Apprentice with Bo Atkinson

Informal arrangements can be made where individuals can work with me, Bo Atkinson, on many possible projects from small to large. Have you found a page of interest on this site ?  (http://www.midcoast.com/~bo/......)    Would you like to work on such a project and learn some skills represented?  Let me know what might interest you. Naturally as one person, my projects are limited to time available. If we can find a match of project interests, then we might make further arrangements.

Caution: All visitors to my home will pass at there own risk. Apprentices must assume responsibility for themselves and also pass at their own risk. A waiver must be signed to this effect. Very rustic conditions prevail. We do not have any sort of liability insurance for visitors or apprentices.

I have had individuals who wanted to work for a day now and then. I have welcomed people on this basis. Some have enjoyed learning how to "emboss" real leaf fossils with cement or just make a birdbath. I have also heard from family vacationers where one parent wanted to work with me... There are many activities of interests for families who are vacationing in Maine.  That is not something I would get involved with, of course. Yet there is for example an art center, around the corner from me. All ages may find activities of interest there. Visit the  Waterfall Arts web site for further information. Waterfall Arts is a formally structured institution. By contrast, my apprenticeship offering is customized and informal.

One objective is coach an apprentice through labor. That is a possibility.  Hired labor is ordinarily more than i can afford, especially with so many laws that hurt micro contractors like me. I simply suffered for my art and focus on what one man can accomplish by working alone. I can share my tricks and tips for working as a small contractor or laborer. Tips on how to make a humble living through creative abilities are openly shared and discussed, (including tips on turning dreams into reality, generally. I do not have accommodations on my small acreage of land. There are many local accommodations available in the area, which the apprentice would handle independently. There is some parking space for camper-vans -- I can offer electricity and water, but the first work would then, likely be to build an out house here. Here is an opportunity to learn about compost toilet building. If exceptional productivity is demonstrated by an individual, I might be able to offer some pay if we are working on an outside, -paying job. I do take various kinds jobs, but sadly, few of these involve highly inspired concrete work (and are well funded at the same time). Of particular interest to me at present, would be building a "green-roof, hanging-garden house" for a client or building something like this particular monolithic concrete heater.

Dreaming and peace-proven ideals are important. Keep life interesting and wisely productive by building worthy dreams. Realize simple dreams by sculpting something, anything, even small items. I can help you push through barriers or mental-blocks. Fear not. It should be no wonder that our world is "quarantined" from a vast universe, full of grandeur, just waiting for our people to mature. To evolve beyond the need for perpetual war as a business plan (for the world's, "king of the mountain").

Summer 2008 Learn many trade secrets, perhaps including some of the following.

Sitting-planters will be built in my vegetable garden. Learn about or expand on organic gardening lore, (& sustainable, human nutrition).

I plan to "glaze" my arbor dome. That means apply a translucent covering over those wavy I-beams and the atrium. I might even get around to "painting" the leaves on the ferrocement part of the arbor dome. (Paint won't be used. Rather, acid-precipitated, concrete-stain will be used. These require advanced climbing skill, but much can be learned on the ground level.)

Need Something Built?

Do you have a project that you want me to bid on? Please send me some details and I will attempt a reply. I welcome sketches, pictures, web links or preliminary ideas. I have offered very preliminary 3D CAD models for free through email, as interesting building is best understood visually. Just a quick start up model to understand what a potential client might want. When hired, I do try to do a clients work only as they direct.  They could specify whether or not they would wish to have apprentices work on the project or whether they would prefer skilled worker, only. Where a client acts as a "contractor-in-charge" more control of the project and spending is kept in the client's own hands. Naturally, if the project is huge, then, in that case, i would welcome the opportunity to work as a collaborator or a trainer, etc...

Loving American Freedom In Maine

I have lived in and visited many places and foreign lands.  Maine is one of the few places which i found, with freedom in the sense of building one's own artistic structures, (within reason). Freedom in the sense of finding a living while keeping a personal, artistic edge. Freedom on the pristine edge of technological urbanity. Freedom to drink pure, unpolluted groundwater and more. I think it sad that so many places restrict the freedom of building artistically (within reason). Thanks to all who preserve these freedoms, though these freedoms have lost ground to busy war mongers and war-contractors of recent years.

Contact Bo:

To send your personal email: E m a i l-  boa1@pivot.net). Spam filters are in use, if your personal email doesn't get through, try calling: 1-207-342-5796. Unsolicited spam sales which are not directly related to discussion of this website content are not welcome.