allTURNatives: Form + Spirit 2011
August 5 – October 28, 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
The 2011 Windgate ITE Resident Fellows
Michael de Forest
Artist
OR, US
Daniel Forrest Hoffman
Artist
PA, USA
Beth Ireland
Artist
MA, USA
Carl Pittman
Artist
NC, USA
Kimberly Winkle
Artist
TN, USA
Noah Addis
Photojournalist
PA, USA
Jennifer Zwilling
Scholar
PA, USA
Additional Information
Exhibited at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
Special Thanks to:
Facilitators: Bobby Aiosa, Shop Facilitator, UArts; Tara Inman Bellofatto, Shop Facilitator, UArts; Gus Jardin, Wood Wizard, Fairmount Park; University of the Arts (UArts), wood shop & lodging.
Sponsors and Friends: Philadlephia Art Alliance; Dr. Jeff Bernstein & Dr. Judy Chernoff; Nicholas Bell; Fleur Bresler; Philip Brown; Bucks Woodturners; Philip & Monika Hauser; Charles Hummel; Stephen Keeble & Karen Depew; Tim & Sheryl Kochman; Alan LeCoff; Albert & Tina LeCoff; Jane & Arthur Mason; Greg & Regina Rhoa and Joe Seltzer. Corporate Sponsors: Craft Supplies and Penn State Industries.
Cambium Circle Members: Dr. Lee Bender & Dr. Carol Schilling; Fleur Bresler; Larry Gabriel; Richard & Rita Goldberg; Jerome & Deena Kaplan; Tim & Sheryl Kochman; Alan LeCoff; Pat McCauley; Michael Mocho; Robin Rice; Norton Rockler and Bradford Whitman.
Corporate Sponsors & Foundations: Craft Supplies; Penn State Industries; Nonprofit Finance Fund; Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; Philadelphia Cultural Fund; Samuel Fels Fund; William Penn Foundation and anonymous foundation.
2011 ITE Residents would like to thank the following people for enriching our experience by opening their homes, studios and museum collections to the group this summer.
Elisabeth R. Agro, Associate Curator of American Modern and Contemporary Crafts and Decorative Arts Philadelphia Museum of Art; Nicholas Bell, Curator, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Doug Bucci, Jewelry Maker, Designer, Tyler School of Art, University of the Arts; Miriam Carpenter, Nakashima Studio; David deMuzio, Senior Conservator of Furniture and Woodwork, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Paul D. Eisenhauer, Curator, Wharton Esherick Museum; Heather Gibson, Research Assistant, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Charles Hummel, Curator Emeritus, Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library; Albert & Tina LeCoff; Don & Susan Miller; Don is Associate Crafts Professor, University of the Arts; Mira Nakashima, Nakashima Studio; Judith Schaechter, Stained Glass Artist; Mark Sfirri, Wood Artist, Professor, Bucks County Community College; Christopher R. Storb, Conservator of Furniture and Woodwork, Philadelphia Museum of Art.