Nelson group at woodcraft show

Nelson's Centre for Fine Woodworking will be one of the exhibits at the upcoming Waimate Woodcraft Expo in the first weekend of March.

The event will be held at the Waimate Stadium on Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2 and according to the Waimate Rotary Club organising committee member John Abraham securing the Nelson exhibit was a coup.

"The committee are delighted to have secured an exhibition from the Centre for Fine Woodworking.

"It was established as a privately run and funded learning centre with the principal aim of offering high quality tuition in fine woodworking."

Tutor, John Shaw had been a studio furniture maker and woodworking tutor for 25 years.

He has exhibited and sold his unique designs widely in New Zealand and was the winner of the Weyerhauser Studio Furniture Awards at the Suter Gallery Nelson in 2000.

Fellow tutor David Haig was educated in England and for the past 20 years has been one of New Zealand's most successful furniture designer and makers, working from his home and workshop in Cable Bay.

The third tutor is Katalin Sallai. She will be demonstrating marquetry techniques.

"Together they will provide continuous demonstration through the two days of the expo with ample opportunity for one-on-one explanation and discussion with the viewing public."

Over $8000 worth of prize money would be up for grabs at the expo, with $700 in each of twelve categories of Woodcraft competition. More than 100 entries of woodcraft from all over New Zealand had been received including woodturning, carving and furniture and will be on view inside the Stadium.

Outside the stadium there will be a range of woodworking activities demonstrated by craftsmen.

- © Fairfax NZ News