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The class I took at Arrowmont was called "Investigating Form & Surface for Turned-Wood Objects" and was taught by Betty Scarpino. It ran from July 11th through the 15th, 2005. I had about the best time of my life there. I got one of the 8 available private rooms, which it turns out are at the top of the hill farthest from the wood shop. That means a fairly long walk each day, which is probably a good thing for me since I don't usually get much exercise. A tip to anyone planning on an Arrowmont experience, bring a cart or something to move your stuff. I brought a collapsible luggage carrier and was very happy that I did. Betty even borrowed it to move her stuff. I think they have one or two hand trucks there but you'll have to share it if you don't bring your own. Also, once you park your car you don't want to move it and lose your parking space, because there is not nearly enough parking for everyone. People were routinely parking in the narrow roadways on campus during the day and it wasn't much better at night. A lot of students are either local or have off-campus housing, so they drive in each day and there's a real struggle to find a parking spot. That's why you want the cart. I got there on Sunday afternoon and parked by my room. Once I saw how many people were parked in the roads I knew that I couldn't drive my car to the shop to unload and expect to find my parking space available when I was done. So I made several trips with the cart up and down that hill, which grew steeper with every trip. Boy, to have my 18 year-old body back......

This first photo shows the lathe that I used. I found out that when you arrive you should immediately go to the wood shop and select your lathe. Most of the students had already selected their lathe when I got there, but somehow no one had chosen this one, which I found curious since it had the most natural light. So I was very happy to have gotten it. In this picture I have one of the pieces I worked on mounted in the Cole jaws of my Nova chuck.

This might be a good time to discuss the layout of resources at Arrowmont. They provide a good deal of support materials, but nowhere near everything. Yes, they have faceplates and spur centers. I believe they even have a Nova chuck for you. However, if you like Cole jaws or other specialty jaws, you'll have to bring them. I brought my whole Nova chuck and accessories. If you do bring your own, make sure it's a 1 1/4-8 thread because that's pretty much what everything is there.

Another thing to mention is that things like sandpaper, Scotchbright pads, finishes, brushes and turning tools are pretty much up to you to provide. Basically, pack everything you particularly like to use in your shop that you can pack. You do have compressed air there, as you can see in the photo on the wall to the left of the headstock, but it is hard coupled to the blow gun. There isn't a quick disconnect there so if you like to use air powered tools you might not be able to connect them up. There might be one or two places somewhere in the shop area, but not at the lathe. I brought my electric powered carving tool and you'll find places all over to plug those types of tools in. You'll have access to a band saw, drill press, planer, belt sanders and various hand tools. Overall, a very well equipped shop. There are also some basics available in the school store, but we're talking basics as it relates to an art school, not a hardware store. I believe there is a hardware store in town, but I never looked. If you do want something though, Dave Hankey will be happy to get it for you. He's one of the most helpful people on the planet and a gift to have in the shop.

Their dust collection is first rate. If you don't have dust collection like they have there you should certainly consider upgrading. You can see the dust collection chute in the photo above, just behind the lathe. This really works. You have a nice bench just behind the lathe for your tools and whatever. You can see that I also brought a few boxes and a plastic storage box. That really worked out well as I used that for storage right by my work area. You can lock the bench drawers and they provide a lock and key for that, but I don't think there's any theft problem. If it makes you feel better though you can lock items you're concerned about at night and not have to worry.

The photos above show some of the students at work. The student in the photo at bottom-right is Jennifer Shirley. She was Betty's assistant and was a first-rate problem solver and facilitator for anything you might need. Between her and Dave you could get whatever you needed. As you can see she was also there as a student, expanding her already impressive talents for woodturning. Give yourself a treat and visit her website, http://www.jennifer-shirley.com.

As you look at the photos above, consider this if you take a class at Arrowmont, or anywhere for that matter. Unless you're already familiar with standing at the lathe for 8-10 hours a day you may discover that it is too much of a good thing. You'll get tired and your legs will ache. Don't try to be a marathon artist out of some misplaced sense of pride or guts. Take breaks and if you're tired at 4 PM, quit and relax. Remember, you're there to have a good time. Few who attend are making their living at woodturning...at least not yet. You've all heard stories about the determined, committed turners that are there until midnight every night. I don't get it. I have nothing to prove and if I did I would mostly let those to whom I'm proving it let down. I had FUN, and that was what counted to me. However, when I did leave in the evening I didn't necessarily stop creating. I did sketches and thought out things that I wanted to try the next day, after a good night's sleep. The main thing, enjoy yourself. That could mean staying until they close the shop every night, or going shopping in Gatlinburg after lunch.

Speaking of lunch, or any of the meals there, you'll be stuffed until you can't move if you don't watch it. You certainly won't starve. And it's not just the quantity either. The problem is that the food is so good you will have a hard time NOT overeating. I'm not used to three large meals every day, so I found myself limiting my lunch size just so I wouldn't fall asleep in mid-afternoon. This is not a complaint of course.

Betty isn't just a figurehead, there to impress and direct. Though she brought her own work to "lead by example", she also spent a lot of her time giving students hands-on assistance when they asked. As an accomplished turner she has demonstrated her artistic vision and mastery in her work and unlike many at her level of expertise, she can also teach with enthusiasm. My overall impression of being a student in her class was that it was a simple and complete joy. She has brought me to a new level of understanding and has improved my vision immeasurably. Now if I can just find the time to use it before I lose it.

At the end of the class we all assembled our work for a group crit and display. The two photos above show most of our work. Below is a group photo showing all members of the class with Betty in the center of the front row. Not a sad face in the group.

One of the interesting things at Arrowmont is the totem poles they have set up near the center of the campus outside the cafeteria building. They are metal pipes on which clubs are invited to make sections to add to the totem. Go to my Totem page to learn more about this. I hope our club, the Detroit Area Woodturners, will be able to build and present a totem section to Arrowmont next year.

What's for next year? I'm not sure yet, but I'm probably going to spend some time at Isle Royale. That's one of my favorite places on this planet and is a great place to relax and enjoy genuine quiet. But now Winter is approaching and I'm just going to worry about making enough money to heat the house and still have some left over for my next adventure.