June 2007

Newsletter June 2007 Vol. 12 No. 6

Meeting Information: Saturday, June 23 from 9 am to 4 pm

Melvyn Firmager: free form sculptural and hollow form turning

At Levi Mize Woodcraftsman's Shop

162 Aviador Street #17+18, Camarillo, CA 93010

Aviador Street is N. of the Camarillo Airport and is reached from the Central Ave. exit off of US 101: go S. and turn left on Ventura Blvd. then right on Aviador St. About three-quarters of the way to the dead end, on the left is a long building. Levi's shop is the last two doors on the left on the S. side of the building. Please park directly in front of or behind his shop or against the curb on the N. side of the building and not in front of other shops.

BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR OR SIT ON THE FLOOR

Our featured demonstrator for the June 23^rd meeting is Melvyn Firmager. He comes to us from Stoughton Cross, Somerset, England where he teaches woodturning and has a bed and breakfast in an historic building and grounds called Nut Tree Farm. Melvyn is demonstrating at the 2007 AAW symposium in Portland, OR. Check the AAW 2007 Symposium web site for more information. He was a demonstrator in the 1998 AAW symposium and one of the free form pieces called “Sea Flower” for which he is known was in the Instant Gallery (Look at the 13^th photo in the series).

On his way to Portland he will do an all day demo for us at Levi's shop from 9am till 4pm. The fee for this special club demo is $35 for members and $45 for guests and includes lunch. His demo will include side grain and end grain pieces, usually with small necks and flared rims often with thin walls. Multiple-rim "Sea Flowers" type turning is also a possibility. He is known for his ability to teach technique while demonstrating, instead of fast moves to impress. His work has been featured at many galleries thru out the world and I have seen his work at the del Mano Gallery in west Los Angeles. If you Google him you can see some of his work. Joe Levy, program chair

The May meeting was a Hands-On turning session at Oxnard High School and was well attended. The April meeting featured our member Joel Oksner demonstrating how he makes Baby Rattles. At the April meeting Tim Albers brought avocado wood again (remember to make bowls for him!) and Oxnard High School student David Pantoja was presented with club membership and materials and tools to help with his pen making project to earn money for college. Photos from the April meeting are below.

Save the date of July 7th for our annual potluck picnic for members and spouses at the Rinde's home . Members will be contacted shortly with details. The membership directory was sent by email to all members by Ron Lindsay last month.

The Ventura County Fair is coming up quickly with the new link on line now. The Fair runs from August 1-12 this year. The pdf file for the entry guide is available at Entry Booklet with the Division 345 Woodturning on page 47. Start getting your work ready to enter. We will be sharing space with the Wood Carvers and Boat Builders again this year with a newly designed booth. Sam Turner will be our contact with the Wood Carvers and he will be calling our membership to help with the construction of the booth the weekend before the fair opens.

Photos by Ron Lindsay from the April meeting: