Master Workshop !This course provides a new approach to an ancient wood carving technique using local materials, in this case chestnut wood. Given by an experienced woodcrafter in a hidden treasure village of central Portugal, creative tourism is the perfect opportunity to gain craft knowledge while discovering a beautiful culture. !ARTANDCRAFT@CERDEIRAVILLAGE.COM WWW.CERDEIRAVILLAGE.COM

INTRODUCTION TO CHESTNUT WOOD CARVING

29Sept-6Octo 2014

Course Tutor

Kerstin Thomas was born in 1964 in Germany. After taking visual arts, she learned woodcarving in a wood-designing studio. She studied Social Sciences and completed a degree in Portuguese Language and Culture at the University of Coimbra. Settled in Portugal and lives in the village of Cerdeira where, since 1990, has a workshop herself. Although her work in the woodcarving field has different approaches, she has a preference for native wood.

Participated in several national and international fairs and exhibitions in Portugal, Spain and Germany, especially Eunique, the International Fair for Applied Arts & Design. Won several awards and distinctions. Mentors and organizes the annual event in Cerdeira “Elementos à Solta” (Elements on the loose), since 2006 with exhibitions and artists of Portuguese Craft.

After an introduction to the techniques and raw

materials, each participant will develop

their own project, accompanied and supported

step by step by the course tutor. In a friendly environment of

cooperation and mutual assistance among all

participants.

The organization

The village of Cerdeira is located on the famous Lousã Mountains, 40 km from the city of Coimbra, in Portugal.  All the houses in the village are made of Schist stone, even new ones have been carefully reconstructed using the traditional constructive techniques. Such attributes allow Cerdeira to be part of the Schist Village Network, an association that promotes tourism of these traditional style villages. Cerdeira has beautiful and unique natural surroundings; its isolation and untouched landscape allow visitors to experience a different kind of solitude, one that fits perfectly with a creative state of being. These factors give Cerdeira the best conditions to create an innovative tourism offer, which aims to provide to its visitors a creative and rewarding experience.

The “Cerdeira Art & Craft” project aims to transform the village into an international artistic hub. With the support and commitment of the City Hall of Lousã and the Schist Village Network our main goal is to provide the perfect conditions as well as the means necessary to stimulate the creativity of the ones who visit us. In short, promote a creative tourism and incentive the intersection between arts, crafts, traditional techniques and nature.

For more details on the program: artandcraft@cerdeiravillage.com https://www.facebook.com/cerdeiravillageartandcraft www.cerdeiravillage.com

Accommodations

Cerdeira Village has the capacity to accommodate guests in a self-catering shared building called “Casa das Artes” (House of Arts), that is independent and fully equipped for a longer stay. The House of Arts is a building constructed using traditional techniques and materials, namely stone, clay and wood. A spacious and full of light studio facility that will allow residents to work freely and in perfect conditions. On the lower floor, residents can enjoy a spacious kitchen however the program already includes a catering service.. There is also a small bathroom. The second and third floor are studio/working spaces with great natural lighting and two balconies with marvelous views. The second bathroom with shower is located on the third floor. The upper floor is the shared bedroom for up to six people in bunk beds.Cerdeira Village also provides accommodation for guests in self-catering traditional schist stone homes for an extra fee. The houses are independent and fully equipped. Guests may also bring their family to take part of their creative experience. Houses are prepared with a modern kitchen and a dining area. All houses have a private bathroom with shower and hot water. Electric heating is always available, as well as a traditional wood burning stove.

Participants will be provided with accommodation, full pension, materials,

recreational activities, an introduction to Portuguese language and the opportunity to connect with a new culture as well as a new

craft technique.

Recreational activities include Bread-baking at the village

wood stove, guided hike from the village to the castle, visit to the

city ethnographic museum and a dinner at the best regional

restaurant “O Burgo”.

Details !Duration of the Master Workshop: 7 days !Date: From 1st to 7th of June !Number of participants: 4-6 !Price: 790€ 15% Discount for students !Target: all interested artists and creative individuals, with or without experience !Skills required: interest, patience and persistence !Training hours: 18 !Hours of individual and assisted work: 24 !Working languages: English, German and Portuguese !Learned knowledge and skills: Basic drawing techniques Basic carving techniques Finishing techniques Tool maintenance techniques Working with the chestnut wood !We also provide: ♣ Linens and towels

♣ Cleaning service every four

days ♣ Laundry services for an extra

fee ♣ Fresh food, water, tea and

coffee !Included: ♣ Insurance policy

♣ Government taxes

!

Chapters Objectives Content

1.From a tree to a creation

Brief history of wood carving

1.1 Knowing the toolsIdentify the main tools;

Handle correctly the gouges. Apply safety measures.

Presentation of tools;Safety in the working place;

Handling exercises.

1.2The

chestnut wood

The chestnut wood and its characteristics

Discover the centenary chestnut trees in Cerdeira

1.3

Raw materials

and finishing

Experiment various finishing techniques

Examples of different kind of wood and practical exercises to

recognize its characteristics. Incursion into the preparation

of raw materials: drying, storing, etc. Materials and

finishing techniques.

2. From idea to mock-up

Individual presentation of the idea, defence and validation.Implementation of a mock-up.

Criteria for the validation of an individual project. Sharing and

group discussion.

Materials and individual support to implement the mock-up.

2.1Ideas fall from the

sky

Identify the elements and the necessary development stages of

an idea. Recognizing creative thinking in as vital tool. Develop

a first idea for the individual project.

Structure of the process of developing ideas. Practical exercises on awareness and research. Other materials.

Research. Criteria for defending and validating the idea.

2.2 Resources Define resources Define resources (time, space, materials etc.).

2.3Execution

of the mock-up

Individual presentation of the idea, defence and validation. Implementation of a mock-up.

Criteria for validation of an individual project. Sharing and group discussion. Materials and individual support to implement

the mock-up.

2.4

Planning and

preparing the

individual project

Plan and prepare the individual project taking into account the resources of time and material.

Individual support for planning and project preparation.

3. Hands to work

Implementation of the individual project.

Individual support to the implementation of the individual project. Gathering on progress

and difficulties at the beginning and end of each session.

3.1Tool

maintenance

Properly perform the various ways of sharpening and

maintaining tools.

Techniques for sharpening and maintaining gouges.

3.2

Joint evaluation

of the work

performed and the

workshop in general

Recognition of technical skills acquired in the implementation and originality of the idea. The

importance of each one participating in this workshop.

Compare the work to the project. Check the adequacy of the techniques and tools used. Final discussion of the work

performed. Relationship between the expectations of

each and course held.