An evening with Gary Kent

Friday December 18, 2015 5pm

An evening with Gary Kent photography Bronwyn Kent

Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking is proud to present a slide show and talk with Gary Kent. Gary, who has served as our relief teacher since the inception of the school, will reflect back on his life as a fisherman, craftsman, teacher, author, grandfather and as one of the founding members of Roberts Creek co housing. The talk is open to students, family and friends. Join us for what we hope will be a quarterly event at the school, with one of my favourite people.

Celebrating a Decade of Craft Education

It has been three weeks since we were joined by friends and family where we celebrated a decade of craft education for the aspiring amateur at IPSFC. I must say, that I was overwhelmed at the response, with several students from each of the first ten years of the school, including students from the northern Canada, the eastern seaboard, southern California, and everywhere in between. Eupho, a two year graduate of the program, joined us all the way from Japan for the weekend. It was so good to reconnect with so many old friends, including a few we have lost touch with over the years. And yes, I did say the first ten years. 

Leading up to the exhibition, we were informed the the complex where the school has been located since its inception, is up for sale. While we have a lease that will withstand a change in ownership. It was this, combined with my desire to return to my own work, had me thinking that perhaps it was time to step aside, and let someone else take the reins for a while. As I stood before a packed house at the exhibition, I suggested that in another ten years, I hoped that it would be Caroline, and not me standing at the front of the room.

The truth is I love teaching, and while it has become, and cherished part of my life, I have felt something missing in my life for some time. After returning from our five day retreat, I returned to my shop with a new found energy, perhaps even passion and realized that the time has come. We have been preparing the school for this for a while now. Caroline has been with us for three years, and has been assisting with our program for the past year. Later this fall she will be easing into a teaching role at the school. Each afternoon following my afternoon lecture, she will assist students in there work, and in time allow me to return to my little shop each afternoon to rekindle my passion for the craft.

If I have learned anything in the last ten years, life is about finding a balance that works for you. Each year at the beginning and the end of the program, I make reference to the John Brown quote, “I live in a beautiful place, I work at something I love, I make enough money to live and my demands on the worlds resources are very meagre.” I have always felt that these are words to live by, and as a teacher they have always embraced my hopes, for all the who have passed through our doors. While there are many moments that will stand out for me from the weekend, I will always cherish a late night conversation I had with Don Stenner. He made reference to the quote and suggested that he was doing just that. I thought to myself, this is the greatest gift a teacher can ever receive.

Yvonne and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who joined us for the celebration, and those who joined us in spirit. I remind you that this school not only exists for you but because of you. In the past ten years, you have shaped the school and our lives, and we are so very grateful for the memories.
with peace & love,
Robert

Tree of Knowledge School - Israel

“The moment you think about giving up, think of the reason you held on for so long.”

After finishing up our winter term at the school, Yvonne and I traveled to Amsterdam for a few days, before heading to Israel, where I taught a six day class on the subtitles of making and fitting a drawer on the curve.

Robert & Oren assembling Robert's drawer

The Tree of Knowledge School was founded by IPSFC alumni Oren Feigenbaum and Nathan Vanthof. The school is nestled in a beautiful area between the sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea, and has fostered a wonderful community of woodworkers. 

Sea of Galilee

This was my second visit to the school, in as many years. The class consisted of fifteen students with three of the schools teachers also participating in the class. While Oren and Nathan continue as the primary teachers at the school, they have enlisted the assistance of Amir Aharon, a graduate from the Tree of Knowledge’s first long program and Chen Lekach, a graduate of the College of the Redwoods. The school has created a creative and supportive environment with a strong reverence for the teachings of James Krenov. 

morning lecture

Following the program, Yvonne and I joined Oren and Nathan and their lovely families for a wonderful meal in the ancient seaside port of Akko, which for me is a very special place. The next morning we all traveled to Golan Heights where from atop of Mount Hermon, we could see the green orchards of Syria to the east.

Mount Hermon

We traveled further south and stayed in a yurt overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and enjoyed a traditional meal over a fire. The next morning we traveled south to the Dead Sea stoping by a desert monastery where the restoration of several buildings and mosaics where underway. Swimming in the Dead Sea and enjoying the natural hot springs adjacent to it will be something that Yvonne and I will not soon forget. We then traveled to the south of the Dead Sea where we spent the night in one of the most unique places we have ever experienced. The vibe there was very Sababa. Sababa is a hebrew word meaning relax or chill. We found that the people of Israel, are a very soulful group of people. The next morning we began our journey home stopping by David’s Falls and  back to the Kibbutz where we were staying for one more night. The next day I spent at the school before boarding the train from Nahariya to Tel Aviv. After nearly twenty four hours later, we arrived home in Roberts Creek and after a few days of rest, began preparing the school for the spring session which begins on Monday. 

Drawer Making & Fitting on the Curve

The beauty of this small country on the Mediterranean is only surpassed by the beauty of their people. We very much look forward to our next visit.

my bench mate Amir, a very sweet man

Exhibition & Guest Faculty Programs

Friends,
As many of you are aware, our school is in it’s tenth year of providing craft education for the aspiring amateur. We would like to invite each of you to join us for a weekend of celebration, May 1-3, 2015 as we look back on the journey. It has been a decade of highs and lows, trials and triumphs. We have made many friends, and lost influential people in our lives. We have watched relationships foster, children grow and babies born. I am grateful for it all. It has shaped our school, and our lives. We are reminded every day that our school exists not only for you, but because of you. Each of you have made a profound impact on our lives.

On Friday May 1, 2015 at 5pm a Welcome Elephant will be held at the school, with a keg of local craft beer on tap. On Saturday May 2, 2015 from 6-9pm, we will be presenting a retrospective Exhibition of work from our students, alumni and faculty. Refreshments will be provided and an informal gathering for our alumni, family and friends will follow. On Sunday an alumni brunch will take place at the Gumboot Cafe. Following brunch, for those interested, I will be providing a tour of my new home shop, which is now home to JK’s handtools and original Swedish machines.

On the following Monday we are pleased to announce that Jacques Breau 2006-2007,  will be kicking off our Guest Faculty programs for 2015.  Jacques will be offering a program on Curved Joinery May 4-15, 2015. Lael Gordon  2006-2007, will be presenting Parquetry August 3-15. If you are interested in attending either class, please contact the Yvonne for more details. 

As there is much planning to be done, please let us know if you plan to attend, and how many pieces if any you intend to bring. These pieces may include pieces made as a student at the school, as well as work done after graduation. This will be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends, and meet like minded craftsman, their families and friends.  Yvonne and I would be most grateful if you could join us for this celebration.
Be well and enjoy your work,
Robert & Yvonne