SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Center for Traditional Craft’s Historic Homeowners Academy (HHA) September weekend workshops feature wood carving and timber framing.
The HHA workshop cost is $50 per weekend, plus a materials fee (if required). The workshops have limited space. To register or for a list of future workshops, go to www.savannahtech.edu/HistoricHomeownersAcademy or like the STC Historic Preservation Department on Facebook. The deadline to register, if space is available, is the Thursday prior to the workshop. The workshops will be held at the STC Historic Preservation lab (5717 White Bluff Road).
Introduction to Architectural Wood Carving: Under the instruction of Rooney Floyd, students will learn the basics of traditional wood carving techniques? This class will provide a fundamental understanding of the tools, equipment, knife cutting techniques, gouge and chisel techniques associated with decorative and architectural woodcarving. Students will work of a relief carving project. Materials fee is $25 for a total of $75 for this workshop. Register online for woodcarving. [Sept. 17-18, 9AM-6PM.]
Introduction to Timber Framing: What did they do before nails? Led by Kevin Wilson, September’s Visiting Artisan, this workshop will teach the basics to cutting timber frame joinery. Using tools available at a local building supply, students will learn to make a basic mortis and tenon connections fastened by wooden pegs in small timber projects. The class will build some “saw horses” that will be assembled using only these age old techniques. Basic familiarity with circular saws, drills, measuring and using a mallet or hammer is very helpful but not required. Cost to attend is $50. Register online for timber framing. [Sept. 16 from 6-9PM, Sept. 17 from 9AM-4:30PM and Sept. 18 9AM-Noon]
Kevin Wilson first discovered timber framing from a book he saw in an airport bookstore in 1979. He knew right away that was the direction he wanted to go with his life. The question was, how to do it. It was 1983 when he first was able to attend a weeklong Timber Frame workshop with Steve Chappel and Fox Maple Post and Beam at their shop in Brownfield, ME. He came back and built his first small frame and realized how much he still had to learn. 33 years later, with projects in 25 states, the Bahamas, and Bermuda he is still learning with each project and teaching the next generation of framers. He is currently a consultant and timber frame designer for Triton International Woods, LLC. Living in eastern North Carolina has given him a great deal of experience with the Tidewater style of timber framing that was prevalent in the south during the 18th and 19th century.
In addition to being a Timber Framer, Kevin lives on property near Tarboro, NC with a timber frame home built in 1832 and a 1920’s deconsecrated Episcopal Mission Chapel that is used for weddings, drum circles, meditation and spiritual events. Kevin serves on the advisory Board for the Edgecombe County Community College Preservation Trade School, is an avid environmentalist and a promotor of organic farming.
Rooney Floyd trained and worked in engineering all his professional career, but he has worked in various aspect of woodworking all his life beginning at a very early age. He has studied and/or taught numerous woodcarving and blacksmithing classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown NC for over 30 years. During this time his special interest has been woodcarving and studied many times under the late Elmer Tangerman known as the Dean of American Woodcarving.
Floyd uses the teaching methods of the Danish folk school learned at John C. Campbell, called the “living word”. In this method students learn by word of mouth while performing hands on work as opposed to text and lectures.
About STC’s Center for Traditional Craft:
The College’s Visiting Artisan Series brings world-class craftspeople to campus each for week-long intensive classes throughout the year. The program works in concert with the HHA to provide weekend classes for the general public. This series has gained international recognition and has contributed to a number of community-based preservation projects in the surrounding communities. In its first year of inception, the department’s Visiting Artisan Series has featured “The Red Mason” Dr. Gerard Lynch, internationally acclaimed brickwork consultant, master bricklayer, educator and author; H. Thomas Kupper and Dan Beal stained-glass artisans of the world-renowned Lincoln Cathedral in Lincolnshire, England.
As the only public hands-on Historic Preservation program in Georgia and one of seven in the U.S., Savannah Technical College has led the way in preservation education, specializing in training not typically held by construction workers. The program has gained international recognition and has contributed to a number of community-based preservation projects in the surrounding communities.Traditional Building Magazine named Savannah Tech’s Historic Preservation program one of the nation’s Up and Coming programs. For more information visit:www.savannahtech.edu/CenterTraditionalCraft or contact Curran at bcurran@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.5864.
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#1709 | Sept. 8, 2016
Historic Homeowners Academy Information
STC Center for Traditional Craft Director: Benjamin Curran
912.443.5864 or bcurran@savannahtech.edu
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu
Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.
Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).