 American Association of Woodturners logo | |
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| Website | woodturner |
TheAmerican Association of Woodturners (AAW) is the principal organization in the United States supporting the art and craft ofwoodturning. It is sometimes stylized asAmerican Association of Wood Turners (AAW).[1] Established in 1986[2] and headquartered inSaint Paul, Minnesota, the organization encompasses more than 15,000 members in the United States and many foreign nations. As of 2013, the AAW was affiliated with nearly 350 local chapters worldwide.[3] In addition to sponsoring an annual national symposium, the AAW provides support to local clubs for outreach and education. The 25th anniversary of the AAW was celebrated in 2011 at the annual symposium held in Saint Paul. The association will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, in conjunction with its Annual Symposium, to be held in Raleigh, N.C. Gretchen Wilbrandt is executive director of the organization.
The AAW states: "Our mission is to strengthen and empower the global woodturning community." And the group's vision is, "A world where woodturning is valued, inspirational, and accessible to all."[4]
Woodturning, which has experienced exceptional growth and interest since AAW's founding, is a pursuit that goes back 4,000 years in human history – using craft's most organic material, wood, as its primary medium. Woodturners create utilitarian, artistic, and sculptural wooden objects on mechanical lathes. The craft differs from most other forms of woodworking in that the wood stock rotates rapidly while sharpened cutting skews, gouges, and other tools are maneuvered by hand to shape the material.
Membership in AAW brings a variety of benefits, including a bimonthly magazine, insurance coverage, scholarships, national symposiums, educational opportunities for newcomers and youth, and a website where turners can display and market their woodturnings.
The AAW was founded at the Arrowmont School of Arts and CraftsArrowmont School of Arts and Crafts inGatlinburg, Tennessee, and remains closely affiliated with that institution, as well as with the John C. Campbell Folk SchoolJCCFS in Brasstown, North Carolina, and the Anderson RanchHomepage inSnowmass Village,Colorado.
The AAW, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is administered by a nine-member Board of Directors, all volunteers who serve three-year terms. Three board members are elected by the full membership each year and begin their terms in January. The Board employs an executive director and an editor, and appoints a Board of Advisors along with various committee members serving specific purposes, such as organizing the national symposium and overseeing AAW financial grants to clubs and individuals.
The AAW magazine,American Woodturner, is published in print and online editions six times a year. Subscriptions to the journal are included with AAW membership, and individual copies are available on newsstands. Members may view all issues online. The publication contains articles aimed at both novice woodturners as well as intermediate craftspersons and professionals.
The AAW is affiliated with more than 350 local chapters, or clubs, and three "virtual" chapters.[5] Local chapters are primarily in the United States but encompass groups in many other nations, including Canada, England, New Zealand, Taiwan,Australia andJapan. Virtual chapters are not geographically based but are organized around specific woodturning techniques. The three virtual chapters include the Ornamental Turners International, Segmented Woodturners, and Pen Turnerswww.principallypens.com. Ornamental woodturners specialize in the use of anornamental lathe such as theRose engine lathe.Segmented woodturning involves joining individual pieces of wood together prior to turning to create intricate patterns and dramatic visual effects. Pen turners specialize in making pens and other writing instruments out of both wood and synthetic materials.
Each year an annual Symposium take place. They have been sponsored and organized by the AAW each year since 1987, alternating in cities around the United States. The first symposium was held inLexington, Kentucky in 1987. The gathering typically includes live presentations, an auction of selected woodturnings, an instant gallery that showcases current woodturning craft, a rotation of how-to and hands-on demonstrations, the world's largest trade show of commercial woodturning vendors, and a youth training center.
| Year | City |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Lexington, KY |
| 1988 | Philadelphia, PA |
| 1989 | Seattle, WA |
| 1990 | Gatlinburg, TN |
| 1991 | Denton, TX |
| 1992 | Provo, UT |
| 1993 | Purchase, NY |
| 1994 | Fort Collins, CO |
| 1995 | Davis, CA |
| 1996 | Greensboro, NC |
| 1997 | San Antonio, TX |
| 1998 | Akron, OH |
| 1999 | Tacoma, WA |
| 2000 | Charlotte, NC |
| 2001 | St Paul, MN |
| 2002 | Providence, RI |
| 2003 | Pasadena, CA |
| 2004 | Orlando, FL |
| 2005 | Overland Park KS |
| 2006 | Louisville, KY |
| 2007 | Portland, OR |
| 2008 | Richmond, VA |
| 2009 | Albuquerque, NM |
| 2010 | Hartford, CT |
| 2011 | St Paul, MN |
| 2012 | San Jose, CA |
| 2013 | Tampa, FL |
| 2014 | Phoenix, AZ |
| 2015 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2016 | Atlanta, GA |
| 2017 | Kansas City, MO |
| 2018 | Portland, OR |
| 2019 | Raleigh, NC |
| 2020 | Canceled (COVID-19) |
| 2021 | Canceled (COVID-19) |
| 2022 | Chattanooga, TN |
| 2023 | Louisville, KY |
| 2024 | Portland, OR |
| 2025 | St. Paul, MN |
| 2026 | Raleigh, NC |
The AAW operates theAAW Gallery of Wood Art in Saint Paul's historicLandmark Center. The gallery features changing exhibits of art of all kinds made from wood, and there also is a gift shop. Admission is free to the gallery, which is open Wednesday-Friday and Sunday from 12 to 4 pm.The AAW and its Gallery of Wood Art promotes the development and appreciation of studio wood art among collectors, artists, educators, art critics, galleries, museums, and the general public. Gallery curator is Tib Shaw.
Established in 1993 by Valen Frye and Dick Diehl, the South Central Pennsylvania Wood Turners is a charter member of the American Association of Wood Turners. American Association of Wood Turners membership is not required but it is recommended.
