Children enjoy learning woodworking

    The second workshop in a series of three family art workshops sponsored by the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project  was held Dec. 8 at Houlton Southside School.
    The workshop provided an opportunity for a  number of children and their parents to participate in Beginners Woodworking class, instructed by Paul Porter and Hank Lemerise.
    Porter and Lemerise are founders of “Up There Woodturners,” the local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.
THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE — Hank Lemerise shows a Southside student how the equipment worked during the Beginners Woodworking class, instructed by Paul Porter and Lemerise.
    After the workshop was completed, organizers found the response favorable. An interest in further instruction was expressed by some students. During the course of the workshop, each child measured and marked a piece of wood to be made into a snowman. The children used rounding and parting tools, as each child was advised by one of the instructors. One parent actually tried turning, instead of just the children.   
    Funding for the classes was provided through a grant from the Maine Community Foundation. SACAP’s mission is to foster a flourishing arts community in southern Aroostook County.
PLANNING — Students planned and drew out their snowman figure before trying out the equipment during a Beginners Woodworking class, instructed by Paul Porter and Hank Lemerise. Zach Fitzpatrick, left, works on his plan.