Scholarly work on woodturning

[adampapin]

I am currently writing an art history paper on the history of the woodturning movement and am wondering if anyone knows of any scholarly/peer-reviewed articles on the woodturning movement? I looked in EBSCO and LexusNexus Academic but most of the articles were newspaper or magazine articles. Any assistance would be very helpful.

 

[arbud]

History

Try the UK Guild of woodturners.There are several ref. there.

 

[Hugh]

You may want to take a look at the book "Wood Turning in North America since 1930" put together by the Woodturning Center and Yale Univ. Art Gallery. This is about a $35 book. But has a lot of info in it - good pictures also.
Hugh

 

[Don O. Jr.]

Woodturning Center

Check out the Woodturning Center website and magazine "Turning Points" at www.woodturningcenter.org. There may be something useful there.

Good luck.

 

[Bob Chapman]

scholarly work

Have a look at The Worshipful Company of Turners of London (www.turnersco.com). Based on the old craft guilds, they received a royal charter in 1604. Plenty of historical info.

Bob

 

[adampapin]

I appreciate everyone's help. The Smithsonian has some great oral histories from Rude Osolnick, Bob Stockdale, and Edward Moulthrop. Each one is about 40 pages of one-to-one interviews. Also, the White House Craft Collection (not the right name, but if one googles it, it will come up) has some interviews with the top woodturners. I feel I should clarify the topic a little bit. The focus of the paper is to examine the modern woodturning movement, with as much scholarship as possible, as it tries to establish its' identity as a high art form, in much the same way that the studio glass movement did recently. I also plan to discuss the debate over whether the innovation cycle on the lathe is over, as some suggest or whether surface treatment is a natural extension of the woodturned vessel. However, because many are still unfamiliar with the history of modern woodturning (or woodturning, in general), a summary of the movement is necessary for the broader audience my paper is intended for. Anyways, thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[adampapin]

By the way, Hugh. Thanks for your recommendation, "Wood Turning in North America since 1930". I was able to order it through Ohiolink (a great connection of college and public libraries in Ohio where one can get any item that any other member library has) from my school library. I look forward to checking it out.

Also, as a college student, I am unable to afford to go to the symposium in Portland. Are transcripts of some of the discussions going to be made available after the symposium for general readership? They may be beneficial to my thesis.

 

[Rob Wallace]

The focus of the paper is to examine the modern woodturning movement, with as much scholarship as possible, as it tries to establish its' identity as a high art form, in much the same way that the studio glass movement did recently. I also plan to discuss the debate over whether the innovation cycle on the lathe is over, as some suggest or whether surface treatment is a natural extension of the woodturned vessel. However, because many are still unfamiliar with the history of modern woodturning (or woodturning, in general), a summary of the movement is necessary for the broader audience my paper is intended for. Anyways, thanks for all the suggestions.

Would WE (or could we) be part of the 'broader audience' you intend to write for? I am certain there are dozens, if not hundreds, of people who would be interested in what your research on this topic and your conclusions will say, particularly if you approach it in a scholarly fashion. As a professor at a major university, I have had a number of students over the years convert their term papers (for my course) into published articles. I would encourage you to consider submitting this paper to Carl Voss, editor of American Woodturner, since this topic is quite apropos to the intents and missions of the American Association of Woodturners. I, for one, would like to learn from your research, and would be willing to proof/review your paper (....after it's graded!) if you intend to submit it for publication.

See: http://www.woodturner.org/products/aw/ and contact Carl at: carlvoss@mac.com

I'm looking forward to hearing more about your study as it is completed.

Best wishes,

(Prof.) Rob Wallace
Iowa State University