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NORTH BENNET STREET SCHO OL

GALLERY NAGA hosts an exhibit of studio furniture to benefit NBSS... Page2

BOSTON’S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS opens its doors to NBSS... Page 2

RAVE REVIEWS for the NBSS exhibit at the Concord Museum... Page 3

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TWO NEW INITIATIVES REAFFIRM NBSS TIES TO BOSTON’S NEIGHBORHOODS

Back to the Beginning

Handmade Houses. North Bennet Street School has received funding from the 1772 Foundation to estab-

lish “Handmade Houses,” an innovative preservation trades training program that will involve Preservation Carpentry stu-dents, instructors and the school itself in the identification and preservation of the early architectural history of Boston’s neigh-borhoods. The school will be working in partnership with Historic Boston Inc. (HBI) to create a revolving fund focused on the acqui-sition, stabilization, redevelopment and sale of historically and culturally significant first period homes in Boston. Continued on Page 6

THe RetuRn of sloyd. Sixth grade students from

the nearby John Eliot K-8 School at 16 Charter Street returned to 39 North Bennet Street this spring for instruction in wood-working, renewing the historic collaboration between North Bennet Street School and the Boston Public Schools initi-ated in 1885. Continued on Page 7

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Successful fundraising for the Walter McDonald Scholarship Fund had a major impact on the new and returning students during the 2009-2010 school year. The total of scholarship funds awarded to students shot up 875% over the previ-ous year, allowing for the first time the announcement of awards in the spring for the following fall term. By mid-year, 52 students had been awarded a total of $109,350 - an aver-age award of more than $2,100 per student.

The scholarship awards made a big difference for all of the recipients, but there were many special cases. Five students who had been laid off from work were not only able to continue their unemployment benefits while attending class, but also received help from the scholar-ship fund. A single mother with two children in college was able to go to school with the help of a scholarship, as was a student who had been on Social Security Disability. A number of students who had struggled financially dur-ing their first year were helped in their second year with an award from the fund, making it possible for them to complete their NBSS training.

Gifts to the fund can be made on the school’s website using the secure Donate Now button on the upper right corner of the homepage (www.nbss.org) and selecting the Walter McDonald Scholarship Fund as the fund designa-tion, or by calling Dianne Butt, Director of Development, at 617-277-0155.

Current and new students are encouraged to apply for financial aid for the next school year as soon as possible. Financial aid forms are available at the Financial Aid Office, the Admissions Office or the receptionist at the Reception desk. Or contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@nbss.org.

TEN NEW LATHES were installed in a dedicated space at NBSS, thanks to the generos-ity of two donors. The purchase price of the lathes was underwritten by the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, a charitable foundation started in 1795, and the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund, both long time supporters of the school. The donated funds were supplemented by an offer from Powermatic, manufacturer of the lathes, to sell the lathes to the school at cost.

The new Art of the Americas wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, shown here as it was in late January when members of North Bennet Street School’s Board and Overseers were treated to an extraordi-nary preview, will not open to the public until November 2010. Elliot Bostwick Davis, NBSS Board member and John Moors Cabot Chair, Art of the Americas at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston intro-duced the overall curatorial program for the four levels of galleries displaying art from the Ancient Americas of 1100 B.C. through the third quarter of the twentieth century.

Once in the Wing, Elliot was joined by curators Gerald W. R. Ward and Dennis Carr who guided guests through a selec-tion of the nine period rooms within the Wing, which were recreated with the help of NBSS’s Preservation Carpentry and Cabinet and Furniture Making programs, continuing a long tradition of partnership between the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the school.

NBSS Scholarship Program Has Major Impact

NBSS Visits the MFA’s American Wing in Progress

GALLERY NAGA HELPS NBSS CELEBRATE 125 YEARSThe work of some of the most prominent studio furniture makers in the United States was shown this March in a group exhibition of handmade furniture at Gallery NAGA on Newbury Street, Boston, as a benefit for the North Bennet Street School.

For North Bennet: A Benefit Exhibition of Studio Furniture featured the work of 28 makers from across the country, including established American furniture makers Garry Knox Bennett, Hank Gilpin, Judy McKie, Jere Osgood, Tommy Simpson and Rosanne Somerson.

In an unprecedented gesture of financial support by a commercial gallery and its artists, half the purchase price of every exhibition piece sold was donated to support the school’s crafts training programs. The exhibition raised nearly $10,000 for the school.

The idea for the group show grew out of a series of conversations between Gallery NAGA director Arthur Dion and the school’s President Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, whose work was also included in the show. Dion put a call out to furniture makers from past NAGA shows and to others producing nationally recognized work, and his concept of a benefit show for the school was enthusiastically embraced.

