Temecula woodworker Peter Campbell entered the San Diego County Fair’s Design in Wood competition and took first place in the Wood Turning – Center Work:  Parallel to the Ways of the Lathe category while also being given two donated awards for his project.

Campbell, who has been turning wood for approximately 15 years, used maple wood to carve a hollow vessel he called “Horst.”  In addition to his first-place class award, he received the San Diego Wood Turners Annual Award and a San Diego Fine Woodworking Association President’s Award.

Ken Martinez of San Jacinto was the third-place winner in the Model Building – Not to Scale category.  He used walnut, yellowheart, and maple to create a submarine with surrounding sea floor he called “Don’t Mess With Texas”.

Eric Giberson of Hemet received fourth place in the Wood Carving –  Animals competition for “Buster Bear,” which is a bear on a tree stump and was carved from basswood.  Giberson also received two honorable mention awards in the Wood Carving – Human Form category: “Wounded Buffalo Chief” is a bust of an Indian with a headdress and necklace and is made of walnut while “White Feathers” utilized cedar and basswood for the bust of an Indian shaman with feathers in his hair.

Antonio Barrios of San Jacinto took home two ribbons for his Wood Carving – Human Form submissions.  “Blue Feather,” a bust of an Indian medicine man, was given fourth place.  An honorable mention ribbon was awarded for “Commander Lin Mae,” which is the bust of a Chinese warrior.  Barrios used basswood for both sculptures.

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This past month the volunteers from the Nutmeg Woodturners came to the Brookfield Craft Center’s woodturning studio for a “Learn to Turn” event that produced bowls to be donated and used for the children’s beads.  The beads are used by the children as meaningful symbols of courage and hope along their treatment journey.  President of the Woodturners League, Ken Rist said: “We are pleased so many of our members turned out for this event and we were able to turn out so many bowls.  We are grateful to be able to utilize the facilities of the Craft Center and to contribute our skills to this worthy cause.”

The Nutmeg Woodturners League is a local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.  They promote woodturning as a craft and art form.  The primary goal of the League is to educate members and provide a meeting place for local wooturners where they can share ideas and techniques.  They meet at the Brookfield Craft Center on the second Monday of every other month (January, March, May, September, November).  All are welcome.

About the Brookfield Craft Center – The Brookfield Craft Center (BCC) was founded in 1952 and is recognized as one of the core fine craft schools in America. The center, incorporated in 1954 is a 501(c)(3) organization, offering classes and workshops in glass arts, woodturning, ceramics, painting, jewelry, blacksmithing, fiber arts and other creative endeavors for children and adults taught by professional faculty. The summer “Hands on Art” program, is available for children ages 11-14 during summer months. The historic Mill Building (ca 1780) Gift Shop and Exhibition Gallery is a beautiful venue for displaying fine craft. All works are carefully juried and are representative of the type of skills individuals can learn in our classes. As a force for arts advocacy and community building, BCC strives to teach and preserve the skills of fine craftsmanship, and to enable creativity and personal growth through craft education.

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He said woodturning showed him how he could create some good, within a matter of a couple of hours and without receiving any criticism.

“It was a good relief,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard was one of several artists who shared their work during the fourth annual Kirksville Art Walk last Friday in downtown Kirksville.

The Kirksville Art Walk started as an effort by the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Merchants Committee to bring new customers to downtown businesses, according to Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandra Williams.

“We just, by luck, were able that very first year to partner with the MOSI Art Guild, Kirksville Arts Association and the Kirksville Downtown Improvement Committee, and it seems to be a really good partnership,” Williams said.

“It gets people into businesses, it gets the artists an opportunity to showcase what they do and it gives the community somewhere to go.”

“It’s a good way to get a community together to have some fun and something to look at,” said artist Judith Scheurer, who showcased her wood rocking horses during the event.

The Art Walk featured about 24 artists who showcased their work in front of about two dozen businesses and on the Adair County Courthouse lawn.

Pritchard, who has participated in the Art Walk since its inception, showcased his woodturning in front of Edna Campbell’s.

“I think (the Art Walk) just makes people aware of the (woodturning) process that I do. That interests them, and looking at the art work,” Pritchard said. “We’re interested in seeing the downtown flourish, so we participate in this for that goal.”

