Woodworking
in America 2015
in America 2015
On the close of another Woodworking in
America conference it is with an excitement and enthusiasm for my craft that I
leave Kansas City. After missing WIA14, it was great to return to the
predominant woodworking conference of the year.
America conference it is with an excitement and enthusiasm for my craft that I
leave Kansas City. After missing WIA14, it was great to return to the
predominant woodworking conference of the year.
Classes
As I learned years ago, WIA classes are an
important – but not central – aspect of the conference. As a rule, I don’t look
at the class schedule until I check in on the Thursday before the conference.
important – but not central – aspect of the conference. As a rule, I don’t look
at the class schedule until I check in on the Thursday before the conference.
 |
| Alf Sharp discusses design in his class. |
I don’t mean to say the classes aren’t
worthwhile – they are. For the most part, the classes are fantastic. It’s just that I’ve learned a few things from
attending so many WIAs. I’ve learned that what makes or breaks a class is the
instructor, not the topic. I offer Adam Cherubini as an example
from WIAs past. I will never work as he does, however I’ll attend every WIA
lecture he ever puts on. Adam is a nice, interesting instructor who is fun to
watch and learn from no matter how your work.
worthwhile – they are. For the most part, the classes are fantastic. It’s just that I’ve learned a few things from
attending so many WIAs. I’ve learned that what makes or breaks a class is the
instructor, not the topic. I offer Adam Cherubini as an example
from WIAs past. I will never work as he does, however I’ll attend every WIA
lecture he ever puts on. Adam is a nice, interesting instructor who is fun to
watch and learn from no matter how your work.
As the conference is always bringing new
instructors in, it’s hard to know which classes will be best until you meet the
instructors. Other attendees you meet at the conference are helpful at learning
who is good and who is not. My advice is to look at the schedule when you
arrive, make a preliminary itinerary of classes, and then relax. Enjoy the
conference and let it take you where it may. Some of the most fun I’ve had in
classes are the ones where I simply followed my friends in and was surprised by
the presentation.
instructors in, it’s hard to know which classes will be best until you meet the
instructors. Other attendees you meet at the conference are helpful at learning
who is good and who is not. My advice is to look at the schedule when you
arrive, make a preliminary itinerary of classes, and then relax. Enjoy the
conference and let it take you where it may. Some of the most fun I’ve had in
classes are the ones where I simply followed my friends in and was surprised by
the presentation.
 |
| Jeff Miller is an amazing instructor. |
This year, I saw phenomenal classes on
bent lamination and chair design from Jeff
Miller. Alf Sharp’s
class on classical furniture design influences was wonderfully informative and
entertaining. I also saw great instructors put on great classes on topics foreign
to me, such as Tom Fidgen’s
kerfing plane and Vic Tesolin’s
minimalist woodworking.
bent lamination and chair design from Jeff
Miller. Alf Sharp’s
class on classical furniture design influences was wonderfully informative and
entertaining. I also saw great instructors put on great classes on topics foreign
to me, such as Tom Fidgen’s
kerfing plane and Vic Tesolin’s
minimalist woodworking.
As I’ve come to expect from WIAs past,
there were wonderful classes and instructors.
there were wonderful classes and instructors.
Marketplace
I missed WIA14, so I can only compare to
WIAs in years passed. However, in that context the marketplace was a
disappointment. It never seemed full. There were empty vendor spaces and the
isles never seemed crowded. Even the Hand Tool Olympics – normally a hub of
activity and participation – was calm and quite. There was sometimes a crowd at
the video woodworkers booth, but this
was more of a meet and greet than the interaction and instruction which
surrounds the Hand Tool Olympics.
WIAs in years passed. However, in that context the marketplace was a
disappointment. It never seemed full. There were empty vendor spaces and the
isles never seemed crowded. Even the Hand Tool Olympics – normally a hub of
activity and participation – was calm and quite. There was sometimes a crowd at
the video woodworkers booth, but this
was more of a meet and greet than the interaction and instruction which
surrounds the Hand Tool Olympics.
 |
| Hi-jinx in the Hand Tool Olympics booth. |
Of the vendors who were there, Lie Nielsen
and Lee Valley anchored the marketplace as usual. I had fun seeing my friend
Scott Meek of Scott Meek
Woodworks
showcase his wonderful planes. It was also great to meet Mark of Plate 11 Workbenches and Jason of Texas Heritage Woodworker. I had fun
teasing and being teased by Mike Siemsen of Mike Siemsen’s School of Woodworking.
and Lee Valley anchored the marketplace as usual. I had fun seeing my friend
Scott Meek of Scott Meek
Woodworks
showcase his wonderful planes. It was also great to meet Mark of Plate 11 Workbenches and Jason of Texas Heritage Woodworker. I had fun
teasing and being teased by Mike Siemsen of Mike Siemsen’s School of Woodworking.