JON BROOKS makes use of found materials from the New Hampshire woods to create his furniture and sculpture.

The new Art of the Americas wing of the MFA Boston, facing east. Photo courtesy of the museum by Chuck Choi, 2009.

In an historic collaboration, the Concord Museum and North Bennet Street School joined together to celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary with a juried exhibition of the work of distinguished alumni. Included in the special exhibition were over sixty examples of furniture, jewelry, musical instruments and book bindings, as well as illustrations of the work of the pres-ervation carpentry, carpentry and locksmithing programs. The exhibition was sponsored in part by Skinner, Inc., Auctioneers and Appraisers of Antiques and Fine Art.

During the four months that the exhibition was on view, close to 9,000 visitors from across the country and around the world were impressed by the examples of fine craftsmanship. The Museum’s guest book filled with compliments. Désirée Caldwell, the Concord Museum’s Executive Director, noted “A Dedication to Craft will be remembered as one of our most popu-lar exhibitions. This was a great collaboration in every way, from the juried selection to joint marketing initiatives to innovative programming. On almost any day, one could find a craftsman in the gallery interacting with a visitor, explaining the inspiration for their piece, the techniques used in construction, and the value of a North Bennet Street education. The alumni of NBSS are definitely great ambassadors.”

During the exhibition’s run, the Museum’s public programs involving North Bennet Street staff and alumni were filled to capacity. Concord Museum curator David Wood and NBSS president Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez joined together for a lively gallery conversation to open the exhibition. On Thanksgiving weekend, families participated in hands-on bookbinding and woodworking programs with Amanda Nelsen (BB ’07), who demonstrated book binding techniques, and NBSS instructor Steve Brown (CF ’90), who constructed mortise and tenon “puzzles” for visitors to take apart and put back together again. Violinmaker Christo Wood (VM ’05) engaged a packed house of close to 100 people with a talk on violin-making followed by a concert featuring a quartet from the New England Conservatory Preparatory School playing instruments that Wood had made.

Concord Museum PARTNERSHIP GETS HIGH MARkS

“The furniture was spectacular.” Acton, MA

“An extraordinary exhibition.” Connecticut

“Bravo! I loved the violin-making display and video.” Georgetown, MA

“What a wonderful collaboration! It’s always a pleasure to see amazing craftsmanship.” Westford, MA

“Beautiful craftsmanship; very inspirational.” Concord, MA

“The viewing was a privilege; the furniture brought me peace.” Concord, MA

“How great to know that master craftspeople are doing such exquisite work in the 21st century.” Beverly, MA

“Beautiful work; I loved the video on instrument building.” Arlington, MA

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BUSINESS COURSE ENGAGES STUDENTS AND AlUMSThe most important lesson from North Bennet Street School’s new business course is not being taught by an instructor but rather by the person sitting right next to each student. For the first time, alumni are taking the course alongside current students. That alumni influence has changed what is now the most popular elective course taught at the School.

Whether gathered in the stunning Pilot House on lewis Wharf, with sweeping views of the harbor, or squeezed into the first floor bench room at 39 North Bennet Street, students and graduates are eager to learn the difference between a copyright and a trademark. Did you know that a piece of jewelry can be protected but most furniture design is in the public realm? Students and alumni learn these important differences as they absorb critical business manage-ment information from returning experts such as Executive Director Jim Grace from the Arts & Business Council/Volunteer lawyers for the Arts (shown above) and Brian Bram, Director of Creative Services at last Panda Creative Media.

“This is the only class I teach where the stakes are so high,” said Bram. “There is an inextricable bond between who they are and what they do; therefore successfully marketing themselves is critical to future success.”

Grace noted the change in this year’s course with the inclusion of alumni. “Alumni make every-thing more real. This is not a class for class sake, but rather an opportunity to implement dreams. It also positively reflects how NBSS invests in the success of each student.”

This particular business course was created last year by Associate Director Claire Fruitman (CFM ‘96) in response to an expressed need from students and alumni. Each year the course is fine-tuned to maximize its benefit to students and now alumni from all eight programs. As she presents each class session, Fruitman sees alumni finding others from their program as well as current students all sitting together. “Everyone is taking valuable time away from work or their program of study to take this course. They really want to be here and take advantage of the opportunity to not only learn, but also connect with others.”

Together alumni and students are sharing the lesson that just having exceptional craft skills is not enough. The six-part business course is a significant step toward rounding out skill sets and realizing dreams.

