AAW goes to SOFA Chicago

AAW went to the Sculptural Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) exhibition in Chicago November 4-6, 2011

AAW hosted a Special Exhibition, curated by Kevin Wallace, titled The World Turns: AAW@25

The show featured 25 internationally recognized artists that had a significant connection to AAW

SOFA Chicago brings together more than 60 international galleries and fine craft dealers to showcase and sell museum quality works of craft art  

AAW hosted a book signing with artists, collectors, and curators.

  Tom Wirsing and Hans Weissflog were happy to lend their signatures!

Satoshi Fujinuma and his wife made a special trip from Japan to attend the show!

Left to right: Chris Amundsen, American Craft Council's Executive Director; Binh Pho; and Cindy Bowden AAW Executive Director 

Left to right: Kevin Wallace, Tib Shaw, Chris Amundsen, Ruth Waterbury, Jennifer Komar Olivarez, Cindy Bowden, Dan Saal, Albert LeCoff

It was a fun show!

25th Anniversary International Woodturning Symposium in Saint Paul, Minnesota

All photos are by John Slemp unless otherwise noted


Opening Ceremony at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul, Minnesota





Admiring the work of David Ellsworth, 2011 POP Merit Award Winner



Dale Nish





Dale's wood shavings





Jim Sannerud making Scandinavian Shrink Boxes





Jim Sannerud



Al Stirt

Al Stirt



Michael Hosaluk





Michael Hosaluk's table of curiosities



Michael Hosaluk

Michael Hosaluk

Michael Hosaluk

The line was out the door at the SIN book signing event

David Ellsworth signs a copy of Woodturning Today: A Dramatic Evolution

Signing both Conversations in Wood: A Selection from the Waterbury Collection and AAW's 25th Anniversary book; Woodturning Today: A Dramatic Evolution

 Signing David and Ruth Waterbury's new book

The trade show this year was the largest yet!

Stuart Batty had a deluxe booth with flatscreens displaying (almost) constant demonstrations

Loving the details in the Coulee Region Woodturners Collaborative Challenge piece

Cabin detail from the Coulee Region Woodturners piece

Great river boat from the Mid-South Woodturners Guild Collaborative Challenge piece

Collaborative Challenge piece from the Big Island Woodturners



Tom Wirsing, Chairman of the AAW Board of Directors, at the banquet



Warren Carpenter presents John Hill with the Lifetime Achievemnt Award at the banquet

Trent Bosch presents David Ellsworth with the POP Merit Award at the banquet

Nick Cook and Binh Pho get ready to draw the Painted Powermatic Lathe at the banquet

Halley Smith sketches out her plan for a piece

Halley Smith

David Ellsworth demonstrating hollow turning

David Ellsworth

David Ellsworth

Andrew Glazebrook shares his enthusiasm for woodturning in the Youth Program

Bonnie Klein

Carolyn Allard, a volunteer from the Minnesota Woodturners Association, lends a hand to a young turner in the Youth Program

Spindle turning in the Youth Program



Drawing the names of 25 lucky youth who each recieved a Powermatic mini lathe, complete tool set, chuck, safety center, faceshield, sandpaper, and glue



One of the happy winners in the Youth Program

A few of the lucky kids in the Youth Program

We hope that these kids will go home and share their excitement for woodturning with their friends

David Nittman's piece in the Instant Gallery

Trent Bosch's piece in the Instant Gallery

Woodturning Today: A Dramatic Evolution -Special Edition book with Clamshell and one of a kind wood art

Joey Richardson's piece in the Instant Gallery

Michael Mode's piece in the Instant Gallery

Ashley Harwood's bowl in the Instant Gallery



AAW Executive Director, Cindy Bowden, and AAW founding member, David Ellsworth



2011 AAW Board of Directors