The Resident Mastery Program in Woodworking
with Gary Rogowski

The Resident Mastery Program runs for a period of nine months starting October 6, 2008. Entry is during the Fall term only and applications must be received by June 1, 2008. Each year, the residency commences at the start of the Fall Term in early October. Accepted students will be able to work in the Studio Monday through Friday from 9AM to 8PM. Students will spend each week at the bench designing and building both Design and Studio Projects as well as developing plans for their business.

Design Projects have been chosen to teach certain methods, techniques, and approaches while at the same time allowing each student room to explore his or her own style. Studio projects have been selected to illustrate techniques while building useful and practical objects. These include items such as jigs and hand tools, tool boxes and shop storage drawers as well as some smaller shop items like sawhorses and stools.

With an emphasis on furniture design, students will emerge from the program with a sense of how to design fine furniture. They will develop a signature style of their own while building pieces with the goal of producing gallery quality. However the practical aspects of the program cannot be overlooked as students will learn effective machine use and maintenance, production building, and shop set-up. Throughout the year students will also learn solid business practices, how to develop a business plan, marketing strategies, and business survival skills.