Art Garabedian is a master craftsman with 50 years of woodworking experience.

He began his formal career in woodworking at age 14, attending Trott Vocational High School in Niagara Falls, NY as a student in the woodworking program. Upon completion of three years of woodworking and graduation, he began serving a 4 year apprenticeship in carpentry and millwork with the local carpenters union and New York State Apprenticeship program. He was the youngest journeyman in the trade in New York State at the time of his graduation from the apprenticeship program in 1960.

As a member of the Air Force National Guard in New York State for eight years, Art was a Staff Sargeant in charge of the woodworking facilities at the Niagara Falls Air Base.

He attended Buffalo State University College, taking teacher training courses in Vocational and Industrial Arts Education with emphasis in woodworking.

He began his teaching career at his alma mater, Trott Vocational High School, in 1966. While teaching woodworking to day students, Art developed a woodworking evening program for adults.

In addition to receiving many local awards, in 1989 the Associated General Contractors of America selected Art as the most outstanding vocational teacher in a woodworking program.

In 1999, Art retired from teaching and in 2001 opened Art’s Wood Shop in Niagara Falls. Many of his former students began asking him to start a woodworking school.

In 2003, Art began his school of woodworking with a variety of courses, from basic woodworking to fine furniture making.

Art’s Wood Shop and School of Woodworking is a local favorite with area woodworkers who have encouraged him to expand his knowledge and skills of woodworking to others.