Bespoke Furniture Making with Wood Carving

Tutors in Residence

Geoff Hannah, Lismore and Laurens Otto, Toowoomba

Geoff was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1980 to study in London and Paris. He has been a tutor at the McGregor Summer School, Art Institute and many centres in Central Queensland. He won the traditional section at the National Woodwork Exhibition (Melbourne) for three consecutive years. Geoff was also awarded the silver medallion for the Arts in the Lismore Bicentennial Australia Day Awards and a major work was purchased by the Australia Fund for Government House, Canberra. Another major work, the Australiana Cabinet, featuring 100 different timbers, was sold to a private buyer in Belgium.

Laurens has been a professional woodcarver for more than 35 years. In 1987, he worked on the designs and carvings of the ‘Australian State Coach’ which was presented to HRH Queen Elizabeth II and is now housed at Buckingham Palace, London. Laurens completed an extensive commission for the sanctuary refurbishment in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney in time for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit for World Youth Day in 2008. He has been a tutor at McGregor Summer School since 1984 and has taught extensively in NSW and Queensland. His work is represented in public and private collections in Australia, England, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and the USA.

Class Synopsis

Bespoke is a term which originated in the clothing industry, denoting an original, handcrafted item. In this class you will create your own heirloom furniture pieces!

The major project for this year will be a mahogany, French polished stool in “Gothic/Chippendale” style to be upholstered at a later date and/or a Cracket stool in oak. Students could also do a document box with a floating lid, carved and then French polished if time permits

Level

All levels

Materials

Depends on individual project - your tutors can advise.

Enrol

An enrolment form is available either by printing a form or contacting the office.