Sculpture

Sculpture is a semester-long class that provides instruction in both modeling and carving: students first model a life-sized head of terra cotta by studying and employing expressive techniques and anatomical perspective. In the second quarter, students carve alabaster and another soft stone with hammer and chisels.

Wood Design

Students who enter the Royal Barney Hogan Workshop (one of the finest woodworking shops and custom furniture facilities to be found on a secondary school campus) embark on a two-semester journey into the world of Wood Design, where they learn how to build furniture through traditional techniques. Students embrace the craftsmanship of 18th century furniture builders, using hand planes and chisels –critical tools in the pursuit of quality work in wood. Soon thereafter, they are introduced to the proper and safe operation of the workshop’s machines. By the end of the course, they are confident enough around the equipment to use it independently both at Thacher and beyond.

The first project, a serving board, teaches through hands-on learning how to use different tools and how to discern different types of wood grains. Then it’s on to long-term projects: for each of these, students research the various styles of their chosen piece, decide on a model, and create a full-scale drawing in the drafting room, allowing for a full understanding of the inner workings and joinery involved in their particular piece. After generating a cuttings list and choosing their wood, students complete their designs, supplementing their class time with additional time in the workshop. Excitement builds in May, as students see their projects take shape and work to finish in time for the Wood Design show in our Brody Art Gallery at the end of the term. Visitors to recent shows marveled at a cherry CD rack, a cherry bookcase, a maple and mahogany chest, and even a full-sized cherry and maple double bed frame.