Creative Tourism: Master Workshopn chestnut woodcarving en

29Sept6Octo 2014

INTRODUCTION TO CHESTNUT WOOD CARVING 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.

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ARTANDCRAFT@CERDEIRAVILLAGE.COM WWW.CERDEIRAVILLAGE.COM

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.

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.

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

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Duration of the Master Workshop: 7 days

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Date: From 1 to 7 of June !

Number of participants: 4-6 ! st

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Price: 790€ 15% Discount for students

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Target: all interested artists and creative individuals, with or without experience

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Skills required: interest, patience and persistence

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Training hours: 18 !

Hours of individual and assisted work: 24

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Working languages: English, German and Portuguese

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Learned knowledge and skills: Basic drawing techniques Basic carving techniques Finishing techniques Tool maintenance techniques Working with the chestnut wood

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We also provide: ♣ Linens and towels ♣ Cleaning service every four days ♣ Laundry services for an extra fee ♣ Fresh food, water, tea and

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coffee

Included: ♣ Insurance policy ♣ Government taxes

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Chapters 1.

1.1

1.2

1.3

2.

Objectives

From a tree to a creation

Knowing the tools

The chestnut wood

Raw materials and finishing

From idea to mock-up

Content Brief history of wood carving

Identify the main tools; Handle correctly the gouges.

Apply safety measures.

Presentation of tools; Safety in the working place; Handling exercises.

The chestnut wood and its characteristics

Discover the centenary chestnut trees in Cerdeira

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.

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.

2.1

Ideas 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.

2.2

Resources

Define resources

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

2.3

Execution 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.

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.

Tool maintenan ce Joint evaluation of the work performed and the workshop in general

Properly perform the various ways of sharpening and maintaining tools.

Techniques for sharpening and maintaining gouges.

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.

3.

3.1

3.2

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

Research. Criteria for defending and validating the idea.