Page 6 - Australian Wood Review №103 2019

Editor’s Letter www.woodreview.com.au

E DI TO R:
The human touch Linda Nathan
linda@woodreview.com.au
Give ten people a piece of wood, ask them to make something and,
C ON T R I BUT I N G E D I TO R S:
unsurprisingly, you will get different results. Technique, skill, precision, Raf Nathan, Robert Howard, Richard Raffan,
the laws of geometry and also wood movement are critical, but Richard Vaughan, Neil Erasmus, Philip Ashley
nowadays can to some extent be mitigated and mimicked by machine
CONTR I BUTO RS:
and digital technology. James Brook, Kerryn Carter, Damion Fauser,
Jugo Ilic, Charles Mak, Terry Martin,
However I like to think the human element can’t be simulated.
Troy McDonald, Darren Oates, Andrew Potocnik,
A ‘smart’ answer might be to add an algorithm for random imperfection Graham Sands, Vic Tesolin, Peter Young.
but I’m not giving ground on that either. Machine learning, artificial
intelligence and robotics are developing at a fast rate but will they PUBLI SHE R:
Mike Ford
ever be able to design and make objects that convey the historical and
cultural influences that add up to the human touch? AR T DI REC TOR:
Ana Heraud
Personal journeys G R A PH I C DES I GNE R:
Ruby Ren
Byron Raleigh, on the cover this issue, is a Melbourne based maker
I LLUST R AT I O N S:
who grew up in central Victoria but studied furniture design at the
Graham Sands
University of Tasmania. As a lover of fine ‘mid-century’ machinery
and processes his work stands at the intersection of (albeit older) SUBSC R I P T I ON S:
technology and human values, and he expresses those ideas WWW.GREATMAGAZINES.COM.AU
CALL: 1800 807760
through his work. EMAIL: subscriptons@yaffa.com.au
All roads seemed indirectly to lead to Tasmania this issue, and SUBSC R I P T I ON R ATES:
the connection points were influences that went back in time. 1 year / 4 issues $47
Hape Kiddle, maker and sculptor is also featured this issue and I 1 year PLUS (print + digital) $52
Overseas 1 year NZ $58
discovered that he like Byron Raleigh also studied furniture making ASIA $58 ROW $72
at UTAS. Both look back to formative years under the tutelage
of John Smith and Kevin Perkins, and yet both have taken very N AT I ON AL SALES M AN AGE R:
Mike Ford
individualistic paths as makers. Tel: (02) 9213 8262
Hape’s fluid carved forms reflect his connection to place and the mikeford@yaffa.com.au
natural environment, and he highlights both the strength and fragility ADVERTISING PRODUC TION:
of that relationship, nowhere felt more powerfully than in the John Viskovich
modern context. Tel: (02) 9213 8215
johnviskovich@yaffa.com.au
Also from Tasmania, Laura McCusker is a designer maker who this CUSTO M E R SE RV I C E M AN AGE R:
issue lists her ‘tools for design’ in an abridged version of the talk she Martin Phillpott
gave at AWR L!VE last year. Here is yet another humanistic approach PRODUC TION DI RECTOR:
that is about finding inspiration, working within limits and working Matthew Gunn
with other people – these are design tools that can’t be coded.
PUBLI SHE D BY:
Another personal approach is taken by Troy McDonald in his practical Yaffa Media Pty Ltd
and common sense account of ways to reduce wood dust in your ABN 54 002 699 345
17–21 Bellevue Sreet, Surry Hills 2010
workshop. In the light of known health risks his is also a story about Tel: (02) 9281 2333 Fax: (02) 9281 2750
the importance of prioritising things that can literally seem easier to ALL MAIL TO:
just keep sweeping away.

Student Awards 2019 GPO Box 606, Sydney NSW 2001

R EC O M M E N DE D R E TAI L PR I C E:
Wood Review’s Student Awards 2019 are now open for entry and $11.95
remain Australia’s only online showcase for woodwork by year 11
I SSN:
and 12 secondary students. Our website gallery will display entries
1039-9925
as they arrive and some will also be featured on our Instagram and
Facebook pages. Information and entry is at www.woodreview. COVER:
com.au/student-awards Backing all this up we have great Byron Raleigh in his workshop,
Northcote, Vic
industry sponsors who are passionate about supporting younger
woodworkers, see p.42 for more information. COVE R PHOTOGR APHY:
Fred Kroh
And by the way, this issue we have a very nice give-away from 3M
Australia for subscribers, one designed with personal safety in mind –
Australian Wood Review is copyright, no part of it can be
details are on p.26. reproduced in any form by any means without prior written
permission of the publisher. All material is printed in good faith,
however the publisher will not be held liable for any form of damage
whatsoever or liability, claim, or proceeding arising from printing
of same. The opinions of writers and advertisers presented in this
magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.
Linda Nathan, Editor
SAFETY: Woodworking can be dangerous. Do not undertake
linda@woodreview.com.au any work, process or action without adequate skill, training,
safety equipment and/or awareness.

6 Australian Wood Review