Author Description

Discover the Beauty of Wood Shaped by the Hands of a Community When it comes to the many traditional methods of working with wood, there's something very special about woodturning. Woddturning is easy to learn and quick to accomplish; with a few tools, limited practice, and a small amount of space, anyone can unlock the beauty of wood in the time it takes to prepare a meal. Woodturning is not discriminating; when it comes to wood, any chunk will do, including whatever is on your firewood pile. Best of all, woodturning is an endlessly fulfilling and rewarding craft because it is truly a personal expression of form and style: not only is every piece of wood unique, but every woodturner seems to invent his or her own distinctive approach to working with it. And though the basics are not difficult to learn, mastery is an absorbing pursuit that can take a lifetime. Like the craft it supports, the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) is a truly unique organization. Fueled by a commitment to build a community of shared ideas, techniques, and passion, the AAW has played a crucial role in the development of contemporary woodturning and wood art. With a bimonthly journal, American Woodturner, regular meetings at 300-plus local chapters, and an amazing annual symposium attracting thousands, the AAW's spirit of sharing runs through everything it has done during its 25-year history. And it largely explains the organization's phenomenal growth since its founding in 1986 to more than 14,000 members today. Woodturning Today: A Dramatic Evolution chronicles the impressive growth of the woodturning field, and the development of the AAW within it. This unique perspecitive celebrates the connection between the two and the role this premier woodturning organization has played in making woodturning a highly respected art form.