I am teaching a few classes at the Lost Art Press storefront in 2019. I admit I’m a little gun-shy about teaching. I feel quite rusty as a teacher, and I am wary of classroom duties spiraling into a huge part of my life.
The year I quit teaching, I was on the road for 18 weeks and felt like a carney – unkempt, unshaved, grizzled, ragged out and a bit foul-mouthed. (So, not much has changed.)
Here is my completely sane schedule for the first half of 2019. Registration opens at 10 a.m. (Eastern time) on Oct. 12, 2018.
Build a Staked High Stool
Date: Jan. 19-20, 2019
Location: Lost Art Press storefront
Link for registration and full description
This class is designed as an introduction to chairmaking (except for saddling the seat). It is a crash course in sightlines, resultant angles and how to manage all the compound-angle drilling without any math skills. Plus, you get to build this stool and experiment with shou sugi ban if you like.
Build a Staked High Stool
Date: Feb. 16-17, 2019
Location: Lost Art Press storefront
Link for registration and full description
Same class as above, except this class is in February, which is a very different month from January.
Build a Staked Armchair
Date: March 4-8, 2019
Location: Lost Art Press storefront
Link for registration and full description
This armchair was created for the forthcoming expansion of “The Anarchist’s Design Book.” It is designed to be a class for first-time chairmakers. The only prerequisite is that you can sharpen your edge tools.
About the Storefront
We did not set out to teach classes at our storefront, but it turns out to be a nice environment for it. Class size is limited to six. Everyone gets a massive, well-equipped workbench. The bench room has oak floors, lots of natural light and is climate controlled. Students also are encouraged to explore our Mechanical Library during their downtime. We have a lot of rare and interesting woodworking books.
Just as important as the building is where it is located. We are one block off Main Strasse in Covington, Ky., a small city adjacent to downtown Cincinnati. You don’t really need a car during your stay. Hotels and restaurants are a short walk. And downtown Cincinnati is nine blocks away, where you can pick up the streetcar and get anywhere in the urban center.
Plus, if you bring your family, there is lots to do – the zoo, aquarium, children’s museums, multiple art museums and all the other amenities of a mid-size metropolis.
A complete list of classes from Megan Fitzpatrick, Brendan Gaffney and a few guest instructors will be coming soon.
— Christopher Schwarz
Good to hear you are teaching again. I am very interested in a roubo workbench class. I understand your current location would probably not allow for such a big project. Maybe the Marc Adams school? If the time commitment is too much would a joint Chris Schwarz / Will Myers / Megan Fitzpatrick / Brendan Gaffney class be possible?
Holy cow! Unless the class is finding the stick in a Popsicle, I couldn’t afford it! 🙂
“The year I quit teaching, I was on the road for 18 weeks and felt like a carney – unkempt, unshaved, grizzled, ragged out and a bit foul-mouthed.”
I had a woodwork teacher at school who started the academic year in a similar condition. After a few weeks of chaos in the workshop he’d let us drive his Land Rover around the games field while he sat and smoked homegrown “tobacco”.
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Would love to take the Staked Arm Chair class, hope you’ll add other dates, which of course confirms your fear of your classroom duties, because that falls on my daughter’s birthday and nothing trumps that; not even woodworking with you 🙂
Maybe I missed it, have class tool lists been posted anywhere?
We send them out after you register. If you haven’t received one for a class, send an email to covingtonmechanicals@gmail.com
Sorry, this would be my first class so I may be missing something… When you say a tool list will be sent after registration, is that a list of tools students will be responsible for bringing to the class with them? Knowing up front if I need to spend money on tools I don’t have would help me decide if I want to register for the class in the first place. Or do you mean “here’s a list of tools you will be using for this project, bring yours if you have it, or you can borrow one of ours if you don’t”?
Hi Nick,
I know of only one school that stocks tools for every student (Dictum in Germany). The tool list for our classes is what you should bring. If you are missing some of the tools, we usually have one to lend. The lists aren’t huge.
Will you still be doing some teaching abroad (a.k.a. Dictum/Munich)?
Whenever Dictum invites me, I am honored to teach there. In 2019 I will teach there July 1-7. One of the classes will be the Dutch Tool Chest, I believe.
That’s good to hear. Covington is a bit of a stretch for us folks here in Europe. Also great to hear that Dictum is being held to such high standards. I myself will be honored to attend one of your upcoming classes this October. If you bring your Land Rover, I’ll be happy to take it for a spin. I don’t have a license, but who cares.
Glad you’re teaching domestically again, Chris. Maybe at some point I can make the pilgrimage to Covington. Any good BBQ in the area?
I’m from the Deep South, so I am difficult to please.
There are three places that I consider really good – Eli’s, Pontiac and Harmon’s. All will dive you the meat sweats in a very good way.
Chris:
I still use skills that you taught me in the hand saw skills class you had at the Woodwright’s School in 2009. Have you considered returning to the Woodwright’s School perhaps once a year to teach class ?
Thanks Matthew. I might return there someday. I do love Roy and Pittsboro. It’s just a matter of not becoming overwhelmed. And at the same time, oddly, not forgotten.
I hope you’re planning to keep doing a bit of teaching in the long term, Chris.
One of these years, I will organise myself to be on the right continent, at the right time, not with a newborn baby so I can actually go to one of your classes! I think your last trip to Melbourne (a 7 hour train ride from my place) fell on the day before my wife and I went on our honeymoon.