AAW Symposium - Part 2

The summer sure got away from me so I'm just now getting around to adding to my symposium coverage. It was really a fun meeting, especially after three years since our last in-person symposium. The event always starts on Thursday and ends on Sunday. This year, for the first time, we had a first-time attendee reception. I was on the planning committee for this and was in charge of the icebreaker. As a prize to the table that had the most points from a game about woodturning experiences, I gave away eight of my glass spin tops. I made these in the hot shop from molten glass. They seemed to go over well, as did the many others I gave to friends.

First-time attendees, playing with my glass spin tops

Examples of my glass spin tops, right out of the annealer.

Making a wooden spin top on a lathe is pretty easy, but it's not particularly easy to make one out of molten glass. I made a bunch of these as skill-building exercises for tool and glass control. Just last week I taught myself how to make spin tops flameworking the glass - wow! That is SOOOOOO much easier!

I had a piece in the Bridging the Gap exhibit, AAW's annual juried exhibition, which starts at the symposium and then travels to The Gallery of Wood Art in St. Paul, MN. My artwork, Ambrosia, received The People's Choice Award. People viewing the exhibit can vote for one piece for this award. It was nice to receive this confirmation about my artwork. It's certainly one of my favorites.

Ambrosia - People’s Choice Award

I'm also on the AAW Women in Turning (WIT) Committee. We had a session on Thursday evening about mentoring. For the first time in AAW history, we did a hybrid format for this session. Our panel moderator was remote while our three panelists were at the symposium. We also had a number of guests attending remotely. The WIT Committee is often leading the way in terms of trying out new ideas (e.g., our WIT in-person and virtual exchanges, WIT Presents, liaison program, etc.). Our committee started in 2015. It has been an honor to be part of this innovative program.

Women in Turning hybrid panel session.

As I previously mentioned, it's always great to see old friends at the symposium. David Ellsworth is AAW member #1, and he, along with John Jordan, have been to every AAW symposium. David is really good about mentoring new turners who are becoming "known", and it's always a pleasure to see him at a symposium.

AAW Symposium 2022 - Part 1

It has been three years since the American Association of Woodturners got together in person for a symposium. This year it was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The attendance was around 1000 - a bit smaller than usual, but still vibrant and abuzz with reunions among friends. There were a lot of fun interactions all through the weekend.

I was the event photographer again this year. I’ve been doing this for the past decade or so. I always enjoy meeting new people, interacting with them as I make photos, and the challenge of finding dramatic lighting and compositions.

The highlight of the symposium for me in terms of making photos was the Battle of the Bowls, which was held after the Saturday night banquet. Stuart Batty and Mike Mahoney have been doing this for years, and I’ve seen several renditions. The set-up and lighting for this particular edition was spectacular for photography. I selected some of my favorites to put into a video set to music. Please enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment either here or on my YouTube video.

AAW Symposium 2020 has been cancelled due to COVID-19

I received the following email today from Phil McDonald. I know this was a difficult decision for the AAW board to make, but it was the right thing to do to ensure the safety of the AAW members who would have tried to attend the symposium in Louisville, Kentucky.

The cancellation is unfortunate on many fronts: 1) for the revenue loss that AAW will face, 2) the revenue loss by venders and artists, 3) the economic impact the loss of a large convention will have on Louisville, 4) the loss of opportunity faced by the demonstrators, and 5) the loss of community for attendees. This symposium is a highlight of the year for many woodturners from around the globe. I know I will miss seeing everyone. We live in difficult times right now, and I hope everyone is staying safe, social distancing, and practicing good hygiene.

Here's the letter from AAW:

Hello Andi:

Speaking on behalf of the Board and staff, we are humbled by the outpouring of support we have seen since announcing the cancellation of the AAW Symposium. I thank you for the patience and empathy you offered while the AAW went through the process of making this difficult decision.

While the financial outcome of the symposium cancellation remains uncertain, we are confident that any negative effects to the AAW organization will be manageable. The AAW Board provided strong leadership under difficult circumstances, working with experts who helped to guide us through the process. We are heartened by your offers of financial support. AAW is gracious for all charitable donations and please keep us in your plans during our fall 2020 fundraising campaign.

At present, there are many others who will be impacted more severely than AAW by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the AAW Symposium cancellation. Now is a time for all of us to focus our emotional support where it will be needed most, on friends, neighbors, and families who may fall victim to the virus.

The AAW Symposium cancellation, together with proper social distancing, is impacting the livelihoods of our vendors, demonstrators, and artists, and has disrupted our local chapter functions. Think about spending part of your symposium fee, airfare, and hotel to support our vendors, demonstrators, and artists, or organizations working to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Your online purchases could tip the scales for small businesses, keeping them afloat in these very challenging times.

Here’s how you can help: Make online purchases from businesses who would have been exhibitors in the 2020 AAW trade show (see attached list). Make online purchases from woodturning artists. Gift an AAW membership to a friend or colleague to keep them connected as part of the woodturning community. Purchase gift certificates to support the businesses you care about. Encourage your chapters to look into scheduling demonstrators who are available to deliver interactive remote demonstrations. Donate any unused N95 masks and respirators, and eye protection to local hospitals, medical facilities, or organizations. Donate blood locally. Thank grocery store clerks, nurses and doctors, police officers and fire fighters, sanitation workers, delivery people, and the list goes on. Check in with elderly friends, neighbors, and chapter members by regularly calling, video chatting, or sending a text. Support your local food bank.

In the coming weeks, we will be staying in regular communication about alternative ways of offering woodturning content and engagement online to keep the AAW Symposium spirit going strong. Let us know your creative ideas by sending a note to memberservices@woodturner.org.

We’re facing these uncertain times together and are rallying to help the woodturning community stay safe, informed, active, and connected. Please continue to make and create, which will help you keep active and strong.

Yours respectfully,

Phil McDonald, Executive Director on behalf of the AAW Board and staff

American Association of Woodturners 222 Landmark Center 75 5th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-484-9094 | memberservices@woodturner.org

2019 AAW Symposium photo archive

I was the event photographer for the 2019 AAW symposium. I’ve completed the archive for this year, and here are the links to the albums on the AAW Facebook page:

Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AAWoodturners/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2624800187564167

Thursday: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AAWoodturners/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2636519016392284

Friday: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AAWoodturners/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2638243199553199

Saturday: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AAWoodturners/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2640191569358362

Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AAWoodturners/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2641634815880704

Instant Gallery: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AAWoodturners/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2643761845668001