2023 AAW Merit Award Ceremony Comments
At the 37th annual symposium of the American Association of Woodturners in Louisville, Kentucky, I was honored as the recipient of the prestigious Merit Award. This award is given to an artist whose body of work has contributed significantly to the growth of woodturning as an art form. I was asked to say a few words in response to receiving the honor, and I did so, focusing my remarks to those individuals who were just beginning their journey into the wonderful realm of woodturning.
A number of years ago, I attended a gallery reception in Scottsdale, Arizona—my home town—that included some of my work in an exhibit of mixed media. During the evening, someone came up to me and asked a question that went something like this: “I have looked at your pieces in this exhibit. Can you tell me what this woodturning thing is all about?” In response, I did not purposely mean to sound flippant to a question like that, but it came out that way. “The woodturning thing,” I said, “is an addiction really, and a persistant one. You really can’t stay away from it for very long.” That was probably not the answer this person was hoping for, but to those of us who are woodturning “junkies,” we understand. A question lingers, moreover, and I have been asked about this many times over the 50+ years as a woodturner: what keeps you going? Is it the need to keep making stuff? (Yes, I suppose it is). Is it the love and challenges working with wood? (Absolutely). Is it an enduring passion about the act of making, or is it a necessity really, like breathing? (Most definitely, without a doubt).
There are rewards for this type of behavior, though. The result of your efforts in some way is the creation of a tangible object, made by your own hands—seemingly incredible by this day and age of electronic wizardry, with your efforts up in a so-called “cloud” somewhere. Also, sometimes there is the ego-stroking compliment by someone duly impressed by what you have created, when they ask: “You actually made that?”
Another “reward,” so-called, could be the learning of a new, but extremely challenging technique. And a third—inspiration—fostered simply by opening your eyes, your senses and your intellect to “see” the world around you in many different but creative ways. Finally, there is your “autobiography” you will have created over the years that is non-verbal but expressive and unique just the same, only in a visual and tactile manner.
Woodturning alone is not just standing in front of a spinning piece of wood on a lathe. There are many more aspects to it that need to be mentioned—otherwise, we would not be sitting in this room tonight, or attending the symposium this weekend. It is the realization that you are one of a community of fortunate individuals with a deep common interest; the “rewards” of having friends worldwide; the sensation of experiencing the depth, beauty and extent of an Instant Gallery for the very first time; the promotion of our field through the AAW; and for me, the great honor of being a Merit Award recipient which I deeply appreciate. Thank you!