Karuna Thakur is learning leadership skills through chairmaking as part of an experimental mentoring program for migrant communities in Tasmania.
An activity she would not have had access to in Tasmania due to cost, the classes are provided free of charge by craftsman Jon Grant in collaboration with not-for-profit organisation Citizen Tasmania.
A retired senior educator, Mr Grant said his involvement in the program "fills a need" to mentor and support people as he did in his former role, which he retired from two years earlier.
Using traditional chairmaking techniques and hand tools, Ms Thakur said she has had realisations about leadership and working in a team in conversations with Mr Grant, during the "incredible" mentoring program.
Chairmaking with mentoring on the side
Straddling a shave horse, Ms Thakur deftly moves a draw knife along a length of wood destined to become a chair leg. Shavings fall to her feet, comfortably nestled in wood debris.
The workshop is a purposefully music-free zone, the priorities are conversation and woodwork.
Handcrafting a chair is a skill Ms Thakur learned in recent months.
She came hoping to learn about leadership and working in a team, and since commencing her understanding of both has grown.
"One day, we were working with the wood, and he was explaining how the fibres have to run in the same direction to remain stable," Ms Thakur said.
"Even in an organisation, if a leader has one goal but the people working with them have other expectations, it will lead to a wobbling organisation — much like a chair."
It's one of many realisations had by Ms Thakur and another participant, Hannah Poon.
"I have really drawn this process out — it's such a grounding and healing experience," Ms Poon said.
"Sometimes there's not any kind of large 'aha moment', but it all builds to something and, in the end, you have the chair.
"It's a good reminder when you cross-pollinate that to other experiences in your life when you get frustrated because it seems like you won't get to the end, that it's OK because you're just working on the process."
Continuing traditions in chairmaking
Handcrafting a chair may seem like an abstract fit for learning leadership skills but, for Mr Grant, it ties in with a history of chairmaking as a vehicle for social change.
He points to the work of United States chairmaker Curtis Buchanan, who created a "naive-looking chair" called the Democratic Chair.
"Curtis started chairmaking as part of a conservation project in Puerto Rico and Guatemala, helping local communities build industry around their forests to protect them," Mr Grant said.
"He calls it the chair of the people."
Just four or five hand tools are needed to make the chair, making it an accessible design for less wealthy people.
It's Mr Grant's chair of choice for the mentoring program.
"Woodworking can look like a rich person's world. I like to break that down a lot and I like it to be accessible," Mr Grant said.
"This chair is designed to be able to be made with minimal tools, you don't have to be a rich person to do it."
More seats to fill
Citizen Tasmania director Grace Akosua Williams said there were plans to offer more mentoring opportunities this year.
"Migrant and refugee arrived communities often don't have access to explore artistic experiences, especially something as exclusive as chairmaking," Ms Williams said.
Both Ms Williams and Mr Grant said they were surprised by how rewarding an experience it has been for participants.
For Mr Grant, it is about watching people learn and grow.
"I am keen to keep this going. It's more enriching when you're doing things that you're not getting paid for sometimes," Mr Grant said.
"I did 30 years in government. I wanted to leave but there were things that I missed," Mr Grant said.
"The biggest thing was mentoring and helping particularly young people grow — the work I do with Citizen Tasmania fills that need."