Boston College Library Exhibits its NBSS Connection

Becoming a skilled craftsperson may be not enough for some students. They may dream also of running their own business, opening a locksmithing shop, tuning pianos from their home or starting a carpentry company. The NBSS business course is a thorough introduction to management issues that many graduates will face, but it is only one course.

Now, thanks to a new collaboration with Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown, students can have credit for their NBSS training applied toward a Certificate in Entrepreneurship or an Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration. Students who enroll in the combined program can graduate with the skills to be both exceptional trades people and successful business owners.

The Associate Degree program offers a general education focusing on skills needed to become a successful entrepre-neur. Apart from the business courses one might expect, the curriculum stresses the importance of writing, computers and economics and also offers electives in sci-ence and technology and the humanities. Students develop writing skills, master computer programs designed for every-day business use and learn about the principles of marketing, accounting and business law.

The Certificate in Entrepreneurship is designed for students who intend to start a business and are not interested in a degree. The Certificate program includes the Associate Degree business courses but excludes the general education courses required in the degree program. Students of the Certificate program con-centrate on computer technologies, small business development, marketing and management.

For more info. on the Entrepreneurship Academic Programs, contact Fred Santino, Assistant Professor, Business Administration, Bunker Hill Community College at 617-228-2252 or fsantino@bhcc.mass.edu.

The First Ever Three Month Manuscr ipt Gi ld ing and Illumination Course was offered this fall. Beginning in September, students learned calligraphy, layout and design, manuscript gilding, and the use of computers with hand-lettering. The final project was a hand-lettered illuminated manuscript that they also bound by hand. This course was taught by Maryanne Grebenstein of the Abbey Studio in Hingham. Jeff Altepeter, NBSS Bookbinding Instructor, added lessons in simple hand-sewn bindings while Grebenstein taught the full-time Bookbinding students some gilding and calligraphy techniques. For more details, please visit the course blog at http://www.manuscriptcourse.blogspot.com/.

HAITI CLOSE TO HOME In the days following the Haiti earth-quake, Bookbinding students organized a bake sale to raise funds to help the family of Martin Glesil, friends of the family of Bookbinding instructor Jeffrey Altepeter for nearly 20 years. The direct personal connection with Martin Glesil, a community worker in Port au Prince, inspired the bookbind-ing students to donate the bake sale proceeds of well over $500 to help the Glesil family rebuild their home.

NBSS dIPLOMA ACCEPTEd By BuNkER HILL

STUDENT RAFFLEBENEFITS SCHOOLFor the third year in a row, cabinet and fur-niture students collaborated on the design and construction of a piece of furniture that was sold in a raffle to benefit the furni-ture making program. This year they built a mahogany tilt top table with a rosewood catch and compass rose inlay.

The effort was organized by Nancy Maloney (CF ’10) with the help of class-mates Steve Kinnane, Ryan Messier, Nick Mamakos, Mark Rogers and others.

“I had been elected President of our class and felt that I should spearhead something worthwhile before my term was up,” says Maloney. “I wanted to give something back to my program that had given so much to me.” We did it to better the future of NBSS,” added Kinnane. The raffle raised $1200 for the purchase of a new shaper cutter, a new compound miter saw and new router bits.

Billed as “Irish Roots and Boston History”, an exhibition this spring on the conservation lab at Boston College’s John J. Burns library of Rare Books and Special Collections could have been titled “North Bennet Street School Roots and Boston History.” While showcas-ing the library’s commitment to the preser-vation and conservation of its collection of 250,000 volumes, 16 million manuscripts, and important collections of architectural records, maps, artworks, photographs, prints, artifacts, and ephemera, the exhibition also highlighted the extensive connections between Burns conservators and the NBSS Bookbinding program.

The exhibition marks the twentieth anniver-sary of the presence of conservators in the library. The first conservator, Marilyn Heskett, (BB ’88) was appointed by Burns librarian, Robert O’Neill, in 1989. She was responsible for setting up the conservation lab, and showed her NBSS loyalty when choosing Paul O’Connell (PC ’87) to design and build the first conservation workbench.

The founder of North Bennet Street School’s bookbinding program, Mark Esser, also served as Book Conservator at the Burns library from 1994 to 2008, embracing new technol-ogy and expanding photo documentation of treatments. North Bennet Street School graduate Barbara Adams Hebard (BB ‘90) is the current Burns library conservator.

RAFFLE WINNER David Moran of Wayland, shown here with the tilt top table created by CFM students to benefit the school.

MARK ESSER in the Burns Library Conservation Lab. Photo courtesy of Boston College.

