Workshops
Dan offers two kinds of hands-on workshops: One is just about the tools, techniques of how to build in the rustic style. The other is about using natural materials and rustic approaches to develop personal creativity.
1. Building Rustic Furniture Workshops
April, 2013 Natural Fence Building MSM Desmond Campus
limited to 12 people $40
July 7-12 2013 Working Rustic at The Omega Institute
Daniel Mack teaches the skills and attitudes of working rustic with ordinary hand and power tools. Dan introduces the traditional mortise and tenon joint and other forms of joinery with natural materials as you work on a variety of woodworking projects including chairs, tables and natural form sculpture. Both woodworkers and those new to woodworking will be intrigued by the challenges and delights of working rustic. Materials include driftwood, maple saplings, birch bark and slabs of interesting logs.
October, 2013 3-Day Rustic Bodgers Workshop
Dan Mack's Warwick Shop, 9am-4pm Limit 6 people $150/day
At this workshop, the building menu includes:
a small "trophy" chair with all the joints of larger rustic work (4 hours)
a slab top table with branch legs (6 hours)
a bench hook (2 hours), a Leopold Bench (4 hours)
Several people come for just the first day, Saturday,
Dan introduces the common and specialized tools and a few ways of thinking rustic as we build a 12" "Trophy Chair" which has all the design and construction challenges of larger rustic work. We may be able to do a small bench. Two are staying to work on other larger projects for the other two days.
Daniel Mack has been working with sticks, saplings, logs, bark and driftwood for 25 years to make furniture, rustic architectural elements 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
re, architectural work, garden structures and . Register, PayPal an option
2. Creativity Workshops using Natural Materials
The Language of Natural Materials: Alchemy
or Art?
An introduction to the world of
natural materials. We meet in renowned rustic furniture makers studio in
charming Warwick, NY about an hour north of New York City. Dan introduces the
tools and materials and techniques of working with sticks, logs, driftwood and
bark. He then guides you through a few small projects and sends you back into
the world a little smarter and happier. You’ll have time to explore the
orchards, farms and shops of rural Orange County.
Daniel Mack is an artist and teacher. He’s
made furniture, art and buildings from sticks and logs for many years. Now, he
mostly collects driftwood on the banks of the Hudson River and carves haunting
little figures called anima or “bush spirits.” He’s been teaching at The Omega
Institute since 1997.
Recent Teaching
Working Rustic: 1-day introduction at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum. March 9, 2013 and 3-day version March 16-18 in Warwick
The Language of Natural
Materials: Alchemy or
Art?
Sept. 22,
2012 Dorsky Museum, SUNY New Paltz, NY 3-4:30pm 
Working with Driftwood July 15, 2012 10-12:30
Join rustic builder Daniel Mack on the banks of the Hudson River for a few hours of smart fun. We’ll meet at Plum Point off Rt 9W at 10AM and with a few simple tools and a good eye, build from the driftwood we find and collect there. You might make a bench or a sculpture. You can leave it there or take it home. Dan will teach about the various kinds of tools and techniques he uses to make driftwood creations. Please bring a cordless drill . $40 Limit 10 people Register at MSM
Working with Natural Materials
Introduction to how--and why-- of work with nature
The Art School at Old Church, Demerast, NJ $160
Sunday, March 11, 2012. 10am-4pm
for the day include several sculptural exercises and the challenges
of mounting and displaying them. Attention is given to how projects
develop with natural materials. What is the language of sticks, bark,
bones and stones? And what level of craft and joinery is appropriate
with natural materials?Dan will have plenty of materials on hand. But participants are asked to bring a small collection of natural materials to share. Please look through Dan’s website before coming to the workshop or look through some of his books.
October 3-5, 2011
Four people from around the country came for these three days. They eachhad projects in mind to work on. On Monday, a few extra people joined to build that model "trophy" chair which is a mini-introduction to the agony and ectasy of working rustic.Kevin Delaney made this stool/table in just one day.
Fred Bucholtz brought a box support and made this lovely peeled wood daybed in three long days of work.
They both successfully resisted my digressive teaching style that distracts students in a wondrous storm of interesting objects and sidetrips to thin places and tool stores...
The next one of these workshops is in March, 2013 here in Warwick.
Working Rustic at Omega Summer 2012
Rustic Bodgering March 7-11 2011
Rustic Woodworker Daniel Mack has been working with fallen wood, saplings, logs and driftwood for 30 years. He uses a variety of simple, traditional and contemporary woodworking tools to make furniture, architectural elements and sculptures. This workshop will give you the basic skills to make your own rustic projects from common woods and driftwood and possibly start a small side business
Mindful Making with Natural Materials
Cost $40 per workshop. includes special handmade papers and supplies.
same workshop... alternative description:
$40 per workshop includes handmade papers
Drop-In Studio Time . two-hour time blocks
Dan has a large, comfortable studio in a Victorian era carriage House. It has many worktables and is filled with compelling materials and tools. He is starting weekly, Drop-In Workshops where people are invited to come to work/play/explore by the hour. This is an experiment in flex-time creativity--- where people can come and be in the company of others, with materials, with tools...or just by themselves....a creative mini-vacation.
Arts and Illness with Dan Mack-
All of us are artists 
and all of us experience illness. For several years, Dan Mack has been developing workshops in the “language of healing by making” he has taught in hospitals, retreat centers and many different school and workshop settings. In this 12 meeting workshop, he shares the many techniques he has developed as he guides you through different exercises. This workshop is good for artists who have come to suspect that the act of making may be more important than what’s made and that making in the company of others enriches all involved. In this workshop we make two and three dimensional objects linked to the well-being of ourselves, others and the earth. www.danielmack.com. $100 (for any four) more>>>>
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, blogs and promotion. This 4 meeting workshop introduces the basics of writing, finding appropriate "voices" and editing. There are handouts, discussion, in-class exercises, at-home practices and an email forum for exchanging work. Daniel Mack has been a network radio and TV producer and writer. He has taught writing at Fordham University and has written seven book and many articles. $100 (for any four)
One-Day Version
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, artist 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
One-Day Working Rustic at Dan'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
Links to Previous Workshops
Shakerag Workshops, Sewanee, TN
Future Workshop Topics
Finding Spirit through Matter: a Jungian approach to making
Related Workshops:
Making Tools: Imaginal and Real
Making Imaginal Trading Cards.
Crafts Matter: a illustrated discussion of objects and biography
LODGING in WARWICK, NY
Rooms at the nearby Warwick Motel are $89/night including tax.
The Warwick Conference Center also has a range of accommodations from camping to shared or single rooms.
Some of the local B&Bs will match motel rates on off days. Sometimes private homes nearby offer rooms for $50/night. Contact Dan for details
Daniel Mack is committed to sharing information about working 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's 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. 2008 Version