allTURNatives: Form + Spirit 2011

About allTURNatives: Form + Spirit 2011

For the last sixteen years the International Turning Exchange (ITE) has brought together a group of artists, photojournalists and scholars from around the world to spend two creative months together. This year the group consisted of five artists, a photojournalist and a scholar from across the United States. The guidelines of the program are – research, explore, collaborate – concepts fulfilled by visits to cultural institutions in the area, group discussions, and experimentation in the studio. These ideas are the only activities required of the group, in fact it was often stated that the physical result of the residency could be no more than “a pile of shavings.” For each resident the program provides an amazing opportunity to grow and learn in a dedicated environment.

The exhibited work is a testament that much more than the proverbial ‘pile of shavings’ was produced over the last eight weeks. What is not immediately obvious is how each artist was affected by the opportunity to be inspired, think deeply and work out new ideas. Discussions with the members of the group illuminated an overarching theme for the summer – each was inspired by time spent watching the others’ processes. Working through ideas together brought new bodies of work that will have a long lasting affect on the artistic lives of every International Turning Exchange resident.

Carl R. Pittman, Jr., a traditional wood turner, inspired by a visit to the Nakashima Studio and by his fellow residents, made his first piece of furniture at the very end of the residency. Beth Ireland, who arrived in Philadelphia after a year-long journey teaching wood turning all over the United States, was inspired by Pittman’s prolific output and focus on turning bowls. This led her to create a large group of bowls, some of which comprise Response. Daniel Forest Hoffman, a trained ceramist who uses mixed media, explored wood as a material and several approaches to manipulate it. Carving, planed shavings and dying were used in Ram, Cloud and Color Study 1, 2 and 3.

The International Turning Exchange continues to inspire its annual resident artists, those of us lucky enough to join the process as scholars or photojournalists and the community that supports wood art. The fresh, challenging work produced through research, exploration and collaboration will undoubtedly also draw new audiences to art made in wood.

Special thanks to Alex Styer, Sarah Archer, Melissa Caldwell, Carole Shanis and the Board of the Philadelphia Art Alliance for their welcoming assistance.

– Jennifer Zwilling, ITE Scholar