Oh my - it's over! It's so hard to believe this symposium flew by so fast. Today, especially, went by in a whirlwind of activity.
This morning started for me in the instant gallery where I met Claude Lethiecq for a photo shoot of his "Tour de Force" turning exhibit. He had seven very amazing "Chinese ball" style of turnings that are the most complicated I have ever seen. I was assigned this subject by Betty Scarpino, editor of American Woodturning, for an upcoming issue of the journal. Claude and his good friend, Bob Rollings, met me just after 8 am to start the photo shoot. I'll show images in a later blog post, but I want to tell you now that these turnings are worth examining up close and personal. I did some video, also; interviewing Claude to get some information about the work. I'll post the link on YouTube when I have it edited a bit. Claude and Bob are very charming, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them and sharing a bit of wood turning fellowship with regards to this impressive body of work.
After this fun bit of photography, I did a walkabout in the trade show to take some more action photos. Then I packed up my instant gallery turnings and took them to my hotel room before sitting in on the instant gallery critique. Richard Hogue, Terry Martin, and Marilyn Campbell did the critique this year, and I think it was the best one I've ever experienced. The discussion of the pieces was very thoughtful, constructive, and insightful. Nice job, and kudos to them!
Immediately after the critique was the auction for the Teapot exhibit. I arrived too late to bid on Clay Foster's teapot, which really broke my heart. I would have run the bidding up on that one to win the bid. I'm so disappointed that I didn't get to bid on it. However, the action became very exciting shortly after I arrived. Partly that was due to me. I didn't hesitate to bid on pieces I wanted - at least up to my affordability level. There was a lot of action, especially from proxies for bidders. J. Paul Fennell was on the phone the entire auction with a bidder who collects teapots. This bidder bought more than 30 of the teapots in the exhibit. I however, did win the bid on the Michael Hosaluk one called, "Self Portrait." I was delighted to win the bid on this one. I would have been happy to have several more, if only I had an unlimited budget.
The two big bidding contests were for Binh Pho's and Dixie Bigg's teapots. I think there were a lot of unhappy bidders that didn't win the bids on their favorite ones in the exhibit, but that is the way it goes in this kind of competition. The bidder with the deepest pockets wins the day. I have a philosophy that if you have someone with unlimited funds, you should play the game and bid him/her up as much as you can - at least to your comfort zone. However, you must be willing to pay to play this kind of game. All the proceeds go to the AAW Professional Outreach Program, which is a very worthy cause as far as I'm concerned.
At the auction I found out that my Acer embrace piece in the Maple Medley exhibit had been purchased by Elizabeth York. WOW!!!! I'm very glad to have this piece in their wonderful and extensive collection, which will be donated to a museum collection. Elizabeth and Jim York have been such amazing patrons to the field of wood turning art, and I'm honored to have this culmination of my turned leaf carvings in the collection.
I hadn't yet had lunch by this time of day (2:30 pm), and so I headed to the hotel restaurant with Paul Fennell and John Wessels for a quick bite to eat. Afterwards I went to the Maple Medley exhibit area to help pack and tear down the exhibit. I arrived just in time to pack up Acer Embrace, which eased my anxiety quite a bit. The exhibit was pretty much packed up and ready for shipping within just a couple of hours after its closing. AAW has some great volunteers that will chip in to help where needed.
Dinner with a bunch of friends capped off the evening. Now I have to get packed and be ready for an early morning cab ride to the airport. I'll be processing photos over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for all the pretty pictures - same bat channel, same bat time. Oh dear, I think I'm showing my age . . . .
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3 comments:
I thouroughly enjoyed reading your blogs Andi and look forward to brousing the photo's you post knowing your photography skills. I was pleased to have met and have at least a few words with you. I was thrilled for Claude who is a member of my club and a very good friend, we were a large contingent to the symposium this year so hope to be able to support Claude next year at the 25th. I am also very proud and thrilled to have sold may spiral pair "It takes two..." in the silent auction to Binh Pho.
I hope you don't mind this rather lengthy comment?. And I hope to meet you again. Take care and very best regards from Jeffrey Greenwood.
It was nice to meet you, too, and congratulations on placing your auction donation with Binh Pho.
I enjoyed meeting your group, and working with Claude and Bob to get some good photos of those amazing turnings.
What a delight to meet you, Andi. You truly touch my soul with your work. I will strive to become at least half the artist you are.
I'm delighted to hear that your piece was purchased! I'm not sure I could have let that go, but any museum would be honored to have your piece in its collection.
While I know the auctions were for good causes, it broke my heart to see the pieces I connected with so strongly slip through my fingers. Alas, I can't compete with a billionaire. I understand he owns over 10,000 teapots!
Best to you, your family and your puppies! I hope I can come to next years event, tho it is a pretty far drive from NY.
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