Roller coaster

It's been a roller coaster the last 3 weeks. I had back-to-back shows, a demonstration, family in town, a museum exhibit opening, my wife's birthday, plus my normal 9-5. I'm hopeful that things will settle down soon.


The "Mesquite" exhibit opened at the Tohono Chul Park in Tucson on 4/26. I took my Mother to the artist's reception as she was in town and my wife was attending my son's 4th grade music program (I went to the 1:30 showing). The piece above is mine and is one of the first pieces visible as you enter the exhibit.

















I have 2 other pieces in the exhibit, the hollow form on the left and the 3 piece nested set on the right. The small natural edge piece in the center is by a turner from the Tucson club. The little blue sticker indicates it has already been sold.













About a week ago I got word that a local club member was having some health issues and was liquidating his shop. The lathe and most of the other big equipment sold almost immediately and it was mostly small stuff left at this point. Last night I found out that among the pieces left over was a Teknatool Titan chuck. I've wanted one for a long time but they've been out of production for the past 3 or 4 years. Ironically they were just reintroduced but the specs changed enough that the one I had ordered was returned completely unused. Safe to say that this is an older one with the original specs (made in New Zealand, not China/Hong Kong where I believe they're being made now) and I got it at a really good price.





He also had a pair of Supernova 2s for sale and even though I don't need another one the price was too good to pass up. This photo illustrates the size difference between the Supernova 2 and the Titan. The Supernova 2 is a sizable chuck and I've used it to turn bowls and platters up to 19" but it's dwarfed by the Titan chuck and there's even a set of jaws larger than this that's next on my shopping list.


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Accepted!

Last month I submitted 5 pieces for possible inclusion in a museum exhibit down in Tucson.  The Tohono Chul Park museum is having an exhibit that celebrates the Mesquite tree.  All entries must be made of or feature images of the Mesquite tree.

I received notice today that 3 of the 5 pieces I submitted were accepted and will be in the exhibit from April 26th to July 22nd.  The email indicated that they had 160 pieces submitted for consideration from nearly 70 different artists.

Now I have to get them down to Tucson before the April 26th opening.  Not an easy thing considering I have 2 shows between now and then, not to mention my day job.

The 3 piece set was turned from wood I received in the 50/50 raffle at the local club a couple years ago.  The first hollow form was from wood sourced at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.  I'm not certain where the wood for the other hollow form came from.