Far too often when people hear I am into woodworking, they remark that it is a dying craft and it’s nice to know some people still want to learn about it. In a time when people are constantly lamenting the lack of skilled woodworkers, the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) is a leader in encouraging and supporting students in their woodworking interests, making it easier for them to pursue further education and careers in the industry through Fresh Wood, their student competition.

The competition took place at the 2007 AWFS Fair in Las Vegas July 18-21. Fresh Wood offers cash prizes; there isn’t an entry fee, and not only does AWFS cover the cost of shipping the pieces to and from the fair, it also brings the finalists and their teachers to the fair. The competition was divided into two levels, high school and post secondary education. In each level there are seven categories: chairs, tables, case goods, production, reproduction, class (collaborative pieces), and the open category (unrestricted in terms of style and materials). Each category has three awards: first place, second place, and honorable mention. There is also a Best of Show award, selected from the first place winners in all the categories and a People’s Choice award, voted on by attendees of the fair.

This year the show was outstanding. I was impressed by four things in particular. The quality of the craftsmanship was remarkable. There was a good representation of different styles and periods, as well as a lot of original designs. The caliber of contestants was impressive. I got to meet and talk with a number of the woodworkers, and they were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and friendly. And if you are thinking that’s only because they knew I was from FWW, it isn’t so. I will admit to noticing (not eavesdropping on) how accommodating they all were to anybody with a question or comment. They were also very supportive of one another. But most of all I was happily surprised to see how many of the entrants were women. This really is a male dominated industry, and not only did a lot of women enter the competition, quite a few left with awards.

Chris Hedges took the first place award in the reproduction category, but he also bagged Best in Show and the People’s Choice awards, too. FWW will be featuring this Philadelphia secretary, “The Goose” in the upcoming student Readers Gallery in issue #194. 

Hedges holds the prize for Best in Show for this coveted wood sculpture designed by Sam Maloof. 

FWW got the opportunity examine all the work from inside the ropes. Publisher Anatole Burkin checks out the comfort and craftsmanship of the first place winner in the chair category.

Greg Klassen swept the post secondary chair category. This claro walnut chair and ottoman won first place and his Mendo Bench (see FWW #194 student Readers Gallery) won second place. Klassen attended the College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program, and has been chosen to represent the school in Sweden next year as part of an exchange program with Capellagarden School of Craft and Design.

Cortney Schiappa’s African wrap took First Place in Tables. Richard Karn interviewed Schiappa about the construction of her solid mahogany and glass table (top photo on page). The biggest challenge was gluing the table because the glue-up couldn’t be broken down into stages. She constructed a plywood box to use as a placeholder during the glue-up. Schiappa is an Interior Design major at Miami University-Ohio.    

Andrew Prioli was the high school winner in the Table category for his black walnut and maple Celtic table. Prioli attends Cedar Ridge High School in Chapel Hill, NC. The school seems to be creating award winning woodworkers every year.

Drawing a lot of attention at the show was the winner of the First Place Class award. Michael Rowen and Jesus Segovia from the Dale Jackson Career Center spent most of the four days answering questions about their pool table.

Nicholas Komor won Second Place for his “Unraveling Oak Coffee Table.” Komor attends the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Also from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Catherine Zachas won Second Place for this chest of drawers. The category, Production/Contract, links wood education with the real-world trends and financial and construction concerns in the industry.

There are way too many excellent entries to keep going.  If you are interested in seeing all the finalist and winning entries, you can order a copy Fresh Wood’s hardbound book, volume 3 from www.awfs.org.

Oh, and a word about the judges.  In order to incorporate different perspectives in the judging, the panel of judges represents various segments of the industry, from professors of design and architecture to a representative from IKEA.  The judges in their various categories were:

Design: Michael Fortune and Paul Schürch
Education: David Brown and Patrick Molzhan
Manufacturing: Charles Meyer and Charles Wilson
Retail: Peggy Kovacic and April Price
Trade Press: Will Sampson and Blair Tullis

Posted July 26, 2007

Photos by Anissa Kapsales

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