New exhibit tells story of world-renowned Marc Adams School of Woodworking - Daily Journal

Marc Adams gives instruction to his apprenticeship class on Oct. 11 at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in rural Franklin. The school, which brings students and renowned instructors from all over the world to Johnson County, is the subject of a new exhibit, “Crafting A Dream: Three Decades of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking” opening Thursday at the Johnson County Museum of Art. RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL

Every year, woodworkers from all over the globe flock to a small outpost in rural Franklin.

They come to learn from master artisans, many the best in the world at what they do. The school draws thousands of students each year, who spend a week in courses covering everything from learning woodturning to finishing furniture to making a ukulele to blowing glass.

The Marc Adams School of Woodworking is renowned for the quality and diversity of its instruction. Yet few locals outside of the woodworking world even know the rural Franklin facility is here.

“You could pull off the road at the interstate and ask where the woodworking school is, and people don’t have a clue. People don’t know we’re here,” said Marc Adams, founder of the school.

A new exhibit at the Johnson County Museum of History hopes to change that. “Crafting A Dream: Three Decades of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking” opens Thursday at the museum. It features original creations by Adams and other instructors at the school and tells the story behind the school.

Organizers hope to help people better understand how special this small school is.

“It’s a way to highlight what is such an important part of the county — that it draws so many people from around the country and around the world,” said David Pfeiffer, director of the Johnson County Museum of History. “It is a world-class institution, and the passion for what (Adams) does and the work he does.”

On an October Friday morning, the sound of machinery and the chatter of conversation filled the various studios that make up the Marc Adams School of Woodworking. A group of experienced woodworkers were taking a two-week apprenticeship course with Adams himself.

Others were creating jewelry boxes over the course of a week. Students in the turning studio learn to make intricate boxes from award-winning German woodturner Hans Weissflog. People were busy in the glass studio working on enamel projects.

“It’s just a unique group of people who come here. Once somebody comes here, they want to come back,” Adams said. “We have our own culture and community that comes out of here, and I think that’s why, when people leave here, they can’t wait to come back.”

Adams founded the woodworking school in 1993. Originally an educator, he had been a hobbyist woodworker since the 1980s. In 1991, he was named the technical consultant for the U.S., representing the country on International Quality of Furniture Making, a group that sets overseas standards for furniture.

A small sign points students to the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in rural Franklin. The school is the subject of a new exhibit, “Crafting A Dream: Three Decades of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking” opening Thursday at the Johnson County Museum of Art.

RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL

The Marc Adams School of Woodworking in rural Franklin.

RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL

Students in a wood carving class work on techniques at the Marc Adams School of Wordworking in Franklin in 2017.

DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Marc Adams gives instruction to his apprenticeship class on Oct. 11 at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in rural Franklin.

RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL

A student uses a 19th-century French tool called a Chevalet de Marqueterie at the Marc Adams School of Wordworking in Franklin in 2017.

DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Wood carving tools at the Marc Adams School of Wordworking in Franklin in 2017.

DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

An instructor demonstrates carving techniques at the Marc Adams School of Wordworking in Franklin in 2017.

DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO

Marc Adams gives instruction to his apprenticeship class on Oct. 11 at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in rural Franklin. The school, which brings students and renowned instructors from all over the world to Johnson County, is the subject of a new exhibit, “Crafting A Dream: Three Decades of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking” opening Thursday at the Johnson County Museum of Art. RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL

As he immersed himself in that world, he realized that the U.S. didn’t have a component in place to train master woodworkers.

The first year that the school opened, Adams offered 16 classes, all of which he taught himself. But he quickly realized that was intense, and he recruited other instructors to help.

This year, 130 instructors from 20 different countries came to teach.

The physical space of the school also has grown. What started as a single workshop has grown to include a variety of workbench rooms, tool rooms, a technology lab and a variety of other studios. The school operates from April to late October, with classes held during the week and two-day sessions scheduled on certain weekends. About 4,000 workshops have been offered over the course of 31 years.

“My plan from the very beginning was to not have a woodworking school alone — it was always to diversify in the craft,” Adams said. “Woodworking is such a huge world; there’s everything: you can build guitars, you can build craft items, you can make furniture, there’s conservation and restoration work. In the world of making things with wood, it’s a great big diverse field. So it’s a great foundation because you can always find a topic in that world someone is interested in.”

The focus of the workshops is on technique, not an individual project. While some of the courses do include building something over the course of the week, such as speaker housings or a guitar, the goal is for people to establish the skills so they can work on their own creations.

“People are here with like-minded people making or learning something. By the time they leave, it’s just been the most enjoyable experience for us and for them,” Adams said. “It’s not like high school, where students have to be in a class. These people want to be here.”

Because of its reputation throughout the world, and its relative obscurity here in the county, leaders at the Johnson County Museum of History felt it would be the perfect subject for an exhibit.

“We went out there, and every time you go out there, you’re just blown away by what they do there,” Pfeiffer said. “You’re walking through, and everything (Adams) points to is, ‘This guy is the best at the world at this skill, that guy is the best in the world at that thing.’ And that’s right here in Johnson County, and so few people know about it.”

When Pfeiffer approached Adams about doing an exhibit, he agreed to help in order to showcase everything the school has to offer. Adams will be bringing some of his own work and work done by his instructors, just to give a snapshot of what can be done at the school.

For Adams, the chance to share more about the school is exciting.

“This is my community. I grew up here, I have my business here,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to be here, so when the people at the museum asked me to do a little thing, I thought it was an incredible opportunity. That was very nice of them.”

Museum organizers will then supplement those works with information about other aspects of the facility. Placards will give the history of the school, where it’s located and what kinds of of classes are available — well beyond the scope of simple woodworking.

“There’s so much they do — it’s neon lights, it’s chocolate, it’s glass-blowing. When you look at his guidebook of classes, you can’t believe all of that is there,” Pfeiffer said. “We want to explore what the school is and what they do there.”

“Crafting A Dream: Three Decades of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking” opens with a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the museum. The opening is free and open to the public and refreshments and appetizers will be served.

Organizers say the exhibit is an opportunity to showcase another somewhat hidden aspect of Johnson County and its history.

“We hope people take away what we have here in the county. We’re trying to highlight all of these truly special and unique individuals and organizations we have here in the county,” Pfeiffer said. “We have someone here who does something very unique and special, and seeing what he can do with these classes. Anyone can pick up one of these talents and skills through practice and hard work.”

IF YOU GO

“Crafting A Dream: Three Decades of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking”

What: A new exhibit looking at the story behind the internationally-known school, located in Johnson County, which looks at beautifully produced crafts and the expert artists who make them.

When: Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Thursday

Where: Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St., Franklin

Information: johnsoncountymuseum.org