Laura Srnka, owner of Edna Campbell’s, said the store has always appreciated the work of local artists.

“We have owned this store since 1961 and we’ve done many things. Over the years we’ve had exhibits of painters, artists of all kinds, had open houses for them in the evenings,” Srnka said.

“It’s just part of our lives and we like to be able to participate so that other people can come and view the things that, for example, Dr. Pritchard is doing and all the other artists downtown. It’s just a fun event to show people that we really have some good artists in the area.”

Linda Worthington showcased her wreath-making artwork in front of the Amp’D Boutique during the Kirksville Art Walk.

“It’s a chance to promote my little business here (by) getting more customers and trying to get my name out there,” Worthington said. “That’s pretty much the benefit, just having people see what I do and what I have.”

This was the second year Amp’D Boutique participated in the Art Walk.

“I enjoy bringing the public to downtown Kirksville. We need more get together (events) like this to help everybody,” boutique owner Wendy Slaughter said. “It gets (artists) products out and people get to the see the talent that’s in Kirksville, Mo.”

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M.K Jadeja, a former Gujarat government officer, who now heads a voluntary organisation in Idar, said there were about 25 artisan houses in Idar, each having at least two members involved in the wood turning craft till 2008-2010. “But, the downfall began about 15-12 years ago.”

About the history of the craft, Raju, a toy maker, said they had come to know from their forefathers that it originated more than 200 years ago under the erstwhile rulers of the then princely states of Rajasthan. “Fascinated by Idar and its resources, one of the kings helped some artisans relocate here and Khilona Bazar or Kharadi Bazar was set up.”

The knowledge of this wood turning craft was passed on from one generation to another. But, the artisans fear that there will be no one left to carry this craft forward in the next two years as the young generation is not inclined towards it. An artisan, Ishwar, said, “Aisi majdoori kaun kare, mera beta bolta hai (My son says, who will take up this laborious task).” To make these special toys, apart from other items like flower pots, bangle holders, walkers, carom boards, educational equipment and dandiya sticks, special wood called dudhi is used as it is soft and easy to coat with lacquer due to its light colour. The wood is of Wrightia tinctoria, a deciduous tree. The forests of Vijaynagar taluka had such trees in plenty, but over the years, its availability has become very rare.

Jadeja said that dudhi is also available in Dang district, but its high transportation cost keeps it out of reach of the local toy makers. “This, coupled with the influx of cheaper Chinese toys and plastic products, have led to the downfall of this craft,” rued Jadeja. Hiren Prajapati, an artisan questioned, “Why will people buy a Rs 20 wooden toy, if they can get the same thing in plastic for Rs 5?” According to Jadeja, this led to an eventual migration of artisans in search of better jobs. “What remains is about 10 to 12 artisans, with only two main craftsmen who still get a few contracts. But, they struggle to finish the orders on time due to lack of workforce,” said Jadeja.

They now use Nilgiri wood, which is not as soft and easy to paint as dudhi. Virendra Doshi, who runs one of the two shops in Kharadi Bazar for the last 20 years, has to sell colorful toys, made in Udaipur and Moradabad. “I have to tell my customers that they are made in Idar itself. What should I do? Production of local toys have come down,” rued Doshi.

Jadeja suggested that initiatives like tax exemption, loans at reasonable interest rates and subsidies on wood, colour and electricity would help save the dying craft. ”A depot should be set up here to store dudhi wood from Ahwa and free training should be imparted to women and children. My NGO will be the first one to take this up, if there is help from the government. We had made a presentation on the issue before Chief Minister Vijay Rupani during his recent visit to Idar and offered him suggestions as well.”

Admitting that the local toy-making art was languishing, Sabarkantha Collector P Swaroop said they would work out a concrete plan in that direction. ”We have visited the area (Kharadi Bazar) twice or thrice. Some cottage industry schemes are available. We are thinking of involving Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design and take their help in making modern designs for these artisans. We are already in touch with the local leaders to take this forward,” hoped Swaroop.

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2018 American Craft Shows

The American Craft Council is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the 2018 American Craft Shows in Baltimore, Atlanta, St. Paul, and San Francisco! We believe our shows offer a great opportunity for woodturning artists to sell their work. The ACC’s four annual, juried craft shows convene a vibrant community of more than 1,500 of the country’s most talented craft artists – ranging from those just beginning their careers to masters in the field – and reach nearly 50,000 attendees each year. Exhibiting artists represent the broad aesthetic, technical, and material diversity of the craft field, from age-old traditions to cutting-edge technologies. The application deadline is August 11, 2017. Learn more and apply.

