a day at Inside Passage.

It has been more than a month since we started this year at Inside Passage, things have settled right now, everybody knows what they're doing and work couldn't be better. This learnig experience doesn't seem to have an end, so happy to know that. 

The Craftsman students are doing a great job on their exercises, they are now working on the "Wabi Sabi" cabinet exercise, in which they will learn about proportions, design, joinery and how important a procedure list is on the execution of every piece. 

Lecture.

We Resident Craftsman are still working on the joinery, which has evolutionized from day one. This chair seemed to be designed for educational purposes, it has taken us from the most simple joinery, a 90 degree live tenon, to a compound angle floating tenon, so far, which will then convert into a more complex subject. It is challenging, it has brought back all those familiar engineering subjects into my mind. It's nice being able to build a piece of furniture which totally demands safety, design and aesthetics.  

Getting busy at my workbench. 

I feel fortunate being around this group of Resident Craftsman, we are learning as a group and share experiences and problems as well. I guess we are all "going for it" into this craft as a profession, as many of the Craftsman Program. It is nice to discuss and learn as we go. 

Melissa squaring things up. 

Robert always sharing his knowledge.

One of our Resident Craftsman brought some great news last week. Melissa got her first piece commisioned. It is a big deal for us, she is a very important member of our group, just the kind of person that will have the best attitude for any situation, I'm happy for her, this will be the starting point for her carreer, congratulations Melissa!

Last week we celebrated Nicolas' 2nd birthay as well, it is amazing seeing him grow and learn every day. Monica brought a delicious carrot cake here to the school. Nicolas has celebrated both of his birthays at Inside Passage. He's just "chilin'" as a good friend may say. 

Nicolas' borthay. 

Anyway, we'll keep up with the work over here. This chairs are now looking much like one, and we've been having beautiful weather over here. We'll be able to enjoy more sun on the following days. 

They're starting to look like chairs!

Cheers everybody!

We roast our own coffee now at Inside Passage. 

the magic began.

It is time to talk about this new year at Inside Passage. For you new readers, Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is located in British Columbia, on the Sunshine Coast. Great place, nothing but focus in our craft. 

Vidar's Chair Drawing execution. 

I  started the Resident Craftsman Program, my second year here at the school. This year is a full new experience for me and the family. It is now time to download all that knowledge learned on the last year, and apply it as we go. Five of us students are on our second year, and twelve new students are on the Craftsman Program. A young class, full of energy, which is nice to experience with. All the new learning that will happen on here, and we still have no idea on the teachings of every day, so hard to explain.


We started right away to work on our new project, Vidar's Chair. This chair was designed and made back in 1970 by Vidar Malmsten, son of Carl Malmsten, a Swedish legend in our craft. 


James Krenov, to who we owe the chance of having this teachings that Robert Van Norman teaches us generously here at the school, studied with him back in the day. 


This chair has a special meaning here at the school. Vidar Malmsten finished this chair on James Krenov shop. Mr. Krenov wrote about this experience at some point. It is inspirational being able to be close to all this history of such legends. 

“He came on his bicycle, with the chair nearly finished, he had not yet decided on the back piece. He turned my shop into a disaster area. He would keep sawing blanks for the back piece. And he would put one in and he would draw on his pipe. He had a low voice and a calm way, he’d look back at that back piece and say “Ya, well, maybe, what would happen if we turn it upside down?” and we’d turn it upside down and now that wouldn’t work. And then he’d saw another one and the clock was going around and around.

It was one o’clock and two o’clock and finally he put a piece in there. He looked at it and then he went over to the bandsaw and he took a little bit here and a little bit there and he put it in there and he backed off and he said “Ya, well maybe it’s better that way.” and that was the back piece for the chair, the way it is now and forever. And it is not to my credit but the only thing that I cherish is the memory because he did not live after that. People like it it is a very comfortable chair, I am sitting in one of them right now talking to you. The prototype was finished in Jim Krenov’s shop and that he and Vidar were very close friends. That’s nice for people to remember. It was around 1970.”

– James Krenov

With this said, and Robert guiding us through this amazing process, our minds are now working to get this chair done. So much to learn each day, the curves, the joinery, the graphics, what wan I say, it's just amazing to be learning this skills. Robert himself made this chair, and has the experience to guide us with his experience. 


Here are some photos of Vidar's Chair, made by Robert Van Norman some years ago. The wood is wenge, just amazing. 

We keep on talking every day about everything we learn, and every day Robert has a new teaching that just blows your mind. Cheers for that, I feel so fortunate to be on this school learning every day and doing what I do. 


I am enjoying every step on this process, it makes me remind of so many things as I go along. Getting drawings done, then getting into the wood and find those pieces that will make what you tell them to do. 

Some understand this, some others not, what I can assure you is that in any craft, is a matter of patience and enthusiasm what gives that final result you desire. Being focused and relaxed is very important, and  at the end of each day its just positive results. 


Cheers everybody, enjoy!


Raul