The first day of the AAW symposium is always full of frenetic activity - especially at the registration area. Everyone wants to pick up their packets before the start of the opening ceremony. In previous years this was because you needed the schedule to determine which rotations to attend. This year, however, the a preview version of the symposium book (edited by Sharon Bierman) was available online. Still, the activity at the registration area was hopping all the way up and through the opening ceremony.
The AAW board of directors and the AAW headquarters staff all sat up on the stage at the beginning of the meeting so that introductions could be done. Attendance this year was somewhere between 1700 and 1800 preregistrants. There were likely additional registrations throughout the weekend.
David Ellsworth gave the opening remarks. David is AAW member #001, was the first president of AAW, and the first recipient of a Lifetime Membership Award. I think he may be the only member to have attended all 25 symposiums, too.
Tom Wirsing, current AAW president, then talked about the schedule and gave general comments. You can see part of the large audience in the room.
I like this angle for the photo. It puts the session in context with the large crowd.
Part of the celebration for the 25th anniversary symposium was the publication of "Woodturning today" edited by John Kelsey. It's a marvelous record of the history of AAW with stories shared by members, beautiful photos of turnings representing the evolution of our art, and many interesting articles. If you don't already have a copy, be sure to order one from the AAW website. John Kelsey is to be congratulated on putting this all together for us.
After the opening ceremony, there's always a mad dash for seats in the demonstration rotation rooms. Making his debut at the AAW symposium this year was Jerome Blanc from Switzerland. Jerome participated in the International Turning Exchange program last year at the Wood Turning Center. This demo was on sculptural woodturning.
There was one or more panel discussions offered during each rotation throughout the weekend. This one featured David Ellsworth, Kevin Wallace, Terry Martin and Giles Gilson. Giles couldn't attend the symposium, but checked in via a Skype connection.
Nick Cook demos are always worth seeing. He was showing how to make lamp bases. That's what that giant drill bit is for - drilling through the lamp to make room for the electrical wiring.
Jerry Kermode did a rotation on basic bowl turning techniques.
Some of the demonstrations were so popular that there was standing room only, and the audience spilled out into the hall.
Friday morning also sees the big rush through the trade show to find the best stuff to buy before someone else snags it. Many of the trade show vendors have demonstrations going on continually throughout the day. Nick Cook demonstrated in the trade show as well as doing rotations in the symposium itself.
Guilio Marcolongo was demonstrating for Vicmarc lathes. It was great to see the Aussies here for the 25th anniversary symposium.
The Stuart Batty Woodturning booth was also continually busy with demonstrations. This booth had the most impressive set-up from the technology standpoint of any booth I've seen at an AAW symposium. He sure did draw in the crowds with his line-up of demonstrators, too.
For more pictures from Friday, June 24, 2011 of the AAW symposium check my FB albums: here and also here.
Other posts from the 2011 AAW symposium:
Preliminary report from the AAW symposium
2011 AAW symposium prelude
Thursday afternoon and early evening; June 23
Thursday - 23 June 2011 AAW: Conversations with Wood: Selections from the Waterbury Exhibit
