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| Student-crafted electric guitars on display in the gallery of the Center For The Arts |
Whether you have the desire to glide across the water in your own, handcrafted kayak or strum cords on your personally designed electric guitar, The Hill School’s fine woodworking program is the right place to explore your talents and create a masterpiece of your own. What was once an after-school activity has developed into a unique, “official” arts class that allows students of all skill levels to express their talents while working on individual or group projects.
First, some history: In 1944, Karl Pacanovsky, a master craftsman in woodworking, came to The Hill from Slovakia and started an independent extracurricular activity for students interested in this art medium. As the head of the arts and crafts department, Mr. Pacanovsky strongly believed in diligence, creativity, and respect of his craft, principles he passed on to his students throughout his 28 years at The Hill and traits very much alive in today’s program.
While teaching his students the fine art of woodcarving, Mr. Pacanovsky also graced the School with his beautiful artistry, which includes the war memorial lectern in the Memorial Room of the John P. Ryan Library and the ceremonial mace still carried in Hill’s commencement processions.
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| Crew 1Students test out their newly designed kayaks in the Dell. |
With the fine woodworking program now under the supervision of Luke Block - with the help of Jim Taylor, a retired Hill science teacher who has become an invaluable resource - Hill students continue to take on challenging projects that encourage creativity and require precision. When Block arrived at The Hill in 1997, he ensured that the fine woodworking program would offer a group project allowing each individual student to create his or her own handmade and functional masterpiece.
In 2001-2002, Block fulfilled his 15-year-long dream to build stitch-and-glue plywood sea kayaks through a Hill course entitled “The Craft, History, and Design of Sea Kayaks.” An exception to the standard one semester-long class, Block embarked on this ambitious year-long project with 13 students (10 boys and three girls) and seven faculty members, all of whom together designed and constructed 17 original sea kayaks, along with one rowing skull.
These one-of-a-kind boats were created in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Upon completion of the 2002 school year, a group of seven students and seven teachers traveled together to the 925-acre Jean Ellen duPont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary in Bozeman, Md. Over a long weekend, the kayaks were launched into the Chesapeake Bay as the kayakers tested the waters while training in paddling safety.
During the 2003-2004 school year, woodworking students are designing and building electric guitars from scratch, a project that initially was undertaken in 2002-2003. The inspiration for this project came from Bill Yinger ’95, Hill instructor of science, who built a guitar with his grandfather then presented his creation to the class. The students’ guitars, which are fully equipped and functional, are designed and handcrafted by each individual.
For Carl Ciacci ’04, a student in the 2002-2003 guitar session, the class was not just about creating his own guitar, but about helping others make their dream a reality. Carl says, “I was able to take my ideal, perfect guitar and make it real. I also helped teach my peers some of the knowledge about guitars that I had picked up over the years. So, not only was I given a rare chance to create what I wanted, but I helped others bring to life their own dreams and ideas."
With these ideas, students in the fine woodworking class don’t just build an object; they learn how to perfect their masterpiece. Patrick Hagarman ’04, also in the 2002-2003 guitar session, understands this firsthand, as he has perfected the art of designing and playing his guitar. “My favorite part about my bass is that when I play it, I know it is a complete expression of me,” he says. “From the way it looks, to the music that comes out of it, it is my authentic bass.”
To achieve this appreciation for their art, students are required to learn a variety of woodworking skills as well as the vocabulary associated with their project. Before students can sail in their boats or play their guitars, they must first learn about the properties of the wood they will use, and about the proper tools and techniques to shape and sculpt it.
Other past projects include construction of Adirondack chairs made entirely of wood, without screws or nails; tables; and easels. Projects on the horizon include a medieval catapult, loudspeakers, and a climbing wall for the gym.
For more information on The Hill School’s fine woodworking program, please contact Luke Block.