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Hi lands Woodturning

keeps ancient art alive

By Dawn Lamoureux-Crocker

In an age where technology drives us and mass production is the norm for consumer
goods, there remains a desire for some to create original, unique objects as a means of
self-expression through personal design. One such way to achieve this self-expression is through the art of woodturning. Woodturning
uses hand tools to cut and shape a design into a piece of wood that rotates on a machine called a lathe. The tradition of woodturning
dates to the times of ancient Egypt and this skillful craft is still practiced by Castine woodturner Temple Blackwood, owner of Highlands
Woodturning.
Temple began woodturning in 1968 after he received a Homecraft lathe from his wife and mother-in-law. He sweeps his arm across
the workshop and proudly points out that he now has nine lathes. The workshop at Highlands Woodturning is crisp with the smell of
cut wood. Coils of wood shavings litter the floor and there is a treasure trove of hand chisels hanging on the walls; their wood handles
lovingly smoothed by age and use. The delightful warmth of the wood stove humming at the back of the
shop lends to the air of hospitality extended by the owner. It doesn’t take long to realize Temple’s absolute
passion for his craft and his understanding of the endless possibilities of crafting with wood that are not
possible with any other medium.
Gazing around the workshop there are various pieces of wood that have been transformed, are in the pro-
cess of being transformed, or have yet to be transformed into something unique and beautiful. Each finished
piece created retains the warmth and beauty of the wood married with the vision and talent of the artist It is
easy to understand how one might fall in love with this craft.

Temple, a former headmaster of a private school in Maryland, retired in 2009 and made Maine his perma-
nent home. He has been woodturning full time ever since. Teaching is still in his blood and he shares his
wealth of knowledge and talent through classes offered at his shop. One of his former students, Christina Chisels Photo by Dawn
Snow, caught the woodturning “bug” and now has her own shop, Bagaduce Woodturning in Penobscot. Lamoureux-Crocker
Temple not only offers lessons at his shop but also provides open shop time
for individuals working on projects. Through classes and
workshop time he continues to share his talent and skill
and keep the tradition of woodturning alive and well.

In addition to being a craftsman and teacher, Temple partici-
pates in restoration work re-creating pieces of historical
design. One restoration project he is particularly honored
to have been a part of was the restoration work done to the
USS Constellation, the only surviving Civil War-era vessel
that is located in Baltimore, Maryland. In July and August,
you can find Temple teaching woodturning through the
living history program at the Wilson Museum in Castine.
On Sundays and Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m., he and other
craftspeople demonstrate blacksmithing, boat building,
spoon carving, and rope making, splicing, and knot tying.
Temple’s own designs and “how to” articles on woodturn-
ing can be found at www.highlandswoodturning.com.
Highlands Woodturning is located at 862 Castine Road,
Castine. For more information about classes, call (207)
951-5086, or email temple@highlandswoodturning.com.

Above: Temple Blackwood woodturning in his shop in Castine.
Photo courtesy of Highlands Woodturning
Right: A natural edge bowl, one of the many unique creations of wood-
turner Temple Blackwood Photo by Dawn Lamoureux-Crocker
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