Amateur and professional woodworkers are encouraged to enter the Second Annual New England Woodworking Competition to be held Saturday November 2, 2024 at the Granite State Room in the Memorial Union Building at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. The nonprofit Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers is organizing the event in association with the New Hampshire Furniture Masters and the University of New Hampshire. The deadline for entries is Friday October 18, 2024.
Students can submit their work for no charge. All woodworkers can register here https://gnhw.org/competition-
The competition is the first of its kind in New England, which has a rich history of furniture and cabinet making since the 1600s. The evening begins with attendees browsing the exhibition of competition entries and a companion exhibit of works by New Hampshire Furniture Masters who serve as judges (Owain Harris; David Lamb; and Garrett Hack). Many of the submissions will be for sale. The price for admission is $22 in advance ($25 at the door) and includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and an awards program emceed by Tom McLaughlin of Epic Woodworking and host of Shop Night Live, a weekly live stream program on YouTube. There will also be keynote remarks by Peter Galbert, chairmaker, teacher, writer and tool designer, and Allan Breed, cabinet and chair maker and carver. The general public can purchase tickets here https://gnhw.org/2024-
Leah Woods, who heads up the Woodworking and Furniture Design Program at UNH, says, “UNH’s woodworking and furniture design program has been around for decades, and the region has a very long history of furniture making. Having the show at UNH allows for not just community participants but also our students to see and understand the world of furniture making – they can view the range of pieces that people create, and learn about design, tools and techniques. Our students will be able to connect with this whole world of people who make furniture as a profession and as a hobby with both sharing a love of the craft.”
All levels of expertise are welcome to participate. Judges will be evaluating the entries in 11 categories relative to ability and experience. To motivate the next generation of woodworkers, the Guild is offering free entry for students from middle school, high school, college, and technical school students.
Last year, 35 students entered the competition. Philip Carle, Merrimack High School instructor who teaches three different woodworking courses to high school students, says entering the competition was impactful for his students. “The students came to the event and saw all the entries and realized there were entries from people in their own town; it opens up their world from the four walls of the classroom to the community and beyond. They talked to vendors about tools and supplies, they talked to the NH Furniture Masters and they saw that the fundamentals they’re learning translate into extraordinary museum pieces. It’s an awe-inspiring experience. Two of my students received awards – a first place and the people’s choice in the student category.”
Carle, who served as former co-executive director of the New England Association of Woodworking Teachers (NEAWT), reflects on the state of high school woodworking courses today, “We’re still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, which made it difficult for us to achieve our goal of ‘connecting minds with hands’ – i.e. – when you’re teaching woodworking remotely, you’re not having the complete experience of problem solving and skill development. And, as a result, several faculty shop teachers left the profession. But now we’re coming out of that time into an exciting time of recovery. The Guild is a fabulous partner to showcase student work and the skills they’ve learned. When they learn these skills, they develop self confidence whether it’s with the chisel, the table saw, or the lathe. Students become confident and for some it turns into a passion. Those who become hooked want to come in before or after school or on their lunch break. It’s exciting!”
According to Guild President Elliot Savitzky, “Last year’s event in Concord – our first – exceeded our wildest expectations with roughly 400 attendees and 136 entries, which we hope to increase. The show provides an opportunity for woodworkers to display and discuss their craft and for the community to view the best in high quality woodworking design and construction. Education is a key mission of our Guild and many of the pieces in this show reflect skills learned at many of our subgroups and small meeting events, as well as woodworking in schools. We are seeking involvement from both professional and amateur artisans from all over New England.”
Event and ticket info
- Date: Saturday November 2, 2024 Doors open at 5pm, award ceremony starts at 7pm
- Location: Granite State Room, second floor, Memorial Union Building, University of New Hampshire, 83 Main St., Durham, NH
- Ticket price: $22 in advance; $25 at the door
The Marquee sponsors of the event are Michael J. DiMaggio; Goosebay Sawmill & Lumber, Inc. of Chichester, NH; and Reliable Insurance Solutions Company of Concord, NH. Additional sponsors will be recognized at the event.
About the Guild
The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers, founded in 1990, is an association of professional and amateur woodworkers. The mission of the guild is to educate and support those interested in woodworking. The Guild provides opportunities for sharing knowledge, skills, and experiences. From beginners to expert artisans, the 700+ members assist anyone with an interest in learning the craft. Through regular meetings, lectures, demonstrations, video library, publications and various activities and events, the Guild strives to bring together the diverse interests of both the New Hampshire woodworking community and the public.