Furniture Design & Woodworking

This class explores the Japanese art of making secret opening boxes in three stages. First, students create a box infrastructure. Next, they cut plates of wood, which slide in a sequence and stay attached to the framework. Finally, it is assembled and a finish is applied. After each student completes an initial warm-up puzzle box, Kagen will reveal a number of other wooden mechanisms and decorative inlays meant to disguise and hide moving parts. Students are then encouraged to design and build their own custom puzzle box variation. The class focuses primarily on hand tool use with the aid of a few miniature router table set-ups that assist in cutting notches for moving parts and joinery.   Interested in taking this class? A new section has been added. Click here to learn more.

Anderson Ranch’s Studio Session approach provides artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving regular one-on-one mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff and interns. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation and access to equipment, as well as five hours of weekly technical guidance in the Ranch’s state-of-the-art facilities. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. *Bench and gluing rooms open 24 hours a day. LIMITED machine tool room access from 9am - 5pm and evening open tool room hours 7pm - 9pm Monday through Thursday. Portfolios will be accepted on a rolling basis. Instructions on how to submit your portfolio are as follows: Submit digital images of your work in one single PDF (as opposed to individual JPG attachments) via email directly to Lane Preston, Studio Coordinator of Woodworking & Furniture Design, at [email protected] The single PDF must be less than 10 MB to be considered. Include 5-10 images of your work with image identification that lists the title, media, dimensions and year of each image. While not required, it is helpful to see an artist statement addressing the images you send. Include “Advanced Portfolio Review” in the subject line of your email, as well as the title of the workshop for which you are applying. Please provide a phone number where you can be reached and a link to your website. Submissions that do not follow the requested directions will not be reviewed.

This workshop presents various techniques for making organic shaped boxes in wood. Students design and build their own piece of art focusing on the idea of hidden interiors and drawers in unexpected places. Demonstrations include bandsaw boxes, stack-lamination, shaping with hand tools, and finishing techniques. Consideration is given to personal expression through design and creating a container for a personal object or idea. Participants may create several small pieces that utilize different techniques or can choose to focus on one larger work most of the week. Must be 18 years old to participate.