Page 6 - Wood Review Dec 202 Full issue

6
Australian Wood Review
Editor’s Letter
Maker of the Year 2020
Observing the difficult task of judging the 306 entries submitted
for our first Maker of the Year awards tells me why I love what the world of woodworking gives us. We are all so radically different and yet this medium binds us. We may not agree on what ‘looks good’ or even what is ‘well made’, but boy does it gets our aesthetic and intellectual juices flowing.
Over the last (unbelievably) six months I’ve been metering out the entries on our social media so we can savour each piece and appreciate the intent of its maker. In some ways to me this is the best part. No, they’re not all of equal merit – but as mentioned opinions differ and as makers we’re all on the same road, maybe just not all at the same place.
For myself, I can appreciate finely executed work, exquisite woods and the sensitive use thereof. I love flowing lines where there are no visual stops and starts. I love originality and complexity – but only
to a point – for me it usually comes down to the heart, what makes it sing – and what makes me want to touch, hold and gaze at a beautiful creation in wood.
There can only be one Maker of the Year but this competition really is for everyone who threw their hat in. Congratulations go to our winners and runners-up, however I applaud everyone who took a risk in putting their work out there. What we can all take from this is learning from others and letting that inspiration seep into our own work.
A big thank you goes to our sponsors. I never take sponsors for
granted because it’s always an altruistic thing to support not just a new concept but also the essence of what this community is about. This
is my personal thank you to 3M Australia, Carbatec, Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse, Felder Group Australia and Whittle Waxes, and I urge you to return your support to these wonderful companies. Of course a big thank you also goes to our judges for the attention they gave to their difficult task.
Möbius madness
How could just one edge and one surface define a 3D form? Add a twist or three, join the ends and that is the initial way to understand these intriguing forms. This issue we have some special insights from wood sculptor Hape Kiddle on how you can experiment and create your own möbius carvings, see p.44.
Start with finishing
When Shane Wiechnik says ‘...finishing was that thing I did at the
end after “completing” my piece to make it shiny and to protect it from wear and use,’ it could have been me. His article this issue not only reinforces the point that finishing is a craft that requires practice, but that making an effort to explore techniques will open design possibilities. In support of that, read how Shane uses a combination of techniques to portray a theme in a series of works, see p.52.
The New Year
Bushfires, pandemics, lock-downs, economic challenges – 2020 is a year none of us will readily forget. Our last issue for the year is the time to wish you all the best for 2021 – next year is one we can all look forward to.
Linda Nathan, Editor linda@woodreview.com.au
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COVER:
Wall cabinet under construction in the workshop of Israel Martin, Spain.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY:
Israel Martin
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