ACC also offers an Emerging Artists Program. It offers a way for artists early in their careers to participate in the American Craft Shows with a smaller space, additional support, and a lower cost. Learn more and apply.

For the first time the KVCC is featuring the amazing art of local Kenai Peninsula Woodturners, a group of local hobbyist and semi-professional men and women who love to turn wood. At the opening reception the ten wood turners whose work is on display were present to explain their technique, interests and give demonstrations to visitors.

“It’s an amazing show. We started working on this back in March and have been amazed at the talent that we have here locally. Some of these pieces are almost hypnotic and the more you look at them the more you see and wonder at the patterns of Mother Nature. You can spend hours here and still not see it all, so it’s a good thing it’ll be all summer,” said Johna Beach, KVCC CEO.

Sterling Rasmussen is president of the Kenai Peninsula Woodturners Association, the Peninsula chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.

“We meet at 3 Guys, No Wood, a workshop and store located at milepost 100 of the Sterling Highway just south of Soldotna where Echo Lake Road meets the highway. We meet throughout the year and serve woodturners and teach all levels of interest and are also a retail shop,” he said.

Paul Johnson’s father-in-law got him started turning wood in Barrow.

“We call him the original guy. He taught me when I was 26 as part of my student teaching in Barrow and that’s where the ‘No Wood’ comes from in our shop’s name, because it was 500 miles to the closest tree,” explained Paul.

His wife Shannon also turns wood at the 3 Guys, No Wood shop.

“I’ve turned a few bowls but my job is primarily to run the store and do all the paper work and keep all of the Kenai Peninsula Woodturner boys in line. It became a passion for my father and he passed that on to my husband and when we came here we had so many bowls we had to have a bowl store and then we met the Kenai Peninsula Woodturners and started having chapter meetings at our store and now it’s a generational thing that has become a community thing and we’re happy to have it on display here at the show,” she said.

The Summer Exhibit will be on display through Sept. 4 at the KVCC which is open for the summer 7 days a week. Many of the pieces in the exhibit are for sale and if purchased may be shipped to you after the show closes in September.

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For the second year in a row, a veteran will be the final owner of a Rikon Mini Lathe donated by Woodcraft for the Penturner’s Rendezvous Grand Prize winner. The Rendezvous is held in conjunction with the Utah Woodturning Symposium.

Sally Ault, like 2016 winner Brian Saunders, is a San Diego resident, a member of the San Diego Woodturners (SDWT), and an active volunteer in the club’s Turn Around for Vets program, which prompted both winners to choose to donate their Grand Prize to a veteran.

“Brian works mostly at the VA residential recovery center, and I work mostly at Naval Medical Center, Balboa (both in San Diego),” Ault said. “I love seeing the change that comes over one of our ‘students’ as he or she realizes how much fun turning can be and leaves our shop with a pen, a huge smile and some new confidence.”

Turn Around for Vets helps injured military service members and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Several years ago, SDWT volunteers started teaching pen turning to service members at Balboa Naval Medical Center in San Diego as they recuperated from their injuries. The program later expanded to Camp Pendleton’s Wounded Warrior Battalion to work with Marines and Naval Corpsmen who are recovering from their injuries and later to the Aspire Rehabilitation Center for veterans suffering from PTSD and/or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The club provides the equipment, materials, teaching and supervision at all three centers to make sure vets learn to turn and, most importantly, to be safe while doing it.

“We now work with more PTSD and TBI patients than those physically wounded,” Ault said, “but the results are the same. We have made new woodturning addicts out of many of our vets and are trying to help those who want to go further with equipment. I am thrilled to be able to donate the lathe Woodcraft generously donated to one of them. I don’t know who it will be yet. I will let our leader, Ret. Major General Tom Lightner, come up with a list of those who might benefit most from having the mini lathe.”

