Building more than boxes at Lost Art Workshop

NORTH CANAAN — There’s really only one rule fo participating in a Lost Art Workshop: You have to come with at least one other family member.Of all of Joseph Jude Brien’s award-winning, grant-earning teaching projects, even a feature on a cable television show (HGTV’s “That’s Clever” in 2008, available on YouTube), what probably gives him the most satisfaction is providing memorable family experiences. For the past decade, students have come as father-and-son teams, mothers and daughters, whole families, even adults bringing their own parents to spend a few hours building a stool, a bat box, a puppet, whittling a spoon or learning orienteering or how to start a campfire without matches. These once-vital skills are dying out, and Brien is doing his best to keep them alive. It has also become an exercise in giving families a way to put down their electronic devices and spend more time interacting.On Jan. 11, his workshop was about how to make toolboxes and was held at the Canaan Fire Company firehouse. A firetruck was moved out of a bay so Brien could back in his newly completed trailer. He spent three years building it and was finally able to wrap it up with grant funding. Under the arched green roof, flip-out benches are stored. In minutes, Brien can open the trailer out so there are work stations on each side, saving time — and his back. He is working on a canopy system that will cover the entire setup so workshops can go on in rain or under hot sun.His Lost Art Workshops are sponsored by the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, which offers programs for families in the six Region One School District towns. They are free, and Brien tries to get to each town twice a year. Not that it really matters which town he is in. Folks making toolboxes last Saturday were from all over the region — with no one from North Canaan. It is not unusual for families to travel from Torrington, Waterbury and Hartford. He has fostered a large following among a network of home-schoolers.Sawing and hammering away, surrounded by the remaining firetrucks, workshoppers were thinking of what they would use the sturdy wooden boxes for. It’s unusual for someone to actually say tools.Macin Tufts, 12, and his dad, Todd, came over from Sharon to spend part of the rainy day together. It was a chance to build something different from the birdhouses Macin likes to make at home.Eli Newton, 10, of Kent brought his mom, Marci, and had drilled holes, as many do, along the top of each long side. His will neatly hold his calligraphy pens and supplies.While 7-year-old Mary LaFond of Sharon honed her nail-hammering skills, mom Leanne watched with pride.“It’s so great for the kids and the adults to learn the basic fundamentals of workmanship and the pride in making something of your own,” she said.Therese Duncan of Kent brought her 7-year-old granddaughter Taylor Christen, whose aunt, Meghan Duncan, tagged along. Taylor carefully made sure the corners lined up, while thinking about the art supplies her box would hold. Over the years, one inventive youngster added a strip of wood for a lip, so that the box could double as an easel. It has been a popular design option since. Joe Markow, who came up from Cornwall with son, Simon, took the option, but plans to use it as a prop for his clipboard. In a prior workshop, Brien’s industrial design background came into play when a boy envisioned a bit more in the triangular end of the box. “He sectioned off one side, built a little roof and made a combination toolbox and birdhouse,” Brien said. “We’re not just building things; we’re building imaginations, strong family ties and memories.”For a schedule and to register for workshops (space is limited), go to www.lostartworkshops.com. Next up is treasure box building Feb. 8 in Kent.