Sitting with the Past: Craft + Culture Through Chair Making
Session 1 | June 8–20
Painted Arm Chair by Charlie Ryland, 2022. Maple, hickory, paper cord, milk paint, enamel paint, 28” x 21.25” x 18.5”.
This workshop will offer participants a deep dive into a variety of tools and techniques for the design and construction of ladderback chairs. Parts will be split from a freshly felled log, shaped using drawknives and spokeshaves, and joined through a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Demonstrations will be based on the iconic form produced by the Poynor family, and participants will be encouraged to experiment with their own design ideas with their chairs. All levels welcome.
Charlie Ryland (he/him) is a chair maker, teacher, and researcher based in southern New Hampshire. His work is motivated by an interest in the overlap between craft and labor, their respective roles in the creation and distribution of knowledge and culture, and the ways in which both can be used to build and shape community through the generation of history, meaning, and solidarity.