Workshops

Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial
Workshop & Rendezvous

Bainbridge Island is the site for two prime woodworking events that will feature Japanese-style timber framing.

Workshop, September 15-20

In this workshop we will build two matching gates for the entrance and exit to the Japanese American Internment and Exclusion Memorial on Bainbridge Island. The gates are relatively small and straightforward timber framed structures, but they include many of the important details of any Japanese timber frame. The techniques used to build them are applicable to a wide variety of buildings of any design origin. They are a good study for how to apply Japanese techniques to whatever is being timber framed.

Participants will learn about layout and cutout of all of the parts, and then the assembly of the structure. As much as is practical, the cut out will be done with hand tools, and all surfaces will be smoothed with the hand plane. We will use traditional joinery for all connections.

Before the work begins, we will spend a sufficient amount of time reviewing the tools and sharpening procedures so that everybody has their tools ready for the job.

Rendezvous, September 15-30

The second part of this project will be structured like a traditional Guild rendezvous. Participants will lay out, cut, and assemble a small pavilion, which will be used as an information center on the same site. This rendezvous is structured like the workshop before it, but the building is more sophisticated and larger.

Once again, we will use traditional layout systems, and then do the cutting with hand tools. The pavilion is designed in a contemporary Japanese timber frame style, and it is a sophisticated wood assembly.

These projects are excellent training opportunities for working with the Japanese system of layout and cut out, and with assembling a frame of hand planed wood, a slightly more rigorous process than with rough sawn timbers. Come join the fun!