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I place an order for a book at local library, took a while but they called me this afternoon, I will have to try some new (to me) inlay material
 

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camera ok, photo skills marginal
 
probably focusing, I was hand holding camera at time of picture instead of using tri-pod

book is good so far, I just looked at pictures last night, (had Lynwood artist monthly meeting), this morning read foreword/ they call it an introduction)

I am back from trip to holly lobby -----did not realize I had use for black gesso even though I have wood burner ------one thing leads to another
 
i enjoyed the book

my only hope to be included in a reprinting of the book is

1) book was 1st printed in 1989, no 2nd printing as yet

2) AAW started in mid 80's

3) no chapter on the calabash forms effect on modern woodturning

quote form page 36

"The individuality of these containers is perhaps an indication that while traditional bowl forms were routinely manufactured, the craft continued to develop as craftsmen experimented with new shapes and designs.""
 
thanks Jerry, thanks for the link, there were some very fine turnings and some how to's

I afraid that I like to do series....in the past I have done 4 other series....bear claw, rover, multi-axis wallhangings, cairn boxes.......they are not earth shattering, but I had fun doing them....my new series Calabash Zia is fun also....I also enjoyed learning about the calabash form and its history in Hawaii .......but I like the southwest which is a little more easier to visit....its strange the Hawaiian's did not have pottery, probably no clay, but they had pumice , anyway no pottery just wooden bowls and fiber, where as the southwest had pottery and fiber but not much in the way of wooden forms

so far I am trying to combine the rounded bottom, an uneven top edge, airbrushing, carving, and pyro.....it may be too busy....but I am enjoying the journey, and if I am not included in the next addition of the Hawaiian Calabash its ok....I can always have a goal

I really like the form and hope to see some of your work sometime
 
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My pleasure Charlie, hope you're able to get something out of it,
I didn't learn much in the how-to's, as I'd already gotten much of that when I took my Jimmy Clewes workshop
But the amount of different styles bowls interested me the most, and must say, also confused me 😕
ie. if you look at the shorter bowl, to me it doesn't represent the calabash look like the larger ones do, just seems like a nice curved bowl ............

another link you might enjoy, as it describes The Names of Various Kinds of Bowls and Their Uses from Hawaiian Calabash , pretty cool link and info .......
http://www.patkramer.net/html/traditional_bowls.html

As for me, have one in the turning stages, will be a while before it's ready for any kind of viewing
like you, I work in a type of series, but just in wood species ......... going thru my Burls stage, always working on anything Spalted (just got some amazingly Spalted Hackberry)
next I want to dig into some Box Elder, and Walnut stock I've had sitting around.

Got a book recently, "Woodturning Evolution" by Nick Agar & David Springett that has great ideas on multi-axis wall hangings that I definitely want to try
(will have to check your gallery for the wall pieces)
and am also practicing some pyrography ....... only thing I haven't started yet is the carving
too many possibilities and ideas, and just not enough time (and I don't even have work as an excuse) 😉
 
Jerry,

that was a good articule on the calabash....enjoyed reading it.......

I am envious of your workshop with Jimmy, he was the lead demonstrator at the 2012 Virginia Symposium (we do it every other year with NC)

too many "how to" can confuse you, I like the different rotations at symposium, there is no pressure on the learner to perform, one can then try the work at home if you like it

I take many pictures of the instant gallery to look for ideas

like you say, it is very hard to have enough time to try everything......Nick Agar I have enjoyed, I first saw his work at Richmond symposium in 08, helped him one rotation in tampa 12......he has his own style and is very accomplished......I look forward to his work in the future

I will look for your work in the gallery when the proper time comes.....I like to show early work in a series, just to make me try to improve
 
Probably not enough interest in another Calabash book. Mine is a second edition done in 95. The most recent book out covers many of Hawaiis woodworkers and is called Contemporary Hawaii Woodworkers. By Shafto and McDaniel. I am told the one printing was hard enough to sell out so not even in the cards for a second one. I was told what the run cost but have forgotten. But the chapter on turners is very good. Covers what many are doing now and some traditional work. I can see at some point maybe Pat Kramer trying to do a study on recent makers. He did put together a slide show showing what he called interpretation. as he feels all the Calabash makers put their own little twist on the form.
 
thanks Kelly, for the update.....did not realize of the follow up book

the calabash form is certainly a classic

I like the idea of interpretation, I was not the first to have an interpretation, and I will not be the last
 
Charlie sent me a private email about Pat Kramer but the answer belongs here.
When Pat goes to teach at symposiums the Calabash is a big one for him. He goes into the history of the Calabash from others and his own research. He will do a slide show showing many styles of Calabash plus current makers. Myself included. Pat is the only person I know who has been allowed into the basement of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu to do research. Contemporary Hawaiian Woodworkers was an independent production and not associated with the Jenkins book. But there has been no followup book just for the Calabash. The Jenkins book would be a hard act to follow. Its my Bible concerning the Calabash. But our woodworking community here has never been featured like the Contemporary Hawaiian Woodworkers book before. I am one of the turners in the book and feel pretty good about being asked to be in it. If you see it you will know why I am stoked to be in it. Its a very quality act. Pat is not a hermit. His phone and email are out there. He may be able to lead you to things I dont know about concerning the Calabash. Well, I know he can. I am just a serious student of the form. He is into historical and spiritual aspects of the Calabash.
 
I dont look at my website often but my wife takes care of it and has posted on the front page me putting in some repairs on a large calabash. I know she has plenty of other calabash pieces on the website also. So if interested to see my take on the form. kellydunnwoodturner.com
 
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