Furniture Design & Woodworking
Code: W0807-25
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Sculptural Lighting Design with Biomaterials
Jul 21 - 25, 2025
9AM-5PM
Concept
In this workshop, students design and make custom sculptural lighting. We create a hanging pendant or table-top lamp from a combination of wood and other translucent biomaterials such as bioplastics, paper, bark, or found materials. We discuss media experimentation, shadow play, surface patterns, texturing, and luminosity with an emphasis on exploring how material interacts with light. Students gain experience making biomaterials and employ creative woodworking skills, and each student creates an illuminating sculptural wood lamp that they can take home.
Media & Techniques
Wood, found media, biomaterials, lighting components, electrical components, lamp supplies, pendant kits, switches, plugs, sockets, LEDs, edison bulbs, bioplastic ingredients, glue, epoxy, clamps, steam box, bandsaw, fabric iron, heat gun, jigs, saws, sewing machine, hot plate, microwave, woodworking, wood bending, joinery, lighting design, lamp construction, media experimentation, illumination
Faculty
Adrien Segal
Adrien Segal is a sculptor based in Oakland, CA. She received a BFA in Furniture Design from California College of the Arts, where she now teaches. She incorporates both digital tools and analog fabrication processes to create evocative sculptures in a variety of media including wood, metal, and glass. Her work encompasses studio-based projects as well as public art commissions.
Fiona Bell
Fiona Bell (Guest Scientist/Artist) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Computer Science at the University of New Mexico. Combining biodesign, material science, and computer science, she develops novel biobased and biodegradable materials that integrate with digital technologies to create ecologically sustainable bio-digital interfaces.
Adrien Segal, Untitled
Tuition: $1,240.00
Studio Fee: $140.00
Registration Fee: $45.00
NEW: Tuition includes the welcome dinner and daily lunch
Registration Information
Furniture Design & Woodworking
The Furniture Design & Woodworking program at Anderson Ranch draws upon the world of studio furniture, but pushes the boundaries of woodworking by mixing contemporary and traditional techniques and incorporating alternative materials. Anderson Ranch offers an inspiring range of workshops for all levels in topics such as cabinetry, wood bending, kinetics and carving.
The Maloof Wood Barn, divided into a machine room, assembly room, and bench room, provides participants the ideal workshop for realizing technical and creative goals. The machine room houses stationary equipment including SawStop table saws, jointers, planers, bandsaws, drill presses, edge sander, disk sander, drum sander, spindle sander, radial arm saw, chop saw, router table and multi-router. In the assembly and bench rooms, a library of clamps, hand tools, and hand-held power tools line the walls for student use to complete their woodworking projects.
The Furniture Society and Anderson Ranch are partnering this year to offer a scholarship for one BIPOC applicant to attend a workshop for the 2025 summer season. This opportunity includes tuition for a one-week workshop, room and board for a Furniture Design and Wood workshop, and a 1‑year membership to The Furniture Society. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in summer one- or two-week adult furniture design and woodworking workshops** for Furniture Society members. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- Baking Trays
- Bandsaw
- Clamps
- Drill Press
- Hand Tools
- Heat Gun
- Hot Plate
- Iron
- Jointer
- Planer
- Pots
- Router
- Sewing Machine
- Silicon Baking Mat
- Spatulas
- Tablesaw
Supplies
- Agar
- Aluminum Foil
- Brad Nails
- Clamps
- Edison Bulbs
- Food dye
- Glue
- Glycerin
- LEDs
- Pendant Kit
- Plugs
- Sand Paper**
- Screws
- Sockets
- Switches
- Wax Paper
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- Personal Dust Mask (N95 or higher) or Respirator**
- Personal Hearing Protection
- Personal Safety Glasses**
Optional Tools and Supplies
- Blue Masking Tape**
- Bubble Wrap**
- Cardboard boxes**
- Erasers**
- Materials that you would like to incorporate into the project
- Packing tape**
- Pencils**
- Sharpies**
- Sketchbook**
- Tools you own that you would be unhappy without
- Water Bottle
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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