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While we’re not quite ready to launch the complete web site for Woodworking in America 2012, we’re almost there! More than 20 top-notch woodworkers have accepted our invitation to speak at this year’s conferences, and right now, we’re waiting on just a handful of contracts, and we’re busy getting the schedule completely worked out.

If all goes well (and yes, I’ve built in a little wiggle room here), the Woodworking in America 2012 web site (woodworkinginamerica.com) will have all the speakers, session topics and schedules posted in a week or two, and registration for both conferences will open shortly thereafter, in April. The first conference is in Pasadena, Calif., Oct. 12-14; the second is in Greater Cincinnati, Nov. 2-4.

So while we can’t tell you everything just yet, we can give you a little preview.

For Pasadena, we’re delighted to announce that David Marks will be joining us to teach on several topics, including “Double-Bevel Marquetry.”

I’m guessing most of you are familiar with David’s stunning studio furniture, finishing techniques and turning through his television show, “Wood Works.” David moved to Santa Rosa, Calif., after studying at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz. He worked in cabinet and furniture shops in the 1970s, and in 1981, he opened his own shop/studio and began building stunning one-of-a-kind pieces. In the late 1980s, David shifted his focus to wood turning and sculpture, and began experimenting with gilding and patinas.

For Greater Cincinnati, we welcome another new Woodworking in America presenter: renowned chairmaker Curtis Buchanan. He also has several exciting topics lined up, one of which is “Drawknives for Everyone.”

Curtis builds Windsor chairs in much the same way there were made 200 years ago, and has been a full-time chairmaker since 1984, in his one-man shop is in Jonesborough, Tenn. Curits has published many articles on chairmaking and has taught at woodworking schools in the United States and abroad. His chairs are in the permanent collection of the Tennessee State Museum, the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, the Tennessee State Governor’s Mansion and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. He is also the co-founder of GreenWood, a community-based sustainable forestry initiative in Latin America.

We’re also delighted to welcome back Christopher Schwarz, contributing editor, to both the Pasadena and Greater Cincinnati conferences. This year (in addition to a few other sessions), Chris will be be giving us a sneak peek at his next book project (or one of his next book projects) in a class titled “The Furniture Style with No Name.” As he puts it, “There is a kind of furniture that had remained unchanged for centuries, is gorgeous in its simplicity and built to stand centuries of abuse. In this lecture, you’ll be introduced to a style of furniture that few scholars ever talk about or even give a name to, but it has surrounded us since the 1600s.”

I won’t belabor this post with an introduction of Chris – I’m pretty sure you’re all familiar with him (if not, pop over to his PWM blog to get a taste of his work and writing).

Stay tuned. We’ll be telling you more – and getting that web site up – very soon!

– Megan Fitzpatrick


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  • mvflaim

    Curtis Buchanan is striking gold. Same is true with David Marks on the west coast. Sucks you guys can’t fly him to Cincy.

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