First let me state that I started turning mid-July 2010. As a neophyte I had great anticipations upon arrival to the Tennessee Association of Woodturners 24th annual symposium in Nashville. There were many turnings and all of excellent quality. The variety of forms, embellishments and compositions were simply a treat to behold. For brevity, the wonderful demonstrations are not mentioned; the gallery is the focus of these musing.
Your mind's eye assigns a size to well-proportioned pieces when viewing a picture. I was surprised that some of the prominent turnings, having been previously featured in other venues, are much smaller than I imagined. Photographs can not capture the spirit and stunning eminence of the actual art form. What struck me most was how the technical components magically combined into a harmonized whole that exceeded the magnificent craftsmanship and finishing elements alone. Without a doubt, the displayed works of the professional turners possessed an extra vibrancy that propels their creations into the upper stratosphere of artistic rare air.
I now have a new benchmark to strive when assessing my work. Another interesting aside is the double bind of my “internet apprenticeship.” The internet is a wonderful vehicle to obtain information from worldwide sources and gain access to forums of people who share similar pursuits. However, I have found that forums cultivate an orthodoxy that influences the parameters of critiques. It is not a bad thing; it is just part of the dynamics of group interactions. Now I recognize there is a greater turning world out there with many directions.
Your mind's eye assigns a size to well-proportioned pieces when viewing a picture. I was surprised that some of the prominent turnings, having been previously featured in other venues, are much smaller than I imagined. Photographs can not capture the spirit and stunning eminence of the actual art form. What struck me most was how the technical components magically combined into a harmonized whole that exceeded the magnificent craftsmanship and finishing elements alone. Without a doubt, the displayed works of the professional turners possessed an extra vibrancy that propels their creations into the upper stratosphere of artistic rare air.
I now have a new benchmark to strive when assessing my work. Another interesting aside is the double bind of my “internet apprenticeship.” The internet is a wonderful vehicle to obtain information from worldwide sources and gain access to forums of people who share similar pursuits. However, I have found that forums cultivate an orthodoxy that influences the parameters of critiques. It is not a bad thing; it is just part of the dynamics of group interactions. Now I recognize there is a greater turning world out there with many directions.
Last edited:
