Furniture Design & Woodworking

Code: W0810-21

    • IV

      Level IV

      Students have advanced skill and knowledge of furniture design. Students are highly motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

Master Class: seminar

Aug 2 - 6, 2021

9AM-5PM

Concept

David Ellsworth conducts a Master Class seminar with a focus on, “searching for the unknown as a means of exploring the self in self-expression.” Daily activities include discussion sessions relating to designs in vessel forms, shape-shifting as a means of developing and altering forms, using the lathe as a power carving tool in making forms, learning to translate ideas into a visual language and daily critiques of work produced.  The seminar is currently full with three visiting artists – T.J. Anderson, Craig Lofton and Alex Olson.

Faculty

David Ellsworth

David’s work is included in the permanent collections of 44 museums and numerous private collections worldwide. He is a Fellow and former Trustee of the American Craft Council and has received fellowship awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and the PEW fellowship for the Arts. He recently was honored with the prestigious “Visionary Award” for 2021 by the Smithsonian Institution.

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David Ellsworth, Norway Maple Burl

Join Waitlist for Master Class: seminar

Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.

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.

FURNITURE SOCIETY LOGO

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 20% tuition discount* in summer one- or two-week adult workshops for Furniture Society members. Please email reg@andersonranch.org with your Furniture Society membership information and we will send you a code to register and access the discount. Discounts are not available retroactively. You are also welcome to call 970-924-5089 to register. Please note that the SPE and Center for Fine Art Photography discount does not apply to Advanced Mentored Studies programs or Destination Workshops, nor can it be combined with any other discount, scholarship or special offer. 

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Workshop Details

Workshop Supplies

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. 

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.

The Ranch Café meal plan that is included with Room and Board fees strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. The meal plan includes 5 days of continental breakfasts that will include a hot offering, 5 lunches with a selection of offerings, and 5 dinners.

 

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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    Jan 6 - 24, 2025
    Monday-Friday, 9AM - 5PM
    Participants may register for one, two, or three weeks
    TUITION is $1,110 per week or $3,300 for three weeks

    January Studio Sessions: Furniture Design & Woodworking

    Lane Preston

    Tuition $1,110
    Code ZSW0101-25

    Anderson Ranch’s January Studio Sessions provide artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff and interns. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation, and access to equipment, as well as some morning group demonstrations and / or critiques. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. *Studios are open 24 hours a day and on weekends for students enrolled in multiple weeks, with limited use of equipment due to safety requirements. The machine rooms are only available when monitored – weekdays 9 AM-5 PM. Evening monitoring hours are Mondays - Thursdays, 7 – 9 PM. IMPORTANT DETAILS: Students will be responsible for all material costs associated with their projects. Participants who register for multiple consecutive weeks will gain access to the studios on weekends (with the exception of the machine rooms due to safety constraints.) Private dorm rooms are available at Anderson Ranch for one, two or three weeks for an additional fee; click here to view January 2025 lodging options. TO APPLY: Applicants must submit project proposals or portfolios for approval. Contact Betsy Alwin to apply: [email protected]

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    • II

      Level II

      Students have experience working with stationary machines and power tools and are familiar with basic principles of joinery and 3­-D design.

    • III

      Level III

      Students have some formal training in 3­-D design, experience with a variety of materials and fabrication processes, and know how to use machine and hand tools competently and safely. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.

    • IV

      Level IV

      Students have advanced skill and knowledge of furniture design. Students are highly motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

    Jun 2 - 13, 2025
    9AM-5PM

    Digital and Organic: Wood Bending and the CNC

    Laura Kishimoto

    Tuition $1,650
    Code W0101-25

    In this innovative workshop that bridges woodworking and digital fabrication, we utilize the CNC Router to fabricate jigs and molds for bending and cutting joinery. Bending represents a dramatic departure from most traditional fine woodworking. Rather than working with rectilinear geometry, students lean into the materiality of wood and explore its natural strengths through curvature. Reference faces are often non-existent and require unique joinery, creative thinking, and novel use of machinery. Basic drawing techniques in Rhinoceros 3D are introduced as students design and prototype a project specific to their personal style.

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    • O

      Open to All

      Students of any skill and knowledge level.

    Jun 9 - 20, 2025
    9AM-5PM

    Bulk, Bulges, and Raw Edges: Upholstery Basics

    Tina Ortman

    Tuition $1,650
    Code W0202-25

    Restore furniture or enhance original designs with the addition of pattern, texture, and comfort in a workshop that explores the possibilities of upholstery. Starting with a basic chair, we strip the layers to discover how an upholstered piece is constructed, then reverse the process by installing webbing, springs, and padding with the final embellishment of fabric. Whether your interest lies in adding upholstery to your own furniture designs or renovating existing furniture, students come away with the knowledge of the basic tools, techniques, and materials of upholstery. Furniture to be upholstered must be approved by the instructor before the workshop starts.

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