On Thursday, February 25, 2021 we held a virtual concert with Betsy Hinkle and Jason Amos, members of the Boston Public Quartet, live streamed from the historic First Parish Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts. They performed works on violin and viola (including a violin made by a current Violin Making & Repair student) by living Black composers Adolphus Hailstork and Jessie Montgomery, as well as Mozart and Schubert.
On Thursday, February 11, 2021, we held a conversation with Dr. Tiffany Momon, Founder and Co-Director of Black Craftspeople Digital Archive. She guided us through the work they have been doing to research and map 18th century Black craftspeople, in a future-looking effort to document the origins of crafts and trades in this country. Watch a video of the full conversation here.
We were saddened to hear that master upholsterer and longtime NBSS guest instructor Joseph Karagezian recently passed away. Joseph often visited the School to teach upholstery workshops to Cabinet & Furniture Making students in their later semesters, helping them to complete chairs and footstools. His contributions to his field and our community are many, and his generosity and talent will be missed by all.
As NBSS marks 140 years since our founding, we are also celebrating of the origin stories of those in our creative community. On Thursday, January 28, 2021, we explored the beginnings of a #lifeincraft with six talented craftspeople from a variety of backgrounds. We've heard that it was an especially inspiring conversation for many who attended, as they fondly recalled their own creative beginnings. Watch a video of the full conversation here.
We at North Bennet Street School are deeply saddened by the passing of Phil Lowe CF '74, a master furniture maker, entrepreneur, teacher, mentor, and dear friend to all. His legacy is second to none, and includes not only the fine work he produced over 50+ years, but also the generations of woodworkers who he guided in the craft. We remember Phil here.