Artsy and Conventional:

I am in my second year on the board now, and this is my second newsletter. In my first newsletter last year I expressed my excitement about the POP (Professional Outreach Program) rotations at the Albuquerque symposium and I promoted the POP program with much enthusiasm. The AAW was offering new opportunities for our members. But I was caught by surprise with responses from a few members at large who said that they were not interested in the POP program and might not attend the symposium as a result. This, despite the many other rotations packed with woodturning and plenty of wood chips flying.

Admittedly I am an artsy kind of guy. I love all forms of art, but most of you probably don't know that I still teach the beginner class in Chicago. I always begin the class with spindle turning, then follow it with sharpening and bowl turning. That is where we all start. But do we stop here? Half of my beginner students have joined the Chicago Woodturners Chapter; some stay at the intermediate level, but some have become very good and want to go further. I also demonstrate and teach surface design around the world-it's just a fancy name for the artsy stuff that we can apply to the surface of our turnings so we can transform a bowl to a piece of art. Ironically, in this surface design class I get many students who are beginners.

The AAW is the biggest craft organization in the world. It consists of a diverse group of people with many skill levels and a variety of different needs. The most obvious benefit for an AAW member is the journal, but in my opinion the thing that makes the AAW such a world-class craft organization is our willingness to share our techniques. This spirit of sharing seems to occur more in woodturning than in any other medium. Without this sharing our journal would be very thin indeed with little new material, our symposiums would have far fewer rotations, and we wouldn't be at 13,600 members and counting. Sharing the technique of turning a salad bowl is done in the same spirit as sharing the techniques of embellishing it; we do not separate artsy and traditional woodturning.

I view the AAW as inclusive, not an organization of them and us! We can all enjoy our sharing spirit and be happy and have fun at the symposium. The truth is that the beginners, the intermediates, the hobbyists, the production woodturners, the artsy folks, the professionals, and the collectors all make the AAW possible and we all have a place in the symposiums and in the journal. The AAW is a very big tent, and we strive to make sure there is plenty room and excitement in it for everyone. The beginners need someone to teach them the skills and something to look forward to; the professionals need to teach classes to make a living; the artsy need to be there to inspire the hobbyists and the intermediates.

A good reflection of this diversity is our EOG (Educational Opportunity Grant) auction. The work is assembled from all across the membership, from different skill levels. The proceeds go directly into the EOG fund and to POP and are given out the following year to members who need the money to improve their skills. In turn recipients help and give back in the future. The AAW awards on average $70,000 per year to members; the POP awards money, too.

But there is always a way that we can better share the same sandbox. As part of the POP, I am proud to introduce two new initiatives this year at the symposium: the Emerging Artist Program, and Intimate Critique Sessions.

Emerging Artist Program:

This program provides a demonstration opportunity within the AAW membership for emerging artists having the potential to be significant contributors to the woodturning field. It recognizes merit and provides invitees with a platform for possible future demonstration opportunities, plus possible publication in the journal.

The Emerging Artists demonstration area will be inside the entrance to the Instant Gallery (IG) room-a great location. The artists selected by the committee are Pascal Oudet (France), Nick Agar (UK), David Belser (NH) and Tucker Garrison (NC). They will have a special table nearby for their IG. Each will do a two-hour demonstration, showcasing the techniques and processes for which they were selected. Demonstration times are 3-5 pm on Thursday during registration and IG set-up, plus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday lunch breaks.

Intimate Instant Gallery Critiques:

Jerry Kermode is organizing Intimate Instant Gallery Critiques to be held on Friday and Saturday during the first half of the lunch break. Attendees can choose to have one of their pieces discussed in a small group setting. Up to fifteen people can bring one object to a table for an intimate, up-close discussion. Moderators will be present. Signup sheets will be available in the Instant Gallery.

Subjects and moderators are: hollow forms with David Ellsworth, surface treatment with Jacques Vesery, natural edge with Jerry Kermode, anything goes with Jim Keller, sculptural work with Betty Scarpino, and segmented work with Curt Theobald.

I hope to see you in Hartford!

Binh Pho

AAW Board Member, binh@woodturner.org
American Association of Woodturners