Turning Maven

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Selected Exhibitions

Exhibit, Blue Heron Gallery, Vashon Island, Washington, March 2007
Small Treasures Exhibition, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 2007
Step Up To The Plate Exhibition, American Association of Woodturners, 2006
Small Treasures Exhibition, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 2006
Arts of the Terrace, Mountlake Terrace, Washington, 2005
Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds, Washington, 2005
Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds, Washington, 2004


Selected Publications

Packard Woodworks Catalog, Winter 2006, Cover photograph
Woodturning Design, Winter 2006, Bowl with a Branded Rim
Woodturning Design, Fall 2005, Designers Showcase
More Woodturning, May 2004 Vol. 9 #4, Molly's Branding Process


Gallery Representation

del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Art and Soul, Bothell, Washington
Turning Leaf Wood Art, Blue Ridge, Georgia


Artist Statement

In 1976 I was in my final year of high school.  Mr. Cook was the woodshop teacher and wrestling coach.  He was known to be gruff, tough, and take no attitude from anyone foolish enough to try to give it to him.  I had the audacity to request being the first girl to cross the threshold of his classroom and shop.  I was allowed in on probation.  He watched me like a hawk.  At the beginning of the semester I had to tell the boys I did not need their help, I could  do it myself.  By the end of the semester the boys were asking  for my assistance, and I had Mr. Cook wrapped around my finger.  This is where I developed my passion for working  with wood.  I completed one project on the lathe, and swore that some day I would have a lathe of my own.  It only took  me 22 years to fulfill my dream.

In 1998 after receiving a lathe for a present from my husband, I traveled to Provo,  Utah to take a three day beginning woodturning course.  Since it had been 22 years since I last stood in front of a lathe, this got me off to a safe start.  Later I took a five day class, and subsequently one and two day skill enhancement workshops.  The primary lesson I learned throughout my studies was to pay attention to FORM, FORM, FORM.  No matter what you do to enhance your turning whether it be beads, coves, branding, burning, coloring, and so on, it is all  for  naught if your  form is not pleasing.

Many of my artistic pieces incorporate branding and pyrography (woodburning).  I had the good fortune to hear a well respected woodturner from New Zealand, Graeme Priddle  speak about where to find inspiration for the work we do.  He emphasized looking to our interests outside woodturning to see how they may influence our creativity and work.  This got me thinking, but it wasn't  until  two years later when I discovered what I truly wanted to do.  Since childhood I have always had an interest in Native American cultures, lore, and artwork.  I have also been fascinated by prehistoric cave drawings and petroglyphs.  These interests have served to be an inspiration for my artistic interpretations.