New Woodturning Center Has Opened

At Brookfield Craft Center

BROOKFIELD — The nationally respected Brookfield Craft Center recently completed construction of a new dedicated turning studio as part of a multi-year capital campaign to renovate and expand its colonial vintage campus on the banks of the Still River. The Brookfield Turning Center hosted its first visiting artist workshop in June with the noted turners Angelo Iafrete and Beth Ireland.

The state-of-the-art studio is located in the historic (circa 1914) railroad station building located on Route 25 across from the center’s main Mill Building. Both buildings are local landmarks.

The single story wood frame structure, which in its past life served the local farm community, was purchased by the nonprofit school for fine craftsmanship in April 2003. Renovations on the building began in the summer of 2003 and were funded by a grant of $134,400 from the state of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. Earlier this year lathes and the tools and equipment for the studio were funded by an additional grant from a private national foundation.

According to John I. Russell, executive director of Brookfield Craft Center, “Since the early part of the 20th Century, there has been tremendous growth and interest in artistic work created from the lathe. Our goal was to create the finest education center for woodturning in the Northeast, and judging by the response from the first students and faculty to enjoy the facility … we have achieved our goal.”

The new facility includes six student stations protected by partitions. Students work on a Oneway 2436 lathe with a full set of turning tools, task light and rolling tool chest for each station. Instructors have their own Oneway 2436 lathe complete with outboard and inboard extensions, plus various special options including a vacuum chuck.

The studio also contains a woodworker’s bench, two variable speed sharpening stations with Oneway sharpening jibs, a 20 inch General band saw and a floor-standing drill press.

The studio is additionally equipped with two JDS dust collecting systems which hang from the ceiling; plus a video camera and TV monitor system to help all students see instructor demonstrations. There is even a refrigerator and microwave oven for the (all important) lunch break.

Each of the center’s four seasonal sessions will feature master-level, visiting artists workshops led by American’s top turners, and there will be many other classes and workshops on a wide range of turning topics taught by a changing line-up of different instructors. Hands-on classes will be limited to six students, with lecture/demonstration workshops accommodating 12 to 20 students.

The Brookfield Turning Center is the latest addition to Brookfield Craft Center’s expanding campus, which now includes six buildings on three-plus acres. The campus includes eight teaching studios for various media, two galleries showcasing fine American craftwork, offices and housing for visiting faculty.

This year the center embarked on the final phase of a long capital campaign which is “creating a craft center for the 21st Century,” according to Mr Russell, who added, “Phases one and two which began in 1996 have allowed us to invest over $1 million into our new campus design.”

Renovations to the historic railroad station building included a new roof, a modern heating and cooling system, all new electrical and plumbing services plus additional parking for the east side of the campus. Architect and BCC Board Member Jacqueline Salame of Tour de Force Design provided design advice on preserving the architectural heritage of the building, and she helped the center preserve or replace much of its original architectural details.