AAW turns 30

[hockenbery]

I have been enjoying the profiles on the original AAW members.
They give us an opportunity to learn about the individuals, their art, and their philosophy.

Phil Brown was a member of my local club his profile is a good read.

http://www.woodturner.org/page/30YearBrown

All the profiles to date

http://www.woodturner.org/page/30YearBrown

 

[john lucas]

I've been enjoying them. I've been fortunate enough to meet several of the early members. I sure wish I had found out about the AAW sooner. I was working in wood back then and had just bought my Shopsmith so I was turning a little. I had subscribed to Finewoodworking sometime around then and saw David Ellsworths work and Rude Osolnik. You would have thought that I would have found out about Arrowmont. The Appalachian Center for Craft started in the early 80's and somehow I missed hearing about that also. It was only 60 miles away from me and Arrowmont was only 3 hours drive. IN fact I spent a lot of time hiking in the Smokies and have no idea how I missed Arrowmont. Of course it is off the main strip and unless you went in the Arrowcraft gallery you didn't learn about it. The AAW has made such a huge impact on my like that it's frustrating to look back and know what I missed for all those years. I didn't find out about it until around 93 or so.

 

[hockenbery]

I found the AAW through Craft supplies and my now close friend Frank Amigo.
In 1992 I got a gift membership to AAW from my wife who sent in the form Craft supplies enclosed with an order.

The next year Frank called me one day and said something like - "I just go my AAW directory, You live three miles away, We just started a club, you can ride with me to the meeting, bring some of your work for show and tell.....
That last part was terrifying. I had given lots of ornaments, pens, and small bowls to friends and family. But real woodturners who were selling their work looking at my stuff.....

A great group of people welcomed me to the club.

 

[john lucas]

I joined the TAW in Nashville which meant a 90 minute drive. Then Bobby Clemons who was also a member started a club in Crossville which was 45 minutes away. About 12 years or so ago several of us got together and formed the Mid Tenn Woodturners in Cookeville. I just moved to sparta TN a year ago and everyone's asking when I'll start a club there. Don't think so. The cookeville club is about 35 minutes and now the Crossville club is about the same distance. Unfortunately I'm further from the TAW so I'll be doing demos for them but probablly won't go to many meetings. it's almost 2 hours away. I do attend the Knoxville club some which is 2 hours away and now I'm only an hour from the Chattanooga club so go to them occasionally and may join that one.
I've probably lost count but when I first Joined the TAW it was the only club in the state. Now there are at least 10 and I may have missed one in my counting. Isn't it amazing how far this has come. I'm a little worried about the future. Younger adults don't seem to be interested in hobbies of the sort we all grew up with.

 

[Barry Crowder]

<snip>
I'm a little worried about the future. Younger adults don't seem to be interested in hobbies of the sort we all grew up with.

I am in my late 40's, but I'm still one of the youngest people in my local woodturning club. Kind of sad, really, because it's so much fun.

I am drawn to woodturning because it's a way to constantly improve my skill, and to have something useful or nice to look at as a result. I don't want to over-generalize, but my impression is that younger people would rather say, "hey, I MADE something" than develop a skill over years and years of practice. Maybe it's because technology changes so quickly, or maybe all the flickering screens have shortened people's attention spans?

I don't mean to hijack the thread. I appreciate the milestone being celebrated here, and I hope it continues just as strongly for another 30 years (and more).

 

[hockenbery]

Barry,
How woodturning remains relevant over the next 30 years is on a lot of people's minds.
As well as how to make the AAW more relevant to next year's members.

For sure there are fewer opportunities for young people to get exposed than there were 40 years ago.
The future will be what we make it.....