Blog

  • Summer 2017

     Impractical Cabinetmaker Program - Summer 2017
    Impractical Cabinetmaker Program – Summer 2017

    RESIDENCY

    Refeal Greenblatt – Israel

    VIDARS CHAIR

    Andreas Pfister – Germany
    Marion Couvreur – France

    IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

    David MacGruer – Scotland
    Ronald Holmberg – Canada

    ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES

    Yvonne Van Norman

    RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHERS

    Robert Van Norman
    Caroline Woon – Sabbatical 

    RELIEF TEACHER

    Gary Kent

  • Spring 2017

     Impractical Cabinetmaker Program Spring 2017
    Impractical Cabinetmaker Program Spring 2017

    RESIDENCY

    Jessie LaFleur- Canada

    COMPOSING

    Refeal Greenblatt – Israel

    VIDARS CHAIR

    Stan Adams – United States

    Upward Spiral

    Marion Couvreur – France

    IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

    Kim  Winton – Australia
    Philip Long – Scotland
    Andre Plante – Canada
     

    ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES

    Yvonne Van Norman

    RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHERS

    Caroline Woon
    Robert Van Norman – Advisor

    RELIEF TEACHER

    Gary Kent

  • Give Thanks

    Dear friends of the school,

    Today I am writing to thank each of you for sharing in our collective journey in wood. Thank you for all your offerings of creativity and dedication, the hopes and intentions that connect you to our tradition. 

    To our most recent alumni, I have been honoured and humbled to work with such inspired folk as you. We are very grateful to have had you as students and friends this last session. 

    To JK, our ascended master, friend that I never met… thank you for being with us, through the wisdom and teachings that echo on. We are with you too through our journeys in this craft. 

    Be well!

  • Winter 2017

     Impractical Cabinetmaker Program Winter 2017
    Impractical Cabinetmaker Program Winter 2017

    RESIDENCY

    Jessie LaFleur- Canada

    Composing

    Refeal Greenblatt – Israel

    Vidars Chair

    Tim Andries – Canada

    UPWARD SPIRAL

    Leanne Fleming – Canada
    Christopher Whipp – Canada

    IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

    Keith Lewis – Canada
    Sean Terrell – Canada
    David Rush – Canada
    Scott Lengyel – Canada

    ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES

    Yvonne Van Norman

    RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHERS

    Robert Van Norman
    Caroline Woon

    RELIEF TEACHER

    Gary Kent

  • An evening with Juan Carlos Fernandez

    Friday January 20, 2017 5pm

    Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is proud to present a slide show and talk with Juan Carlos Fernandez. Juan Carlos, a three year graduate of the program, who went onto assist with the teaching following his time as a student. Juan Carlos is not only one of the finest craftsman to come out of the school, but is one of the most creative souls I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Juan Carlos continues to work with wood, in its many forms and resides in Roberts Creek with his wife Beatriz. The talk is open to students, alumni, family and friends. Join us as we celebrate the work of this very talented and inspirational craftsman.

  • Fall 2016

     Impractical Cabinetmaker Program Fall 2016
    Impractical Cabinetmaker Program Fall 2016

    RESIDENCY

    Spencer Barnard – Canada

    COMPOSING

    Jessie LaFleur- Canada

    UPWARD SPIRAL

    Tim Andries – Canada

    EXTENDED STUDIES

    Danielle Williamson – Canada
    Gavin Millikin- Canada

    IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

    Leanne Fleming – Canada
    Rik Van Rampelberg – Kenya
    Chung Leong Tang – Malaysia
    Marion Couvreur – France
    Robert Lantry – United States

    ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES

    Yvonne Van Norman

    RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHERS

    Robert Van Norman
    Caroline Woon

    RELIEF TEACHER

    Gary Kent

  • Summer 2016

    ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES

    Yvonne Van Norman

    RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHERS

    Robert Van Norman
    Caroline Woon

    RELIEF TEACHER

    Gary Kent

    RESIDENCY

    Spencer Barnard – Canada

    VIDARS CHAIR

    Jessie Lafleur – Canada
    Amir Rosenberg – Israel

    UPWARD SPIRAL

    Roger Samson – Newfoundland
    Danielle Williamson – Canada
    Gavin Millikin – Canada
    Chen Appel – Israel

    IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

    James Nattall – Canada
    Scott Grund – United States

     

  • Eric Lavoie – Vancouver British Columbia

    I’m just hanging out in the shop being a bit nostalgic at the moment, but I have to say again that everything I’ve learned here has had such a great impact on my life right now, and I’m super thankful. I’ve had very few teachers in my life that are able to to not only bestow knowledge but also a real love and joy of the material being taught, and Robert, you are among the very best! I very much look forward to returning in the future.

  • Spring 2016

    RESIDENCY

    Spencer Barnard – Canada

    COMPOSING

    Refael Greenblatt- Israel

    UPWARD SPIRAL

    Jessie Lafleur – Canada
    Danielle Williamson – Canada
    Stan Adams – United States

    IMPRACTICAL STUDIES

    Jordan Eisenhauer – Canada
    Gavin Millikin- Canada
    Chris Whipp – Canada

    ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES

    Yvonne Van Norman

    RESIDENT CRAFTSMEN & TEACHERS

    Robert Van Norman
    Caroline Woon

    RELIEF TEACHER

    Gary Kent

     

  • Wood Run

     Jordan discovers an especially beautiful plank of Narra 
    Jordan discovers an especially beautiful plank of Narra 

    Last weekend our class journeyed to West Wind Hardwood on Vancouver Island in search of wood.

     Here we go! 
    Here we go! 

    It was an epic trip entirely on public transport from Roberts Creek to Sidney – bus, ferry, bus, Skytrain, bus, another ferry, bus… 

     Morning tea with Spencer, Robert and Danielle
    Morning tea with Spencer, Robert and Danielle

    I very much enjoy seeing my shop mates outside the shop and away from the Creek!

     Here we are
    Here we are

    We were greeted by this glorious sign out front.

    We started off with a short talk from Robert on lumberyard etiquette and purchasing wood.

     Robert's selection
    Robert’s selection

    “You can never have too much wood.” 

    We came away with a nice stack of wood, including Narra, Kwila, Teak, Goncalo Alves, Padouk, and some extremely tight-grained Fir.

    It was a great time with all of you and we are already looking forward to our next wood run!