Inside Passage School

Immediately following our fall term, Yvonne and I traveled to Israel to teach at alumni, Oren Feigenbaum’s, school Hasadna. After spending two days in the old city of Jerusalem, we met Oren and Or in Tel Aviv where we met up with friends and Alumni, and took in an exhibition which featured Oren and a few of his students, as well as other Israeli woodworkers. We visited the market where Oren’s brother gave us an introduction to the Tel Aviv street food scene.

We then traveled to the north to a beautiful quiet little village just four kilometres from the Lebanese border. This is our third visit to this beautiful country and I have to say Abirim has left a deep impression on us. Hasadna, meaning ‘workshop’ in Hebrew, is located on a hillside overlooking a lush green valley and featured some of the most incredible sunsets we have ever seen. The school is well equipped including fine traditional European benches and a warm vibe. Oren’s fingerprints are seen throughout.

We stayed in a lovely little cottage, stocked with delicious local produce and food, just a ten minute walk from the school. We arrived early enough to spend some time with Oren and his beautiful family and see some special places.

We had a full complement of students for both classes. The first class, curved bottom planes, began on the Sunday, with more than half the class staying on for the second class, curved frame and panel. In the second class, they had the opportunity to use the planes made in the first class to shape the panels in the latter. On the Tuesday evening, I gave a talk and slideshow with several of our own alumni as well as many students from each of the previous classes we taught in Israel attending. I am so grateful for all making such a considerable effort to join us. Most notably, it was so nice to catch up with Chen, Amir and of course Refeal who took both classes. It was also such a pleasure to catch up with my friend Moshe who was my bench mate during my first visit to Israel six years ago. I felt very grateful to have him in the second class.

On the Friday after class, we were treated to a most incredible meal at Uri Buri’s in Akko. I had read a lot about the ancient Mediterranean port of Acre before our first visit. Known locally as Akko, we have had the pleasure of visiting in each of our previous stays. After dinner we strolled in the warm humid breeze along the seawall before heading back inland to our home away from home. The next day we visited Rosh HaNikra grottoes and spend the afternoon at the sea with Oren’s young family outside Eli Avivi’s old community. The next day, with much gratitude we said a goodbye to our dear friends and headed south to visit IPSFC alumni Refeal Greenblatt and meet his beautiful family, see his workshop and his school Adama before taking the train to the airport.

We had two days in Amsterdam on the way home. We stayed at a beautiful old bed and breakfast in the canal district. We spent a full day at the Rijksmuseum and a wonderful meal at a fine restaurant recommended to us by one of our recent alumni. Then home to prepare ourselves and the school for the winter term. At the time of writing this we are already nearing the halfway point of the program, with students from the United States, Canada, Australia and Israel.
Sababa,
Robert

December 17, 2019

Fall Term

December 17, 2019

Fall 2019

COMPOSING

Sam Gapic – Australia

VIDARS CHAIR

Torrie Smith – Canada
James Reid – Canada

UPWARD SPIRAL

Justin Kirmse – United States
Madeline Williams – Canada

IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

Jenna Rempel – United States

TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Yvonne Van Norman
Brett Almey

RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHER

Robert Van Norman

RELIEF TEACHER

Gary Kent

October 19, 2019

When the World is Still

At the beginning of this past term, I made some changes in my daily routine, in an effort to find my way back to the work. I have always known, that I do my best work in the mornings. I also know that I need between three and four hours to really get into the rhythm of my work, and to work efficiently. This meant I needed to move my mediation to the evening, and I would need an even earlier start to my day.

I began to rise each morning at four and wandered out to my workshop, lit a candle, and returned to Jim’s books. At first, I would just read for several hours before heading into teach. Then something happened, I was reading less each morning, and had let go, giving way to my work. This is the time of day when I am happiest, when the world is still, and I am lost in my work.
Be well and enjoy your work,
Robert