Center for Traditional Craft features millwork for Historic Homeowners Academy in April

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Center for Traditional Craft will offer weekend workshops featuring classical architectural millwork with noted author and restoration TV host Brent Hull, along with blacksmithing and monument repair for the April Historic Homeowners Academy (HHA) workshops. All skill levels are encouraged to attend. Workshops will be held at STC’s Historic Preservation lab (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31405). Register for the workshops at www.savannahtech.edu/HistoricHomeownersAcademy.

In conjunction with the HHA workshops, Savannah Tech and the Massie Heritage Center are co-sponsoring an evening lecture and book signing with Hull from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 in the Massie Heritage Center’s historical classroom (207 E Gordon St.
Savannah, GA 31401). As the author of three books, Hull’s most recent is Building a Timeless House in an Instant Age, which helps builders and homeowners construct authentic and beautiful houses.

Historic Homeowners Classical Architectural Millwork Workshop features Brent Hull

Host of the History Channel’s Lone Star Restoration, Hull is a man on a mission to “quit building crap and build more beautiful things.” With more than two decades of experience as a Texas-based restoration expert, Hull has become one of the most respected and sought after historical builders in the country. He has combined his passion for restoring buildings along with his love of craftsmanship to build a business that focuses on preservation as well as historically inspired houses and millwork.

Hull enjoys working with his hands and has always loved building.  In 1991, he moved to Boston to begin a two-year study of historic preservation at the North Bennet Street School. NBSS is one of the oldest trade schools in the United States, and it was here that he learned the art of traditional building.

He combines the best of today’s technology with the time-tested craftsmanship and methods off a bygone era. It’s about breathing new life into all kinds of historical structures, from landmark Texas Courthouses to original ranch houses to stately homes and even an old west saloon.

Hull’s two-day seminar on classical design, proportioning and the evolution of historic millwork in America will be held from 9a.m. to 6p.m. on April 1-2 for a cost of $50. On Saturday, students will work on learning to drawing classical architectural details using basic scale and proportioning relationships. On Sunday, students will learn about the evolution of American molding profiles and how to incorporate classical design into restorations or new construction. To register for Hull’s workshop, visit: http://bit.ly/SavTechHHA_HistoricMillwork0417.

Two other Historic Homeowners Academy workshops will be held that weekend as well:

• CEMETERY AND FUNERARY MONUMENT REPAIR This workshop event will introduce students to the various aspects of gravestone and cemetery monument preservation led by Jon Appell. The majority of commonly encountered problems with memorials, which are both historic as well as modern, will be over viewed, discussed. Repair, cleaning and numerous other conservation treatments will be demonstrated and conducted as an interactive group experience. Jonathan is a professional masonry conservation specialist with expertise in gravestone, monument, sculpture and historic masonry preservation.  Trained in engineering, violin and cabinet making, sculpture and stone carving, Jonathan has worked in fields related to historic masonry for over 25 years.   Workshop cost $75 includes a $25 materials fee. Thursday March 29^th (6-9pm), Friday March 31,  [9 -6PM], Saturday, April 1,  [9-6 PM], Sunday, April 2,  [9-6 PM]. To register visit: http://bit.ly/SavTechHHA_MonumentRepair0317

• BLACKSMITHING Work with renowned blacksmith Joe Miller to create a one-of-a-kind 3D aquatic “critter.”  Students will learned to hammer out the shape of a fish in two pieces of sheet metal using a torch, join them together, smooth the edges, and add details like gills, tails, eyes, scales, and seaweed. This class will introduce students to basic forge work, torch work, repose, and basic chasing. Miller’s breadth of skills as a blacksmith and examples of his various critters can be seen at his website metalbymiller.com. He has been teaching at the John C. Campbell Folk School since the 1980’s.  Cost is $125 (includes $75 material fee) Friday March 31, [6-9 PM], Saturday, April 1, [9-6 PM], and Sunday, April 2, [9-2 PM]. To register visit: http://bit.ly/SavTechHHA_Blacksmithing0317

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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#1732 | March 23, 2017

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