Maine is very special to the Bagby family, owners of Highland Woodworking, for a number of reasons. Not only is it home to Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, but it is where Molly Bagby first learned how to cut a dovetail at the Center For Furniture Craftsmanship. It also happens to be where the Appalachian Trail ends, a hike that owner, Chris Bagby, has completed several times. Starting this Summer, Maine is getting a new woodworking school, the Maine Coast Workshop, which will be focused on Traditional 18th Century woodworking and carving, with an emphasis on hand tools.
Founder, William Francis Brown, had the following to say about why he wanted to start a woodworking school, particularly in Maine where there is already an abundance of fine woodworking education:
“When I started thinking about starting traditional woodworking classes, focusing on 18th century tools and techniques, I had to consider that there are a number of craft schools out there and the Maine coast happens to have a particularly high concentration. Would another school be viable? Fortunately, my areas of interest happen to provide a niche that dovetails and nicely complements the other surrounding schools. Peter Korn’s ‘Center For Furniture Craftsmanship‘ is 15 minutes away. I’ve taken classes there over the years and am a big supporter and admirer of his school. Their multi-acre campus focuses more on contemporary work and longer-term apprenticeships. The focus of Kenneth and Angela Kortemeier’s wonderful ‘Maine Coast Craft School‘, an hour away in Bristol, ME, is primarily green woodworking and strictly hand-tool work. The Shelter Institute in Woolwich teaches post-and-beam home construction; The Apprenticeshop in Rockland focuses on traditional boatbuilding.”
“We welcome all skill levels from complete beginners to advanced professionals. Suggested skill level for each class will be clearly marked in the descriptions. Class size will be as small as 5 students in order to maximize one-on-one time with the instructors. So, in sum, our focus is traditional hand-tool techniques, small class size, world-class instruction, and classes for all skill levels. I am very proud of the quality of teachers this first year: it’s a veritable who’s who of world-class makers and carvers.”
Some of this year’s teachers include Mary May, Matt Kenney, Alf Sharp, among many other talented woodworkers who will be offering a variety of classes that can be found on the Maine Coast Craft School’s schedule of upcoming classes.
If the Bagby family makes it back to Maine again this Summer, maybe you’ll find them at one of these great new classes!
