Month: June 2012

Woodworking Seminar Makes Museum Replicas of Kayaks

jhackman Classroom

During the Spring Semester of 2012, six Garden Spot students in the Woodworking Seminar class completed museum replicas of original skin-on-frame Greenland and Aleutian-style kayaks as well as paddles.  They were all built with Western red cedar with steam-bent white-ash ribs and a stitched-on nylon skin.  The finished kayaks weigh between 24 and 30 pounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left to Right:

Nate Good-  17’10” West Greenland kayak from 1888

Josiah Stoltzfus – same

Daniel Danilyuk  –  16’6” East Greenland kayak from 1931

Rob Barrett –  16’-6” Aleutian baidarka from 1845

Erica Robles – 16’-10” Aleutian baidarka from 1845

Lizz Wagner – 12’6” Aleutian baidarka from 1845

GSHS TSA Competition Winner!

jhackman Clubs

Four Garden Spot High School students competed at this year’s State TSA (Technology Student Association) Competition that was held at Seven Springs Resort in Champion, PA from April 18-21 this year.  There were over 1000 students from across the state at this year’s competition.  Lizz Wagner performed well by winning a second place trophy in the PA Material Process competition for her 12’6” long skin-on-frame kayak that she built in her second level woodworking class at Garden Spot that was taught by Mark Kaufman.  The kayak is a semi-replica of an original Aleutian-style kayak or baidarka that is based on the MAE AC from 1845. The overall size of the original kayak was 18”4” long x 17” wide.  The one that she built was 12’6” long x 22” wide.   She had to change the overall size of the kayak so that it would not take up more than sixteen square feet of floor space when it was on display at the competition.  In order to do this a special stand was made to hold the kayak in a vertical position rather than displaying it horizontally.  The length was limited to 13’ since this is how high the ceiling was in the display area. The finished kayak, constructed from Western red cedar with steam-bent white-ash ribs and a stitched-on-nylon skin weighs 24.5 pounds.  She also built a replica of the original Aleutian-style paddle from the museum drawings.  Her project also included a very detailed photo and written journal of the entire build process.

Other Garden Spot high school students that competed at this year’s competition were Haley Reccek, Riley Kohl, and Chris Hare. There were also twelve students from Garden Spot Middle School that competed and received numerous awards.  Their advisor was Rob Cuthie and Mike Stitzer was the advisor for the high school students.

GS Students Put Musical Talents To Work in an Enterprising Way

jhackman Arts

Two GS students have put their creative musical talents to work in an enterprising way.

Tatum Murray (Class of 2012) and Trevor Murray (Class of 2013) have just released their first solo albums, comprised only of original songs.  Tatum Murray’s album, Take Me or Leave Me, and Trevor Keat’s album, Sound and Subtle, include songs that each artist wrote, recorded, and produced for public release.  The albums are currently available on CD, iTunes, and other online stores.  (Trevor uses his first and middle names—Trevor Keat—to distinguish himself from another musician named Trevor Murray.)

The process of producing their solo albums began well over a year ago as each artist was busy writing songs to complement cover songs in their local solo performances.   In November 2011, the brother and sister began to record their music in the studio of a Berks County sound engineer.   No outside musicians were used on the recordings; all instruments—guitars, bass, piano, harmonica, mandolin, drums, and percussion—were played by Tatum and Trevor.  On a few of her songs, Tatum enlisted Trevor’s talents on electric guitar, bass, and drums.  By May 2012, the tracks were mixed and prepared for release in their present forms.   Tatum and Trevor created their CD jackets with the help of Mr. Mike Stitzer, a GS high school tech and graphics teacher.

Tatum and Trevor perform as solo acts and occasionally as a duo.   Over the past two years, they have shared their music in coffee shops, clubs, pubs, benefit shows, street fairs, “Friday” events, and other forums in Lancaster and contiguous counties.   Recently, they performed as a duo at GS’s Relay for Life on May 31, and their next duo performance will be at the Terre Hill Days Craft Show on July 21.

Additionally, each has composed music for a film.   Tatum’s song “Frozen” was written for Frozen Lies, by Philadelphia filmmaker Robert V. Sesay.   Trevor composed a guitar score for Rick Hansberry’s latest short film, Smile, which has been screened in Penn Cinema film festivals.   Lastly, one of Tatum’s songs, “Deserve,” has been adopted by Aevidum, a student group initiated at Cocalio High School to educate people about teenage suicide and depression issues.

 

 

 

Tatum Murray’s music is available for preview and purchase on iTunes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor Keat’s music is available for preview and purchase on iTunes

 

 

 

 

 

Each artist has a musician Facebook page for more information about their work and local performances.   CDs can also be ordered by messaging them there.

Tatum Murray’s Facebook Page

Trevor Keat’s Facebook Page

At GS, Tatum and Trevor have taken opportunities to develop and refine their talents in GS music programs under the direction and support of Mrs. Deb Olson, Mr. Richard Fitz, and Mrs. Ena Banks.   They are grateful for the guidance and opportunities afforded them at GS, and they strongly encourage other students to pursue their musical interests.