Winter Exhibition opened Friday

 The Fine Furniture Woodworking program at CR opened with the first semester's work Friday January 27- just to close family and friends. A few students presented at the exhibition space as a punishment of sorts for not finishing before early January. The official public reception will be held this coming Friday Feb 3. An impressive display of hard work!

 The Swede, Anton, pours one for the Dane, Eijler Hjorth Westh [the only faculty member to have work on display also].

 Bryce presents his bench.

 Adam, with the only sort of "new media" piece. He built a nice home for his computer.

 Sarah, an impressive woman in that she had to take a leave earlier in the semester to have back surgery, presents her writing box. What a triumph.

 Dan Wacker thanks everyone for his wedding gift, a cutting board made from a piece of wood from each student's project.

 Eijler's liquor cabinet, a commission.

 Young Tom's tea cabinet.

 Another view of the tea cabinet.

VOTE

That says VOTE. I entered some drawings in an art competition via Brooklyn based org Artists Wanted and need as many people to vote for me as possible! Please show the love. VOTE and PASS IT ON. Thanks all and Happy Friday- Lana

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A Day with Karen Dalton

 My record has arrived! I follow NYC's Other Music weekly music updates and recently ordered Karen Dalton 1966, recorded in a cabin outside of the mountain mining town of Summerville, Colorado .  Being that Dalton was notoriously repellent to the live performance and recording formalities, this Karen feels like the real Karen. Dalton is a favorite of mine. Perhaps it's the Native American Oklahoma blood I share with her... this record arrived at the perfect time- when the fog is thick out front, my sniffles are beginning to dry up and I am able to sit down with my drawings. We should all be thankful that we can  still await the release of an actual record [though we usually don't], unwrap it and sit with the sleeve while we give her a good listen.

Karen with Fred Neil

Excerpt from essay inside sleeve written by Ben Edmonds:

"The effect is to make this music we are not simply listening to, but overhearing. It may be the perfect placement of an audience in relation to the music of Karen Dalton. It was not made for our benefit, but if willing to listen closely it can be

...what is inarguably authentic is Karen's connection to her music. It comes from a place beyond credentials, where all the usual man-made obstructions- self-consciousness, pretense, ideology, artifice- never come into play. There was no distance between the essence of the music and the voice that expressed it."

Lately

 Oh yeah... winter.

 Mass of clouds over billowy sea. I'll never give up my goal to effectively capture horrifyingly-huge waves. You really just can't tell how absolutely huge this set was yesterday. Biggest off-shore spray I've ever seen. 

 Backyard. These curious fungi I discovered growing to the right of our front door.

 Aaaaaaaaaah. Nearly smashed this slimy beast walking into my house.

Thumbs and I took advantage of the lull in the storm this weekend and enjoyed a cup of tea on the back deck.

Secret Santa Gift: Cashing In

 In class, the students did a $5 Secret Santa gift exchange over the holiday. We were away for most of Christmas vacation, including the night of the actual exchange. Anton, the Swede, picked Darrick's name. The gift came wrapped in a very large box and was described by Anton as "...more of an experience" and labeled something like "To the first woodworker to fly in space." Pictured above is Darrick holding his gift, a handmade "Darrick" doll attached to a sort of makeshift rocket in order to be shot through a potato launcher into the ether.

The other night Anton loaded the launcher and sent Darrick out in space. Dear Anton, thank you for knowing how to sew little doll clothes, carving phallic fruits, wearing impressive hats, getting kicked out of bars with your family and making everyone's experience here richer. Love, everyone who knows you.

New Drawing

This one has been sitting on the drafting table since before Christmas. I am greatly relieved to put a cap on it. 

Ink, Colored Pencil on Paper. 15x22"

FYI we also have a new Facebook page by the name of Rasmussen By Hand. Search it and become a fan!

Finished Project

 Completion! With time to spare before the show opens as well. Darrick is calling this a 'low cabinet', meant to be installed as pictured. Picture yourself walking through the front door looking for a nice spot to set the car keys and mail OR the perfect little house for the scotch with a few glasses. Beautiful piece.

Teak, Olive, Cedar of Lebanon and Ipe. 23"h x10"w x8"d