Symposium in San Jose, California June 2012

The AAW has been conducting annual woodturning symposiums since 1987. Join us for the 26th international symposium, to be held in San José CA, June 8-10, 2012, at the San José Convention Center ... McEnery Convention Center, part of San José One Connection.

 

The three-day symposium will be held in the McEnery Convention Center, a state-of-the-art convention facility with over 15 meeting rooms, a 22,000-square-foot grand ballroom, and nearly 143,000 square feet of exhibition space. While registration is required to attend demonstrations, the general public may view the trade show and four gallery exhibitions free of charge.

 

Featured Demonstrators Include: Eli Avisera, Israel - Jerry Bennett, Texas USA - Jean-Francois Escoulen, France - J. Paul Fennell, Arizona USA - Joey Richardson, England - Richard Raffan, Australia - Curt Theobald, Wyoming USA

 

The 2012 Professional Outreach Program's Emerging  artists are featured in this email. Check the side panels for a preview.

 

 

The symposium is open to anyone with an interest in woodturning. Full registration fee includes demonstrations, panel discussions, the Instant Gallery, tradeshow, special exhibitions, auctions, and membership for non-members.

  

 

 

Notes from Vannier: on the support for 2nd Harvest

 

In case you hadn't noticed, AAW has added a planning guide to the web site of the symposium. It is a pretty big file, but worth the time, especially if this is your first symposium! You can find the link here: Link

 

 I've also been asked what the "empty bowls" thing is.  Each year, AAW runs a fund raiser for a local charity at the symposium. Last year, the local club picked a theme which they called Empty Bowls as a way to raise money for the local chapter of 2nd harvest. It was the most successful fund raiser so far. 

 

We are continuing the same theme this year as a way to raise money for our local chapter of 2nd Harvest. So, what does that mean to me you ask. All AAW members are encouraged to donate a turning, doesn't have to be a bowl. Last year over 400 turnings were donated!

 

When you registered, you were given a chance to buy a raffle ticket (or more than one) for $25 a ticket. You will also be given an opportunity to buy a raffle ticket at the empty bowls location in the instant gallery area. Same price either way. Turnings will be placed on tables on Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning they will start exchanging a turning for a ticket. So for $25 you will get a turning of your choice.

 

Warning, their will be a line first thing in the morning.  But, just so you know Ellsworth's pieces didn't get set out till Saturday afternoon. There were some really nice pieces donated. I have a few pieces that I will donate, and I'm sure each of you have turnings which you could donate, so please do.

 

If you aren't going, you can still donate to this worthy cause. Either get your turning to me or one of the many members that are going. I have started receiving pieces from around the world for the empty bowls raffle. All of the proceeds from this are donated to 2nd Harvest. Any remaining turnings are also donated to them for fund raising auctions that they chose.

 

So, get out there and make a turning to donate! You might just find you piece beside a famous turner, or even find out that a famous person collected it! Let's see if our club can donate at least 50 turnings. I'll commit to 5, who else will step up and support 2nd harvest?

 

Dave

 

On Exhibits and Areas at the Symposium:

The term raffle is somewhat loosely used. I repeated it because that is what it will be called, so anyone going needs to use that language to find it. Note that the public can also buy the raffle tickets and pick a piece. This is in the instant gallery area, and is the only raffle.

 

There will be 4 main areas to the symposium:

1) instant gallery/club collaborative competition/empty bowls

2) vendor area

3) exhibits ("walk in the woods" - juried exhibit)

4) demonstration sessions

 

Only #4 requires you to pay to be in. Everyone should encourage their friends to go to the instant gallery area on Friday/Sat.  Let them know about our fund raiser for 2nd harvest. They might pick up a piece from a famous or soon to be famous turner.  Might also just get a piece that they really like. After all, for $25 which all goes to 2nd Harvest, how can they go wrong!  The gallery is still open on Sunday, but some people pack up their stuff so they can catch their flights.  Best to do it before then.

 

Hope that helps.  So, even if you aren't paying to go, the rest is still worth a visit.  You might just be motivated to go to be a little farther away.

 

Dave