NR 16: Ecological Citizenship — Spoon Carving Seminar

Course Overview:

Students in the woodshop at Shelburne Farms

The purpose of this module is to develop a relationship with wood, tools, and the act of creating. Students electing the spoon-carving module will create a simple wooden object starting from its source, the forest. The process will include selecting wood that has been harvested, sawn and dried at Shelburne Farms while learning about the evolution of forestry principles and practices on this historic land. Wood found in natural form may also be used. Carving will occur in the wood shop at the Shelburne Crafts School.

Students will engage in a design process that balances intellectual and intuitive faculties. The conception of student’s spoons will go toward an individual discovery of form and functional considerations applied to the nature of wood. Tool handling will include instruction about sharpening, reading the grain, developing the form and carving safely, and then experiencing these things through the art of carving their spoon.