Teach With Your Hands

In this bonus episode, I’ll be talking to Chris Proctor. As I’ve mentioned in previous episodes, the craft school I set out to start is a real thing now, and Chris has been my partner in crime for the last 3 or 4 months. This episode comes from a conversation we had back in May of this year, when I was vetting Chris to see if he’d make a good business partner.

A few things have changed for me in the last few months, so releasing this episode seems like a good way to introduce Chris to you, now that he will be taking over as the principal owner and manager of the school.

Chris Staley on how emotional exploration and artistic exploration combine to teach us how to live a good life. We’ll discuss the major failings of modern academic systems, how the suspension of ego leads to expanded creativity, and helping students find the balance between chance and intention.

Sarah Millfelt on her 20 years of service at the Northern Clay Center. We’ll discuss the personality traits that make a great director, some of the misconceptions that people have about arts nonprofits, and fundraising and leadership challenges she’s overcome.

Phil Morley on how trade school helped a troubled dyslexic teen find something he was good at. We’ll also cover Phil’s path to becoming a master craftsman, his experience as a director at the Austin School of Furniture and Design, and how doing both teaching and building helps him live a balanced life.

Kate Maury on getting students to work really hard at something really fun. We’ll cover how to handle the isolation students can feel after leaving school, how a demanding curriculum helps students find focus and drive once they’re on their own, and how students and instructors can work together to create a rich learning environment.

Brandy Clements on how Millennials are going to propel craft into the future. We’ll cover Brandy’s mission to prove that chair caning is far from “a dying art,” how cheap knock-offs keep high quality craft fashionable and visible, and her experience with teaching craft skills to children.

Kip Christensen on the real reason behind the decline in high school shop programs in the US, and why Utah's programs are still going strong. We'll also cover Kip's experience as a video content creator (before YouTube was invented) and what's made the Utah Woodturning Symposium so successful in the 40 years of its existence.

Bruce Dehnert on how thinking like a writer makes him an unusual ceramist. We’ll cover the benefits of bringing technology into a classroom, the differences between teaching at a university and a small craft school, and why informing people about the lives of great artists is an important part of craft education.

Chris Gochnour on how providing a fun experience is at the heart of his teaching. We cover how students have changed in the last 30 years, what Chris misses about doing commissioned work now that he’s teaching full time, and why you need to start teaching before you feel like you know everything.

Matt Kenney on how his background in Philosophy has influenced the way he teaches woodworking. We cover how to tell if you’re ready for teaching, debate whether you can learn to be a good designer, and Matt reveals the woodworking skills he finds most challenging to teach.