How everything started...
Øland Craft was started in 1974 by Knud and Lissi Øland and is located in Brasstown, N.C. Knud retired from being a principal of a youth school in Denmark and settled in Brasstown. Knud was a self taught turner with a natural ability to see the beauty in the decaying wood. He became a member of the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild in 1979 and showed his turning creations at many craft shows throughout the southeast. Knud did the turning and Lissi did the finishing. In 1981 their daughter Helen was born. Knud passed away in 1991. Many of his turning creations can be seen at the Øland Craft Gallery in Brasstown, N.C.
Lissi has continued the turning business and not only offers a variety of turnings in both size, shape and design in local woods, but also a line of turning tools created by the Ølands, as well as instruction in wood turning. Few people turn as massive pieces as Lissi does, and even fewer women do, this alone is a major accomplishment. Lissi is a Master Turner, a creative artist and an independent woman. She loves to turn and treats it not only as a profession but as a purpose. Many people are able to experience life without the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy their work. Lissi Øland is her work. Her self expression comes through her turned pieces thus making them most unique. To have the honor of meeting her is one thing, but to behold one of her masterpieces is as if you are given a glimpse into her soul. Many people often say that they are their work in her case the art is her. For a person to turn a decaying piece of wood into a masterpiece, thereby giving it a second life can be called nothing less than art.
Lissi, in August 1961, at the age of 21, arrived at the John C. Campbell Folk school in Brasstown, NC from Copenhagen, Denmark. She had finished a 3 year banking program and was ready for a change. George Bidstrup, the director of the Folk School at that time, and his wife Marguerite had signed her immigration papers and thus made it possible for her to start her life in America. She spent a year at the Folk School working and adjusting to this new life. During that year she was introduced to the lathe by the postmaster of Brasstown, Monroe Wilson, and on weekends when the Folk School shop was empty, she had the opportunity to pursue it further. In the fall of 1962 she started at Berea College, where 6 years later she graduated with a degree in German. During her last year there she had the opportunity to take their Industrial arts course which she thoroughly enjoyed. Her next two years after Berea were spent at the University of Kentucky in their Dental Technology program where she graduated in 1970 with an associate degree in Dental Technology. In December 1970 she moved back to Brasstown to help take care of the Bidstrups who had both fallen ill. She established a crown and bridge dental lab in the basement of their home.
In January of 1974 Knud Øland arrived for a visit with the Bidstrups; he had a sabbatical year from Morsø Ungdoms school in Denmark. That year lasted until his death in September of 1991. Knud was an exceptional and very creative turner and extremely prolific. Lissi did all the finishing, which felt very natural because of her background in the crown and bridge lab. Knud and she designed a line of turning tools with a removable high speed tool bit. The tool is very easy and safe to use and a beginner will get results readily. The tools, the German made lathe König, and supplies grew out of demands as well as the turning workshops. Since 1991 she has continued the business. She is continuing the line of tools. Lissi teaches one or two day classes at the shop and she finds that turning is a very satisfactory outlet. "I turn pieces any where from 2" in diameter till 29" . I use mostly local woods and have a great supply of very prettily spalted maple, which I favor. I am able to do all the work without help except from a large tractor, several different size chain saws, a dolly and an engine hoist. It is a very gratifying and exciting experience to follow the pieces along until they finally are finished. A great form of therapy.", so she says.
Lissi has continued the turning business and not only offers a variety of turnings in both size, shape and design in local woods, but also a line of turning tools created by the Ølands, as well as instruction in wood turning. Few people turn as massive pieces as Lissi does, and even fewer women do, this alone is a major accomplishment. Lissi is a Master Turner, a creative artist and an independent woman. She loves to turn and treats it not only as a profession but as a purpose. Many people are able to experience life without the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy their work. Lissi Øland is her work. Her self expression comes through her turned pieces thus making them most unique. To have the honor of meeting her is one thing, but to behold one of her masterpieces is as if you are given a glimpse into her soul. Many people often say that they are their work in her case the art is her. For a person to turn a decaying piece of wood into a masterpiece, thereby giving it a second life can be called nothing less than art.
Lissi, in August 1961, at the age of 21, arrived at the John C. Campbell Folk school in Brasstown, NC from Copenhagen, Denmark. She had finished a 3 year banking program and was ready for a change. George Bidstrup, the director of the Folk School at that time, and his wife Marguerite had signed her immigration papers and thus made it possible for her to start her life in America. She spent a year at the Folk School working and adjusting to this new life. During that year she was introduced to the lathe by the postmaster of Brasstown, Monroe Wilson, and on weekends when the Folk School shop was empty, she had the opportunity to pursue it further. In the fall of 1962 she started at Berea College, where 6 years later she graduated with a degree in German. During her last year there she had the opportunity to take their Industrial arts course which she thoroughly enjoyed. Her next two years after Berea were spent at the University of Kentucky in their Dental Technology program where she graduated in 1970 with an associate degree in Dental Technology. In December 1970 she moved back to Brasstown to help take care of the Bidstrups who had both fallen ill. She established a crown and bridge dental lab in the basement of their home.
In January of 1974 Knud Øland arrived for a visit with the Bidstrups; he had a sabbatical year from Morsø Ungdoms school in Denmark. That year lasted until his death in September of 1991. Knud was an exceptional and very creative turner and extremely prolific. Lissi did all the finishing, which felt very natural because of her background in the crown and bridge lab. Knud and she designed a line of turning tools with a removable high speed tool bit. The tool is very easy and safe to use and a beginner will get results readily. The tools, the German made lathe König, and supplies grew out of demands as well as the turning workshops. Since 1991 she has continued the business. She is continuing the line of tools. Lissi teaches one or two day classes at the shop and she finds that turning is a very satisfactory outlet. "I turn pieces any where from 2" in diameter till 29" . I use mostly local woods and have a great supply of very prettily spalted maple, which I favor. I am able to do all the work without help except from a large tractor, several different size chain saws, a dolly and an engine hoist. It is a very gratifying and exciting experience to follow the pieces along until they finally are finished. A great form of therapy.", so she says.