304-799-6985 - E-Mail info@pocahontaswoods.org
John
Friel is
a 1991 highest honors graduate of the Fine and Creative Woodworking Program
at Rockingham Community
College in Wentworth NC. (When you click on the RCC link on the Links
page, John is in the middle photo and his award-winning cherry pie crust table
to
the
right) Upon graduation, John moved back to his native Pocahontas County, WV.
where he creates
Period
style
furniture. He enjoys classical style woodworking using hand tools,and traditional
joinery. However, he is always eager to learn new techniques and ideas.
John has been teaching woodworking at Pocahontas Woods Inc. since 2003.
Instructor David Blanchard specializes in fine furniture restoration and conservation and custom made furniture. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Painting and Printmaking, he has been involved in woodworking for almost 15 years. He has received specialized training from Sotheby's Furniture, Fine Woodworking Magazine Seminars, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.
He recently worked on a substantial reconstruction, finish conservation and upholstering of one of three chairs re-acquired by the collections division of the U.S. House of Representatives. A report was given to the Wooden Artifacts Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works at their 2006 Annual Meeting on this project.
David has worked with Pocahontas Woods since 2004.