Workshops
Daniel Mack is committed to sharing information on how to work 
with natural materials. Besides his writing, he has been teaching and about this for more 25 years... at The Omega Institute, his own studio, the Woodlanders Gatherings and various arts and crafts centers and healing centers. He organized an Arts-in-Healthcare Seminar and has recently started Arts in Nature, a custom-workshop service for organizations interested in deepening their experience of nature and human nature. Dan has begun on-line creativity workshops and salons with people around the world. He is developing what he calls: Wayward Psychology, an approach to well-being through making .
Currently Scheduled Teaching:
September, 2010 weekly meetings, Art, Illness and Health
October or early November
3-day Working Rustic workshop . limited to 6 people
July 11 to July 15, 2011 Five-Day Rustic Workshop
Working Rustic The Omega Institute Rhinebeck, NY
Daniel Mack has been working with sticks, saplings, logs, 
bark and driftwood for 25 years to make furniture, architectural work, garden structures and small, simple objects. He has written five books on the techniques and attitudes of working rustic. He has learned about the 'language' of natural materials which he shares in this workshop, "Rustic is really a way of saying something about beauty, nature, longing and your place in the world. It's much more than just furniture".
Dan introduces the basic construction techniques and tools of rustic work as you work on your own projects. This workshop is excellent for people who have never used a drill or a hammer. But experienced builders and craftspeople will be surprised and challenged by the subtleties of the rustic ways of making things. You can expect to make two or three things during the course
Current Topics
One-Day Working Rustic at Daniel Mack's Studio
twice a year
This is a 1-day workshop for practicing artists, woodworkers, contractors,craftspeople and anyone with good hand-eye skills and experience with basic tools. It is held at Dan's workshop in Warwick so you have access to the common and specialized tools and materials in his shop and barn. It is a brisk infusion of energy and ideas into your work.. In addition to the making of furniture, you will gather information, develop ideas and experiment with tools and materials for work n your own shop and... meet other people interested in the same work.
Daniel Mack guides you through the process of designing
and building with branches, saplings and other natural materials. He introduces ways of thinking about designs which honor both the materials and the artist.. He teaches a variety of techniques for joining natural materials together with simple tools. This is a workshop for both the Playful and the Practical. You build a 12" high "trophy" chair which has all the mortise and tenon joints and design challenges of larger scale furniture. And for those wanting to escape the tyranny of utility, there is a supply of bark and driftwood to shape into rattles, wands, talking sticks, walking sticks, utensils, jewelry and other forms of decoration and adornment.
Experienced Rustics with very specific interests can use this day to explore Dan's shop and barnfull of materials and make what they want to.He can help troubleshoot design and construction problems.
Limit 7 people · Spring and Fall · Cost: $125/day
Creative Fitness Workshops see recent article
Dan has developed several short workshops--2-3 hours each--in specific techniques and themes in working with Natural Materials.Each workshop was limited to 9 people. He offers these every few months in Warwick and sometimes in Stone Ridge, NY
Finding Spirit through Matter: a Jungian approach to making
Related Workshops:
Art, Illness and Health, September 2010
Making Tools: Imaginal and Real
Making Imaginal Trading Cards.
Crafts Matter: a illustrated discussion of objects and biography
Working Rustic
Daniel Mack has been working with sticks, saplings, logs, bark and driftwood for 25 years to make furniture, architectural work, garden structures and small, simple objects. He has written five books on the techniques and attitudes of working rustic. He has learned about the 'language' of natural materials which he shares in this workshop, "Rustic is really a way of saying something about beauty, nature, longing and your place in the world. It's much more than just furniture".
Dan introduces the basic construction techniques and tools of rustic work as you work on your own projects. This workshop is excellent for people who have never used a drill or a hammer. But experienced builders and craftspeople will be surprised and challenged by the subtleties of the rustic ways of making things. You can expect to make two or three things during the course. 3 or 5 days · limit 7 people · at Dan's studio/shop in Warwick, NY · Cost: $125/day
Writing Skills for Artists and Craftspeople
Versatile writing skills are more important than ever. Small business people, artists and craftspeople especially need the skills to write press releases, artists statements, short bios and short, clear descriptions of products and services for websites and promotion. This workshop introduces the basics of writing, finding appropriate "voices" and editing. There are handouts, discussion, in-class exercises and at-home practices. Three meetings, 2 hours each, plus email contact · Cost: $120
Writing Skills for Artists and Craftspeople, one-day
In this one-day workshop, writer-artist Daniel Mack helps jump-start the
writing and presentational skills every artist needs to have. He starts
with the Artists Statement, that agonizingly short, direct statement of who
you are and why you make. With that as the base, he then works on the Press Release and The Article. There will be time in the afternoon for a broader discussion of books and self-publishing. Participants should bring a resume, artitt statement and any other written materials and pieces of favorite writing. At the end of the workshop, we will discuss if and how to continue this work.
contact Dan about on-line writing tutorials
On-Line Creativity Salon
Future Workshop Topics
Working with Birch Bark
Free-Form Carving from Bark,
Business practices for artists and craftspeople