After almost two years of waiting, the time finally came for me to go back to the mountains of Tennessee for a weeklong class at Arrowmont. In 2022, I received the invitation to teach a weeklong woodturning/sculpture workshop. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the class was postponed until October of 2024.
The final preparations for the class began weeks in advance, with emails exchanged between the school’s staff and students. The list of tools and materials was sent well ahead of time, which was crucial, as every piece of hardware, wood, or tool was essential for this to be a successful experience.
For this class, I had eight students, all with different levels of woodturning experience, including two who had never touched a lathe before. You might wonder if that was a good idea. Here’s the answer: if this were an advanced woodturning class, I would say no. However, this was a sculptural woodturning class, so as long as you’re willing to try, it can be not only fun but inspirational too.
Having a capable assistant is crucial when teaching, as this is the person you rely on not only to help with students but also to solve problems on the go—such as finding tools, gathering materials, or coming up with solutions when needed. Dan Zobel, a long-time friend, fellow artist, and professional woodworker, was invaluable to me that week.
Dan and I arrived on campus Saturday evening to start cutting materials and preparing for the class. Sunday was all about measuring, cutting, and cleaning every component of the jigs that students would be building on Monday morning. It was also a good time to double-check that the hardware and supplies were the right sizes and quantities.
On Sunday evening, a general orientation was held for everyone on campus, and instructors were introduced to the students. After orientation, each class moved to their assigned shop, and we shared the guidelines, goals, and expectations for the week. At this time, each student picked a lathe, and excitement started building for the days ahead.
This promised to be not only a learning experience but also a time to share, gain inspiration, work on personal ideas, make dust and shavings, burn and color wood, and, most importantly, enjoy a week of doing what we love.