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THE RETURN OF SlOyD

Eliot School students have returned to participate in a grant-funded pilot program to develop a new middle school curriculum in woodwork-

ing and hand skills based on the Swedish Sloyd system of woodworking instruction which was adapted for American schools in the late 19th century through the efforts of NBSS founder Pauline Agassiz Shaw. The sixth grade students walk to NBSS each Wednesday afternoon for a one hour class, just as students did in 1885 when the Boston School Committee accepted an offer from the North Bennet Street Industrial School to provide manual arts training for boys. Classes were sent from the Eliot School from 10 to 12 in the morning and 2 to 4 in the afternoon. By 1887 the program was extended to the Hancock School, and 614 boys made the trip each week, according to School Committee records. The new curriculum being developed will involve students in a series of exercises using hand tools, moving from simple to more complex and each requiring an increasing level of hand skill. The first project chosen for the Eliot School students is a small wood pencil box, in keeping with the Sloyd theory that all student exercises should result in a useful object. The pilot classes, funded by a grant from the Boston Architectural Foundation, are being taught by Andy Glenn (CF ’06) and NBSS President Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez (CF ’99). Brian Kelly (CF ’85), who teaches wood-working at the Wellesley, MA middle school, has served as a curriculum consultant.

“North Bennet Street School has long been concerned about the elimination of virtually all educational programs in the public schools dealing with hand skills and the making of objects,” said Gómez-Ibáñez. “This has resulted in several generations of students with no access to the kind of understand-ing one gets when a student conceives of an object, plans its construction, and executes that plan with his or her own hands. As these students move through their high school years, we hope that they will have an awareness that working with their hands is an rewarding endeavor that can result in productive employment over an entire lifetime.”

HANdMAdE HOuSES

HBI, the recipient of a companion grant from the 1772 Foundation, is a not-for-profit real estate and preservation organization founded in 1960 to save the Old Corner Bookstore in Downtown Crossing from demolition. HBI will contribute its development expertise to the new preservation partnership, taking responsibility for financial and legal aspects of each project, focusing on recapitalizing and advancing the long term goals of the revolving fund.

The HBI-NBSS partnership represents an unprec-edented model for preservation trades training because it enables the training program to assume a pro-active role in the historic preservation of Boston’s earliest buildings. “We anticipate that the Handmade Houses program will raise the visibility of our Preservation Carpentry program because it will be taking an active role in the improvement of the city,” said NBSS President Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez. “We will be assisting in the rehabilitation of significant historic properties that would not otherwise be preserved due to their location in economically depressed inner city neighborhoods.”

Additional goals of the program include the expan-sion of student involvement into all phases of a preservation project, from the identification and evaluation of candidate properties to the successful disposition of the completed proj-ect. Handmade Houses will also provide the Preservation Carpentry program with an ongoing, controlled teaching environment that provides opportunities for hand skills training in all aspects of Preservation Carpentry, from forensic demoli-tion and documentation through structural stabi-lization and repair to finish carpentry and plaster work. The partnership will engage outside con-tractors to complete aspects of the restoration work that are outside the NBSS curriculum.

For its first project, the NBSS-HBI partnership has signed a two year option with first right of refusal to purchase the 1804 Anna Clapp Harris house in the historic Jones Hill neighborhood of Dorchester. Work began this spring when Matt Diana (PC ’10) took on the restoration of the Clapp house front door as his final proj-ect. Clapboards around the existing door and sidelights were removed to reveal evidence of the original entrance design. After research into designs appropriate to the period of the house, Diana prepared a proposal for a new entrance that was reviewed and approved by the Boston landmarks Commission. Construction of the new entrance is underway.

Back to the Beginning

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Continued from Page 1

Members of the Eliot School’s sixth grade class on a school tour and working on their pencil boxes with instructor Andy Glenn (CF ‘06).

PAST AND PRESENT views of 65 Pleasant St., Dorchester, the first project of the Handmade Houses partnership. A new entrance by Matt Diana (PC ‘10) is at lower left.

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BOOkBINdINGJake Benson (BB ’95), will be traveling to Dushanbe, Tajikistan for an immersion course in Persian. While there he hopes to visit the conser-vation labs at the Institute of Oriental Studies and the collections at the Rodaki and Ferdowsi Institutes. Colin urbina (BB ’11), cur-rent student in Bookbinding, was highlighted by the Winnetka Pioneer Press of Winnetka, IL. Why? For matriculating at the North Bennet Street School, of course! Gracing the cover of the e-magazine The Bonefolder was Rebecca “Bexx” Caswell’s (BB ’09) binding of “Leaves of Grass” which was chosen from among 25 other submissions. The Bonefolder is an industry news source for book artists and bookbinders. Set up the DVR and Tivo! Chronicle, a program pro-duced by Boston television station WCVB, recently taped alumna Judith Cohen (BB ’98) and her work at Seven Hills Bindery for a spot that will air on October 15, 2010.

