demonstration

A Visit with the Chicago Woodturners

I had a nice time doing an all-day demonstration and three-day hands-on class with the Chicago Woodturners at the beginning of my academic spring break time. I stayed with Rich Nye and his wife, Susan. They have a nice menagerie of animals that I enjoyed getting to know in the limited amount of time available. Both Rich and Sue are exotic pet veterinarians - mostly retired now, but still active in rescue, clinical, and volunteer work.

This was the first time I did a three-day hands-on class with a club (I usually do a one-day class, and restrict it to surface techniques), and I really liked the format as it developed. We spent the first day turning forms to use for surface enhancement techniques, which were covered on days 2 and 3.

The Chicago Woodturners are a dynamic club, and I enjoyed spending some time with them. I finished my visit with a critique of turnings at their regular meeting on the second Tuesday of the month. That was also a lot of fun, given some of the turnings that were on the show-and-tell table, plus their monthly President's challenge (egg forms).

If you have a chance to do so, attend the Turn On Chicago event that will take place in July of this year. They know how to put on a good symposium.