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This organization was originally conceived with the hope that it would be a strong advocate for wood art. It should provide educational opportunities for collectors, museums and galleries, and would increase interest in collecting. It would focus on being a strong base of support for the artists. We will need to work together on developing programs and Forums that are of interest to our membership, helping our numbers grow and increasing our ability to help wood artists who are creating very exciting work.
The Emma Lake Relief Fund Committee (Fleur Bresler, Robyn Horn, Michael Hosaluk & Mark Sfirri) reported that the silent/then not so silent auction coordinated by Mark Sfirri, and held at Wornick’s Napa Valley home during the 1998 Forum raised $24,015. Distributions from the fund have already been made to help the victims of the vehicle accident which occurred last August. David Sengel is recovering with physical therapy and is doing very well. Mike Peterson is also doing much better, as is Steve Loar. Some funds also went toward a repair bill for Bernard Blain’s video camera. All of the victims have expressed their great appreciation for the help they received from the bidders. They would also like to thank the artists who donated 35 works which were auctioned, first by silent bid and then by enthusiastic auctioneer, Stoney Lamar. The artists and patrons donating work were: Al Bakke, Garry Knox Bennett, Michael Brolly, Christian Burchard, Judy Ditmer, David Ellsworth, Lindsey Embree, Jean-Francois Escoulen, Melvin Firmager, Clay Foster, Stephen Hogbin, Michelle Hozapfel, Robyn Horn, Michael Hosaluk, Todd Hoyer, Marshall Jacobs, John Jordan, Ron Kent, Alan Lacer, Stoney Lamar, Jack Larimore, Mike Mendelson, Connie Mississippi, William Moore, Merryll Saylan, Betty Scarpino, Mark Sfirri, Jack Slentz, Hayley Smith, Jo Stone, Neil Stoutenberg, Del Stubbs, Mary Thouin-Stubbs, Frank Sudol & Remi Verchot. del Mano Gallery also donated 25% of the sales of collaborative pieces made at Emma Lake to the fund. Thank you all.
During the weekend of September 11-13, over 200 enthusiastic “woodies” met at the Renaissance Park Hotel in San Francisco for three days of shared interest in wood art. The group was made up of collectors, artists, gallery representatives and panelists from all over the United States, Australia and England.
Starting on Friday night with a cocktail reception and ten galleries showing work from over 100 artists, the weekend got off to a great beginning. Socializing and “wood talk” was the order of the evening.
Saturday morning 62 artists made presentations, captivating the audience with inspired talks and fascinating slides of their work. This was followed in the afternoon by animated panels on wood art/furniture from faculty at art colleges. In the afternoon, Robyn Horn convened collectors for the formal organization of the group and we now have a “dues-paying” Collectors of Wood Art with officers and a board. Saturday evening the exciting momentum continued as conferees dined and socialized. Lorne Buchman, President of CCAC, delivered a stunning keynote address and Bob Stocksdale was honored with a lifetime achievement award (to be awarded each year).
Sunday morning we gathered again for a “turners” panel followed by an academic forum of artists, curator and critic who gave provocative, inspiring and occasionally controversial talks. The final event was a Napa Valley winery tour and an al fresco dinner we hosted at our new home in the Napa Valley. A highlight of the evening was a fund raiser for the Emma Lake Relief Fund (see this page).
The galleries received broad interest from collectors and sold over one hundred objects in two days with a value of over $300,000. This was both profitable and reassuring for the galleries and the artists. This success will no doubt interest more galleries to be represented at our future annual meetings.
All who attended the Collectors of Wood Art Forum came away with a great feeling of elation from the camaraderie of shared interest and commitment. We now have a heightened recognition and dedication in the art/collecting community and collectors’ organizations to keeping wood art on a larger map.
Ron & Anita Wornick
Coming from a collecting background in Contemporary Art Glass, beginning in the late 70’s, attending the Collectors of Wood Art Conference in San Francisco in mid September was like Déjà vu. The place was different, the people were different, both artists and collectors and the material being used were different, but the enthusiasm for promoting a new art form which suddenly has encountered explosive creative expression was exactly the same.
The catalysis, of first Robyn Horn in Arkansas last year, and recently Ron Wornick in San Francisco, into the formation of a Collectors of Wood Art organization is not surprising. Our thanks to them both for initiating the formation of such this organization. One which allows persons of similar interests to gather, share and germinate ideas and promote their common interest in a way which will supplement and not compete with other organizations focusing on the technical understanding of making the work. This is not dissimilar to what took place 20 years ago in glass. The promotion of that common interest will lead to wider interest in the medium and serve all well.
Ron and Anita’s recent gathering at their spectacular home above Napa Valley, as did John & Robyn’s last year, set a tone and standard which may elevate the way many may have thought about wood art previously. This flamboyant beginning could move wood art into more and different venues than it had previously been exposed to.
The San Francisco “happening” was fun, memorable, and quite worthwhile. It was a great beginning and will serve as an important platform upon which to learn and move to greater levels of promotion and appreciation by all interested in fine wood objects.
David A. Wolf
19 persons were present, Robyn Horn chaired.
The organization will be called Collectors of Wood Arts (CWA).
Board structure, at present, 13 voting members, including 4 officer roles, in 2
year terms with some persons having initial 1 year terms. Board meetings to be
open.
Committees were established (see list page 3).
A draft of the bylaws was discussed and amended and will be presented to the
membership.
The results of the 1997 survey were distributed (contact Joe Seltzer for a copy).
Appreciation was expressed to Ron and Anita Wornick for their outstanding job
creating and hosting Forum 1998.
67 persons present. Robyn Horn chaired.
Membership approved the name of the organization, the name of the annual
meeting, and the proposed board and officers.
