Story Archives of 'Woodworking'

Look around you. How many things in your immediate vicinity are made of wood? And how many are made of plastic -- but crafted to look like wood? Historian Harvey Green is fascinated by mankind's relationship with wood -- from its practical uses to our spiritual and cultural connection to it. He joins us for an exploration of one of the most common but treasured materials on earth.

Harvey Green is professor of History at Northeastern University. His new book is called Wood: Craft, Culture, History.

A great workshop says as much about self-expression as it does efficiency and convenience. What is made in a shop - and why - influences the way a shop is configured and what you will find in it. The new book, The Workshop: Celebrating the Place Where Craftsmanship Begins, gives an inside look at over 35 outstanding shops, how they evolved and how they suit the individual needs of the woodworkers who own them. Author Scott Gibson traveled around New England and met furniture makers, boatbuilders, turners, carvers and luthiers, many of whom teach as well as crafting beautiful things in wood. The text and photographs give you an inside peek into the lives and work spaces of some of America's most well known woodworkers.

This interview aired previously in March, 2004.

Dan Dustin is a wood artisan and spoon maker from Contoocook. He's been using his own unique method of making wooden spoons for 30 years. He begins by going into the woods, and "finding" the spoons within the branches of trees. He says the trees make the spoons, he just discovers them. His spoons cost as much as $100.
In recent years, Dan has begun teaching his craft. He'll have a new class starting soon at the Kimball-Jenkins Community Art School in Concord; for information, call 225-3932.

Newport resident Terry Moore is a completely self-taught woodworker. (Originally from Wales, he settled in New Hampshire after the rock musical he was touring with disbanded, but that's another story.) He started as a carpenter and now he creates one-of-a-kind furniture. One of his pieces is in the permanent collection of the Currier Museum. He's one of the founders of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters and he runs the Furniture Masters' training program at the state prison in Concord.

Elaine Hamel is a woodworker and general contractor. She'a also the creator of a program called "Girls At Work." She says teaching girls how to handle power tools and make something useful also teaches them self-respect and confidence. www.girlswork.org
We also hear a story from local author Virginia Schoenwalt.