NEWWG to host 41st annual Artistry in Wood show

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – The Northeast Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild is preparing for its 41st annual Artistry in Wood show, this year showcasing the work of more than 50 artists from around Northeast Wisconsin.

At this year’s show, held Nov. 9 and 10 at Denmark High School, attendees will find cedar canoes, turned bowls, chainsaw carving demonstrations, basket weavers, scroll saw wark, carvings, wood-burned items and more.

Also on display at this year’s show will be woodworking projects from area high school students in an effort to promote youth participation in woodworking and the industrial arts.

“We got a lot of good comments [at last year’s show] on the stuff that the Denmark students made, so we’re trying to expand that to multiple high schools,” said Jim Michiels, co-chair of the show. “At the same time, we’re trying to convince high schools to keep their industrial arts classes. We’re finding there’s a lot of city schools that have canceled those while a lot of rural schools still have industrial arts-type classes.”

Bringing in the work of high school students and beginning woodworkers is also something Michiels hopes will encourage others to pick up woodworking and feel pride in their craft.

“Part of the reason we do the high school stuff is because if people see what these kids are making in school, and they see how nice it is, hopefully they get the feeling that they could do something like that, too,” Michiels said.
Of course, seeing others’ work can pose one of the challenges to getting started in woodworking.

“One of the challenges [with beginning woodworking] is that you get intimidated,” said Randy Hendricks, who co-chairs the event with Michiels.

“You look at some of this stuff and you think, ‘There’s no way I’m going to be able to do something like that.’ That’s the challenge. You’re going to start small and you’re going to make mistakes, but you’ve got to make mistakes to learn.”
And who better to learn from than a show full of seasoned woodworkers.

“Coming to the show is a good way to get started because you’re going to see all the different disciplines,” Michiels said. “You can see which ones you might be interested in… Come look at the different disciplines and see what interests you and then talk to people… Find out how they started, because most of them started very basic and expanded over time.”

“The interaction between craftsmen and the general public, that’s the most enjoyable part of the show,” Michiels said. “It’s the people who come and ask questions… That’s what the Woodworkers Guild members that show here enjoy the most — that interaction with people who’d like to get into it more.”

If you’re interested in getting into woodworking but don’t know where to start, check out the instructions for an oriole feeder on this page and give it a try!

Learn more about the Northeast Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild annual show at newwg.org.