was challenging and also give extra small projects to people who were moving ahead quickly. When I was working on my cabinet during the second part of the program, Robert was great about giving me the flexibility to design my own piece, but was always available to help me work through problem spots.
The facilities and equipment at the school were excellent and I thought Robert and Yvonne fostered a nice, collegial atmosphere amongst all of the students. Spending the summer 300 yards from a beach with views of snow-capped mountains in the drop-dead gorgeous Pacific Northwest was a treat as well, although I found myself drawn to the woodshop most of the time.
Inside Passage is a really unique school and I consider myself lucky to have had the time to attend their program.
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July 11, 2010
Welcome to our web site and the current publication of Heart Hand and Eye, Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking’s newsletter celebrating the work of our students, alumni and faculty. (more…)
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June 14, 2010
Welcome to our web site and the current publication of Heart Hand and Eye, Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking’s newsletter celebrating the work of our students, alumni and faculty. (more…)
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May 9, 2010
Welcome to our web site and the current publication of Heart Hand and Eye, Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking’s newsletter celebrating the work of our students, alumni and faculty. (more…)