Jennifer “Jenny” Jarvis (BB ’06) has been hired as the Project Director and Chief Conservator for the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Library Project in Derry, Ireland.

CARPENTRyScott Grusby (CA ’07) started up his own business, appropriately named Grusby Woodworks. Scott’s business will be focused on carpentry, cabinetry and woodwork-ing. His company is based in Newton, MA.

CABINET ANd FuRNITuRELucas Finn Richardson Hansen, son of Jonathan Hansen (CF ’01) was born on October 17, 2009. He weighed in at 7lbs 3oz. Amazingly, little Lucas was born on the exact same day as his grandfather, great-uncle and great-grandfather. In addition, Jonathan is also working for Thom Browne, a menswear designer who was named Designer of the Year by GQ Magazine in 2009.Nancy Maloney (CF ’10) reports that her last project was a commissioned draw leaf dining table and “the woman who bought it absolutely loves it.” She has additional commissions lined up for a Windsor chair, a fireplace mantel and a footstool, “so I need to get going setting up my workshop.”

The St. Patrick Church of Hampton Beach, NH recently wrote to NBSS praising the work done by River City

Furnituremaking and its owner Matthew Wajda (CF ’01). Matt’s work consisted of creating two handrails from a 1914 church and according to the church’s rep they look like “they have always been there.”

With an article in The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives winter 2010 pub-lication Our Schools/Our Selves John P. McCormack (CF ’88) has been keeping busy. In addition to penning the article “Art, Craft and Hand-Mind Coordination: On Teaching Woodworking, Design and Making in High School” John has also been accepted as Master Member of the Baulines Craft Guild. Rheuben Gibson(CF ’99) reports: “Still living in Lima OH, married to Britt Collier and we have two daughters, Mead (4) and Zell (18 mos.) Building custom furniture out at the farm shop- website is near.” Britt Collier’s sister is also married to an NBSS alum- Mick Clarke (CF ’01).

Alastair Boell (CF ’05) has founded a woodworking school in Melbourne, Australia called the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking. Doing the work himself, and using money from the sale of his house, the school took a year to build and now has 33 students. He writes “my income and time is pretty much split between the school and commission work. I have been fortunate to have had a constant supply of work com-ing in.”Stephen “Seth” Weizenecker (CF ’10) began a furniture internship with Peter Galbert of Jefferson, NY. Sean Conway (CF ’10) has started his own furni-ture company, Cuttyhunk Furniture, in historic New Bedford, MA.david J. Hancock, Jr (CF ’10) graduated from NBSS and hit the ground running. He is now operating Hancock Forest Products in Woodstock, CT. In addition to mak-ing furniture, HFP is also involved with logging and for-est management. A “Youth Spotlight” was turned on current student kyle Toth (CF ’11) by his hometown newspaper the “Riverside Press Enterprise” of Riverside, CA.Nikolaus Meller (CF ’96) and his wife Holly welcomed a future craftsman into the world, Luke Leon Meller, on September 19, 2009. Luke and his parents currently live in Los Angeles.

Stephen Plays (CF ’03) and his company Icon Snowskates sponsored the 2nd annual Icon Classic, a snowskating competition that takes place every year in Uxbridge, MA. Snowskating, described by Stephen’s son and co-owner Matthew as “a skateboard for the snow” is a new winter sport gaining in popularity. The event took place at the Wauchusett Mountain ski facility in Wauchsett, MA.

JEWELRyJewelry, Italian style. NBSS graduate Jade drakes (JM, ’08) will matriculate at the Alchimia jewelry school in Florence, Italy to study enam-eling and other advanced forms of metal work. Nominated for the 2010 Saul Bell Design Awards in the Gold and Platinum category was Ann Cahoon (JM ’02). The winner will be announced in June. Amanda Aker (JM ’07) exhibited at a juried fine arts and crafts show called “Art on the Pews” hosted by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge. Additionally, Amanda’s work “Bud and Bloom” was picked from among hundreds of entrants for the cover of New Art Reviews’ March publication of “Just Jewelry.” The featured piece’s design was the same one she

made for NBSS’ Evening of Traditional Craft in 2008. Nina Brandin Jones’ (JM ’03) work was featured in the jewelry industry blog Splendor: A Celebration of Jewelry Designers.

