WHEN 19-YEAR-OLD Andy Godfrey embarked on a one-year full-time PLC course in craft design last autumn, he was unsure about some of the modules. Andy, who wants to become a cabinet-maker, was keen to study furniture wood-turning, wood carving, stained glass and design - but he had doubts about the use of studying mixed crafts, drawing, sculpture and ceramics.
Five months down the road, however, Andy is completely won over. "I'm really enjoying all the subjects on the course" - these also include history and appreciation of design computer aided design (CAD) and communications. "I've found the drawing, ceramics and sculpture and CAD particularly useful. They're helping me to think about the shapes I'm trying to create in wood."
Cabinet-making and woodwork represent a significant part of the course at St Thomas's Community College, Bray, Co Wicklow, which leads to a National Certificate level two craft award. In the wood-carving and turning modules, students develop an understanding of wood and its properties; they learn to use, maintain and work safely with the appropriate tools and to research, design, turn and carve items in wood. The cabinet-making module includes design research, writing design briefs, working drawings, appraisal reports, the process, assembly and finishing of furniture, inlaying, veneering and polishing.
"I get a lot of satisfaction out of working with timber," says Paddy Meakin, a former furniture factory employee. "In the factory we used fibreboard and stapled the joints. Here you learn to make real joints - like dove-tail and mortice tenon - the old way. It's a lot more work, but you get a much better quality product."
Students appreciate the individual tuition that they receive and the fact that the woodwork rooms are amply supplied with tools. "At school there were very few machines," Paul Dunne says - "and we weren't allowed to use them. Here we can use all the machines."
Course co-ordinator Eugene Dwyer believes that it is important for students to work in a variety of media, including wood, clay, glass, fabric and paper. "It gives them a broader understanding of and a better feel for what they are doing and it improves their design abilities," he says.
Students appreciate the emphasis the programme places on drawing. "Before I came here I couldn't draw at all and I was a bit nervous about it. But I'm surprised at how much I've learned and how my drawing has improved," says one.
The ceramics department boasts four electric kilns, and recently students have built their own raku (Japanese style) and sawdust kilns, so that they can compare firings. Students taking the sculpture and ceramic module study clay modelling and sculpture and learn the art of throwing pottery on a wheel. The stained glass module covers design studies (which includes making original cartoons and the use of colour, shape and form), working with glass, copper foil and lead.
Visits are arranged to galleries, exhibitions, colleges and workshops and students are encouraged to work in their own time. The course includes two weeks' work practice with cabinet-makers or furniture manufacturers, arranged by the college.
UP TO 17 places are available on the course, and preference is given to students who hold a Leaving Certificate minimum of two higher-level grade Cs and grade Ds in four other subjects. Applications from mature students who lack these academic qualifications are also considered.
"A mix of mature students and school-leavers is terrific," notes Dwyer. "The older students are extremely focused on their work and they help the younger students to mature." Almost half this year's intake is female. "We welcome women onto this programme," he says. "They tend to be good with their hands, are extremely dedicated and research their work thoroughly. They usually shame the lads into working harder."
Since the course is only in its first year, it's difficult to predict students' future career patterns. Many course participants are hoping that the NCVA award will boost their applications for admission to Galway RTC's programme in technology in fine woodworking and design. The remaining students are hoping to set up in business for themselves.
Eugene Dwyer predicts a golden era for furniture design in Ireland. "This is the third year of the new Junior Cert in materials technology, which. includes a design project. A lot of the work is really creative and impressive - there's a lot of design ability out there and at last we're beginning to tap it.
