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Summer 2009 Vol. 24, No.2

J

James E Gaydos

Joined
Nov 27, 2004
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Location
Ephrata, Pa
The first thing I noticed about the cover was another example of the Mastery and Artistry of Giles Gilson and his being made an Honorary Life Time Member.
And in MHO It's about time.:cool2: Giles should be an inspiration to all of us.

CONGRATULATIONS GILES

What! paint a piece of wood, cover up that beautiful grain, how could you do this. Some called him a heretic, how dare you do it differently, this can't be right, this isn't right, it is unexceptable. There seems to be a great love of using the airbrush and paint and dyes and pyography and colored markers and lots of other decorations in wood turning today.
Change is the Spice of Life.
When did we accept this change ?

Back in the old days when the Journal was black & white, I showed a co-worker, that I was teaching to turn, a copy and his first comment was
"Man that's a cheap magazine I'd never buy that it's in B&W." He never got beyond the cover, I took if back he missed the point. A year later it changed
and now it's in Glorious Color.
Change is the spice of life.
When did we accept this change?

I read the Presidents letter, phallic symbols ? Wood turning Porn ?
Did I miss something ? After further research, NOPE. I really didn't look anywhere else. Not enough time to waste.
But just the same Thank you Mr President for clearing up this matter.😀
Seems to me that some view anything that's over 6" in length and 2" in diameter to be a phallic symbol. I believe it has to do with a High School Mentality, you know, young dumb and full of it. Seventeen year old brain thing.
Some need to change !

So the cover of my beloved "American Woodturner" has changed again, Oh help me Lord to accept.
Thank you Betty for the change. But I must apologize, I didn't notice it.😱
Buy the way, I love your work.
I'll try to keep a keen eye from now on when looking at the cover.

Once again CONGRATULATIONS to: GILES GILSON :cool2:
My 2 cents, Jim
 
He is a great turner/artist and it is a well deserved honor. But he is also an amazing guy to just brainstorm with. I have had the pleasure of meeting Giles a few times at the symposiums, I have always come away looking at things in a different light.

I hope some day to make a visit to his place to see him. I am sure it would an interesting trip to say the least.

Congrats Giles,

Dave
 
It's kind of funny, I didn't know I was sort of following in his path. Love tweaking (not the crank kind) things, love seeing where it can go. Love hot rods, love (and I hate the phrase) out of the box thinking. Like being a (woodturning) heretic (not religious). I love the work of those who have come before me, stand before me ( that I am not worthy to judge) and will come after me. To me, that IS what it's (woodturning) all about. I have great respect for it and look at what they represent and what they can teach me.

I respect the traditional past but look so forward to the awesome present and the incredible future.

Well said James, and I look forward to seeing what Giles has next.

In the journal, there was a photo of a piece that he (turned) created, used for a fiberglass mold and then made panels that were painted and airbrushed. I though how brilliant that was and in the same line with where I am headed but not so elegantly (currently) am today with glass. It stands as a direction that some of us aspire to. We read, practice, try and try and devote our own directions towards and I love it. Well deserved and I will proudly stand and clap at it's reward (stepping off the soapbox).
 
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I'm still pretty much one of the purists, and I was not particularly excited about the upcoming article on Giles...
BUT...
I was so glad to see that along with a fantastic/remarkable paint jobs, he has actually turned some nice wood with excellent results.

The in depth article has given me a lot more insight into his thinking and his work... Most of which I like.

Congratulations on stretching the boundaries and adding dimensions to our art/craft.

I'm still deep in the "discovering the limitless opportunity and diversity offered by purist lathe turning" phase myself, but I have also begun experimenting with dye/color too, so I guess that even I am off my own reservation.
 
?

Pardon me, I'm really a noob, but I guess I have always been under the misguided idea that it was the calling and obligation of the artisan to stretch the boundaries of his/her art or craft.
 
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Giles

Giles is the kinda guy you just gotta like. His irreverent attitude is what I like most.

My favorite story about Giles is; He was asked to participate in a group turning event where everyone was supplied a piece of wood. Participants were asked to turn something from it then return it for a woodturning show, he burned his piece and returned the ashes!!! Love it!

Maybe someone can add more details about when and where.

This is the same kind of out of the box thinking that produced a "Pre-turned wood Object". I admire that kind of mind because mine does not work that way.

I have not seen the new issue yet. I am sure that Giles deserves every bit of praise, and more, that we can heap on him! It is my hope that those that do not know him will get the opportunity through these articles.

Congratulations Giles!

Angelo
 
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