Everyday Meets Heirloom: Liesl Chatman and the Department of Fierce Kolrosing, Pt. 2

By Thomas Harb

Spoon Carving

In addition to being a kolroser, Liesl is also a spoon carver. She has stated that there are few kolrosers in the country, and fewer still that also carve spoons. In addition to teaching kolrosing, Liesl also held a spoon carving workshop in the Art Department’s woodshop. Over eight weeks, students—a mix of graduates and undergraduates—learned the entire process of carving a spoon from start to finish, from a piece of wood to the kitchen utensil drawer. They were each given their own personal spoon-carving kit of knives, which they used to make one spoon during the workshop classes, and another one at home to practice. By the end of the semester, everyone had two spoons (at varying stages of completeness).

The Process

With knives in hand, it was time to carve a spoon! Notice throughout them that Liesl is carving with the students so that they can see show she does it, and so she can explain and demonstrate proper techniques.

The first step was using axes to reduce the amount of non-spoon wood. This reduced the original crude plank to the rough shape of a spoon.

Tom Bartlett is a spoon carver based in Madison, and came to one of the workshops as a guest teacher. He and Liesl discussed differences in methods, and taught the students how to carve the bottom of the bowl.

The technique they learned to shape the bottom of the bowl used their whole torso and was best done standing up.

As the shape of the final spoon was becoming increasingly clear, most of the classes were spent meticulously shaping their spoons.

Holding the spoon up to the light was a way to check the proportions.

Here, Liesl is demonstrating how to carve where the bowl meets the handle, an important and particularly tricky spot.

While this was primarily a woodshop class, Liesl’s approach to teaching art is quite different. As with any art class, sometimes she students would watch her demonstrate a particular technique (as depicted above), she would often walk around to make sure they had good form in dealing with sharp tools, and would generally ensure that everyone was doing everything correctly. Nevertheless, her uniqueness was in teaching how to approach creating art. She continuously reminded them that the final product they were working towards is usable, comfortable, and sturdy—not just pretty—and how every step in the process was a purposeful step closer to that final spoon. She also incorporated mindfulness into the classes, making independent carving time relaxing and therapeutic, and dedicated time for reflecting through journaling and conversation. These different forms of engagement with her students in just one carving class truly showcased her skill as an artist and teacher.

This was an especially tranquil moment of silence, concentration, and maybe even meditation.

Her students themselves have commented on her engaging and encouraging teaching style. One student, Anna, is a graduated student of art and psychology, and participated in both the spoon carving and kolrosing workshops. In an interview, she spoke about her previous experience with woodworking, and how Liesl’s teaching method was a fresh and new perspective compared to other art teachers. She also described her own personal interactions with Liesl, including additional one-on-one guidance with technique and receiving extra materials to continue carving. Since the residency has finished, she has continued to carve spoons at home and makes them as gifts.

Anna is showing her collection of spoons she has made during and since the end of the residency, her kolrosing (left), and the knives she was given to continue carving (right).

In her art and in her teaching, Liesl brings her whole self as she works to make the everyday beautiful. Her spoons, carved and kolrosed, become everyday heirlooms. Meant to be used and cherished and passed on, just like the traditional knowledge of carving and kolrosing.