LOCkSMITHMatthew Bertrand (Lk ’10) recently got a job as a lock-smith at Security Lock and Door in Coventry, RI.Anthony kenney (Lk, ’10) began working for Action Lock and Key which is owned by, Michael Samra (Lk ’87).

PRESERVATION CARPENTRyWorking for Robert Bump Construction in Redhook, NY, Adam Rissolo (PC ’08) has been busy restoring and renovating an 1843 Romantic Revival Mansion named Teviot. Adam also bought a 1926 Craftsman style farm-house in New Milford, CT.

PIANOHome to such luminaries as Philip Glass and Marvin Hamlisch, the Julliard School of New York can now count NBSS graduate Michael disque (PA ’05) as an employee. Michael was recently hired as Julliard’s new full-time Piano Technician.

From one skill to another, Mini Ann Polumbaum (PT, ’99) recently became a mem-ber of the Boston-area co-op Sign of the Times. Mini Ann’s new career? Silversmith! She assures us, however, that she still does piano tuning as well. John Cavanaugh (PA ’87) became Director of the Oberlin Conservatory’s “Steinway at Oberlin” Technical Seminar. Oberlin is the only off-site factory training facility for Steinway’s CF Theodore Steinway Technical Academy.

Martin Snow (PA ’84) was profiled in BU Today, a news-letter for the Boston University community. Martin has been working a piano technician for BU for 24 years. Recently heard giving a piano performance at the Ada Public Library in Ada, OK was Robert “Bob” Matson (PT, ’90).

Receiving the Hawthorne Valley School’s Henriette Reiss Award was NBSS graduate Marianka Madey (PT ’95). This award recognizes people who are furthering theirs arts education and Marianka cer-tainly fits that bill. In addition to her training at NBSS, she has also performed as a cellist with the Longwood Symphony Orchestra and led the Ballroom Dance Team in intercollegiate New England Competitions.

Releasing the cleverly titled holiday CD “Missle Toast” Richard Greunler (PT ’08) has also set up his own music website missletoast.com. According to Richard the music is “fantastically awesome” and features him on guitar and a friend on a Steinway D.

Since she switched careers from the hospitality indus-try to piano technology, Marguerite Lykes (PT ’08) was among the Colorado resi-dents featured in a Colorado Gazette article on people who switch careers in a tough economy. Currently she works part time at Reblitz Restorations while building up her own company.

NewsN B S S

RAM TOuGH? The roof framing models constructed by this year’s carpentry students were put to the ultimate test by instructor Patrick O’Shaughnessy (CA ’06).

COPPER CLAd This cherry desk with curly maple draw-ers, by Rheuben Gibson (CF ’99) of lima OH “was clad with copper that came off someone’s roof.”

JEFFERSON’S WRITING dESk was the subject of a dem-onstration by Brian Weldy (CF ’01) at Colonial Williamsburg’s 12th annual “Working Wood in the Eighteenth Century” conference.

A TuRN OF THE SCREW Alastair Boell (CF ’05) of Melbourne Australia demonstrates the action of a vise for his children Sam and Tara at The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking, a school he founded “to create a little version of NBSS here in Melbourne.”

uP ON THE ROOF of the Danforth-Stone barn in Weston, MA, members of the Carpentry class of 2010 posed for a group portrait. The class completed the barn as their first project in the fall.

THREE OF A kINd On Oct 24, 2009, NBSS hosted a locksmithing Alumni Reception at the yankee Security Convention in Sturbridge, MA. Pictured here are former instructors Vic Swanson (left) and Jack Hobin (right) and current instructor dave Troiano (center).

THE FuTuRE kING posed on his future throne, when Elias Javidi, son of Mike Javidi (CF ’10) and a partner in M. Javidi and Son Woodworking visited the school during Open House this fall.

A 3d IMAGE of the barn at Brookwood Farm in Canton was created by William Burns (PC ’11), using measurements taken as the barn was dismantled last year by PC students. The computer generated drawing includes several missing components that surviving evidence suggests once existed. Below, new timbers are being hand hewn.

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CalendarN B S S

North Bennet Street School participates in a variety of cultural festivals throughout the year, thanks in part to funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. We are grate-ful to the Council for this ongoing support.