Sally Ault – A Passion for Woodturning
Sally Ault is a San Diego native who graduated with a BA degree in Art with a Crafts emphasis from San Diego State University. Her college work was focused on weaving, jewelry design and ceramics. During a furniture class, she said she discovered woodturning, and after a break of a number of years, she resumed woodturning in 2004. A quote on Ault’s website reads: “I enjoy living in Point Loma (San Diego), walking, camping and sailing. But my real love is woodturning, which I do in lots of places like my shop and camping in Baja.”

Her woodturnings include textured forms, hollow forms, boxes, bowls, platters, jewelry, and “fun stuff” like tops. Her work has earned several prizes over the years and is shown in the gift shop at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado, The Mingei International Folk Museum, and the Studio 38 gallery in the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. Ault is a partner in Studio 38.

Although Ault’s late husband Barry could turn, she said he chose other ways to create. “He made parts for his boat, built a motor home, sailed, surfed and windsurfed, but he also helped me by fixing anything that broke. He made and modified some tools for me and generally supported my addiction to woodturning in any way he could.” Ault’s daughter Jessica does not share her mother’s passion for woodturning, but Ault said her grandson Colin turned his first pen at age 7 and has made his own baseball bat.

See more of Ault’s work at http://www.sallyault.com/.

An Evening of Sharing
The Penturner’s Rendezvous, organized by The Pen Maker’s Guild, is held the evening before the Utah Woodturning Symposium opens in Provo, Utah – May 10 this year. Anyone is welcome to attend the event for free and display their works if they want to. However, only those who display are eligible for the Woodcraft Grand Prize drawing held at the end of the evening.

The two pens pictured here were among work Ault showed at the Rendezvous. The desk pen is cocobolo and redwood burl. The other pen is a purple color wood.

Turners who show their work compare techniques and exchange advice and suggestions. The newer pen turners learn a lot by just seeing the pens and asking the experienced turners questions such as, “How did you do that?” and “What did you use?” This informal environment is designed to promote more open discussions and exchange of knowledge.

“Woodcraft is pleased to be able to support both the woodturning community and a program for wounded vets with our mini lathe donation,” Liz Matheny, Woodcraft marketing director said. “Woodcraft applauds the one-on-one learning environment at both the Penturner’s Rendezvous and the San Diego Woodturners’ programs for veterans.”

For more information about the Penturner’s Rendezvous, visit https://utahwoodturning.com/penturners-rendezvous/. To learn more about the San Diego Woodturners, visit http://www.sdwt.org.

To learn more about Woodcraft, please contact the store nearest you, visit http://www.woodcraft.com or call (800) 535-4482.

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As the Palmerston North man ambled out of bed and walked down his hallway, he saw a red glow erupting from his woodturning shed outside.

His 50 years of woodturning work and all the equipment he used to make it was gone.

“There’s not much we could do. We couldn’t get into it.”

Bramley said he was grateful for the postman’s warning,  about 5am on Saturday, as he, his wife, their son and grandson kept clear of the blaze.

Four fire engines and two rural tankers controlled the flames, which were extinguished by 9am.

However, watching his shed, showroom and much-loved wooden items burn to ash was “devastating”.

Although Bramley had lived at the Roberts Line property for about 30 years, he said he had about 50 years’ worth of equipment in his shed.

Almost everything was destroyed in the blaze.

“I was out here all day, every day. It’s all gone.”

Bramley said he was initially worried about Moose, his chocolate labrador which slept on a couch in the shed.

The couch was nothing but ash, but Moose had escaped the fire and spent the morning at the neighbours. He was returned to Bramley and his family later that morning.

Fire Service assistant area commander Scott Bell said the fire was well alight when crews arrived on Saturday morning.

Crews stayed at the property and turned over smouldering material until about 11am.

Fire investigators analysed the scene, but the extensive damage caused to the building meant it was too hard to determine the cause, he said.

Although there was no official cause, it was possible the fire could have been started by an electrical fault, he said.

A police spokeswoman said police did not attend the fire on Saturday.

Because of the dust from his woodturning, Bramley said even a spark could have started a fire and “away she went”.

Although he was upset at losing his work, wood, shed and equipment, he was grateful his dog escaped and that his house did not catch fire.

The blaze spread to the car port on the property, but fire crews stopped it from spreading to the house, which was just metres away.

“We’ve got to have a bit of luck somewhere.”

Bramley also thanked the postie for raising the alarm.

Although devastated, he said would continue his favourite hobby of woodturning and hopefully rebuild a small showroom on the site.

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