Watch the shavings fly! Beginners can explore forms from bowls to spindle work on standard-size Powermatic lathes. If you’ve got some experience under your gouge, learn how to turn hollow forms, lidded vessels, natural-edge bowls, decorative finishing, and more.
Woodturning Classes
Explore The Studio
Willard Baxter Woodturning Studio
The Willard Baxter Woodturning Studio is a woodturner’s dream come true. The 2,500-square-foot space features a tiered-seating demonstration area with video monitor, and separate wood preparation, turning, and finishing areas. Named after the late turner Willard Baxter, a former instructor and beloved presence in the woodturning world, the studio was completed in January 2007. The wooden pergola over the entrance was built in 2011 by Charles Judd’s Timber Framing class.
News & Stories: What's Happening in Woodturning
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August 19, 2024
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July 23, 2024
Browse our 2025 classes digitally...
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June 28, 2024
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May 20, 2024
Glenn Schmidt and Pam Granger-Gale...
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March 5, 2024
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November 9, 2023
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July 24, 2023
Browse our August 2023–June 2024...
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May 23, 2023
If you've come to our...
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May 2, 2023
Popular instructor Kevin Felderhoff will...
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March 10, 2023
Dezzy, in the middle, and...
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February 14, 2023
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December 23, 2022
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August 29, 2022
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July 25, 2022
Building on your feedback, we're...
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July 22, 2022
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March 16, 2021
Jumpstarted by a Folk School woodturning class nine years ago, Jeff Hornung began his own woodturning business after recovering from post-concussion syndrome. Now, he is a Folk School instructor, juried artist, national and international demonstrator, author, and Artist-in-Residence at the Craft Alliance School of Art + Design in St. Louis, Missouri.
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November 26, 2012
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October 19, 2011
Somewhere in Denmark right now, our documentary video, Sing Behind the Plow, is being viewed by hundreds of Danes who are being introduced to Brasstown’s version of a folk school. Lissi Oland, a woodturner who lived and taught in Brasstown for many years, and has since returned to her native Denmark, is hosting an exhibit of her large woodturnings, as well as historic photographs of the early days of the Folk School. The photographs were taken in the 1920’s by Folk School’s co-founder, Marguerite Butler Bidstrup, with whom Lissi was very close.
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May 30, 2011
Woodturning instructor, Alan Leland, tells us why he loves teaching at the Folk School:
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February 25, 2010
I’m Pam East, and my first experience with the Folk School was teaching an enamel bead making class in 2003. From that very first time I knew I had stumbled upon a truly special place. Since then the John C. Campbell Folk School has become my home away from home. Even though I’m usually there to teach, it feels like a vacation. I can feel my soul relax the minute I drive onto the campus.
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Woodturning Studio Coordinator
Mark Taylor
Mark grew up in a do-it-yourself family. His first wood working project was a skateboard deck cut out using dad’s tools at 12 years old. Woodworking kicked off when he started building strip canoes, sail boats and kayaks in his 20’s. Boats led to musical instruments. Mountain Dulcimers, Hammer Dulcimers flutes and many others. Mixed in came woodturning and carving. He got his first lathe 30 years ago and has turned countless bowls, boxes and other vassals over the years.
His other great love is music. Playing hammer dulcimer and recently working on clawhammer banjo. He enjoyed a full career as a manager and regional manager in a large company for 25 years and raised 2 wonderful children with his wife Beth.
Mark believes…“Every piece of wood has a story to tell. The trick to figure out how to get past the surface and uncover hidden the beauty beneath the bark”
Wood Studio Coordinator
Jeffery Teal
Growing up around woodworking tools and machinery, Jeffery developed a passion for craftsmanship at a young age, helping his dad with house remodels and cabinet building. Jeffery’s journey into the world of woodworking truly began when he built guitars for Collings in Austin, Tx, where he fell in love with the artistry of working with wood.
At the Folk School, Jeffery has had the privilege of participating in timber framing mentorship and structure raising projects, as well as collaborating with Barry Stiles from Foxfire to restore our log cabin.
“Each project has been incredibly rewarding, highlighting the versatility and beauty of wood”
Images from the Studio
Interested in Attending?
You can find more information about the many aspects that make up the Folk School Experience using the menu below.
Housing & Meals
There’s nothing like staying on campus to fully immerse yourself in the Folk’s School experience.
A Typical Week or Weekend
A quick glance of what you can expect when you take a class as the Folk School.
General Information & Policies
Find our policies and procedures along with answers to commonly asked questions.