O Boy.....again!

Re: O Boy.....again!

Barry Irby

>Your earlier post got me to thinking. I neither dance nor sing. At least not well. Things you don't want to see or hear. What I was wondering was how much carry over is there. Do turners naturally do other artistic things well? Could singers be better turners than those who remain silent? I love to turn, but care nothing for carving, but I see myself as more craftsman than artist. OTOH, partially because of your post I allowed myself to sing along today with the piped in music in a store and was not concerned with the audience reaction.

Barry Irby

Re: O Boy.....again!

Ron in Drums PA

>FWIW

I didn't reply to your "Dancing" thread, but I read it, enjoyed it, and for the life of me can not fathom anything controversial at all.

I guess some people see demons in lurking every corner and look to cause trouble.

Don't let it worry you. If you ever need a couple of hundred second opinions, just ask us, we'll back you.

Re: O Boy.....again!

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Barry, I think we all bring our life experiences with us to the lathe. I use references to music in my woodturning classes all the time. Years back, my guitar teacher told me "I won't teach you how to play that song" when I asked the question. "I'll teach you how to play your instrument, then you can play any song you please". Learn to turn, spindle turning and bowl turning techniques, then make ANYTHING you want.

As turning gains popularity, people from diverse backgrounds will give it a try, and the results will be spectacular, I believe. Could you imagine the lathe in the hands of a surgeon? Or engineer, artist, or scientist.

We have a well-known turner who contributes to WC who has applied her knowledge of biology and botany to her turnings....with some amazing results.

Yeah, I'm with you

MikeinCapeMay

>Read it, laughed, saw nothing that could or should have been construed as offensive. Some people just ain't happy unless they're complaining.

Re: O Boy.....again!

George Balock

>Kieth,

I also liked that artist's acceptance speech. Many of us don't like to take risks, like texturing, carving or burning that perfectly good bowl. Even if it means improving the piece.

I've just recently (the past year) started adding other accents to my work and now I am starting to feel that it's not compelete unless I take another step (another dancing metaphor). I see how important it is to push myself as an artist, to take the next risk and improve where I am. Not to offend anyone else, cretivity is not and endpoint but an evolutionary process. My advice to anyone who thinks that their work is good enough is to take a risk, do something different, make a change.

Keep Dancin'

George

Re: O Boy.....again!

Mike-in-Michigan

>Don't know 'bout you guys, I might not be able to cut much of a rug on the dance floor .. but I dance with the wood on my lathe. I know I didn't invent it, but when I show someone how to use a lathe, I call it a dance & I tell them to dance with the wood & tool. It's all about footwork & rythm ... just like dancing.

Keith I got your message just fine and you are dead on.

Re: O Boy.....again!

sam nelson

>Excellant post Kieth, Im with you.

Sam

Re: O Boy.....again!

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Ron, I think it's important to remember there's a real person behind each name on the computer screen.

If we met each one, we would find someone we liked in most cases. I don't think anyone meant any harm, most of us are passionate about what we do, aand what we believe in.. I just want things to stay focused on the subject of turning.

I seem to recall myself losing my temper a few times in the past!

Drat!!! I missed it...

BubbaBob

>

Re: O Boy.....again!

GeeSeaWhy

>Well I certainly got your point Keith, and thank you for it. And if nothing else, the image of Bill Grumbine in a tutu made the whole thread worth reading.

Graeme

Re: O Boy.....again!

Gary in Zirconia,NC

>I'm a ballroom dancer and I didn't see any more about dancing in your post than woodturning or any other thing we do in life. Your post inspired me to live!

Re:

Arch

>Hi Keith, I think that your original dancing post

and this one were well taken and thoughtful, I hope mine is too, or at least isn't offensive. I do think that reading, conversing, thinking and yes, just posting or even lurking are significant parts of this multifaceted endeavor as reflected in this good forum.

We posture about 'the addiction', 'our message' and even heavier philosophies, but in the scale of things, turning wood except for a few maladjusted, is a healthy and satisfying hobby. It isn't about anal retentive introverts vs over achieving extroverts. It's about whatever floats your own boat, whether raft, skiff, canoe or yacht.

Maybe like clog dancers, some prefer to keep their torsos still while their feet and legs are moving wildly. They aren't unhappy wallflowers, just turners with diverse personalities who enjoy and participate in their own way. I am not ashamed of the objects that I've turned out over the years, but I am a private person and I do not care to exhibit them. I do, however, love to turn wood, gab about it....and look at pics. :)

I imagine that it must be difficult for those who 'do' to understand that those who 'don't' are _not unhappy failures. Of course, I realize that without pictures, show and tells, web sites instant galleries, etc. there would be no art or craft, so I can understand that 'non- participation' could be perceived as a free ride. I hope not. Gratitude is certainly due those who exhibit their turnings for all to enjoy and to those who try new dance steps. For a few of us, visions of cutting edge turnings dance in our

heads.

This is a self-important unreqested defense of others, but altho they may be sitting out the dance, they may be snapping their fingers and tapping their feet. There's room at the table and out on the floor for all of us. With respect,

Turn to Safety, Arch

Re:

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Arch, you raised several excellent points. I certainly didn't mean to offend or slight anyone, I'm one of those wallflowers myself. Only through doing demos have I begun to get over some of my fears of public speaking.

I can certainly identify with those who are happy to tap their feet! I understand how difficult it must be for a newbie to make his first post, or to ask questions.

We are under a big tent, there's room for all....AND, I never met a turner I didn't like!

Hey,we`re turners.

Bob Hackett

>Going round and round is nothing new for any of us .;^)

Mainely,Bob

Re: Hey,we`re turners.

Keith Tompkins

>You are right, Bob. You would think I'd be used to things blowing up in my face by now! LOL

Re: Hey,we`re turners.

Bob Hackett

>Like they say down to the boatyard,"If nobody`s bleedin` everythings OK.If they`re bleedin` and a shop rag can stop it,we`re still OK."

You don`t want to get a head wound around those guys.They`ll likely put a tourniquet around your neck.

What! No shop rags,Now we`re in serious trouble!Shut the yard down till we can get more.

Mainely,Bob