Turning Wood Into Art (Pic Intensive)

[wizer]

On my way home from work tonight I popped into a new exhibition near Bond St called Turning Wood into Art. It is displaying work from turners like Bert Marsh, John Jordan and others. I took my camera and was allowed to take some pics.

John Jordan's work is unmistakeable

Bert Marsh is also easily recognisable

I did not recognise (or remember the rest of the names)

These segmented pieces were amazing

This scorched Ash piece which was carved and repaired with iron staples, really caught my eye.

It's only a small exhibition but well worth a look if your in the area. There is also a slightly larger exhibition on soon called COLLECT at the Saatchi gallery.

More picshere if you're interested

 

[Dave H]

unfortunately I only managed to pop into Sainsburys on my way home!!!!

exhibition looks good - wasn't it featured in Woodturning mag recently?

 

[wizer]

exhibition looks good - wasn't it featured in Woodturning mag recently?

It only started today. I was going to remark that I was surprised Woodturning hadn't picked up on it. But maybe they're juse going to report on it after. On the other hand, the gallery might not be interested in dozens of hobby woodturners turning up.

 

[Bodrighy]

If you are interested in this sort of thing there is s sort of forum called The worlkd of woodturners (WoWs. You need to apply to join abut it's worth it as it is inhabited by the most incredible turners from all over the world. Some amazing things come up.

You can find it here

Pete

 

[wizer]

Cheers Pete, I joined about a month ago. I still haven't got through all the pics on there :shock:

 

[Doug B]

Thanks for posting this Tom, it looks an excellent exhibition, from these & the other photos you took.
I`m surprised they let you take photos, though i`m glad they did.

I only managed to go in the pub on the way home :roll: :roll:

 

[Jenx]

Some great pics there Tom ...
The John Jordan stuff is indeed very 'recognisable'.

At the risk of being shot down as a 'phillistine' , I'm not that keen on his stuff... its brilliantly executed, no doubt, but it doesn't butter my parsnips in the way some other stuff does.

I think its perhaps because the 'turnery' is almost lost in the amount of carved surface, you know ? ... almost as if the piece could conceivably have never been near a lathe in the first place, but evolved on a carver's vice, from the get-go.

Probably get told to 'behave myself' for that :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[boysie39]

Nice Pictures Wizer of lovely pieces. What as a relative newcomer to woodturning I'd like to know is it defined as wood art or woodturning or carving. Maybe somebody can put me straight, can those pieces be made by just turning alone and if not why call it woodturning. REgards Boysie.

 

[wizer]

I think that sparks an age old debate Eugene. They're all started on the lathe. So I guess that defines them as wood turned. A hell of a lot more work would have to be done to hollow them in any other fashion. I'm going to side step the art vs craft debate and just appreciate what I saw.

 

[user 5053]

Stunning objects. To me woodturning is about maths and science. Art and craft have almost become meaningless and can cover just about anything these days. Its the science of aesthetics, bio mechanics and geometry of the way we work and remove the material to produce the object, the botanical and molecular science of the wood itself. Then there is the metal science of the tools and machinery. The list is endless. In essence the art v craft debate is redundant in the 21st century. We're all scientists now.

 

[Mark Hancock]

If you are interested in this sort of thing there is s sort of forum called The worlkd of woodturners (WoWs. You need to apply to join abut it's worth it as it is inhabited by the most incredible turners from all over the world. Some amazing things come up.

You can find it here

Pete

The WOW site is great for keeping up with what is happening around the world. I think the gallery has now over 20000 images.

You need to be invited by an existing member to get access to the site. If anyone is interested just email me with your name (first and surname) and your email address and I'll get an invite sent to you.

 

[Bodrighy]

The WOW site is great for keeping up with what is happening around the world. I think the gallery has now over 20000 images.

You need to be invited by an existing member to get access to the site. If anyone is interested just email me with your name (first and surname) and your email address and I'll get an invite sent to you.

I didn't know that Mark I was told about it and just applied and was accepted. Probably better to go your way though.

Despite the class of turners on the site, my experience is that they are really good for critique as well with positive constructive comments.

Pete

 

[Jenx]

and just appreciate what I saw.

There's an awful lot to be said for doing just that, Tom 8) :lol:

One man's meat being another man's poison, n'all....

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[John. B]

I prefer to make 'One offs'.
This a bigger pic of my avatar. It is turned, carved, routed and last but not least a little bit of laser burning.
Is it a turned object, a carved object, a sculpture?, or just a piece of craftwork.
I personally call it a sculpture, as it involves different aspects of woodwork.

 

[boysie39]

John B, I have said it before that your Avatar Piece which I think you made for someone who had Graduated fro Collage is beautyful . And whatever its called I would love to be able to make it. When I posted a reply to Toms Post it was more in the line of Well I have just made a bowl and a goblet and a platter on the lathe ,how in the name of s##t do you make these things.I havent seen any of these being turned out on DVDs. Suddenly turning on the lathe takes on a new meaning especially after reading Soulflys post. Jeez Im too old to go back to collage to become a scientist or to be even educated.
I think your right Wizer I'll settle for the basics. Although I love seeing thoes pieces. I wonder will we have one in the Comp. :lol: :wink: :wink: Who knows
REgards Boysie

 

[Gill]

Forgive me intruding, but I'm increasingly of the opinion that art begins where technique finishes.

Scrollers are often aggrieved when they create something which they regard as being beautiful within their discipline, only to find their work is rejected by art galleries. An artist would not be constrained by such a consideration and would be prepared to step into the realms of other disciplines to create the piece he has in mind.

Okay, shoot me down. Yet the work of Bin Pho is highly regarded and he certainly crosses the artificial boundaries which we set between turners, carvers, scrollers and painters. I'm quite happy to see turned wood with rusty iron nails, pierced decoration or gilt lining if it moves me in ways that disciplined woodwork cannot.

Gill

PS Give me a work by Edgar Degas rather than something by Tracey Emin any day of the week .

 

[Bodrighy]

My only argument with your post Gill is the bit where you talk about intruding. We all get set in our ways and all too often only talk to and listen to others who practise the same art / craft and to hear from someone who has a different viewpoint is both refreshing and necessary. The work that I have seen you and other scrollers producing is undoubtedly an art form as is IMHO many of the things that are produced by turners and other woodworkers. It seems that the problem is not with the finished product so mauch as the medium we use. A statue created from stone is seen as art, one made by carving, turning or other 'woodworking' skills isn't, at least not in this country. A generalisation I know but compared to the States , Australia and New Zealand all too true.

I know which I would rather have in my house, a piece of wood that has been beautifully fashioned, a dirty bed covered in rubbish or a glass case with a preserved animal floating in it. No contest

Pete

 

[hog&bodge]

Thanks wizer for posting the pics..
I would have enjoyed going to see them but like most
things to far to travel.
I know what I like and I like what I see so to me it is art..
Alex :lol:

 

[John. B]

I agree with most of what Pete says, cept the bit about 'set in our ways'.
I think 'Art' is very subjective. What is artistic to one is not to others, Emins bed is testament to that. Many rave over Henry Moore's sculpture's. To me they make wonderful paper weights.
What I find artistic, is something like this carving I found in a craft shop in the USA.
Three pieces of plywood stuck together carved away to show the plys then oiled.


Or this, a pierced turning from a fellow member of my turning club.
To me they convey an artistic ability to see beyond the lump of wood on the bench or lathe, then have the ability to turn that lump into something for me to go OOH, That's really nice.
I'd like to be able to do that. Then, inspire me to do just that.
I rarely say "I wish I could do that". I go ahead and try to do it.
sometimes, I succeed.



John. B