Det er os en stor stor glæde at kunne afsløre det sidste navn på dette års snittefest. Vi mener selv at vi har gjort et scoop ved at få den verdenskendte øksemager Julia Kalthoff til at komme og undervise i økseteknik.
Julia vil afvikle en spændende workshop hvor fokus bliver på anvendelsen af øksen. Produktet er sekundært. Det kan være en paletkniv (stekspade), en smørkniv, en skærebræt eller en lille skulptur. Måske et økseskaft kan komme på tale. Men størstedelen af workshoppen vil bestå af teknikøvelser.
Workshoppen er målrettet både nybegyndere og de lidt mere øvede snittere, som vil lære sig en god økseteknik:
"Nogen personer har en økse, men undlader at bruge den på grund af usikkerhed og andre er komfortable ved at bruge øksen, men ønsker en dybere forståelse. Vi kommer igennem de grundlæggende teknikker med snittøksen. Lærer du at beherske disse har du nøglen til at snitte en hvilket som helst ting du vil. " - Julia
Denne workshop er en fantastisk måde at komme videre med dit øksearbejde på. Du må meget gerne medbringe din egen økse - eller vil der bliver mulighed for både at låne og købe økser.
Workshoppen vil foregå på svensk eller engelsk så basale sprogkundskaber ud i begge dele er nødvendige. Men Julia er skåning og letforståelig for dansktalende.
Julia har arbejdet med øksefremstilling i mange år. Først på Gränsfors og sidenhen som chef for Wetterling. For et par år siden startede hun siden egen virksomhed og fokus blev på kvalitet, design og rene naturprodukter. Læs meget mere på hendes hjemmeside:
https://www.kalthoffaxes.se/our-axes eller se hendes arbejde på instagram:
@kalthoffaxes
Julias engelske beskrivelse af workshoppen:
Some people think carving is done with knife only. But it's easier to first carve the wood to shape with an axe and then use the knife just to make it smooth and clean. The axe is more efficient, and with some practice it's very precise.
To carve with axe can be divided into six different techniques. Chopping, fine carving, making convex and concave shapes, splitting and hewing. If you are comfortable with these techniques, you have the skills to carve anything you want!
In this workshop we will start with basic safety and ergonomics, and then practice these techniques one by one. Julia will then demonstrate how to carve a spatula followed by everyone carving their own spatula using their new carving skills.
We work in green wood which carves smoother and gentler than dry wood. Through the different techniques we will notice what it feels like to carve along with the grain, chop diagonally into the grain and carve in end grain.
The workshop will teach beginners what is possible to do with the axe, and how to use the axe to the fullest. For more experienced carvers, this is perhaps a way to learn a new technique, improve ergonomics or learn to carve more effortlessly.
We have chopping blocks and axes to lend, and plenty of green wood for everyone.
Bio about Julia:
Axes are amazing. The history, the aesthetics, the culture, everything. When we started making axes 2,5 million years ago, this marks our transformation to become humans in prehistoric times. Since then the axe allows us to fell trees, build houses, hunt, maintain a fire and more. We have explored new land and built new societies with an axe in our hand.
For me it started with a curiosity about the dirty work of shaping glowing steel using my own body. I learned forging at axe forge Gränsfors Bruk and then started working at axe forge Wetterlings, first as stand-in for the manager and then as ceo. It was a great honor to be a part of these teams and I learned a lot.
By starting my own company and working in smaller scale I could create conditions to stay true to my values in all aspects of the tool and in each step of the making. Always keeping high standards and working without compromise is my inspiration. Making axes, using axes and thinking about the different details of an axe never stops to fascinate.
I really love the feeling when axing. To be relaxed and work in your own rhythm. The axe becomes an extension of yourself. Sometimes you use your whole body to chop off big chunks, and sometimes you gently carve see-through shavings. Disappear in looking at the grain to see where to place the next cut. Slowly let the shape get closer to your aim. Listen to the sound of a sharp tool in the green wood.
As important as the axe has been in the history of mankind, it still is for us today, but not for the same reasons. Working with your hands makes you relate and connect to the world around you in a more respectful and humble way. Craft and nature also work as a calm oasis for many people in this fast spinning world. The axe embodies strength in so many ways.
I make axes out of curiosity and love for the tool itself. Also, because making tools for others is like spreading waves of all this around the world. Hoping they will inspire people to make something with their own hands, giving others as much satisfaction as it gives me.