May 1, 2010POP-uP EXTRAVAGANZA WITH PAuL JOHNSONNorth Bennet Street School

MAy 2, 2010THE BOOk AS ARCHITECTuRE WITH PAuL JOHNSONNorth Bennet Street School

May 1-28, 2010STudENT SPRING EXHIBITOld Corner Bookstore, Boston

May 18, 2010ANNuAL EVENING OF TRAdITIONAL CRAFTWGBH Studios, Boston

June 4, 2010NBSS GRAduATION EXERCISESOld North Church, Boston

June 14-16, 2010BOSTON CASE FuRNITuRE ANd THECHALLENGES OF COMPOuNd CuRVESNorth Bennet Street School

June 14 - 24, 2010FuNdAMENTALS OF FINE WOOdWORkING AT MOuNT LEBANONMt. lebanon Shaker Village, New lebanon, Ny

June 16-19, 2010FuRNITuRE SOCIETy CONFERENCEMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

June 21-25, 2010ORIENTAL BINdINGS WITH MONIQuE LALLIERNorth Bennet Street School

July 12 - 22, 2010HISTORIC WINdOW SASH RESTORATION AT MOuNT LEBANONMt. lebanon Shaker Village, New lebanon, Ny

July 29-31, 2010ISLAMIC BOOkBINdING WITH kATHERINE BEATyNorth Bennet Street School

August 2-12, 2010HISTORIC TIMBER FRAME CONSTRuCTION ANd RESTORATIONMt. lebanon Shaker Village, New lebanon, Ny

August 12-16, 2010TIPS ANd TRICkS FOR BOOk ANd PAPER CONSERVATION WITH RENATE MESMERNorth Bennet Street School

aBenchmarksThe newsletter of theNorth Bennet Street School39 North Bennet StreetBoston, MA 02113(617) 227-0155

do you have news to share? Contact us at newsletter@nbss.org

In the past few months, we have had many illuminating guest instructors and lecturers: Todd Pattison, Jeff Peachey, and larry Williams and Don McConnell, among others. In addition to leading outstanding workshops in areas as diverse as wooden molding plane making and re-backing techniques, these craftspeople were kind enough to present lectures and programs as part of our free public program series.

Jeff Peachey delighted us with a Twilight Zone screening and conversation about the place of the book in society, and larry and Don gave an enlightening presentation on the history of molding planes. Todd Pattison discussed 19th C. bookbinders’ mistakes, and Paul Johnson spoke about his latest work using traditional joinery techniques such as mortise and tenon and dovetails in creating his fantastic pop-up books.

This summer we are honored to be a part of the Furniture Society’s 2010 Conference by hosting the Pre-Conference workshop – Boston Case Furniture and the Challenges of Compound Curves – led by Steve Brown, Dan Faia, Will Neptune, and Alf Sharp. We are also happy to announce the return of two well-loved instructors: John McCormack will be back from California to lead a Brettstuhl workshop, and world-renowned bow maker David Hawthorne will teach Introduction to Violin Bow Making.

Our partnership with the Shaker Museum and library in New lebanon, Ny continues this summer with three classes at Mt. lebanon Shaker Village: Historic Timber Frame Construction and Restoration, Window Sash Restoration, and a Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking class, all held on-site in Eastern New york. As always, I welcome your feedback. Please email me at work-shop@nbss.org with any ideas or comments you have about the programs.

Thank you, Jourdan Abel, Workshop Director

1934 Steinway model L, 5’10” grand piano, serial number 277826 Completely rebuilt. New soundboard, bridges, pinblock, strings, new damper back action and damper felt, complete action rebuild with genuine Steinway parts, touchweight adjusted, new brown mahogany satin lacquer finish, Dampp Chaser system installed. $29,500.

1984 kimball Viennese edition grand piano, 5’9”, serial number D88750. In very good, all original con-dition. Has had very little use. Ebony polyester finish has some adhesion is-sues in a few places. Includes matching bench & cover. $6500.

PIANOS FOR SALE

Changing of the guard FROM THE

WORkSHOP dIRECTORAt the Annual Meeting on December 16, the School thanked and recognized outgoing Directors: Judy Ferenbach, John McKelway, Jim McNeely, lynn Osborn and Art Taylor for their years of guid-ance, support and commitment to NBSS. The Board of Directors unanimously voted to re-elect lisa von Clemm and William Creelman and elected five new Directors:

yOu dON’T HAVE TO LEAVEAlumni Council keeps you connected.

By Dennis McCarten (VM ’06/Alumni Council Chair)

One day in 2006 I was in the violin department on the third floor – mind-ing my own business – when Jason Gregoricus, the Director of Student and Alumni Services, approached me and asked if I would consider joining an organization then called the Alumni Steering Committee. For a moment I felt confused. “I’m not an alumnus!” I thought. But then it crashed in on my violin varnishing reverie – I would be leaving this place in about two months! The exhilarating ride that was my time at NBSS was about to end! When I calmed down, I said “Sure, why not?” I had, in that brief instant, hatched my plot to stay a part of the NBSS community indefinitely.

