Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) recently purchased six wood lathes for use in their Integrated Design Lab. Integrated design is a creative and holistic approach to the use of design to problem solve and tackle real-world challenges. NWACC recognizes the pursuit of an education in integrated design will provide students with knowledge and experience to design, create and innovate. Students will learn to approach problems using artistic creativity, design-thinking principles, construction methods and business practices and apply these new skills in their workplace or community engagement.
NWACC’s Integrated Design Lab offers a physical makerspace that puts design into practice. Thought the lab, students will experience challenges that encourage problem solving using innovation, collaboration, and the opportunity to test creative entrepreneurial ideas utilizing the skills learned in areas of fine arts, design, construction and business.
NWACC has partnered with The Stateline Woodturners to offer woodworking classes to the public. This new series of workshops is the first opportunity for community members to take classes in this facility. Students don’t need any previous experience in woodworking and they will receive materials and instruction to make their own high-quality ink pen using a wood lathe. Each workshop lasts three hours and takes place at the Integrated Design Lab on the Bentonville campus. Participants must be at least 16 years old and will need to sign a waiver along with their registration.
According to Ray Taylor, Director of Construction Technology at NWACC, “we’ve been working for some time to offer more opportunities for the public to participate in activities in the Integrated Design Lab. We’ve hosted several Family Maker events as well as partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to construct beds for children in Northwest Arkansas. This pen turning class is our first in a series of woodturning courses available the Integrated Design Lab.
The first set of classes is offered on Friday, June 17 and interested participants may choose from a morning or afternoon session. All materials are provided and the cost per person is $75.
ABOUT STATELINE WOODTURNERS
Stateline Woodturners is a nonprofit organization that promotes the craft of woodturning. The club meets monthly in the Center for Non-Profits in Rogers. Meetings include a show-and-tell portion where members share their recent creations. Additionally, members donate to a project called the Bring Back Raffle. For $5, members may buy a chance to win a piece created and donated by a fellow member. Each winner is required to “bring back” an item for the next meeting. Each meeting also includes a demonstration provided by a club members or nationally recognized woodturner, allowing members to learn new techniques.
The club is engaged with the Children’s Hospital Network and the national Beads of Courage Program. As a community service, the club donates handcrafted wooden boxes to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital for the children receiving care. Each time a child receives a treatment (radiation, a shot, blood drawn, etc.) they are given a bead. The handcrafted beads are donated by arts organizations across the country. The boxes built locally by club members are given to patients of
Children’s Hospital to hold those beads. Over the last three years the club has donated more than 70 boxes.
The Stateline Woodturners have a Showcase of their work that rotates each quarter in the Rogers Historical Museum.
Visit the link to learn more and register: tinyurl.com/2p9yfwft
Questions? Contact Ray Taylor at [email protected]
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