Rights of Passage - Another year ended...

Today was the last day of classes, the graduation ceremony is next Monday (5/17/2010). Just like the classes that have passed through these doors since 1988, the graduating class of 2010 got up on a ladder for the "signing of the tube".

The Dust collection tube that runs through the workshop has been part of a tradition at DCTC, where the students leave their mark on the school, just as the school has left it's mark on them. Each year the students paint, decorate, veneer, faux finish, or install something from their class. This year, the class of 2010 had a group photo taken, enlarged and framed in a frame that they gilded and painted the NIWF logo and 2010 in reverse on the glass.

Good luck to all the grads of 2010. They have worked very hard, and we hope that as they go out into the world, they will always keep in touch and visit the school when they can, to help pass along their knowledge to the current students in the upcoming years.

wood 1032 Furniture Conservation: Don Williams and The MN Woodworkers Guild meet at DCTC

Don Williams came in from Washington D.C. yesterday and today to work with the students, as well as co-sponsor of his visit, The MN Woodworkers Guild. Yesterday he & the Students had an in depth conversation about color matching & color theory, Molecular Thermodynamics, solubility parameters of coatings, and what ever else the students wanted to know about.

Today was a more hands-on day. The Guild members joined the students to watch Don demonstrate several different methods of mold making and duplication for use in repairing wooden items such as picture frames and carvings that may be missing or damaged, and to learn about gold leafing or gilding.

Don demonstrated a number of materials that can be used to make and cast molds, and he demonstrated both water and oil gilding. In addition, there was some great back and forth about hide glue, shellac, Japanese Lacquer, and general conservation techniques Don uses in his day to day work as a Museum Conservator.

We always like to have Don in to work with the students, and we can't wait until his next visit this summer for his 3-day workshop on the restoration of veneers and their finishes. (July 20-22, visit http://www.woodfinishing.org/workshops.htm for more info on summer courses)