Learning the lost art of making things

FALLS VILLAGE — “I may ask you for body parts,” said Joe Brien. 

“Don’t take it the wrong way.”

Brien was demonstrating how to make what he calls “blockheads” — figures made out of bits of wood and other odds and ends — at the D.M. Hunt Library on Wednesday afternoon, July 27.

Brien runs Lost Art Workshops, and offers activities designed to get children away from electronic gadgets and into working with their hands.

He had his Workshop Wagon in front of the library.

This portable workshop opens up into several work stations, with room for six or eight youngsters to make stuff.

Brien started by showing the group a couple of his own Blockhead figures for inspiration.

Then he demonstrated how to use the tools, with an emphasis on safety.

“How many of you have worked with a glue gun?”

A few hands went up.

“How many of you have gotten burned with a glue gun?”

The same hands went up.

“How do you avoid getting burned?”

“Keep your hands away from the metal part,” said a girl.

“Exactly,” said Brien.

He showed the group a dowel, about 2 feet long.

“Now, you can use this if you want the neck to be this big,” he said, wiggling the dowel.

He then segued into deep stuff about drill bits and test holes.

The children watched attentively, eager to take their turn.

Nobody was peering and pecking at a cellphone. None of the children, anyway.

For more information on Lost Art Workshops, go to www.lostartworkshops.com.