Thinking of going straight?...then this is not the course for you...read on

Take a look at.. Steam-bending 2010 - the steam-bending workshop event  running in April 2010 .

The course is run by Charlie Whinney, who has pioneered new approaches to steam-bending wood and developed the craft to produce complex, beautiful and award-winning works. These include a 30m wooden sculpture of the DNA double-helix recently installed at Cambridge university (see http://www.charliewhinney.com/ for more info). Charlie is keen to share the knowledge and expertise he has gained from doing these projects in order to forward the art of steam-bending wood, and will pass on everything he knows. The event should also be an excellent opportunity to meet others in your field.

You can find full details and schedule on the website at www.steambentwood.com, and you can also book your place here. The course takes place in the beautiful village of Elterwater, Cumbria – on the Merz Barn site which is one of four ‘Merzbauten’ (3D interior architectural installations) created by the renowned Dadaist artist Kurt Schwitters, and was the final working space and studio of the artist prior to his death. It is easily accessible from the M6.

The workshop begins on Friday the 23rd of April at 7pm with plenty of drinks at a relaxed evening reception. On the Saturday you will get straight into actual steam-bending between 9-11 am, followed by a talk and slideshow, which includes case-studies of projects and real-life examples of different techniques in steam-bending. In the afternoon, you will learn how to twist and free-bend, and apply them in a practical session. We will break at 6.30, and head to the local pub for a hearty dinner, and thus conclude the first day.

Sunday starts with a practical session, in which you will make your own original steam-bent fruit bowl. A teaching session follows, in which you will learn the techniques of accurate 3D bending, sliding compression-strap bends and multi-plane bending, which you will then apply in a practical session. After lunch, at 2pm, you will make your own steam-bent seat in a practical session which lasts until finishing time at 6.30 pm. The third day (Monday 26th )is optional, but included in the price. It consists of a three-hour tool-making workshop, in which you will make your own drying-jig, steam-chamber and steel formers from 9am until 12 noon, and Charlie will be available for the rest of the day to offer steam-bending help and advice.

The full price of the course is £800 in total, and this includes all materials, food, drink and accommodation.  To reserve your place simply send me an email on alison@ai-randm.com and I will then book you on the course and send you an invoice. Also, please do email me with any questions you have about any aspect of the course.

To book yourself a place or learn more about the course, visit http://www.steambentwood.com/ Alternatively, phone 01865 811176 or email alison@ai-randm.com for further information. If you have friends or colleagues who might be interested, please do forward my email on to them.

More contemporary furniture and design at http://www.kevinhallsworth.co.uk/ the website of Kevin Hallsworth designer and maker of contemporary bespoke furniture and creator of the Industryindesign collection.