People
Woodworkers are why Woodworking in America
works. You meet like-minded, friendly folk and spend three (3) days and nights
with them. Of course I hung out with my fellow Modern Woodworker, Tom. We met and hung with too many old and
new friends to list here. Sorry if I didn’t include a photo. I only included the clear photos I had of individuals.
works. You meet like-minded, friendly folk and spend three (3) days and nights
with them. Of course I hung out with my fellow Modern Woodworker, Tom. We met and hung with too many old and
new friends to list here. Sorry if I didn’t include a photo. I only included the clear photos I had of individuals.
 |
| Megan. |
 |
| Ty. |
 |
| Jason. |
 |
| Scott. |
 |
| Frank. |
 |
| Matt. |
 |
| Freddy. |
 |
| Ally. |
 |
| Kyle. |
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| Sean. |
The evening activities of WIA are always
fun, and I think one of the most enjoyable parts of the conference. This year
we had a well-attended MWA meetup on Thursday, a great trip with old friends to
a small Barbeque joint on Friday and the Woodworking for Mere Mortals
meetup on Saturday. There were too many evening activities to attend them all
and each night you could always find a bunch of conference attendees hanging
out in the hotel lobby/bar after the events were over.
fun, and I think one of the most enjoyable parts of the conference. This year
we had a well-attended MWA meetup on Thursday, a great trip with old friends to
a small Barbeque joint on Friday and the Woodworking for Mere Mortals
meetup on Saturday. There were too many evening activities to attend them all
and each night you could always find a bunch of conference attendees hanging
out in the hotel lobby/bar after the events were over.
 |
| The MeMo meetup. |
The people of WIA do not disappoint.
Venue/Location
The venue and location were the big
disappointments of WIA15. The venue, Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
was a nice enough hotel, but a mediocre conference venue at best. The class
rooms were not all grouped together, though they did manage to all be across
the hotel from the marketplace and registration. Compared to the home venue of
the Northern Kentucky Convention Center used when WIA is in Cincinnati, the
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center was sub-par.
disappointments of WIA15. The venue, Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
was a nice enough hotel, but a mediocre conference venue at best. The class
rooms were not all grouped together, though they did manage to all be across
the hotel from the marketplace and registration. Compared to the home venue of
the Northern Kentucky Convention Center used when WIA is in Cincinnati, the
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center was sub-par.
 |
| There was lots and lots of walking to get anywhere. |
The real failure was the location. I’m not
familiar enough with Kansas City to say if this was a result of the area of the
city we were in or if this how the whole City is. Regardless, it was not
conductive to a conference which supports community the way WIA does. If you
attended WIA without a car (as you should be able to) you were stuck walking
for 10 to 30 minutes to find anything – Breakfast outside the hotel bar, coffee
when the hotel coffee shop closed (at 2:00 pm), Lunch, Dinner – anything.
familiar enough with Kansas City to say if this was a result of the area of the
city we were in or if this how the whole City is. Regardless, it was not
conductive to a conference which supports community the way WIA does. If you
attended WIA without a car (as you should be able to) you were stuck walking
for 10 to 30 minutes to find anything – Breakfast outside the hotel bar, coffee
when the hotel coffee shop closed (at 2:00 pm), Lunch, Dinner – anything.
I have said it before and I will say it
again. What makes WIA great is that you live and breathe woodworking. Setting
it in a venue which interrupts this, only detracts from the event.
again. What makes WIA great is that you live and breathe woodworking. Setting
it in a venue which interrupts this, only detracts from the event.
Conclusion
Venue aside, WIA15 was a great event. The
classes, marketplace and people made it one of the best weekends I’ve had in a
long time and a worthy successor to past WIAs. While I hope next year’s event
is at a better venue, I’ll be there no matter where it is. I’ll be there with
bells on.
classes, marketplace and people made it one of the best weekends I’ve had in a
long time and a worthy successor to past WIAs. While I hope next year’s event
is at a better venue, I’ll be there no matter where it is. I’ll be there with
bells on.
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