The 1999 Forum will be held in Chicago, Nov. 3 - 7 in conjunction with the SOFA
show.
The 2000 Forum will be held in Charlotte, NC in May in conjunction with the
opening of the Mason Collection at the Mint Museum of Craft & Design.
David Waterbury announced that there are currently 59 paid members. (Now at 110
members)
Kevin Wallace discussed the newsletter.
Arthur Mason presented the by-laws, which were approved.
Mark your calendars!
The 1999 Forum will be held at SOFA, Chicago, November 3 - 7, 1999. In addition to booths by numerous galleries who represent wood artists, CWA will sponsor several artists, curators and collectors who will be involved in the lecture series; an annual event at SOFA. There will also be a business meeting and a CWA dinner.
CWA will host an exhibit of wood art called “Collectors’ Choice.” Ballots will be sent to all voting members to list the 25 wood artists they feel are the most significant. The artists with the most votes will be invited to participate in the exhibition. Members who have joined by December 31, 1998 will be eligible for a ballot (one vote per membership).
President Robyn Horn
Vice President Jane Mason
Co-Treasurers Dave & Ruth Waterbury
Secretary Joe Seltzer
Board Tim Kochman Elizabeth Mai
(1 year Term) Arthur Mason Doris Wolin Ron Wornick
Board Gary Smith Skip Shaw
(2 year Term) Allan Nachman
As the new president of the American Association of Woodturners, David Wahl recognized that the collectors should be an integral part of that organization’s focus. He worked throughout the spring to develop a program tailored to the collectors’ needs and interests. The result was Collecting Woodturning, a special program created to introduce and discuss collecting, with a focus on contemporary woodturning. This was held as part of the 12th annual Symposium of the AAW, in Akron, OH; June 12 to 14, 1998. A formal presentation anchored an array of events which included access to the conference itself, the Instant Gallery, a Featured Demonstrators exhibition, a Chapters exhibition, and the independent but related Pathways ‘98 exhibition.
An overflow crowd crammed themselves in to hear Fleur Bresler discuss The Art of Displaying Your Collection, Jane Mason discuss Documenting Your Collection, Arthur Mason discuss Giving Something Back: Donations, Loans and Exhibits, and Steve Loar with slides and overheads to present his take on the Significant Moments in Contemporary Woodturning.
The crowd contained a few recognized collectors, but appeared to be primarily conference goers - pointing up the fact that we don’t know exactly who is or who might become a collector. The time was short for any one of these topics, but the program was quite effective. There was genuine interest expressed in all of the topics, so CWA may want to look for ways to further explore these topics along with others that are now coming into focus.
Steve Loar
Forum 1999 - Conference to be held at SOFA
Chair - Robyn Horn
Volunteer Administrator - Steve Loar
Forum 2000 - Conference to be held in Charlotte
Chair - Jane & Arthur Mason
Nominating - Recommend new board members
Chair - Jane Mason
Gallery Relations - Interact with galleries, encourage them to handle wood
arts
Chair - Gary Smith
Membership - Encourage membership
Chair - Ruth & David Waterbury
Public Relations - Broaden exposure to CWA, wood arts, galleries &
artists in wood
Chair - John & Robyn Horn
Website - Develop a website for CWA
Chair - Tim Kochman
Honors - Make recommendations to the board for honors including lifetime
achievement awards
Chair - Elizabeth Mai
Liaison - Work with WTC, AAW & Furniture Society
Chair - Skip Shaw
Finance - Report on financial affairs of the CWA
Chair - Gary Smith
Archive - Keep and document CWA & the field
Chair - Joe Seltzer
Directory & Visitation Register - Keep the directory and make contacts
for visits
Chair - Ruth & David Waterbury
If you would like to participate on any committee, please call Robyn Horn (501) 868-8883
Connell Gallery
333 Buckhead Ave., Atlanta, GA 30305
404 261 1712
Nov 13 - Dec 24 “Earth Voices * Star Songs”
Michelle Holzapfel & Robyn Horn
del Mano Gallery
11981 San Vicente Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA 90049
310 476 8508 or 800 DEL MANO
Jan 23 - Feb 27 Selected Wood
A Curated Exhibition of Recent Work
Heller Gallery
420 W. 14th St., New York, NY 10014
212 414 4014
Nov 28 - Dec 24 Ed Moulthrop & Philip Moulthrop
Dec 5 Artists Talk
R. Duane Reed Gallery
#1 North Taylor, St. Louis, MO 63108
314 361 8872
Jan 29 - Mar 14 American Woodturners Profile I
Mark Lindquist, Ron Fleming, Alan Stirt, Christian Burchard, Robert Sonday,
David Ellsworth, Ron Kent, Robyn Horn, Todd Hoyer & Dennis Elliott
As we near the year 2000 Wood Exhibitions abound at Major Museums & Public Institutions.
June 1999
M.H.deYoung Memorial Museum - San Francisco, CA
•40 pieces from the collection of George & Dorothy Saxe
July 1999
Detroit Institute of Art - Detroit, MI
•80 - 100 pieces from the collection of Bob Bohlen
•A catalog containing 200 - 250 pieces
May 2000
Mint Museum of Craft & Design - Charlotte, NC
•120 pieces from the Collection of Jane & Arthur Mason
•Conference, demonstrations, and catalog of the collection
•CWA Forum will be held at the same time as the opening
September 2000
Yale University in collaboration with the
Wood Turning Center
•Exhibition on the History of Contemporary Wood Turning
•A symposium, catalog and educational events
January 2001
Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Los Angeles, CA
•Work from the collection of Dr. Irving and Mari Lipton
•A nine month display with a catalog