Feature Mondays - 2015 Utah and AAW Woodturning Symposiums archive
Monday 19 October 2015
Mark Baker reports on his visits to two symposiums in America
Gallery
I was fortunate enough to be able to visit two symposiums recently: the Utah Woodturning Symposium and the AAW's 29th Annual International Symposium. There are many reasons why people attend such events. Many think the demonstrations are important, but when talking to people, the fact that they can meet up with friends and get the chance to talk to those who they would not normally get to talk to is high on their list. Of course, the instant gallery display, the gala dinner and awards event, the ability to meet manufacturers and retailers, see new things and so much more, are reasons and each attendee knows what's important to them. There's no doubt that these two events are thriving and providing top-quality symposiums for people to attend. I have to comment that from an outsider looking in, organisationally, I think both do a fantastic job and the end result is a credit to all involved. I know they are a logistical nightmare to bring together.
Utah Woodturning Symposium
The Utah Symposium has the honour of being the oldest of any such events, and according to many people I have spoken to over the years, has a family-type feel to it where all are welcomed. The numbers attending are up to about 400 or so and at the gala dinner, I noted that many of the attendees have been to multiple events and some, all of them. Their event is held at the Utah Valley University Campus every year. In one of the many conversations I had, I heard someone comment that they wouldn’t miss the chance to attend because it was so much fun.Utah Woodturning Symposium demonstrators
Alan Trout - USA
Art Liestman - Canada
Art Majerus - USA
Ashley Harwood - USA
Brent Ross - USA
Cindy Drozda - USA
Cindy Navarro - USA
Eric Lofstrom - USA
Guilio Marcolongo - Australia
Jay Brown - USA
Jason Breach - UK
Jason Schneider - USA
Jim Rogers - USA
Kip Christensen - USA
Kirk DeHeer - USA
Kurt Hertzog - USA
Mark Elmer - USA
Michael Blankenship - USA
Neil Turner - Australia
Rex Burningham - USA
Sally Ault - USA
Sam Angelo - USA
Mike Jackofsky - USA
Stan Record - USA
Special events
Instant GalleryBanquet Dinner
Live Auction
Silent Auction
Vendor Showcase
Youth Hands-on Turning
Penturner's Rendezvous
Super Wednesday
Swap Meet
The Great Egg Cup Race
AAW 29th Annual International Symposium
The AAW has the honour of being the largest such event in the world and moves around the USA, and this year, it was held in Pittsburgh. It is a very friendly event but with over 1,500 people attending, you can see that this event, as one person said, is "a symposium on steroids." The person who told me this said it was his first time at this symposium and was blown away by what was available for people to see, attend and be part of. He commented that never had he seen such a variety of work on display or seen so many turners together at one event. I have selected a few of the pieces that caught my eye here, but there were so many more! Jeffrey J. Schnell has some links to the photos he took of the items on display at the symposium and they are well worth a look.Main demonstrators
Alain Mailland - France
Ashley Harwood - USA
Avelino Samuel - Virgin Islands
Barbara Dill - USA
Cindy Drozda - USA
Christian Burchard - USA
Craig Kirks - USA
David Ellsworth - USA
Dick Gerard - USA
Hubert Landri - France
Jack Brown - USA
Jacques Vesery - USA
Janice Levi - USA
Jason Clark - USA
Jason Swanson - USA
Jerry Bennett - USA
Jerry Kermode - USA
Joey Richardson - UK
JoHannes Michelsen - USA
Kip Christensen - USA
Lyle Jamieson - USA
Mark St. Leger - USA
Michael Brolly - USA
Molly Winton - USA
Neil Turner - Australia
Nick Cook - USA
Pascal Oudet - France
Richard Angus - USA
Stephen Hatcher - USA
Steven Kennard - Canada
Stuart Batty - USA
Ted Sokolowski - USA
Tim Yoder - USA
Panel discussions & lectures
Artist Show Case - How We Got There: Malcolm Zander, Helga Winter & Kristin LeVier
Chasing Professionalism: David Ellsworth & Jerry Kermode
How to Critique, Evolve and Learn from the Experience: Jacques Vesery
Signature, Branding and Marketing: Derek Weidman, Ashley Harwood & Cynthia Gibson
Significant Moments in Contemporary Woodturning: Steve Loar
What is Art Anyway? Jacques Vesery & Sharon Doughtie
Assumptions in Woodturning: Betty Scarpino, Dixie Biggs, Sharon Doughtie & Steve Loar
Woodturning with Disabilities: Andi Sullivan, Jeff Bennett, Bill Hayes & Dave Hinkelman
Diversity in Wood Art: Going Beyond Boundaries: John Beaver, Jeff Bernstein, Andy DiPietro & David Ellsworth
Iterations of Work - POP lecture: Sharon Doughtie
Iterations of Work - panel discussion: Sharon Doughtie & Betty Scarpino
Ornamental turning demos
Brad Davis
Charles Waggoner
David Window
Gary Miller
John Calver
Jon Spencer
Roy Lindley
Panelists/lecturers
Andi Sullivan
Barry Gross
Betty Scarpino
Binh Pho
Bob Behneke
Dixie Biggs
Helga Winter
Ken Nelson
Kristin LeVier
Larry Miller
Malcolm Zander
Sharon Doughtie
Steve Cook
Steve Loar
ReTURN to the Community
Empty Bowls: AAW members donate bowls, which are sold to raise money for a local non-profit. Large or small, each bowl costs only $25 and 100% of the proceeds benefit a local charity. This year, the proceeds went to Variety, the Children's Charity of Pittsburgh. Variety provides children with disabilities with adaptive and assistive technologies to allow them to gain the freedom to be as active, involved, accepted, and independent as possible.Beads of Courage: AAW members donate handmade boxes to this nonprofit cause, which provides innovative, arts-in-medicine supportive care programmes to transform the treatment experience for children coping with serious illness. Through the Beads of Courage, children receive a unique bead to represent each procedure or treatment. For example, a red bead for each blood transfusion, a yellow bead for each night in the hospital, a star bead for surgery or a white bead for chemotherapy. Their collection of beads becomes a tangible record of their journey. Each woodturned box will be used to hold a sick child's precious beads.