Fort Belvoir MWR Arts & Crafts

How Did We Get Our Name?
The Kawamura Community Center is named in honor of Corporal Terry T. Kawamura, US Army, deceased. Corporal Terry T. Kawamura, born 10 December 1949, Wahiawa, Oahu, Hawaii entered the US Army from Hawaii on 27 September 1967. After completing basic training, he received Engineer advance individual training (AIT) and Airborne training. Following a short tour of duty with the 82nd Airborne Division, he was assigned to the 173d Engineering Company, 173d Airborne Brigade in Vietnam in August 1968. On 20 March 1969, while his unit was defending against close enemy attack, Corporal Kawamura hurled his own body on an explosive charge thrown by the enemy in order to save the lives of two comrades in the 173d Engineer Company. Corporal Kawamura was killed. For this action, Corporal Kawamura was post-humously awarded the Medal of Honor by The President in the name of The Congress.

He entered the Army before his 18th birthday and died before his 20th birthday.

Classes to Show Your Creativity
Kawamura Arts and Crafts Center has a class for everyone. Some of the upcoming classes are basketry, stained glass, jewelry, home decorating, painting (oil, acrylic and watercolor), and scrap booking. Please call the self-help frame shop at 806-4655 for information on these classes.

The Automotive Shop will offer classes in small engine repair and general automotive repair. Please call the the automotive shop at 806-4088 for additional information.

The Wood Shop offers patrons the capabilities of lathe turning; jewelry box making; furniture construction and a variety of woodworking projects. Bring in your plan and discuss it with the Wood Shop manager or please call the Wood Shop at (703) 806-4654 for additional information.

Arts & Crafts Class Descriptions

Painting and Drawing Classes
“Discovery Art for All” is a program for children and adults. This is an easy-to-understand, mixed media approach to drawing, painting and using color. Classes run in 6-week sessions. Children’s classes are for ages 6 to 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m. and the cost is $90. Adult classes are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and cost $150. Material list provided first night of class. Call the Frame Shop at 703-806-4655 to register.

Custom Framing Available at the Self-Help Frame Shop
Custom framing is available at the Kawamura Community Center Frame Shop. Hours are: Tuesdays, noon-5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m.; Thursdays, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; and Fridays, noon-5 p.m. All other times, drop-off service only is available. Staff will get back to you during open hours with an estimate. All patrons seeking to have framing done for them should be prepared to select their own molding and mat color combinations.

All patrons should anticipate at least a week or two (or longer) to complete any project depending upon the availability of materials and shop work load. An estimated completion date will be given at the time the project is undertaken. Remember - we are happy to give advice and make recommendations, but your project will not be hanging on our walls! Be prepared to take an active role in making material selections. For more information call 703-806-4655.

Volunteers Needed
The Arts and Crafts center is in need of volunteers. For more information please click here.

Kawamura Community Center Updates

Check out our retail area...The Handmade Gallery

Some of the Services We Offer

The popular Wood Shop is open five days a week including Saturdays and Sundays with convenient hours as listed in the box above. Now there are even less reasons not to put off those woodworking projects. The staff has years of woodworking experience and is eager to share it with you.

Visit The General's Store for all your plaques, trophies and flag boxes. Great service...great prices...great satisfaction! Call 806-4659.

The Frame Shop is a full service facility that provides you with options for your framing needs. At the Self-Help Frame Shop you can do your own framing or take a class to learn how to frame. The Frame Shop sells a variety of framing supplies to include mat boards, foam core, ready made frames, wood mouldings, glass, hangers, hooks, color mount tissue and much, much more. Items not in stock can be special ordered at no extra charge. Delivery can be expected within one week. Mouldings can be special ordered as stich length or chop (pre-cut) service. Sorry, no returns on special ordered items.

"I have a signed and numbered print. What is the best way to frame it?" Conservation methods are the best way to preserve any artwork. This involves using acid-free materials, museum quality glass, and certain conservation techniques to ensure your artwork retains its value for years to come. Visit the Arts & Crafts Center and take advantage of our acid-free products and knowledgeable and skilled staff. Frame it yourself in the self-help section of the Frame Shop. Call 806-4655.

*** The Do-it-Yourself Frame Shop now has a computerized mat cutter. No more over or under cuts. Want a fancy mat? Pick one from our database - we'll give you a mat to be proud of. The Self-Help Frame Shop has a computer operated mat cutting machine (Wizard) to complement the manual mat

cutting machines most framers are most familiar with. The Wizard allows for fancier cuts and multi-windowed mats to be cut accurately and quickly for even the mat cutting challenged. Our employees will take the measurements you provide, plug them into the Wizard and have a mat for you in 24-48 hours. Many interesting and varied shapes are available. Cost is $ .65 per corner...both inside and outside corners are assessed. Visit the shop and look at some samples, then plan your next project. When you are ready, visit Barbara or Jim in the Self-Help Frame Shop. Both are ready and willing to serve your framing needs...as is the Wizard, too! The Wizard was purchased with money assessed through user and service fees at the Center. Another example of your MWR money working for you.

*** Plaques, Trophies and Military Memorabilia are available. Visit The General's Store in the Arts and Crafts Center and browse...you won't be disappointed with our prices or our service.

***The popular Wood Shop is open five days a week including Saturdays and Sundays with convenient hours as listed in the box above. A bargain to say the least, the hourly cost is considerably less than that of Wood Shops in the civilian community and our Wood Shop is one of the only two in the immediate Metro area, making it especially attractive to the local military and DOD civilian community living in and around Northern Virginia. The Shop is operated by a manager and volunteers with varied levels of woodworking expertise. The glue that holds them together is their love of woodworking and their desire to pass on their expertise to the soldier. Personnel interested in volunteering their time at the wood shop should call (703) 806-4654 or come by and visit with the Shop Manager during its operating hours. If you can help by giving some of your time to impart the following procedures to patrons, your service would be appreciated by all:

1. Safety (Ensuring compliance with the Wood Safety Program)
2. Instruction (Assisting and instructing individual patrons on techniques, processes, etc.)
3. Operations (Advice concerning the use of tools and equipment and ensuring patrons clean up after themselves)

***A recurring class to introduce the Woodshop as a facility to fabricate wood items to demonstrate and discuss safety procedures concerning the various woodworking machines and hand tools, and to answer general questions is conducted every first Friday evening from 1800 to 2100 on an as needed basis. Located in the Kawamura Arts and Crafts Center, there is ample parking available on either side of the Center. There is no requirement to attend this class as a prerequisite to use the Wood Shop; however, this detailed overview of the Shop and its extensive machinery and hand tools coupled with a question and answer period, will greatly alleviate tool intimidation and ease anyone's concerns about woodworking in a modern shop environment. Class will only be held for those who contact the Woodshop directly at 703-806-4654 at least one week prior to the course. Cost: $20.00 payable in advance.

Another successful class that we attempt to hold every third Saturday from 0830 to noon is the popular Custom Pen Turning Class. This is an exciting and rewarding hobby that can be learned in a three-hour session. Of all things that can be made on a wood lathe, a turned pen is one of the easiest and most attractive products a wood turner can produce. Moreover, they make wonderful gifts for friends, relatives, and co-workers. The class is a complete process to learn how to use a wood lathe and how to turn and assemble a ball point pen, a fountain pen or a pencil. Cost, including all necessary materials is $75.00, payable in advance. Classes are limited to six personnel so call the Wood Shop at (703) 806-4654 and sign up now. Since the classes fill up fast, we have also established a first come, first serve waiting list for subsequent classes.