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Portland bound!!

Emiliano Achaval

Emiliano Achaval

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Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
I just finalized all the preparations to go to my first AAW symposium. 4 of us from Maui are going.. Looks like there is a lot to do and see!! I will be helping Alan Zenreich with the special night interests on Live remote demos, as well as helping Alan in a booth about live remote demos too... I will also check in and help Doug Thompson in his booth, greeting turners and sharing my experiences with Thompson tools... I also will help Alan with Turners with disabilities... Mark Baker hasn't answer me yet if he needs any help in the Woodturning magazine booth, but I think I have enough things to do!! How many demos can I watch per day? Any tips to maximize my experience would be greatly appreciated. I'm not going to Portland to stay at the hotel, I want 18 hours a day of woodturning immersion. See you there!
 
Just don't try to see it all. It's impossible. what the AAW symposium is all about for most of us is meeting new friends or meeting online friends in person. Sure it's fun to watch the demos if you have time but I almost always learn some great things sitting around a table talking to other turners. wish I could go this year but it isn't going to happen. It's expensive enough when It's close enough to drive to. Far to high when I have to fly and take taxis or rental cars. Try not to drool too much when you go through the instant gallery. It's always a little intimidating because of the high quality of much of the work. Then of course there is the Vendor area. Try as I might to not spend money, I always do. There are great things to see and to temp you and new products to learn about for later purchases.
 
The AAW has so many aspects. Look forward to seeing you there.
People - so many old freinds to see and new friends to meet

Demos - such a breadth and depth of what can be done in woodturning.
On one level I look for things to improve my turning objects to make and techniques to use.
Another level I look for things to improve my demonstrating and teaching
Invairably I get ideas inspired by something the demo opens a door to that was lurking in my brain.
I always come away with head full thing to do and try that weren’t in the demo.

Panels - a rich focus on many aspects of woodturning. Photography, philosophy, production work, original work, collecting, turning with disabilities, architecture, high end galleries, inspiration...... often there is audience participation.

Instant gallery - simply the worlds largest exhibition of woodturning
Trade show - simply the largest venues of woodturning equipment and supplies

Art shows/auctions - the work of the best turners in the world on display with two large auctions. A chance to take a piece home for your own collection. We have rarely been able to afford one but we do have a a few.

Special interest night - member developed programs. AAW provides a room the organizers provide the program.
Any attendee can request a room for a given interest. To my knowledge we have never turned one down.
 
Regarding symposiums. I am a big fan of regional sympsosiums. I have been to the Florida symposium 13 times, SWAT twice, Rocky Mountain, totally turning, and an early instantiation if the Viginia.
They are each terrific events and I particularly like the slower pace and intimate atmosphere of the regionals.
The AAW seems like a week long event packed into 3 days.

My first trip to SWAT a couple of board members asked me to compare the SWAT instant gallery an AAW instant gallery. It was something I hadn’t been prepared to answer.
To me both are terrific and filled with great work then AAW is of course bigger. The fundamental difference I saw was that SWAT had work form maybe 6 of the top turners in the world while AAW has the work from at least 60 of the top turners in the world.
 
Like taking a drink of water from a fire hose, is how I would describe my first AAW Symposium. Try to pace yourself. You'll be exhausted, but you'll want that feeling on Sunday night, not Saturday morning.

Hope we get a chance to meet in person!
 
I think I was totally fried early Sunday on my first Symposium, which was the last one in Portland 10 years ago. Come visit me in my booth in the vendor area. I will have a lathe set up and you can make a mess if you want. I will have plenty of bowl blanks, and turning tools too......

robo hippy
 
Emiliano will be kept quite busy... we will make sure of that!

As he mentioned, he will be a panelist for my special interest night session on remote demonstrations and using video to share/teach/promote woodturning.

He will also get a real kick out of helping with the event where volunteer turners help blind guests turn pens... always a great experience.

We might let him nap from time to time... maybe, perhaps.
 
john lucas said:
Just don't try to see it all. It's impossible. what the AAW symposium is all about for most of us is meeting new friends or meeting online friends in person. Sure it's fun to watch the demos if you have time but I almost always learn some great things sitting around a table talking to other turners. wish I could go this year but it isn't going to happen. It's expensive enough when It's close enough to drive to. Far to high when I have to fly and take taxis or rental cars. Try not to drool too much when you go through the instant gallery. It's always a little intimidating because of the high quality of much of the work. Then of course there is the Vendor area. Try as I might to not spend money, I always do. There are great things to see and to temp you and new products to learn about for later purchases.
Click to expand...
We have been waiting for the symposium to come back to the west coast... It's not going to be cheap for us, I know what you mean John... I have started a list of demos I want to see... God knows I have enough tools, but... Aloha
 
hockenbery said:
The AAW has so many aspects. Look forward to seeing you there.
People - so many old freinds to see and new friends to meet

Demos - such a breadth and depth of what can be done in woodturning.
On one level I look for things to improve my turning objects to make and techniques to use.
Another level I look for things to improve my demonstrating and teaching
Invairably I get ideas inspired by something the demo opens a door to that was lurking in my brain.
I always come away with head full thing to do and try that weren’t in the demo.

Panels - a rich focus on many aspects of woodturning. Photography, philosophy, production work, original work, collecting, turning with disabilities, architecture, high end galleries, inspiration...... often there is audience participation.

Instant gallery - simply the worlds largest exhibition of woodturning
Trade show - simply the largest venues of woodturning equipment and supplies

Art shows/auctions - the work of the best turners in the world on display with two large auctions. A chance to take a piece home for your own collection. We have rarely been able to afford one but we do have a a few.

Special interest night - member developed programs. AAW provides a room the organizers provide the program.
Any attendee can request a room for a given interest. To my knowledge we have never turned one down.
Click to expand...
I knew this was the place to ask, talk and learn about Portland!! Thanks for all the great advice!
 
robo hippy said:
I think I was totally fried early Sunday on my first Symposium, which was the last one in Portland 10 years ago. Come visit me in my booth in the vendor area. I will have a lathe set up and you can make a mess if you want. I will have plenty of bowl blanks, and turning tools too......

robo hippy
Click to expand...
I will definitely stop by and say hello!! Looking forward to meet you! Aloha
 
Donna Banfield said:
Like taking a drink of water from a fire hose, is how I would describe my first AAW Symposium. Try to pace yourself. You'll be exhausted, but you'll want that feeling on Sunday night, not Saturday morning.

Hope we get a chance to meet in person!
Click to expand...
We will definitely meet!!
 
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