The group I joined is now the Alumni Council of North Bennet Street School. The Council established the Distinguished Alumni Award, presented annually at the NBSS graduation ceremony, as well as the annual Alumni Party to help people network, meet classmates and to bring together the disparate parts of the NBSS community.

The principal connection among this group of graduates is affection for their alma mater. We represent every depart-ment at the school. We meet once a month to report our progress on proj-ects and to plan new ways to improve the community life of NBSS students, staff and alumni. In 2005, Sean Hardeo (CA ’06) took the first group of NBSS carpenters on a Habitat for Humanity trip to Florida; a project that continues on the third Saturday of every month during the school year in lawrence, MA. In 2006, Tracy Jenkins (JM ’05) discov-ered a business course for artists taught by the Volunteer lawyers for the Arts which became the basis for the business course now offered each year to stu-dents and graduates.

Perhaps you have a suggestion on how to build up the community as well? We welcome your ideas! For more information visit www.nbssalumni.org or call Student /Alumni Services at (617) 227-0155 x107.

Robert devensRetired Managing DirectorJPMorgan Private Bank

When Bob retired, he moved to Boston and attended the three-month Furniture Intensive. He shares a shop in South Boston with several graduates of the Cabinet & Furniture Making Program. Bob serves on both the Finance and Investment Committees of the Board.

Adrienne RabkinPsychiatric social worker and family counseling agency volunteer.

Adrienne first learned about NBSS through her daughter. She has served on the Board of Overseers and commissioned works by alumni/faculty over the years. “You could say that I’ve had a love affair with the School for more than twenty years.”

Enid BealFounder and PresidentBeal Consulting Group, Inc.

“It is an honor to join the Board of Directors of North Bennet Street School. The School is important to me because it nurtures creativity and helps its students to develop problem-solving skills. In addition, its gradu-ates are craftsmen/women who make an important contribution to our society.”

Stephen LorchIndependent management consultant to industry, government and non-profit organizations.

Peter Nessen introduced Stephen to NBSS and then to the Board of Directors. Stephen is an expert in the management of complex institutions with emphasis on corporate transition, organizational development, and executive decision making. He serves on the Annual Evening Committee.

Joseph kociubesTrial lawyer & Partner, Bingham McCutchen llP and former President of the Boston Bar Association.

“I doubt that anyone can be passionate about wood without knowing of NBSS. My involvement with the school results from conversations with my former partner, Burt Harris and Miguel. I am very excited about joining the Board.”

BEST OF SHOW WINNERS At the 2009 Fine Furnishings Providence Shown are Kevin Mack (CF ’08) – Best in Show, Traditional, Body of Work; and Paula Garbarino (CF ’88) Best in Show, Fine Craft, Body of Work, seated third and fourth from left. Not present: Greg Brown (CF ’10) who won Best in Show Traditional, Student Piece.

Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDBoston, MAPermit No. 52223

39 NORTH BENNET STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHuSETTS 02113-1914

(617) 227-0155 • WWW.NBSS.ORG

An EducAtion in cr Aftsm Anship

NORTH · BENNET · STREET · SCHOOL

11th ANNUAL EVENING OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTMay 18, 2010 6-8 PMWGBH Studios, BostonJoin in the celebration of NBSS’s 125th Anniversary. The premier event in the yearlong celebration of our milestone anniversary, Annual Evening showcases the outstanding work produced by our alumni at a gala cocktail reception.

Over the course of the evening, guests will be able to examine superlative examples of our programs including fine furnishings, jewelry, bookbinding and violins, while they sip cocktails and enjoy multi-media presen-tations in the superb event space that is WGBH Studios.

Annual Evening raises general operating support for the School and has a proud tradition which harks back ten years.

For more information, please contact Dianne Butt at 617-227-0155 ext. 750 or dbutt@nbss.org.

t u e s d a y

11th Annual Evening

of Traditional Craft

May 18, 2010

Save the date

a benefit fornorth bennet street school

featuring examplesof fine craftsmanship

by our alumni

on display at the newWGBH Studios, boston

Photo: Courtesy of Gutman Library, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Alumni work above, clockwise from top left: Matthew Wajda, Card Tabledetail, 2006, James Reid-Cunningham, Book Cover detail, 1991, Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, Desk Inlay detail, 2005, Sarah West, Necklace, 2005

C E L E B R A T I N G

O U R A N N I V E S A R Y

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