2019 Demonstrators
Paul Jackman
Paul Jackman is a graduate of Upper Cape Cod Vocational High School where he studied Woodworking and Carpentry and acquired the foundation of his woodworking knowledge. He started Jackman Works when he graduated in 2009 as a way to continue that journey while he went on to study Civil Engineering at Syracuse University. Jackman Works continued as a side project over the summers during college, working out of the back of his now iconic orange Honda Element.
After college, that developed further into a small workshop in the basement of his Boston apartment and that is where Jackman first picked up a camera and started sharing his work on YouTube and Instagram. That spiralled into the Jackman that we know today. Just a few years later, his wife joined the Coast Guard and they were lucky enough to be stationed in the beautiful state of Rhode Island. With the move, Paul had to quit his day job, but with the woodworking (through video making) being an ever-growing endeavour in the background, he decided to take it for a spin full time. He set up his first official shop in North Kingstown at The Mill at Shady Lea.
Jesse Savage
Jesse Savage is an independent metal artist blacksmith located in the heart of Central Vermont. He uses hammer and anvil to traditionally forge his iron work the old fashion way. Jesse primarily focuses on hand forging Vermont made axes, hatchets, and fireplace tools. Being very passionate about Vermont's history, traditions and the land, Jesse uses this inspiration as he works in his Rutland Blacksmith Shop. His work can be found in Vermont Forgings' gallery, Hand Made in Vermont's Gallery in Wallingford, & many other local shops. Jesse is an instructor at Center for Metal Arts in Johnstown, PA.
Geoff Feder
Raised in NYC, Geoff was inspired by the urban environment, constant development, and the contrast of progress with the natural world. Finding his voice with steel, Geoff started welding and creating sculptures. After years working as a blacksmith, forging ornamental ironwork, Geoff created the custom knife business Feder Knives specializing in culinary knives. Federknives.com
Cliff Dufton
Cliff Dufton has over 15 years of experience as a welding and fabrication master craftsman. He is currently an Instructor for The Art Students League of New York and also teaches metal workshops at Columbia University. His background in construction and achievements through many years of participation in NYC's Model to Monument (M2M) Public Art program are the crucible in which his successful career as a Maker has been forged.
Cliff graduated at the top of his class from Apex Technical School and is a certified welder. He participated in the 2018 New York Maker Faire with the group “Modern Forge” and won 7 Editor's Choice Awards.
John Erianne
John Erianne is a sculptor, welder, and blacksmith with over a decade of experience. He graduated Union College in Schenectady, New York in 2006 having studied English Literature and Sculpture/Visual Arts. In addition to receiving a MFA from The New York Studio School, he has been on staff as the Sculptural Technician since 2013. Prior to NYSS, he worked at Montclair State University and The Art Students League of New York as well as conducting on-going private and group workshops focused primarily on metalworking techniques. Additionally, John runs a small fabrication business out of his New Jersey workshop, dealing with both artistic and residential commissions as well as developing his own sculpture and tool making. www.sunsetforgenj.com
Tracey Cheuvront
Bastionhead Woodworks is Tracey Cheuvront and Kathrina Nellis of Kansas City. They make functional, useful art from both green wood and dry lumber with an emphasis on reclaimed materials. Specializing in kitchen items and green wood bowls, they are recognized for their "non-linear" approach and innovative powercarving methods which they have taught at The Woodworking Shows and DiResta Workshops. Tracey is also an axe handle maniac and ardent hand tool resurrectionist
Steve Pellegrino
Steve Pellegrino is a designer and self-taught Bladesmith that will be bringing forging, grinding and finishing skills to the Maker Camp in addition to whetstone sharpening techniques.
Scott Grove
Scott Grove is an international award-winning master craftsman; he’s a woodworker, artist, sculptor, teacher, author, tool designer, and YouTuber. He lectures, demonstrates, and judges at national conferences as well as regional and local woodworking groups. An expert in veneer and inlay, he has an unconventional approach to all he does, and constantly pushes boundaries to develop new and unique methods of creating functional art. His work can be found in prominent museum, gallery, and private collections, and he maintains an educational site for craftspeople, Imagine Grove.com, which showcases a variety of skills, projects, craft and woodworking business and marketing advice, and quick tips.
George Vondriska
George Vondriska was given a scroll saw when he was 9, and a router and lathe shortly after. That was the beginning of his love for woodworking and working with his hands. He turned a baby carriage and lawn mower into a go-cart, disassembled and reassembled (generally successfully) anything he could get his hands on, and built a shop in his mom’s garage before he was in high school.
George’s love of making and creating lead to him becoming a Technical Education (shop) teacher. His first teaching job was at a Shopsmith store, which lead to his career of teaching adults. He opened his own woodworking school in 1998, the same year he became Tools and New Product Editor for American Woodworker Magazine. In addition to AW George has written for Woodworkers Journal, Fine Woodworking, The Family Handyman and WOOD magazines. He also co-wrote a book: CNC Essentials. Outside of his own school George taught woodworking in Africa for the U.S. Peace Corps and has done training for Andersen Window and the Pentagon.
As the Managing Editor of the Woodworkers Guild of America George has produced over 120 DVDs and countless YouTube clips. He continues to run his own woodworking school in Wisconsin, and travels throughout the country to teach.
When he’s not teaching, writing or shooting a video George is camping, riding his motorcycle, teaching himself to weld, or shooting his bow.
Pat Laperriere
Patrick Laperrière (Pat Lap) is originally from Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. He has a degree in
communication, graphic design, and he studied humorous writing at the National Comedy
School of Montreal.
His favorite hobby has always been woodworking, a passion taught to him at a very young age
by his grandfather.
More recently, Patrick became the creator behind the Youtube channel "Le PicBois" His channel
is an ever-evolving project through which he can express all of his talents: woodworking, humor,
music, and multimedia production.
Patrick is also an employee of Lee Valley Tools as a Brand and Content Specialist.