Sunday, July 27, 2014

Day 3: Final Day of Symposium 2014

The day started out slowly as people, tired from two days of classes and some late nights, straggled in. A little pick-me-up caffeine and the sight of new uncharted learning opportunities soon blew the cobwebs out of our brains and excited the troops to start paying attention.

Paul Omilon wows the crowd with his extensive knowledge and experience as a spindle turner.

Paul readies a block for a spindle demo.


Paul explains the layout for decorative features on a spindle.
  

While classes begin Michael Hosaluk and Cynthia Gibson are off in a corner working on some items for the auction.  Michael is preparing a wooden "baseball" turned by Andrew Glazebrook.  This will be signed by all of the instructors and sold at the auction. Michael began this tradition many years ago and the idea has taken off as a fund raiser at many wood-turning conferences.  Meanwhile Cynthia is using her signature refined pyrography and coloring to  put the finishing touches on a candle stick, turned by Michael Gibson.

Burning in the 'baseball' stitching.




Cynthia continues her exquisite detail on the candlestick.


 Andrew Galzebrook attracts a large crowd as he explains the intricacies and nuances of the magical combination of texturing and coloring.  His tub load of sample pieces is unceremoniously dumped onto a floor mat to allow people to gather a myriad of ideas into the complex world of texturing with his unique tools.

Pay attention as the texturing happens very fast.




Sample pieces affected by Murphy's law which states the interesting side will always be down.




Textured and colored.


More colorful textures.

Some of Andrew's favorite colouring options.


Break time comes all too quickly and people scramble to get a coffee, talk to friends, gather information, take pictures to help remember and prepare for the final rotation.
 Somebody gets busy and sweeps up the shavings from a previous demo.

Photographs help to remember tricky details.

Acknowledged around the turning world as 'The International Master of Piercing and Airbrushing' Binh Pho begins his teaching session.

Dental drills running extremely fast will vaporize wood and make fine detailed piercing possible in wood approximately 1/16" thick.




Binh explains "piercing 101" to help understand and prevent common mistakes.




Using a multistep process to create a design and lines with a distinct edge Binh shows how to create changing colors as a piece is viewed from different angles. Photos below show the same piece from 180 degree views.










One of the handpieces Binh uses.



Lunch comes all too quickly as instructors finish the last details of their classes and everyone is sad to see the end of the formal conference

Glen Friesen informs the group about the Metisho Memorial Turning for Cancer weekend held in Waldheim in March. Click on the link below for more information.
Here is a link to Glen's website explaining the event:
Turners for cancer research 



Time to feed the need to be connected.

Classes are finished and lunch has been devoured. Visiting is always evident as new and old friends spend time together.  Soon after we eat the group is assembled to hear the presenters give a critique on items they have chosen from the instant gallery. This portion of Symposium 2014 has been organized to give instructors an opportunity to discuss what has drawn them to specific pieces and explain what makers have done well and where designs might be improved.


Some of the items chosen for discussion.


Binh begins the exercise and comments on form and relationship of visual elements to hands on feel of the vessel.



Doug Fisher comments on the reality of creating "simple forms" and the inherent difficulty of getting all the curves to flow just right.




More comments on form, flow of lines and successful integration of textures and proportions.




The audience appreciates the beautiful pieces and the comments of the presenters.




Cynthia comments on the pyrography embelishing this plate.




Images of flame and fire dominate this piece and are presented with the use of flowing lines and texture created with stark contrast to the natural birch.




Michael comments on form, color and the need for continuous flow of lines even if broken by other textural elements.




Lines flow from the main form into the top and create an integrated piece capable of standing on it's own with or without the top in place.




Andrew comments on shape, function and the use of highly figured wood when making pieces such as this pepper grinder.


Andrew is intrigued by the use of Eyeglass Acetate to make the wings on this wasp.



The auction begins soon after the critique is finished.  We are pleased to have Al Bakke come as our auctioneer.  He has been performing auctioneering duties at art actions for many years. Bidding is fast and furious on many items once Al gets the bids started. Proceeds from the auction go the help fund the symposium with any remaining funds going to future education events.

Photo of Al Baake, auctioneer. (Photo courtesy of Cal Isaacson)
 
Trent introduces each item for Al to auction. (Photo coutesy of Cal Isaacson)


Here are some pictures of the auction items. 




 
Deb displays items to potential buyers.(Photo coutesy of Cal Isaacson)


Mel displays items to potential buyers.
(Photo coutesy of Cal Isaacson)


 The completion of the auction signals the official end of Symposium 2014.  People prepare to leave as they say goodbye to new and old friends.  
Paul was the high bidder for a precious vase created by Binh and Cynthia.
These pictures show the vessel from three different angles.

Paul is pleased to be the proud owner of the vessel made by Binh who shared the decorating with Cynthia.




The organizing committee is grateful to the group of instructors who are so willing to share knowledge, fun and their extensive talents with Symposium 2014. 
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

L -R. Paul Omilon, Douglas Fisher, Andrew Galzebrook,Cynthia Gibson, Bernie Bober, Michael Gibson, Binh Pho

On behalf of Hub City Turners I would like to express our appreciation to Deb McLeod and Earl Eidem for heading up the organizing committee and for all the members who so willingly gave of their time for setup, cleanup and everything in between.

I hope you enjoy some of my ramblings and pictures from Symposium 2014.  If you spot errors please let me know.
Trent Watts (trentw@sasktel.net)



Saturday, July 26, 2014

Day 2:

Here is a selection of happenings from today.

Doors open at 7:30 and people begin checking their silent auction bids and getting front row seats for the "show".
Did someone outbid me?



From the Instructor's point of view.

  
Soon the morning rotations begin.

Bernie Bober talks about chainsaw safety and how to examine and cut up a burl for maximum use of the wood.
Bernie doing his chainsaw safety talk

How about that for a Birch Burl!!




Bernie brings some great Birch for others to use in demos.


Paul Omilon makes use of his many years as a production spindle turner to make some chips fly and explain his process for creating spindles.

Paul uses a skew to outline a transition point.

 Andrew Glazebrook demos multiaxis turning.



Cynthia Gibson captivates the crowd with her impeccable attention to detail and magical ability with a pyrography tool and colored pens.



Can you believe the detail in these examples of creative work flow.


Another example.


Cynthia at work.


Michael Gibson demonstrates the steps he uses to produce his meticulously detailed, impeccable designed and executed teapots.
Pay attention to a constant flat-free flow line.


Very cool jig to hold a tenon in a chuck.


Here is the lid in place waiting to be put in a chuck.


Make your own calipers to measure the Golden Mean.


Use plastic profile gauge to transfer a shape onto graph paper so you can draw various spouts and handle designs.

Sharpen a wrench to create a defined diameter tenon.


More checking of the silent auction sheets prior to heading to the dining room for lunch.



Douglas Fisher uses his "Vancouver Island humor" to keep the "post lunchtime" crowd awake.
Prepare a paper with your design and glue it to the work surface.


Micromotor tool with cutter for initial removal of wood.

Another cutter for more detailed work.
  

Andrew demos box making, chatter work and coloring.




Another of Andrew's demos where he shows the steps to make a winged vessel with a large Birch log.