Skip to main content
Wood: Turning to Art
April 26 – November 9, 2014 
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 
Terminal 3, Levels 1 and 2, three display cases 

Maple Burl Woodturning is a method of shaping wood using stationary tools and a spinning lathe. Wood is highly prized as an artistic medium because of its many unique colors, grain patterns, and textures. Artists play upon the vast variety of wood qualities to create one-of-a-kind works of art.

This summer, the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) will be holding their 28th Annual International Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. The symposium is the largest international gathering of woodturners and will feature numerous workshops, exhibitions, auctions, and presentations for both artisans and the general public.

In celebration of the symposium, this exhibition presents the work of 18 Arizona artists that showcase a variety of techniques and methods of this art form. They employ techniques such as joinery, inlay and hand – carving and often incorporate various surface treatments such as embellishments, high gloss finish and richly colored pigments. Whether it was reclaimed from a firewood pile, or sourced from a native species or an imported colorful exotic, it is all Wood Turning to Art.

The picture is of our piece. Created by Robert L. Hart at GM Studios LLC. picture taken by Gerard M. Merchant
This piece has sold via; https://www.etsy.com/shop/GMStudiosPens, click on link to view latest offerings. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The making of a sphere jig for the wood lathe, on the fly.

Aluminum block on wood lathe.  My goal is to create a sphere jig, (sounds so much better than a ball jig). First things first, I bought the One Way drill jig at the symposium, in Phoenix this year, with the thought of mounting a router. I never thought I would be using it on aluminum. This picture shows my first attempt at making a "T" washer to use to bolt the sphere jig. The second picture has the jig repositioned, parallel to the bed ways, I like this position much better, as it allows me to plunge to the depth I require. Then I reposition it, toward the center by + 1/8" or so. Also you need to play with the speed of the lathe. I believe I was some where around 250-300 rpm. This piece is a cut off, I never measured the thickness. it is just thicker than the 2 enclosed bearing I plan to mount. Also it's thicker because I wanted to add girth, to ensure more rigidity. This picture show the center knocked out. I used the router to go as thin a...
Wow I can not express the excitement I am enjoying in the creation of this piece. The final is a donated scrap of ivory, hooray. I have never turned ivory before. Truly something special. This vessel, is a song ebony and ivory. With bloodwood ( may represent blood once spilled). Ivory is for purity and a change of sadness. Ebony, once known in ancient Egypt as farrows gold. For me I find that I like the depth of this gaboon ebony, black is also known to  absorb the negativity of evils.         I like the thought of it.                                         This is story about the spirit of joy, housing the special meanings, you wish to keep near. Stay tuned for the next update, there are few more surprises, inside and out, Wow I can't wait. Turning Ivory

Figured Olive wood bowl with turquoise inlay

Completed Olive bowl with turquoise Surprise,  It had a baby.... Mounted with revolving tail stock.  Figured Olive wood bowl with turquoise inlays and a live edge. wood turnings, using a lathe, you can see mounted in a nova chuck. On the outside, I have filled the inclusions with real turquoise stone, and using "CA", thick glue to fill the recesses over the the turquoise and the entire exterior.  I have used my shop made carbide chisel to remove the high portions of stone, and a lot of sanding to follow, starting with 150 grit. This will take at lease 10 3" disk on my air powered angle sander. I then will sand up to at least 800 grit, followed by my mixture of shellac/alcohol/ walnut oil. Her you see the bowl with patches of "CA" glue as I add turquoise.  Her is the picture of the preliminary shape with the tenon, before it went into an air kiln. It did warp a little, as suspected. Here you can see it remounted wit...